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Re: PoV writing

Originally posted by Rowan
Sam, I can't write her to save my soul. Don't know why. You'd think being a military female, it would be easy, but it isn't. I think I've done one Sam piece in all my time writing.

It's always a challenege to put words in her mouth and have them sound right.
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yeah, why is that? If i write sam then i can only do it in short bursts, too much of her and it comes out so false. how is it that i don't relate better to the woman's pov? it's bizzarre. i also have a problem with her coming of like a super hero--or, if i'm not careful and i over-compensate, like the ditzy female. it's extremely complicated.:(
 
Re: Re: PoV writing

Originally posted by Sandman


yeah, why is that? If i write sam then i can only do it in short bursts, too much of her and it comes out so false. how is it that i don't relate better to the woman's pov? it's bizzarre. i also have a problem with her coming of like a super hero--or, if i'm not careful and i over-compensate, like the ditzy female. it's extremely complicated.:(
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i'm wondering if it's not a supressed form of jealousy that she's 'way smarter than we are' or that she gets to hang out w/ Jack all day? could this be it??? if so -- eh - then keep her in the 'short bursts' -- they're enough ---
 
Re: Re: PoV writing

Originally posted by Highlander II


know the feeling - i can't write Teal'c to save my soul -- what is it about him? it's not his speech patterns, but something about how best to use him -- my problem is i'm a 'conversation' writer - most of my action takes place in conversations - not in descriptions (which is odd, b/c i used to write description almost to rival charles dickens) --

Sam is tough - i find her hard to write too -- Jack - Jack's a cake walk!! and Daniel -- i can get him -- Hammond - he's the boss - and a lesser (not in a bad way - just not used as much) character --
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on switching from descriptive to conversation strength, I've always had the 'show, don't tell' writing advice stick in my head. Might that be a way to look at it? You began to show personality and events going on in a different way? Like:

"Oh, it is 'later,' I was hoping for 'way later.'"
"Sit down, Caston."

Teal'c is unusual in that he's mostly silent. Which is 'dumb' in most mind views. In reality Teal'c is smart. What he says when he says it is gosh darn importaint. Odd really when Bra'tac is so loose and chatty. You can turn a whole concept on a Teal'c onliner. And if you're not careful you forget to keep tabs on him.

Sam only rattles on slightly less than Daniel. But yah, you've got to get her in to something technical to go on about. She's my weak character. Probably because I'm using a second strong female character.

<teal'cvoice>What is a WIP?</teal'cvoice>
 
Originally posted by CynVision
Yep, I missed the double negative. I enjoyed using Jack. Chance to try out all sorts of cleaches <sp> and humor a the human condition. Better than a poke in the eye, six ways to Sunday, slicker than snot etc.

Thanks for a link. Always good to learn what I'm talking about.

I don't think I ever take 3rd omniscient. I enjoy having a mystery. Or something.

I began working the 'don't change pov unless scene break' in some other free writings I have worked on since childhood. As you can imagine it's messy cleaning up a scene I wrote ten years ago and having to get out of the wrong head. :grin: Taught me a lot.

I still didn't know that there was one where you could switch so often as that and still keep people with you.
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cliches are fun --- (and it's a tough word to spell - so don't sweat it!)

3rd omniscient has it's uses -- ie: - if you're writing an episode-like fic - it's much better to use the 3rd omniscient b/c it has the feel of an episode - however -- single character POV 3rd is good too! just a matter of learning when/how to use which one ---
 
Originally posted by Highlander II


cliches are fun ---
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Everyone complains about the 'for crying out loud' use. But I think it's funny because that was used lots when I was a child. the family did live in Minnesota a generation or two before but I don't think my grandmother used it. So who did I get it from?

My dad has a bunch of others that I give to Jack.
 
i like 'for cryin' out loud' -- it fits Jack - and it's become one of those things that he says - i think they've toned it down a little -but when it's said by anyone - you know they got it from Jack - and having him use it a little more than 'necessary' -- makes him look human -- we all have things that we probably say way more often then ppl like to hear, but they just deal with it --- if they had him use it in every episode, then it might be annoying -but they way they're workin' it - it's not bad --

'for cryin' out loud' on SG-1 is kinda like the PEZ on The Pretender - just one of those things that always makes an appearance ---
 
Originally posted by Highlander II
i actually wrote a fic in 2nd person from Jack's POV - talk about HARD!! writing from inside Jack's head - that's not only difficult, but dangerous -- that man!! <eg>
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Maybe somebody has to look at my Jack ep and tell me what I did. I found it easy to do the character but maybe hard to get the action going on around him right.

http://www.cynvision.com/silverdreams/storypage.asp?catid=3&stid=9

Anyone game?

Errr. already see some stuff :bleck: More work.
 
Ladies, I must say I've enjoyed reading through this thread. And there was quite a bit of it.

Of course that means you have to suffer through a couple of my opinions which are only worth something to me.

Alternate Universes:

I've always found alternate universes useful. Particularly with the fic I'm writing now.

Some people don't like them I know. But I don't consider them a cheat. In a way all fic is set in alternate universes. After all SG-1 is set in the alternate universe of our own reality.

Writing Rules:

Lord knows I've forgotten almost all the rules I might have known. But they must be in there some where in the pig sty I call my brain since my stuff is still readable. And the English majors aren't howling too loudly.


Sleep is overated.

Okay, ladies. When are we gonna see your fics in the fan fiction threads? Cyn, I'm looking forward to reading yours. You've teased enough with those bits.
 
Fic

Okay, Gemsong... I'm off to post one there now.;)
 
Re: rule from H2's link

Originally posted by CynVision
If the dialogue trails off, then picks up again, use three periods. If the dialogue trails off without an end, use four periods.


This is a rule I've never heard of before. And not seen in paperbacks.
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it's a rule - and it's real - and it's supposed to be used -- why it doesn't get used properly, i'll never know -- but, it's a rule that exists -- i use it -- (tho, probably a little bit more than i should - but since i write mostly conversations, i think i can get away with it)

the 'show, don't tell' thing doesn't always work for the stories i write - sometimes it's just more conversation based --

however - the story i'm currently writing, is more 'show' than 'tell' -- mostly b/c i need to get my characters interacting properly before the converstation picks up ----


to answer the teal'c voice -- a WIP = Work in Progress -- i'm famous for them - ie: i rarely finish anything i start - not b/c i don't want to, but b/c i'll get another really great idea and start on that one -- i'm really bad at sticking to one fic at a time --
 
Originally posted by Gemsong
After all SG-1 is set in the alternate universe of our own reality.

Writing Rules:

Lord knows I've forgotten almost all the rules ... my stuff is still readable. And the English majors aren't howling too loudly.


Sleep is overated.

Okay, ladies. When are we gonna see your fics in the fan fiction threads? Cyn, I'm looking forward to reading yours. You've teased enough with those bits.
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Oh, you're going on deep thoughts with the UA. What's now going through my head is the song of MST3K: "Repeat to yourself it's just a show I should really just relax." yep. As much as we like Jack and the gang, they are fictious. But so loveable!

There's a cast picture stored somewhere in the images on site here and it brough back a nostoliga-- <er!> A warm fuzzy for me of pictures from my life behind the Chicago theater scenes for 12 years. Everything is so different from what ends up on the screen/stage. Cables, instruments, reflectors. And, we never see more than a lick of them. In an odd way the last few weeks have rekindled a desire in me to know what television production is like. I know more than the average bear about it, have always toyed with the idea of getting in. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, 3 years ago I was fed up with everything, after 3 years out of performance arts I'm longing for it. But, something newer. :coolyello

I don't know about sleep being over rated. I'm going on my third night being up at 3AM changing tenses. Now I'm rambling.

I do agree with the 'know enough' writing rules. Crusing the XF fics the past years, I've seen there are some people writing fic that know fewer than I and that is one time that I feel deeply for them, and I hope I don't actually pity them, I see that I was once there and now I'm not. I know that with each try there is improvement. It's a bit daunting that some people writing are in middle school still learning the rules! They got an earlier start at it than I! The ideas are fantastic on some, I just regret that they are not yet polished and richer.

Gemsong, I haven't tried posting fic to the list here. They are long stories. I'm putting them on my site at www.silverdreams.org

In about ten minutes, I'll have the revised versions up on site.
 
Re: Re: rule from H2's link

Originally posted by Highlander II


it's a rule - and it's real - and it's supposed to be used -- why it doesn't get used properly, i'll never know --

to answer the teal'c voice -- a WIP = Work in Progress -- i'm famous for them - ie: i rarely finish anything i start - not b/c i don't want to, but b/c i'll get another really great idea and start on that one -- i'm really bad at sticking to one fic at a time --
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Same thing for me with the rule for an optional comma in a list just before the "and." I favor it and try to use it at work. The content department screams bloody murder. Unless, it's a Canadian thing. We have to make the content in the product work for both countries at the same time. Which is wacky because then we spell color, colour and favorites, favourites; or, something like that. No wonder I get my spelling messed up, working around here.

Ah, so I'm not alone to be working on three-- no, four-- stories at once?!
 
WIP's

Oh Lord... I just did a count and there are about 65 of the suckers in some stage of doneness [a few lines to 15 or so pages, which for me is long] hiding in the 'In Progress' folder.

GACK!:errrr:
 
Re: WIP's

Originally posted by Rowan
Oh Lord... I just did a count and there are about 65 of the suckers in some stage of doneness [a few lines to 15 or so pages, which for me is long] hiding in the 'In Progress' folder.

GACK!:errrr:
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WOW!! Rowan - you just kicked my butt by about 30 stories - i only have about 30 - 35 WIPs -- jeez!!! i thought *I* was bad!! whoa!!

wanna join Clan MacSlow? yeah, we're mostly Highlander types - actually - we're more Methos obsessed -- but we accept all types -- we're a cross-genre group ---

(sorry - don't have the URL -but it's listed at yahoogroups as ClanMacSlow)
 
Clans

Well, I certainly make the 'slow' part.

Now is where you're all gonna kill me. I've never seen 'Highlander'. Not on big or little screen. It's just never connected. When I've had time to watch, I can't find it and I forget to rent things.

Am I cast out into the eternal depths of Hell or is there still hope for redemption?:eek:
 
Re: Clans

Originally posted by Rowan
Well, I certainly make the 'slow' part.

Now is where you're all gonna kill me. I've never seen 'Highlander'. Not on big or little screen. It's just never connected. When I've had time to watch, I can't find it and I forget to rent things.

Am I cast out into the eternal depths of Hell or is there still hope for redemption?:eek:
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<gasp> never seen Highlander?? well - no, we won't cast you into the eternal depths of Hell - or send you to Sokhar -- mostly b/c there isn't a channel in the US that airs the series anymore --
however - i will strongly recommend that you rent at least the first movie - it will give you some idea of what we may discuss- but the Clan is mostly supposed to be a help area for writers who terminally get stuck -- writer's block is the most common cause - another is just toooo damned many good ideas just keep wanting to get on paper -- usually it's both --

so - you can still join - it's really a group of really slow fic writers -- don't have to be Highlander based fics - the group just happened to start in the Methos Addicts Public mailing list - so - Methos is generally the foremost character - but we mostly discuss writing techniques and we're working on setting up the website now and getting a forum underway ---

our illustrious leader is preparing to go on an archeaological dig (Daniel Jackson would be so proud! <even tho she's never seen Stargate>) -- so -she'll probably do one more update b4 she leaves --

website --- http://www.clanmacslow.f2s.com

(may have to put that in my sig)

and i there's a link to the yahoogroup from there -
currently - the only story i had up is down b/c i was reworking it - but when the update goes through -- i'll have 3 there i think -

enjoy!!
 
Clans and dirt

I understand were she's coming from. I did a month last year in Israel at Tell es-Safi, the Philistine city of Gath - the birthplace of Goliath.

It was an increadable experience. I wanted to come back this year, but no funds. I was asked back, as a matter of fact. Not bad for a self trained gofer volunteer on her first dig.

;)
 
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