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Showing results for tags 'writing'.
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So now that I am somewhat caught up on writing stuff, and finally did get a refreshing bit of inspiration earlier, why is it that I feel like I'm worse off than I was before? There are still some other ideas that I'd like to put into topics here on BZP eventually, and even though I want to work on them, I can't seem to get the drive to do it all of a sudden, even when I was ready to write just last night. Can't figure it out at all, and it's driving me nuts. Oh, and does anyone have any idea why the views for my latest story topic doubled from 40 to 80 today even though I only viewed it four times?
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So, like, after having a month or so of time, I finally edited and revised my entry for the Short Story Autumn Olympics of yesteryear. Basically took out most of the grammar errors, although I think that the vocabulary still could have used a few edits. If you were planning to read it before but didn't, now is the time. Really glad to finally be getting back on track with writing stuff, nonetheless. Reviews would be appreciated, as usual. The Mansion
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Wow, first story I've posted in... a while? So yeah, been meaning to get something up, and finally got around to keeping my word. It's nothing like I had originally planned on writing, nor is it something I think I'm especially proud of, but I'm glad I was able to write something. The story is an alternate version of S&D taking place after the unwritten end of the story, but it has nothing to do with the actual plotline and contains no story spoilers at all. It'd be really nice to get some reviews on this, because I haven't posted anything in forever and I'd like to know how my writing is doing these days. (read it this time, LK?) Wish You Were Here
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Left out her name for confidentiality's sake. But yeah. -Nuju Metru
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I recently dug up a paper draft for LST, containing an unfinished idea for one of the chapters. (Or whatever authors call "deleted scenes" ) I haven't looked at it for a while (hence why it never made it into LST), but it seems pretty interesting now that I'm looking back on it. Anybody want to see it? Or should I just keep it in the vault?
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When our eyes first met, something sparked, Because, as I looked into your irises of deep blue-green, I came to realize that you were special. When you placed your fingers, petite and elegant, onto mine, electricity shocked me to the core, Because, through that contact with your small, delicate digits, I came to realize that there was chemistry. When I looked at your face, I couldn’t look away, Because, as my eyes were graced with your visage, I came to realize that you were adorable. I came to realize that you were beautiful. When we hugged, I never wanted to let go, Because, as we were interlocked, I came to realize that holding you felt wonderful. When you smiled or laughed with me, my heart sang an ode to joy, Because, as we shared in a mirthful moment, I came to realize that you make me laugh. I came to realize that making you laugh was important to me. When I opened myself up to you, I felt like there was nothing I couldn’t tell you, Because, as you learned who I really was, and respected it, I came to realize that you understood. When we chatted for hours, I never wanted to have to say good-bye, Because, as we exchanged unspoken messages, I came to realize that you were the highlight of my day. When I told you I was in love with you, I poured my heart out, Because, as I professed how I felt, as I revealed what you meant to me, I came to realize what you meant to me. I came to realize that you meant everything to me. When you gently rejected me, I was not saddened, Because, as you replied to me, I could tell that you were truly sorry. I came to realize that I was important to you. When you wrote me a poem, I cried in joy, Because, as I read the words you had crafted for my benefit, I came to realize what you thought about me. I came to realize that you loved me. When that happened, I came to realize… more than can be put into words. I love you.
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This entry's going to be a bit personal. A lot of the techniques I use here when designing characters' personalities are mostly my own and might not work for everybody, but that's okay. I just wanted to post how I do it. Nobody has to agree with me, and I don't expect them to. Now onto the entry itslf: Whenever I start a story, I need to know who the protagonist(s) are going to be. I have to, even if I only have the bare bones of the plot itself. Really, I don't even need to know how the characters themselves look; so long as I know some of their basic personality traits and quirks I'll be happy and will be able to continue on with the story. Characters are the most important part of any story for me, whether it be a novel, short story, fanfic, script, or anything else. If I don't have the characters, I generally don't have the story since they are what drive it (particularly if it the story in question happens to be in first-person, in which knowing at least who the main viewpoint character is is absolutely essential IMO). When I start, say, a fantasy story, I don't immediately think, "Okay, I'll need the Knight in Shining Armor (or Heroic Mage, whatever you prefer) to figh the Dark Lord in order to retrieve the (insert name of quest object here), which will allow him to save the (princess/kingdom/world/universe/whatever)." I don't do this because it doesn't really allow me to write unique and interesting characters and it is just plain uncreative, too, since I don't like using cliches of any kind unless absolutely necessary. Perhaps you could sum up a story of mine like that (though I haven't ever written a story even remotely similar to that before), but I don't simply make a character a knight (or we could say "Toa" here, if you want) and leave him at that. Back in my old day I probably did that, but not anymore. I like to find out as much as I can about a character before writing him or her, generally during the writing process itself. You see, if all I did was think of my characters in terms of archtypes (like the Wise Old Mentor, for example) then they will never grow and become their own independent entities. They would become uninteresting cardboard cut-outs solely there to drive the plot, and I hate writing like that. It is disrespectful to the characters and makes it harder for me to write, since I never work well with outlines of any kind. Forcing my characters to do what I want, rather than what they want, is unnatural for me and just doesn't work. But back to the main point: When I start a story, I think of characters in what the story needs, not what I need. If I make a Wise Old Mentor, is it because I actually need him for the story or because I think that all stories I write should have a character like him with little-to-no variation, even though he has little purpose to the plot itself? It isn't so much the archetype itself that bothers me but the fact that if I wrote a Wise Old Mentor character and kept him like that forever that the story would probably be a lot less interesting than if I let him naturally change in his own way during the course of the story. True, I may create a character based off an archetype sometimes, but they rarely ever stay that way. They will usually evolve and grow, during both the planning and writing process. That is very good, because if your character manages to actually change and become his or her own character during the course of the story it means you've written a well-devleoped character, at least in my opinion. Part of the reason outlines never work with me is because I have little control over my characters' actions and I hate having to change what they would do in order for what the plot should be. Outlines may work for some people, but they don't for me. I prefer having my characters tell me the story, rather than me telling them the story. Just feels phony if I have to force them to go here or do this when they really want to go here or do this instead, and they are often far more right than I am. Doesn't mean I simply let them do anything they want, though. Sometimes, if I think they are deviating too far from the main plot or are in a pointless subplot that doesn't compliment the main plot in some way I will steer them back onto the main plot. This has happened to me a few times, where my characters have gone and done something that is so boring or pointless to the plot that I have to go and rewrite it into a more interesting, worthwhile scene instead. Still, I think following my characters and letting them do their own things is generally for the best. In closing, when I make characters, I start off with a few simply traits and build from there, while allowing the characters to grow and change beyond whatever traits I may have given them. I never let them stay archetypes (if I have based them off archtypes in the first place) and always allow them to grow and become who they want to be. Sometimes, if they are in a boring subplot, I may have to gently point them back in the right direction, but generally they do a pretty good job of their own figuring out where they want to go, plotwise. I find that way works best, at least for me. -TNTOS-
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I've run into a problem, and I need opinions on something. (I can't explain what this has to do with any of my projects at the time being, so you'll just have to wait.) What you tell me could shape a story I'm writing. Thanks for the help!
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First of all, Nuju Metru is friggin' awesome. Second, I'm getting Mata Nui for Christmas. I would have gotten Ackar, but MN has yellow parts, something that I don't have much of. I might even be able to use him for a self-MoC. Third, I never really realized how fun it is writing fiction. I think my work-in-progress SS will turn out good. I'll just say this: it's about the Tuyetverse. So, anyway, I need some name ideas, just to get me thinking. What do you think are good names for a Matoran, a Toa of Air and a Toa of Stone?
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...on my story! Yes, after nearly three months of not being able to get anything done concerning the plot, concepts, characters, outline, etcetera, I've actually found inspiration! And comes from many sources: My sister, who's first story ever written was only twenty pages long and at the time I deemed her the best author ever, (she's second best now, Dekker aside.) the fact that my hometown has spawned at least six or seven published authors, the fact that the guy who wrote Eragon was only fifteen at the time, and the fact that my writing outright sucks. The pacing is terrible, the characters generic, the antagonist unmotivated... On the bright side, it's around sixteen pages long after cutting more than half the text for being pointless, irrelevant chatting and tedium. And I haven't even begun to expand sections to put the pacing at a proper level. So... =3
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I have the hiccups. In other news, I completed the first draft of a short story today. (No, not the one mentioned earlier.) I'll probably have at least two more drafts before I post it, but yeah. Expect it before New Year's.
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So, you've all heard about the new serial coming up, right? No? Well, here you go. Cool, eh? Yeah, I can't wait for that. In this topic, I voted Lightning, Magnetism, The Green, and Psionics (FTW). But let's get to the point. I kinda had an idea, inspired by this, to write a short story about a Toa team of my creation. Maybe even a series, if it comes out good. So, watch'a think? Should I attempt such a feat? Republished, 'cause I want responses.
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As of tonight I have finished my NaNoWriMo novel, Two Worlds. Though I did reach the 50k mark last month, the novel itself hadn't actually been finished, but I did finish it tonight at 90,591 words. Hooray! However, I am putting it aside for now to begin work on An Unlike Alliance's third (and hopefully final) draft. With TW out of the way I can put all of my energy on AUA. I expect it'll be up by summer 2010 at the latest, possibly spring at the earliest depending on how fast I get through the editing. Time to celebrate and stuff . -TNTOS-
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My last one before I head to Hawaii. =P So yeah, I finally wrapped up that BZProvince sub-plot, involving my character, Kagha's, Rockhound's, Xomeron's, and goodness knows how many other people. Hopefully I won't get shot for this.
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Check this website out. Found a link to it on another website yesterday. It tells you how many words you can type in a minute, though the disclaimer at the bottom says that it is not perfect and will only give you a clue as to where you are, speedwise. Still fun and slightly addicting to do, though. Almost like a game, really. My personal best is 87 a minute without missing a single word. Of course, that doesn't mean I always write 87 words minute, since I don't usually type that fast during any other typing activities. Still, it's nice to know how fast I can go when I'm aiming for quantity over quality, though. -TNTOS-
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I just learned (literally five minutes ago) that there's a new female element: everything that has to do with the mind (telekinesis, telepathy, mind control, mental attacks . . . the list is endless). This wound up changing my plans for the LST sequel (yes, I said sequel. Rejoice, H&H fans) a bit, but just a bit. Also, due to a lack of writer's block, the Epilogue for LST should arrive fashionably early.
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Boom-de-ya-da, Boom-de-ya-da . . .
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I did it! I finished NaNoWriMo a few minutes ago, reaching 51k as of tonight. Yay and stuff . However, the story itself is far from finished and I will likely be working on it well into December, which means I won't be working on AUA for a while longer. Personally I felt that NaNoWriMo was a fresh change from having to work on my fanfics, though I eagerly look forward to getting back to working with the Toa Shika and related characters again . -TNTOS-
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Chapter 20 -- done and posted. Just the epilogue, and then LST will be finished.
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So if you're one of the elite few (marketing ftw ) that still has any interest in my only epic, Search and Destroy, it might be of your remote concern that after two and a half months since revising the first chapter, I've finally posted the revised version of the second chapter. If you haven't read the epic yet, I'd obviously encourage you to do so. I've put a lot of effort into the two revisions I've done so far, and I do want to finish the story at some point. If I'm ever going to do that, though, it'd be nice to have some encouragement. If you guys don't see another revision up before this weekend, please send me hate-PM's telling me to work on it so I'll have it up before Sunday night, okay?
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As the title suggests, I have two conflicting impulses regarding my fanfiction that just won't settle their differences and become friends: On one hand, whenever I post a new fanfic I almost always crave reviews. Good reviews, bad reviews, constructive criticism . . . whatever anyone has to offer. So I advertize it in my sig, in my blog, doing whatever I can to make sure that everyone and their dog knows about it. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I do expect people to read my stuff and reply, though I never ask or force anyone to make any reviews unless they state in their sig that they take requests. Yet on the other hand, I am frightend of what other people will say about my work. While I am reasonably confident that my fics are fairly well-written, I can't say for sure unless someone tell me so, and I'm probably not a very good judge of my own quality as a writer is often blinded by his own biased eye and will therefore be unable to find much problems with his work unless he's editing/revising. Sure, most of the replies that I do get are usually quite positive, but I still get this paranoia going on and my mind starts to ask questions like, "What if this character is too bland or annoying or underdeveloped?" Or "What if I wrote something that will offend people?" And "What if the plot doesn't make sense?" Among the many many other things that also frighten me, though those tend to be the most prominant. Generally these fears and worries are unfounded and most people tend to like what I've wrote with few complaints or questions regarding the plot, characters, etc, but I still worry that someone, some day may just write me a review ripping my works apart. What do I do if that happens? Well, as it so turns out, I have also thought of what to do if that were to happen. I'll do as I always do: Just reply as best as I can to the reviewer's points, complaints, and criticisms. That's really all I can do, and I don't think I can do any better. I'm sure many writers have these conflicting impulses whenever they decide to show their work to others for the first time, even if they have been doing it for years. But I suppose my desire to become a better writer and get a lot of replies (not that I am saying that the two are always interconnected, but I feel that I could become better with a few more constructive reviews) outweighs my fear of getting critized harshly, which also seems to be the case of most writers that I've read about. And anyway, if I plan to get published someday I will need to learn to take rejection and criticism, although I think that I take it reasonably well, as I rarely ever shout or yell at harsh reviews. But I suppose my fear of harsh criticsm isn't an entirely bad thing. After all, it usually encourages me to write even better so they won't have anything to critize. Not sure how many times that actually works, though. -TNTOS-
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CHAPTER 19 OF LST -- POSTED!
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I'm just about done with the nineteenth chapter of Lightning Strikes Twice. If I actually concentrate, I might actually post it this weekend!
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...but none will answer the door! (If you know what that's from, then you're immediately awesome. ) So yeah, managed to get my SSAO P3 entry in just literally seconds over the time limit. Not sure if I'm officially into the contest yet, but I'd rather have readers after the contest so I can make edits. Because of time, I was forced to publish the entry without doing any proofreading or editing whatsoever, so I can only cross my fingers and pray that everything is in order. Anyway, good luck to everyone else who entered, and may the best writer (probably not me ) win! The Mansion
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In a way, I have no idea where the inspiration for this story came from other than nostalgia. I was listening to some music from Super Mario 64, and my mind just took off on its own road. I just started writing without any particular goal, and managed to accomplish two things for the first time: writing something short (), and writing something the moment I thought about it. I'm honestly very pleased that I overcame these two hurdles to write this. I hope you'll check it out, and I also hope that you'll enjoy it. Flying Alone
