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Elfëa
03-30-2003, 05:06 PM
As the Discussion on Future Books has taken an OT turn, I'll present you with new thread!

Originally posted by Xazinon

Originally posted by Elfëa
Oo! Draco fiction that hasn't been affected by the fandom :p (Fanon character of Draco tends to be iceprince, redeemed... lovely character, but gets boring after a while, except for Draco Trilogy, that is :p)

Post it on the fanfic forum, will you? ;)

Hmm... I don't consider myself a good writer. :p Medicore :p But, that's cause I know it :notworthy
and part of the problem is that I cannot yet write different styles, I 've got hang of few, but I'm still working on my writings. :p And it's only my first year of Creative Writing so far...

You think I should post it hmm, despite my reservations about its quality? Well, you seem interested. I'll think about it. :)

Different styles are difficult: I always have trouble trying to write in a certain style. The major problems I usually have is when I'm supposed to write something serious: I find it very hard to resist attempting to put some satire in there somewhere, as you may have noted from The Saga. ;)

I suppose being able to write different styles makes you more rounded as a writer and gives you different persepectives on the stuff you have already written, which is an advantage. It would also point out to you which styles you may be best suited to, I imagine. But I don't think you would have to be incredibly proficient in all of them to be a good writer: if you're good with one style, that should probably be your go, and use the other styles to flesh it out a little. :)
I realise that this is not really the point of Creative Writing, but I wouldn't think too many writers are successful writing in a heap of different styles.

I dunno... that's just my opinion. Correct me if you want: I find it an interesting point, and don't mind discussing it at all. :)

I think that there is somewhat of a feeling, in many areas, that it is only when you start to try and do something that you realise how far it is that you really have to go. I've had guitar lessons for about 2 years, and it's only now that I realise just how good some of those guys like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton are... absolute geniuses! :notworthy:
In some ways, it's kinda like I'm almost worse than when I started: I didn't really know then how much talent it really takes. I suppose being a bit of a perfectionist doesn't help, but yeah, you get my point. :)

And my reply to it:

Originally posted by Xazinon
You think I should post it hmm, despite my reservations about its quality? Well, you seem interested. I'll think about it. :)

C'mon, we others have posted our stories there :p Including me...

Different styles are difficult: I always have trouble trying to write in a certain style. The major problems I usually have is when I'm supposed to write something serious: I find it very hard to resist attempting to put some satire in there somewhere, as you may have noted from The Saga. ;)

Something serious, as essays? Or some story, with serious theme? I think only such works as essays need to avoid obvious ;) satires/humor...
I can't write humour properly, that's my flaw... :o

I suppose being able to write different styles makes you more rounded as a writer and gives you different persepectives on the stuff you have already written, which is an advantage. It would also point out to you which styles you may be best suited to, I imagine. But I don't think you would have to be incredibly proficient in all of them to be a good writer: if you're good with one style, that should probably be your go, and use the other styles to flesh it out a little. :)
I realise that this is not really the point of Creative Writing, but I wouldn't think too many writers are successful writing in a heap of different styles.

No, actually, it's one point of Creative Writing, one which we don't discuss enough in the class. Partly because everyone has a different style. However, when I started the class, I myself stated that I want to be able to write different stories, not only stories that are stuck in one style - it gets monoteneus- for example, if you read on Jane Austen's book, you know the rest... The style does not change notably. :p (And that's why I never bother reading them ;)) But as example of Austen points out - you can be world wide known author, even if you can only write with one style :)

But I disagree up to one point - I think writer has to be at least aware of other styles and have some sort of hang of them. As you said, to use the to flesh out the story.
And, One point of Creative Writing, IMO, is to find your style. If you aren't aware of the styles possible, you cannot find your own style!

I dunno... that's just my opinion. Correct me if you want: I find it an interesting point, and don't mind discussing it at all. :)

Hmm... I thought about starting a thread earlier, about writing in the fanfic forum, but I never bothered... maybe some of the mods could cut these couple posts and make a thread? :o I should do it myself, but I shouldn't even be online right now, but working on writing a play.

I think that there is somewhat of a feeling, in many areas, that it is only when you start to try and do something that you realise how far it is that you really have to go. I've had guitar lessons for about 2 years, and it's only now that I realise just how good some of those guys like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton are... absolute geniuses! :notworthy:
In some ways, it's kinda like I'm almost worse than when I started: I didn't really know then how much talent it really takes. I suppose being a bit of a perfectionist doesn't help, but yeah, you get my point. :) [/B]

I know perfectly well what you mean - the more you know, the better you realise how little you know. :)
That goes with my writings and with my horse riding. :p

lithorose
03-30-2003, 05:59 PM
Awww, thank you!! lith :hug: Elfea

Now, to add my two cents:

Jane Austen's books are NOT all the same! The characters have different names, so :p!

I agree writing in different styles is good exercise. Not only do you stretch your abilities, but it's a good way to find out what works for you as a writer. And further, it helps you to understand character, which will improve your writing whatever style you end up writing in.

Lately I've been noticing how important comedy is in writing. Not just the slapstick stand-up kind, but any kind of humor. Even non-humorous writing needs some, and the punchline is necessary to most stories. By punchline I mean the unexpected way things develop in the story. Most stories fall into well-trod paths; be they romance or drama or adventure. There are only so many plots to go around. But what's interesting a lot of the time is the way the author gets to their conclusions, often unexpectedly, like the punchline of a joke.

Elfëa
03-30-2003, 06:07 PM
:hug: What I wouldn't do for our lovely mods? ;)

I agree on the need of comedy - that's one thing I lack as a writer.

One thing you have to learn is to write for different genres, to understand different ways of working - I have so far written short stories - and I love writing them. But, since I started my course I have been made to write also plays and dialogue, something that I dislike writing, because I cannot use all the ways possible - my devices are limited.
At the moment I'm writing a radio play (and cursing every 5 seconds) - the most difficult thing is to create different characters (without using accents!) by only use of voice and the interaction with other characters. And, for some reason, because I personally do not know many gays (and none English speaking), the most difficult voice to write is the gay boy's. (The play is about coming out, and it's bad, and still work in progress... and deadline is tomorrow!) For some reason bickering females are easy to write ;)

StarGazr
03-30-2003, 07:54 PM
I think that as people write for a long time, their writing evolves... but then again, with the Jane Austen thing, her writing did stay the same... hmmm
I've been writing fanfiction for six years now, and I have definitely evolved as a writer. My mediocre beginning include Mary Sues (:o Oh my...) and just cheese... yeah cheese!! I've found that since I've started my latest piece (my as of yet unrevealed Hermione/Severus piece... hehe, Colli!) my writing has taken a very serious turn. The piece flows so much better because I've become more attentive to detail and structure, and less on how much people talk talk talk!
I've been distracted by the phone and have lost my train of thought... so... I'm off to work on my H/S piece... something I doubt you'll be seeing here cuz I don't think the subject matter (mainly H/S together) is appropriate for the boards... so bye until I get an intelligent thought in my head

Colli
03-30-2003, 09:18 PM
Hmm.. Jane Austen. I've never actually read her books, but I've seen Sense & Sensibility and Pride & Prejudice and I find a major plot line she tends to follow. ;) After reading a plot summary, I found out that Persuasion was much similar, yet.. different. First of all, it doesn't follow the X_____ & X_____ title formula. ;) Second of all, well, I can't remember exactly what it was. But it's different. :p As for Emma, I've never read, never seen the movie, so there.

StarGazr... speaking of the Snape/Hermione fic, when on earth am I going to get the rest of chapter one?

Patience isn't one of my virtues, you know. ;)

lithorose
03-30-2003, 10:18 PM
Colli, you should definitely read P&P. It's not that long, either, and is a little zippier than her other books. All her books are similar, yet different. And rent the Gwyneth Paltrow Emma. It's great! First Austen I ever encountered.


Stereotypically gay men talk like valley girls, only more annoying (at least I think so). Very nasal with a slight lisp. At least Americans do. And most gay men I know do talk at least a little bit like this.

And your comedy is there Elfea, you just haven't found it yet.:)

Fleurdelacour
03-31-2003, 02:30 PM
I've never read Jane Austen, well, I was going to... After seeing Emma in the cinema, I bought it, but its now at the bottom of the English Channel... I gave up ;)

I think humor is very important, whether its slapstick, or my favourite, satire (god bless Rory Bremner! :notworthy )

I've been writing stories since I was little, always loved and enjoyed it :) I wrote my first (terrible!) 'series' at the age of about eight, it was about a little girl called Flossie and her friend Hilary who camped out in the garden and waited for the aliens to come :p

However, I started writing fan fiction three years ago, and the story I wrote (After Hogwarts) became a cult... :eek: I kept on getting emails from all these people... People started praising me for dealing with teenage pregancy! It was very, surreal, but it's feedback like that that gives a writer the urge to write more. I then wrote another one, got 153 reviews on ff.net... Inspiration just kept on coming, then summer 2000 ended.... and I joined here ;) Ruined me :p

When someone reviews a story, and says, oh I don't know, "I adore this fanfic. Please write more!" or "I can't stop laughing! This is great, please please continue!" etc.

Constructive Critisim is also good, however, when someone doescritisie your work, and then says nothing nice, it can be a bit off putting.

Yes I'm blabbering on, my English teacher tells me off for doing so.. :o This may also sound like an awful plea for anyone to review my stories!

Hopefully, when I start as-level English Language and Literature in September, I can develop my 'skills' more :rolleyes: GCSE English Language and Literature doesn't really do anything skills wise, just gives you a basic layout for Shakespere, Media, creative writing, etc.... *sigh* roll on September...

yes, I'll shut up now....

Elfëa
03-31-2003, 03:53 PM
But, reading other authors really develops your skills more than just writing yourself - and not only reading, but reading critically. Reading critically is one of the major things that writer has to learn. And it becomes even more difficult - you have to learn to use that skill on your own writings. ;)

I started writing fanfiction for different fandom around -98 (I've had internet since -97!), but I've never been famous writer, as I hardly ever plug for my stories. Because I'm just experiencing writing, and I don't need comments "I loooooooff it."
I'm not after for "I love it" attitude, but constructive critism (cause I know I'm not perfect... no where near.) and that's why I usually post my fics on places where I know I'll get the critism. Or places where I know ppl might read it, but don't comment.

So far - elsewhere than here - I've had few good reviews, (by good I mean constructive), but I have lovely constructive betas, whose comments mean loads.

On original writings:
I had one of my stories workshopped in class today, anonymously, because the teacher wanted them be nameless. It was shred to pieces, because it WASN*T a good piece. (I knew it, but submitted it because I wanted teachers points about it - what he thinks is good. And, mostly ppl pointed out the things I knew. But the teacher actually pointed out that the structure was good, interesting experiement (sp?) - thing that none of my class mates noticed ;))

Okei, I leave it here. I've horrid headache. :( Like, someone's been :trout:ing me too long...

StarGazr
03-31-2003, 11:23 PM
Originally posted by Colli
StarGazr... speaking of the Snape/Hermione fic, when on earth am I going to get the rest of chapter one?

Patience isn't one of my virtues, you know. ;)

Colli... you know WHAT!!! It's very frustrating trying to write the piece I'm writing... it makes me very *sob* emotional *Cry* and I can't focus!! You KNOW I had to delete an entire scene between Albus and Severus... and... well... well.... grrrrrrrrr
God I love being a fanfic author! :D

Xazinon
04-01-2003, 02:39 AM
Originally posted by Elfëa


C'mon, we others have posted our stories there Including me...



Something serious, as essays? Or some story, with serious theme? I think only such works as essays need to avoid obvious satires/humor...
I can't write humour properly, that's my flaw...



No, actually, it's one point of Creative Writing, one which we don't discuss enough in the class. Partly because everyone has a different style. However, when I started the class, I myself stated that I want to be able to write different stories, not only stories that are stuck in one style - it gets monoteneus- for example, if you read on Jane Austen's book, you know the rest... The style does not change notably. (And that's why I never bother reading them ;)) But as example of Austen points out - you can be world wide known author, even if you can only write with one style :)

But I disagree up to one point - I think writer has to be at least aware of other styles and have some sort of hang of them. As you said, to use the to flesh out the story.
And, One point of Creative Writing, IMO, is to find your style. If you aren't aware of the styles possible, you cannot find your own style!



I shouldn't even be online right now, but working on writing a play.



I know perfectly well what you mean - the more you know, the better you realise how little you know. :)
That goes with my writings and with my horse riding. [/QUOTE]

Alright, I'll post my scene sometime, I'm just wondering if I should be tempted to try and change it a bit or leave it as it is, hmm....

Probably more stories than essays I struggle with, Elfea. Essays I can usually cope with because of all the references and everything and you don't get the chance to be very creative. It's when I'm being creative and writing a story that is supposed to be serious that it becomes hard: I have a tendency to try and make almost anything funny! I don't know if this is necessarily a bad thing, but it probably means I don't enjoy serious writing all that much.

Ah, monotony! I haven't actually read any Jane Austen (abuse me if you wish, but it's true) but I get your point. If you were going to be a writer with only one style, it WOULD get boring just writing the same thing basically over and over, even if it did make you world famous ala Austen. Boredom is the last thing you want as a writer: one step away from writer's block in some regards. Main thing is that you're happy doing what you're doing, I'd reckon! :)

On Austen though, anyone here ever read Northanger Abbey? I haven't (obviously) but we have discussed it in classes as an early from of gothic writing, which apparently Austen was a fan of. From what I understand, it has some of the hallmarks of her other books, but it is also a parody, which makes it sound a little different to the rest of her books, at least in my view. Maybe it's worth a look. :)


Moving on, you're right about the styles, too, Eflea: if you don't know all the styles, maybe you can't choose which one is for you! However, I'd be guessing there is probably a natural tendency there that gets writers into writing in the first place, or learning about writing, and this is probably a variation on one style or another. Although this would probably do for a lot of people, having a good knowledge of the mechanics of all the different styles would enable you to be better at your chosen style. :)

Well, the play sounds as if it is giving you a few problems: hope you can work through them! Sorry, can't help you with the gay guy thing: as far as I know, I'm not really acquainted with any of them. I take it the characters are already chosen for you then, huh? Or were you just trying to challenge yourself by having a variety?

Horse riding huh? That would be pretty neat to able to do. I've only done it once, and I don't think I was all that successful. Hope it goes well for you though!

Also, I think in one of your other posts you mentioned reading critically: there is certainly some skill involved in that. Have you done any deconstruction? I did that last year, and although it sounded really complicated to begin with, once I got the grasp of it I really got into it and enjoyed it. I don't know if that's really relevant, but I thought I'd relate it anyways! :D

Well, that's enough out of me: I can hardly remember everything I said even now, LOL! I'll have to read it back later...

One last thing: this may be just me being really stupid today or something, but what do you mean by the term OT? :o

lithorose
04-01-2003, 04:58 AM
OT=Off Topic:)
On Austen though, anyone here ever read Northanger Abbey? I haven't (obviously) but we have discussed it in classes as an early from of gothic writing, which apparently Austen was a fan of. From what I understand, it has some of the hallmarks of her other books, but it is also a parody, which makes it sound a little different to the rest of her books, at least in my view. Maybe it's worth a look. I've read it, and it is unique for being both a gothic novel and a parody of a gothic novel. That takes talent! I didn't think it was her best work though; she wrote it when she was pretty young. P&P is much better; it skewers the people in that society pretty good. I think people tend to miss the humor in her works but there is actually a lot of biting humor to them. Ah, well, I could go on at length. OT, a space opened up today for the Austen class at my school and i signed up. So you will probably hear a lot more about this in the next three months!:D

Xazinon
04-02-2003, 02:52 AM
Oh yeah, Off Topic! Duh! :trout: s himself for being stupid. I actually thought "It's off topic, idiot!" on the bus on the way home today: I was drawing a complete blank yesterday! Thanks for filling me in anyways, lithorose. :)

Gothic and a parody of gothic: you're right, that is talented! So, Pride and Prejudice is better? Hmm. Perhaps I should read an Austen book or two one of these days...

Any space left in that Austen class, lithorose? ;) :LOL:

lithorose
04-02-2003, 04:48 AM
I think you'd enjoy it. 40 women. One guy. Nuff said.

Xazinon
04-03-2003, 03:01 AM
Woohoo! Sounds perfect! :D

Hehe, that remind me of an episode of Home Improvement where Brad did home economics to meet girls, but all the other guys caught onto his idea and there ended up being an all boy class! LOL, what a backfire! :LOL: