Larian Studios Forums General Chat The Adorant

Lucretia...

I actually picked up Fritz Lieber's (American - sorry Kiya <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />) Lankhmar series for the first time after I read a book review by him. Lieber's review was so beautifully written that I knew I had to read his novels! Real writing skill shows in anything the writer writes, I agree <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

@ Elliot_Kane I wrote the above coment about Leather_Raven because she managed to express with two words a picture I had in my head. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And yes we agree in that matter. Imagine how powerfull and talented a writer is when he/she manages to express with only two words a whole picture with bright colours which you have in your head without even knowing it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> Btw I have read some of your work.

Lucretia...



You have? Oh, cool! Do I want to know what you thought? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

I will post you my opinion via pm if you do not mind. I think I prefer that.

Please do <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I will. Just give me some time to read some more <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

One of my favourite requests! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Correct - this is why I show my stuff only to people I trust and know in RL. Not because they are "merciful", but because I know them well enough and they know me.
You see, I believe stories "trigger" the inner worlds, imagination of the reader - so, I choose people, who have a similar world to mine. Therefore, I'd not place them into public.

[color:"yellow"]******************[/color]


Alrik painted a "pastel coloured" story, this was what I felt in the German version - so, I did not think about the reason for this Goddess, I took her as she was - as he described her. I required no further background info, because - as I understood the story - this was not his aim. His aim was the relationship between both protagonists - a sort of snapshot. He made a sketch of her - this was sufficient, the colours came due to their interaction. So, their relationship was idealised to show an archetype. Ok, I can like/dislike this archetype, but does not restrict me from understanding the story. Even if Alrik's story was intended totally different - this was the outcome for me. I do not need brilliant phrases, a lot of descriptions. I take up the atmosphere, c'est tout - and it is a pity, translation missed the atmosphere.
Kiya

If you ask me about the archetype as I understood it: Sorry, I do not believe in faith for faith's sake or in a Goddess thanking this, but do I count? I don't think so, as it is Alrik's adorant and Alrik's Goddess and Alrik's idealism and finally, Alrik's story. And yes, I used these repeats on purpose now.

Kiya...

Other than the name thing, all I meant to say was that Alrik has laid the groundwork for a lot of future stories with this one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I certainly would not expect a goddess of any kind to explain herself to her worshippers, nor is it needful for Alrik's story that she do so. As you say - it is a snapshot <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The important thing is that Alrik knows the reasons, which I'm sure he does <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

As you know yourself, writing any kind of story takes a lot of preparation and background building, most of which will never show in the actual story itself. I know I do enormous amounts of thinking about my characters and what motivates them before I ever put hand to keyboard. Any time a character runs into something new, their reaction must be instinctive and natural, else the reader will lose the necessary 'suspension of disbelief'. And world building is worse.

If it looked like I was criticising Alrik (Apart from the name thing) that was not my intent <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Very very sorry, Elliot - I thought putting in a free line in my last post would show, the rest was not meant in your direction - please, forgive me?
Kiya <trying to get down on her knees, trying to ignore her creaking
bones>

Better now? I put in [color:"yellow"]******** [/color] to separate and simply show my general thoughts?

No apology needed, Kiya <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think everyone makes that mistake at some time <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Not criticizing your person, but there's an advantage to opening yourself to diverse opinions. I find that, if I feed my stories to people with views and interests too similar to mine, I'd only get empty yes-men praises. See, different people would be able to see my writing the way I can't. They might be able to find that seam to poke at, and my story'd fall apart -- plot holes the likes of which you can shove an oliphaunt through, illogic that will make baby Einstein cry, and so on.



Oy, are we operating on the "It's his story, so he can do whatever he wants!" here? Okay, that may be true, but he also put his work up for public view, and while an author can write whatever the hell he/she wants to, no one's obliged to like it or view it the way the author wants the reader to.

@ Winterfox
So where could we find some of your work to read? Can you inform us or put a link somewhere?

Argh.

My signature? Signature? Down there? (It links to my KotOR fanfic, but I'm sure everyone's resourceful enough to go from there to my profile.)

Argh.

Luc, winterfox's signature is one of her many works. The Shadow You Cast.

Could you repeat it once more?

Oh, and if anyone wants to read a short piece, one of my interludes -- part of the fic linked in my signature, but can be read independently -- is featured here for the week. (Probably the week's drawing to a close even as we speak, but okay...)

Not quite, young Shark <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> - not quite. My intention was not to oblige a reader to like a story - but putting oneself into the writer's shoes and seeing it from this point of view then, is what I wanted to point out. So, the writer as a traveller's guide and the reader as the tourist - the country is the writer's one, and she/he has to lead on. This involves the reader's willingness to follow first and then point out missing/lacking parts - in respect for the story and with the care to help advance it.


Nonono, it is not about stroking a writer's ego with empty praises. Heavens, Winterfox, writing shouldn't turn out into a "I win, you lose" competition. But if I show a story to a person I trust/know (well, at least those I know, ok? ) she still is clearly able to see what I missed, where I got lost in words or missed a description. And why? Well BECAUSE of the similar views/interests. I don't need "enemies" for this, specially not the kind I meet on my RL tourist travels during my vacations. Guess, you know this kind? Puckered up, sour facial expression, nasal, nagging intonation - and not forgetting the pointed finger, showing with disgust at places?
Kiya

I was asked a few times to read a novel and express my view - if I know it's a genre, I can't make friends with => I refuse and explain. I'm not in the position then to do the story justice. And why? Well, because I have blockades - this wouldn't help the writer at all.

"Young" shark? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

No, no, I don't mean just the empty praises. Sometimes people with view too similar to my own think the way I think -- and so they don't see the flaws that someone with completely different views will see. Of course, remotely similar interests would be desired; no sense shoving fantasy down the throat of someone who'd rather have a dental operation than touch anything with sword-and-sorcery fluff.

I agree here, Sea-Wolverine <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> - "too similar" would be looking into the same mirror, so no progress possible. I think, it is good to find someone first, who shares the same "world interest" to improve the major missing parts - and afterwards find someone who is curious enough to like an invitation into this world, but sees it with more distance (this is the step I'm still missing, due to cowardice)
Kiya