[LuisBellic]

Im almost ready to post my Star Wars Episode VII fanfic, I just need help with a title.

[Mokrie Dela]

QUOTE (Tyler @ Saturday, Jun 16 2012, 02:27)

Fan fiction doesn't sell well for most people (ignore Fifty Shades of Grey). Even on forums dedicated to writing, I see the general fiction and poetry sections being livelier than a fan fiction section. It's how things are. I would rather be reading an original piece of work, as opposed to an original piece of work set in a universe created by someone else. Suppose that's the general thought process.

That seems to be the case. It's a shame, as I do beleive there is some good stuff out there.

Strangely though the website lacks a section for normal stories - not short stories. They discourage putting up entire works, for the obvious reasons...

LuisBellic, I can't help there, sorry. Im not too great at titles, especially when i don't know what's going on

[Rofl50]

I've recently started working on a thriller called "Archon Assault" Which will be first in a series of missions starring "Steven Ashe" (an Ex SAS, now working for British/US Intelligence, carrying out deniable ops.)

[Ziggy455]

I've hit a brick wall. It's a pretty big one too. Lately, I've just lost all faith in myself as a writer. Everything I write I end up throwing away, deleting, and never picking up again. On top of that, I can never seem to plan a decent story out and if I do, it's normally hackneyed and rehashed. On top of nobody really ever giving me a lot of feedback, I'm just looking at my work more and more and realizing that I'm just not a very good writer, and that even though I try, I just can't seem to get where I want to be. I just hate everything I write, and even when I have drafted it over, and over, and over, it still comes off as a cliche, rushed piece, even if I plan it out right.

I'm slipping at the moment.

[Rofl50]

QUOTE (Ziggy455 @ Saturday, Jun 16 2012, 13:39)

I've hit a brick wall. It's a pretty big one too. Lately, I've just lost all faith in myself as a writer. Everything I write I end up throwing away, deleting, and never picking up again. On top of that, I can never seem to plan a decent story out and if I do, it's normally hackneyed and rehashed. On top of nobody really ever giving me a lot of feedback, I'm just looking at my work more and more and realizing that I'm just not a very good writer, and that even though I try, I just can't seem to get where I want to be. I just hate everything I write, and even when I have drafted it over, and over, and over, it still comes off as a cliche, rushed piece, even if I plan it out right. I'm slipping at the moment.

maybe try changing your style of writing? Do you always write in 3rd/1st person? If so maybe change it. Something like that you know.

[Mokrie Dela]

Maybe you need a break of sorts

Try some writing excercises, maybe write a letter to yourself on how you feel then Try to write a positive reply...?

I sort of know how you feel. Everyday I have these thoughts. I know I'm a good writer, but am I good enough? Pfft

[saltinespike]

Can we have a Zombie-themed short story competition? For some reason, my obsession with this post-apocalyptic theme has been resurfacing lately.

[Mokrie Dela]

I'm having some difficulties researching my current project. It's a western, with an undisclosed twist, but i'm finding it hard to gather the information to put into it.

Things like the language used, the words and the WAY they say things, the overall setting (though im confident on that) etc. I found a few websites but im not sure on their reliability.

Any advice in doing this research? I've used western novels, western films (which i find lacking), and computer games (RDR i find is a very good, yet rose tinted, take on it).

I want to avoid the glossy look, i want the work to be down to earth and gritty, to highlight the struggles and the constant fight that my character's going to be in.

Should I just try to source from several places and wing it (with the setting and theme), and just have trust in the language websites?

[Craig]

As long as you don't stray to far into stereotype waters, you'll be fine. 1800s America wasn't vastly different to today believe it or not - after all, it was only 200 years ago which is nothing as far as human behaviour is concerned. Stick with novels and movies and you'll be fine. Avoid too much of this "city slicker", "y'all", "dang nabbit" business and you'll be fine. It isn't like we'll run you out of town for slight inconsistencies.

[saltinespike]

Lots of cursing! That'd be my guess. Obviously avoid being tacky about it and you have to be careful not to overuse it, but any time I see a supposedly "gritty" story without some cursing (in the dialogue, I mean), I'm not completely convinced by it's authenticity. Just try to think in the mindset that death was commonplace, especially among the type of characters that I'm assuming you'd be writing about. There are very few GOOD modern western films, but I'd give them a look, at least for the atmosphere that they're laid out in. The stories may not be the best, but films like that have research teams just to make the set look as realistic as possible. It probably also wouldn't hurt to go through a few photo archives.

EDIT: Also, if you can hack it without snoozing off, this is probably the 53 most accurate minutes of Wyatt Earp's history.

This post has been edited by saltinespike on Thursday, Jun 28 2012, 22:38

[AdidasMan]

I recently had an idea about writing a short story about a Mohawk Indian in Liberty City. As some people may know, there's a reservation not too far from
New York city and many Mohawks have worked in construction sites in NYC. So I thought that would make a good short story about a Native American trying to live the American Dream with him having a vanishing past and all.

[LuisBellic]

I was thinking on Star Wars Episode VII story of adding a group of aliens from another galaxy trying to take over. I was also thinking of having Jar Jar Binks in the series in Episode VIII but I will kill him off that annoying thing.

[Ziggy455]

QUOTE (LuisBellic @ Saturday, Jun 30 2012, 19:13)

I was thinking on Star Wars Episode VII story of adding a group of aliens from another galaxy trying to take over. I was also thinking of having Jar Jar Binks in the series in Episode VIII but I will kill him off that annoying thing.

Wouldn't that be a little out of the whole Star Wars terminology? I mean if there is a race of beings taking over, wouldn't they have done it much earlier? It doesn't sound like a bad idea but how would you make this worthy of a VI continuation that links the two besides characters?

[Mokrie Dela]

QUOTE (saltinespike @ Thursday, Jun 28 2012, 22:31)

if you can hack it without snoozing off, this is probably the 53 most accurate minutes of Wyatt Earp's history.

Thanks for that; the channel has loads of interesting videos, several about the wild west and american history, as well as an interesting one on Bigfoot.

Spent the last few hours watching them. Interesting stuff.

[blitz]

After playing loads of Skyrim I actually got an idea, well, not really an idea, but a thought, if that makes sense.

I think, that creating a completely new universe would be f*cking sweet, if done right, of course. So, just for sh*ts and giggles I got out a notebook and started creating this list of things I'd like to see in this universe.

No matter what I do, as in, seriously, no matter what I do - anything I write ends up being way too similar to Skyrim. Seriously.

I think it'd be incredibly awesome to write something in the TES universe, but I want to create something different. Any tips on not subliminally copying off this already existent universe?

I mean, so far I've just been writing and reading what I wrote for like a gazillion times, if it's too similar to anything I've seen before I'll erase it and crack my skull for a few minutes trying to think up something different. Don't think that's right.

This is why I hate taking inspiration off things, although that's pretty essential.

Edit: Oh yeah, it also happened to me that I had this awesome f*cking story. It was seriously awesome, and I was really f*cking proud and I go to my brother and I tell him this idea, and he's like, isn't that Oblivion?

DAMN YOU BETHESDA.

This post has been edited by blitz on Sunday, Jul 1 2012, 20:16

[Mokrie Dela]

it can be a problem at times blitz.

I had a story that i loved. It followed a computer hacker in the not to distant future, and took inspiration from the Net Force books, in the sense that the internet became a virtual reality world. A forum became a bar, where people would chat, online shopping became a virtual supermarket etc.

The hacker would make money through cyber mercenary work
So what's wrong with that?

It was huge rip off of the Matrix, despite not being based on it at all. It was based on the book mentioned and the world of modding.

I ended up scraping it. It wasnt well written either.


As for your problem - first thing to ask is what sort of style are you after? Is it going to be a medievil/magic sort of world? Is that necassary?

At the end of the day, pretty much any story has been done before - it depends on how you write it. What can set your story aside from Skyrim (or indeed any other game/film/book)?

I'd say your best bet is to have a good hard think, try to identify what is making it seem too similar and tackle it. You can also upload a snippet here or elsewhere and get some feedback - people who have played skyrim (i have not) should be able to help you.

[orbitalraindrops]

free form it
adamant rape maximus gin.

Pie edible of the sanctimonious aedirn. etc

Add in some big words, some vague illusions to sexuality and hipsters will eat it up.

[elanman]

QUOTE (blitz @ Sunday, Jul 1 2012, 20:13)

After playing loads of Skyrim I actually got an idea, well, not really an idea, but a thought, if that makes sense. I think, that creating a completely new universe would be f*cking sweet, if done right, of course. So, just for sh*ts and giggles I got out a notebook and started creating this list of things I'd like to see in this universe. No matter what I do, as in, seriously, no matter what I do - anything I write ends up being way too similar to Skyrim. Seriously. I think it'd be incredibly awesome to write something in the TES universe, but I want to create something different. Any tips on not subliminally copying off this already existent universe? I mean, so far I've just been writing and reading what I wrote for like a gazillion times, if it's too similar to anything I've seen before I'll erase it and crack my skull for a few minutes trying to think up something different. Don't think that's right. This is why I hate taking inspiration off things, although that's pretty essential. Edit: Oh yeah, it also happened to me that I had this awesome f*cking story. It was seriously awesome, and I was really f*cking proud and I go to my brother and I tell him this idea, and he's like, isn't that Oblivion? DAMN YOU BETHESDA.

Well, if you've played as much Skyrim and Oblivion as I have, you'll unthinkingly draw inspiration from it. It's also worth noting that Tamriel, although original in many ways, is in essence a conventional fantasy world. The Elder Scrolls series is teeming with great ideas and originality, but you can draw a lot of parallels between it and other fantasy series. Have you read any volumes of A Song of Ice and Fire? There are some clear similarities between the two universes simply because that's the way fantasy is. You could try and avoid a fantasy setting, or really just try and look at the genre simply. By this I mean make the setting very simple, and let your plot, dialogue and characters do the rest so any cliché is avoided. Failing that, there's nothing wrong with setting something in a lesser-known region of Nirn. I mean, we know very little of Orsinium, the homeland of the Orcs, or of Atmora, or of Akavir. You could set a story in any one of these regions.

The only real issue you have with Elder Scrolls fan fiction is trying to stay true to the lore whilst bringing in something new. Elder Scrolls fans will want reverence to the lore, but at the same time will want to read something fresh and new. Staying true to the lore requires lots of wiki reading, because the amount of lore in the series is monolithic and would probably require thousands of pages to novelise. I actually have my own idea for a Skyrim fan fiction. This is sort of related to it:

Sharaya

Is she your princess? The will of the Thalmor is to subjugate. Theirs is the belief that the Altmer must enslave the races of man and dictate whom we worship. This marriage bodes ill for your native Hammerfell. You are the spirit of Yokuda, and thus through your veins run reticence, endurance and independence. These immaterial things could be lost if his will is done.

Is she to blame? High-born marriage is all politics. But her maidenhead is gone, and surely that angers you, sets a scowl upon your face and boils your blood like water poured onto the sands of Alik’r. It was not yours to take, nor was it his.

Love is ineffable. Only love can disable the Dragonborn. You are not native to this land, but through your veins runs the blood of the Dova, and to the people of Skyrim you owe your dedication, lest Alduin consume the north. Only she can cause you to waver. Nought will come of your lust. Now she is sworn to another.

A princess she is, but yours? Surely not. As strong as the Dragonfires your heart burns for her, but your chance is gone. You are to blame. Never again ignore your heart, for doing so turned hers away from you.

She was your princess.


This post has been edited by elanman on Thursday, Jul 5 2012, 12:41

[Lethal Nizzle]

After finally finishing my exams I've been able to get stuck into The Lord of the Rings book quadrology that I had for my birthday (including The Hobbit) and getting back into playing Skyrim, similar to you guys. I haven't written in a while, and the pieces I usually get into the most tend to stem from existing material like fan fiction. I remember setting a piece in TonyZimmzy's created GTA universe, and I got engrossed in that but, as usual, I never finished it!

Still, after reading LOTR/playing Skyrim I think I will write a short piece set within Skyrim, just a written description of a scenario I encountered while playing perhaps. Just something to exercise my creativity I suppose, as it has been a long time since I last wrote for a purpose other than analysis/comparing and contrasting for my exams...

[Eminence]

QUOTE (Lethal Nizzle @ Thursday, Jul 5 2012, 17:17)

After finally finishing my exams I've been able to get stuck into The Lord of the Rings book quadrology that I had for my birthday (including The Hobbit) and getting back into playing Skyrim, similar to you guys. I haven't written in a while, and the pieces I usually get into the most tend to stem from existing material like fan fiction. I remember setting a piece in TonyZimmzy's created GTA universe, and I got engrossed in that but, as usual, I never finished it! Still, after reading LOTR/playing Skyrim I think I will write a short piece set within Skyrim, just a written description of a scenario I encountered while playing perhaps. Just something to exercise my creativity I suppose, as it has been a long time since I last wrote for a purpose other than analysis/comparing and contrasting for my exams...

Wait wait wait... you wrote fan fiction of fan fiction?

Fanfic-ception!