Hey guys! What's new? · 9:21pm Sep 9th, 2023
So, I haven't been here in a good long while. I got the writing itch a while back, specifically for ponies and my old Betaverse fics. I might have something in the pipeline. I've got a few questions I'd like to ask the general pony-reading audience if you don't mind. Just so I can see if my writing style should be tweaked a bit for the modern audience.
Do you find the way I differentiate between spoken dialogue, thoughts, telepathy, and in-universe written dialogue intuitive?
- Obviously, spoken dialogue uses the classic and traditional "enclosed within double quotes".
- I tend to do thoughts when writing in the third person by employing italicized text. Though I also do this for emphasis on words within dialogue, so for emphasis within thoughts, I take something and don't italicize it.
- For telepathy, since I'm an Animorphs fan (despite K.A.'s best efforts), <I make use of angle brackets.> I know this is used in comics for translated dialogue so the audience can understand something, but a character cannot. I don't have a good alternative for that, especially as I tend to just use IRL foreign languages so you'd get something like: "Hey, ukrayintsi? Naskilʹky pohano Google zipsuvav tsey pereklad?" the changeling asked, tilting their head to the left. Or if the character knows that language, "Sup, bro? Wanna hang?" the changeling said in Space Mexican.
- Typicaly, I've used a quote box to show written dialogue, like computer screens and letters that are appropriate for the audience to see in full. However, in my current project a side character, is mute and I realized that's not a big deal for a unicorn, and I have her conjure illusory speech bubbles Roger Rabbit style (In the book, Toons make speech bubbles.) So for that, I started using [Square brackets, in a similar way to double quotes.]
Do you have any particular formatting you love or hate to see?
- So I never asked this one before, but... What do you guys like to see in terms of how text go on page? Linebreaks vs indents. Use of f̴a̷n̶c̸y̴ ̸c̷o̵m̷p̵u̴t̴e̸r̸ ̴t̷r̵i̵c̵k̶s̶ to make the text all interesting as appropriate... or plain text? What do you guys like to point your eyeballs at?
- Do you like illustrations in stories? If no, why? If yes, when?
- Do you like the little character/time/date/location tags I used on scenes at chapter starts and when I switched PoV?
How much descriptiveness do you prefer in a story, and when do you prefer it?
I tend to describe things once, in a moderate amount of detail, and then only bring up reminders occasionally. Here's an example:
Night turned his head to look and sure enough the black furred, dark gray maned unicorn he’d expected was standing in the packed bar just behind him. He looked exactly as he did in the university’s lab save for having traded his lab coat for a denim vest.
- I used to do more lengthy descriptions, again, once. Going into detail about height, build, and so on. A lot of people found that interrupted flow, and I agree... But do you prefer that? Or would you rather learn if someone is a bit taller than average later on, with all major traits front-loaded?
- I've been experimenting with having little description at all in main character introductions, trickling out a description over a couple paragraphs. This led to my editor thinking one of my MCs was a batpony instead of a pegasus... So clearly, I need to work on that, but do you prefer slowly learning what someone looks like?
- As for locations, I also tend to front-load some descriptions and bring up details as important. It's an older technique where you pretty much show the reader an unfinished paint-by-number canvice and let their imagination do the grunt work, then prompt them with "there's a door over there." as the plot demands. It's kind of like how a GM runs D&D. If you've ever played that.
What do you think of when you see the slice-of-life tag?
- Personaly, and this may be because I was around in the early days on my first account, I think: "Oh god... This is going to be a story about a normal person doing normal things with nothing interesting at all happening ever." Which sucks because I like slice-of-life stories. When they are interesting. A slice of life of a crewman aboard the USS Enterprise D? Yes. Gimme. A slice of life about Mike working his office job? Probably not.
- What themes do you like in stories?
How do you take your tropes?
- Basicaly, do you like tropes played straight always? Do you like some subversion of tropes? Do you want all subversion all the time?
If you're an old reader of mine, do you have any thoughts on the stories I write?
- I'm mostly interested in what you guys think of the themes, elements, and plots I've done. But I'll take whatever feedback you wanna toss my way.
That being said, I don't expect anyone to actually answer those questions, so... How's everyone? What's new? Does anyone have any stories they've loved recently?
Well, it's good to hear from you again and it's wonderful to you in such high spirits. All good on my front, still working on that thing I sent you a pm about.
As for your work, I'd say stay the course as far ponies go, but im one of those mutants who like more descriptive scenes.
And more Kazumi.
Seriously
... if you leave me in the lurch woman, I will rend all manner of obscene acts upon your lawn flamingos
Heya, lady! Niceta seeya again! Hope youse is okay!
clears throat Okay, back to proper enunciation.
As to your writing, I have enjoyed it for quite some time. Regarding to what you said above, I have only one real comment/correction/observation/you pick your term.
When it comes to character description, the first appearance, go into full detail. After that, just use what can be seen by an outside observer using some detail, for instance, borrowing from one of my stories... *ahems*
If someone has been reading my story (in this case, Fearsome Foursome ch 31) they already know what Frick looks like, how he is, et cetera. No need to be repetitive. The only time I would think of making an exception is if you are using a new person's (or pony, or whatever) viewpoint, tell us what he (or she, or it) sees.
That's my two cents worth. Good to see you again. May we chat sometime.
I honestly can't give an up-to-date opinion on your stories, it's been a seriously long time since I read them. That said, I liked what I read enough to follow you, so you obviously did one or more things right as far as I'm concerned. Take that for whatever it's worth.
5745846 Thanks! I'm working on a second draft and polish so I wanted to generally poll people.
5745842
Fair enough! I'll get 'er done.
You have me on discord, right? Just PM me.
5745834
Thanks for the input. I appreciate it :3
Nice to see you again Meep.
Honestly your way of writing was fine (from what I can remember at least).
Looking forward to whatever you are going to write.
5745847
... silly meep, that's not you spell im writing about best augmentedly huggable fun size angry horse right now.
2.
Fancy computer tricks are fun to see every now and then.
Illustration are always fun to see, but I understand that they are difficult and time consuming to make.
Having an easy way to show that there is a change in the PoV can be very useful.
4.
I think slice-of-life stories are fun as I greatly enjoy character interaction in stories and how their relationships change and evolve.
And like you said, the life of a crewmember abord the Enterprise is going to be interesting.
And even a story about Mike working his office job can be interesting depending on what goes on in the office with his coworkers, bosses, clients, ninjas, friends, lovers, enemies, and any other weird and whacky stuff that might happen in and out of the office.
Heck maybe his office gets visited by some Lovcraftian horror every now and then.
But everyone's just gotten used to "Frank" coming over that they're basically just a part of life in the office.............
And I just wrote down a story idea for "The Life of Office Worker Mike" and don't know why
6.
Mixed.
7.
I've enjoyed them
Hey you're alive! Glad to see you're doing all right.
5745851 I'm glad you liked things.
5745881I appreciate you having gone through everything and given me a good bit to work with. Thank you.
5745908 Moved across the country, got settled, depression went away when I got out of a bad situation... and I feel like writing again. Things are fairly good for me.
f̴a̷n̶c̸y̴ ̸c̷o̵m̷p̵u̴t̴e̸r̸ ̴t̷r̵i̵c̵k̶s̶ will brick my e reader where there is a solid page of them. Same goes for colored text it's back and white so if it's a lighter text it tries to lighten the text on a white background. Other then that I love just about anything as long as its strung together coherently enough.
Glad to see your back
5745925 A solid page of them would be so overkill and just look bad XD Sucks about your e-reader, though. What are you using?
Seriously though, any particular plans in place writing wise, or just noodling ideas?
5746546 157,916 words and counting so far. Nearly done. You'll see it when you see it.
5746593
https://m.Glad to see your back to see back in the saddle word wise. You doing better I take it then?