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Lindorien
Joined: 05 Sep 2003
Posts: 25
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 Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 3:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Ariel wrote: | Hmmm.... Well, apparently I bring the skill of pissing everyone off just by posting... Interesting skill.
Reading through this thread I was also getting the feeling that Do expressed - of not being elite enough to participate in this site. At the risk of expressing something that may again not be popular, (and also in the wrong thread, again!) that was the thing I liked about OS.... It isn't elitist - or at least I never felt it was. I'm just a lowly hobbit writer, not great, not horrible, but just like a million other so-so writers out there. What I have to offer, if anything, isn't what the folks on this board (or most boards) want. But it seemed that at OS, I could chatter away, commiserate, read and hopefully make friends without having to meet some invisible standard that I could never possibly touch. *sigh* Please don't make this a popularity contest or a site where you have to fall in with the 'party line'.
I'd fail... miserably.
Ariel |
Listen -- first off, I claim the right to be the one who can piss people off simply by posting. 
Second off -- I read your Mablung fic -- what's the self-reference to so-so writer about? If that is your definition of 'so-so' then I can't wait until you improve.
third off -- Oh bugger! I can't think of a third-off quite yet, but I'm trying to be testy.
fourth off -- What do I bring to the table? My 'fic'! Isn't that enough? What else do I have to bring?
Oh all right -- this is what a bring...a ready smile and the word of encouragement to anybody willing to look for it.
I've also been called, um, 'honest'. I am not always certain that people mean it as a compliment, however.
Off to ponder a few imponderables.
Lindorien |
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Ariel
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Posts: 164
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Lindorien wrote: | | I've also been called, um, 'honest'. I am not always certain that people mean it as a compliment, however. |
:p
I happen to enjoy your brand of honesty... and if I ever call you that, it will be a compliment! And I have also enjoyed your fics (OK... the racy one is the only one I read  ) and could see a lot of similarity between your OC and mine!
Anyway, neither here nor there - I kind of LIKE being in a forum where everybody is 'honest'. I kind of liked that about the gals that run this place - no pretense. I'd just hate to see that go away because that attitude ruffled some feathers!
Ariel |
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sindohte
Joined: 13 May 2003
Posts: 1621
Location: Rubbing up against an Elf
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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Just for the record, I would like to clarify once again that the whole point of this thread was not to create some invisible standard by which people had to measure themselves. What I wanted to do was to have people begin talking about their love of Tolkien in general or what they think is good about their writing abilities, instead of having people listing and/or apologizing what they perceive to be their faults. My point is that everyone has something to offer and I sincerely hope they do.
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abandon thought, and let the dream descend... |
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Lindorien
Joined: 05 Sep 2003
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Ariel wrote: | | Lindorien wrote: | | I've also been called, um, 'honest'. I am not always certain that people mean it as a compliment, however. |
:p
I happen to enjoy your brand of honesty... and if I ever call you that, it will be a compliment! And I have also enjoyed your fics (OK... the racy one is the only one I read ) and could see a lot of similarity between your OC and mine!
Anyway, neither here nor there - I kind of LIKE being in a forum where everybody is 'honest'. I kind of liked that about the gals that run this place - no pretense. I'd just hate to see that go away because that attitude ruffled some feathers!
Ariel |
Then go read some others. See if you still like 'em.
Also, that is the ONLY OC you will ever see me do in a fic. When I find myself writing OC's, I stop writing fic and start doing original stuff.
Oh, well -- if they like, um, 'honest' people around here then I shall soon have the Keys of the City handed to me.
Unfortunately, as I have stated elsewhere, I have started a new policy of stuffing my mouth with cotton balls and taping my fingers with duct tape whenever a surge of, um, honesty comes over me.
Lindorien |
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Scribe
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 4
Location: Betelgeuse
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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Oh this is one of those weeks.....I need aspirin....
Okay, as Do put it, this is a community. It has and always be that for us. We want this to be your place. Granted, I did go off the deep end a little with your post Elizabeth but I used that creed to remind me that you have a right to say exactly what you feel. Everyone does.
So I'm going to say that I understand the spirit of this discussion and let's go from that. Just wish to make those who have dropped in understand that no one has to bring anything to the table except their voice, be it in what they read or what they write, (although cookies would be nice too  ).
However, if there are editors here, people who want to participate in challenges, who want to suggest ideas, who want to go out and find essays for the library section, who want to use the Amazon link or amuse us with their remarks on the Shoutbox, you know who you are Hathor, JennnLee and Viv , those are what I called bringing something to to table. I know what Sin was attempting to do and it may have sounded elitist but I don't think that was her intention, I think she was actually trying to be helpful and don't think I don't appreciate it, I do.  So everyone, if you have skills you think can help this archive be better, particpate!
And if you don't and all you like to do is read? You can do that too (although more reviews would be nice ). Everybody is welcome here. They always will be.
Oh and what do I bring to the table????
I PAY FOR THE ARCHIVE! 
Heeheeheeee.....runs back into dark hole for coffee fix.
Last edited by Scribe on Sat Sep 13, 2003 6:44 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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ElizabethWyeth
Joined: 03 Sep 2003
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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Is there anyone out there with some really good knowledge about the language of the rohirrim? I know from where it hails and hence why the hobbits understood part of it. But i'd like someone to converse with who might help with some theoretical musings.
E.W.
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aut inveniam viam aut faciam
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Robbie
Site Admin
Joined: 22 Jun 2003
Posts: 1100
Location: Sydney, Australia.
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2003 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Scribe wrote: | (although cookies would be nice too ).
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I've given you all a cookie (except those that are on a diet). It's how the archive remembers who you are when browsing the site
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Rob
www.crackingegg.com |
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Aratlithiel
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 17
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2003 9:18 am Post subject: |
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Hmmm - well, I'll confess that whatever the perceived insults might have been, they flew right over my head. The people who know me understand that I'm rather difficult to offend as I always assume the best of intentions in others and so tend not to understand that I've been insulted until well after the fact (at which point I've been known to re-hash a three-month old conversation in my head and then go, 'Hey! WAIT just a minute, now!) So, I understood the original question and will, therefore, answer it thusly...
*thinking*
*thinking*
OK - got one! I think the best thing I can say about myself as a writer is that I know my strengths and weaknesses and admit to them readily. I endeavor to continually improve upon my strengths, while never giving up the ghost on my weaknesses. For instance, I think my personal talent lies in dream-like exposition and imagery while background and description require much more effort. Ariel knows that a particular weakness of mine is writing sex scenes...I could write someone's feelings during a sex scene, but as far as describing action and so forth of one party or the other, I'm sorely lacking. Which for me really sucks because I'd dearly love to do at least one.
But that's where the tenacity kicks in. I have two bunnies cooking for just such a vig. and one of these days I will tackle at least one of them.
So in terms of what I can offer others, I would say that I can translate my self-analysis of my own writings to that of others and can pick out the weakness (if there is one) of a fic. should I be asked to do so. I don't read a fic. with the purpose of scrutinization - in fact, if I find myself doing an on-the-spot analysis in the middle of a fic., I know that's when I should quit reading it because the fic. is obviously not doing the job I wanted it to when I set to read it, and that is to totally immerse me in the story and make me believe the tale for the length of time it takes me to read it. When I find myself paying more attention to typos and questionable logic, I know that it's time for me to hit the 'Back' button and find something else to read.
So, in terms of what I can offer other writers, I think I would say I can offer an honest, coherent study in the strengths and weaknesses of any particular fic. should I be asked to do so. I wouldn't dream of interjecting something like that unasked for. I think that's just rude.
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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup. |
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Viv
Challenge Admin
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Posts: 71
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2003 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: What Do You Bring To The Table? |
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| sindohte wrote: | | What do you bring to the Open Scrolls Archive in terms of talents, abilities, or gifts? |
Talent ... it's getting better, but it could still use a lot of polishing.
Abilities ... well, book editing is my day job, and I went to universtiy for a long time in this field. So I know a bit about creating good stuff (even if I don't always do it )
Gifts ... I have two elves in my closet, and I lend them out from time to time. |
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Viv
Challenge Admin
Joined: 24 Apr 2003
Posts: 71
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2003 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Maram68 wrote: | I feel a bit disheartened and ... belittled. I am aware that some people, who just begin writing in this fandom (like myself) can not dare to reach the excellence of some writers who have innate talent or have been doing this for long.
I almost feel like not "publishing" my work (on the net) ever again. |
Don't you dare.
I've said this several times on this very forum: Even if some of us have delusions of grandeur, we are all on the exact same level. That is, we are all fic writers.
If someone is making you feel unworthy, just let me at 'em. No fic writer in existence has a right to do that. None.
If this grand defense of "good" writers on this forum is causing everyone not mentioned to feel crappy and insufficient, that makes me very, very angry.
Fic recommendation is a nice contribution to a list like this. Snottiness is not. (Just my opinon, folks; I don't speak for the list. But this is getting silly when a great writer like Maram is considering dropping out of fic entirely. Can we please fix this???) |
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Una
Joined: 07 Sep 2003
Posts: 21
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2003 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Maram68 wrote:
| Quote: | I feel a bit disheartened and ... belittled. I am aware that some people, who just begin writing in this fandom (like myself) can not dare to reach the excellence of some writers who have innate talent or have been doing this for long.
I almost feel like not "publishing" my work (on the net) ever again |
*Sigh*
Maram I think we have covered that ground already, DON'T YOU DARE! You have a gift and talent that is rarely found, even among fanfic communities. Not only are you striving to get better and better in your writing (Viv and I are testaments to that statement) but you also write in a language that is not your mother tongue.
Some ppl need to put others down to feel great themselves. So be it. I know it is hard to be on the receiving end of such a statement, but seriously, do you give a damn??? Even if it is a supposedly fanfic god?
Believe me when I say that I have seen those *deities* raise and fall in several fandoms. In the end only quality preserves ... and your writing and especially your fic is quality. So don't you dare crawling back into the dark again.
As for contributing to the thread here, like Viv I'm a professional editor, additionally I'm a certified translator (English/German/French) and my academic accolades hopefully give me the right to know what I'm talking about when it comes to grammar, style of writing, POV and so on (though I have to admit I mostly ignore that when I write, but that is just me and over the years I have established a style of writing that I feel comfortable with). Some ppl have given up on asking me to review their fics as I try to stick to If I can't say anything nice I don't say anything at all but if they are asking for it let's hav'emand some ppl still tried to wheedle a review out of me and didn't like the outcome, so I'm not going into this whole thing anymore. I do beta reading for hand picked (and tortured) souls as I'm a nitpicker, be it cannon or technique.
Una |
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KhazarKhum
Joined: 02 Sep 2003
Posts: 234
Location: Quartz Hill, CA--USA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 12:17 am Post subject: |
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You know, when I saw the Topic I figured, "Great! I'll bring the pretzels & beer!"
But now I know I am supposed to bring something worthwhile. 
Oh well. Back to reading & lurking.
khazar |
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Lindorien
Joined: 05 Sep 2003
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| KhazarKhum wrote: | You know, when I saw the Topic I figured, "Great! I'll bring the pretzels & beer!"
But now I know I am supposed to bring something worthwhile.
Oh well. Back to reading & lurking.
khazar |
Don't let Khazar fool you folks! She will get to the heart of what is wrong with your fic if you beg her and grovel and badger her enough. And she'll even do it after you've taken an axe to everybody and gotten everybody pissed off at you.
So, she is a gem.
Pass the bear and pretzels, Khazar.
Lindorien |
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Scribe
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 4
Location: Betelgeuse
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 1:07 am Post subject: |
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| KhazarKhum wrote: | You know, when I saw the Topic I figured, "Great! I'll bring the pretzels & beer!"
khazar |
And this is wrong how? |
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KhazarKhum
Joined: 02 Sep 2003
Posts: 234
Location: Quartz Hill, CA--USA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2003 1:43 am Post subject: |
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Now, now Lindorien--you don't have to beg & grovel. Just ask, and ye shall recieve.
But as for bringing bear to to the meetings--I may live in the middle of nowhere, but it ain't THAT nowhere!
Anyway, the beer's in the cooler, and the pretzels & cheese are free for the taking. |
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