Fic Talk > General Discussion
2 Writing 2 Thread
RokofAges75:
--- Quote from: FrickingKaos on February 21, 2021, 09:03:42 PM ---I don't really have a line per se. I've covered death and suicide in my stories. Just about everything... I guess my line would be killing children too. Other than that nothing is off limits. I don't think I've ever killed a BSB in one of my stories except on the round Robin for Nick.
I had to edit this because I did kill off people in my story Take Me Home. I won't say who In case anyone decides to read because hello spoilers.
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LOL How quickly we forget.
I think my only line at this point is killing real BSB kids. I'm okay with killing wives and fictional children, and I will even give one of the real ones an incurable illness if it serves the plot, but actually killing them is crossing the line for me. That's really all I've got; any other line I used to have has already been crossed LOL.
--- Quote from: nicksgal on February 21, 2021, 09:08:15 PM ---As long as you know what your line is, that's what's important. I was just trying to come up with examples.
Killing of the Boys is a fun adventure. I think anyone who says they're part of Team Dark has to do it at least once in a serious story. Unless that's your line!
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I'm not opposed to killing off the Boys, but I understand why some authors are, for the same reason some people consider writing fanfic about real people in the first place crossing a line. What if you put something like that out in the universe, and then it actually happened in real life? That would be horrible. I am not superstitious enough to believe anything we write could somehow curse the Boys in real life - at the end of the day, even if we are writing about real people, it's still fiction. But then why would it bother me to kill off their real kids in a fictional story? Maybe I am a little bit superstitious, or maybe it's just because they're innocent children and that seems worse than killing adult characters.
Have you guys ever crossed a clear line that you used to have?
nicksgal:
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 09:24:44 PM ---Wow, good answer!
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Glad you enjoyed it! I can justify just about any decision I've ever made with diatribes like this.
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 09:24:44 PM ---When I kill characters, I always have a reason besides wanting to make readers cry, and it feels like the right thing to do, even if it's depressing. If it doesn't feel right for the story, I don't do it.
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I'd venture to say that if anyone's only motivation for writing dark things is the reader reaction, then they are not Team Dark, they are Team Masochist. haha
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 09:24:44 PM ---I've always been a member of Team Dark, and my readers know it, but even I have written disclaimers for stories or chapters that I feel are particularly dark. Nothing specific enough to be a spoiler, usually just a general warning that things are going to get heavy. I'm more likely to give a warning when my toes are on a line I haven't crossed before and I personally feel uncomfortable with what I'm writing. But again, I think anyone who has read enough of my stories should not be too shocked by what I write at this point LOL.
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That's interesting, I've never thought to give warnings on specific chapters because I don't want to spoil things. How do you go about giving a non-spoilery warning? I just kind of figure people know to except dark and depressing things from me, so nothing should be surprising. I tend to think that feeling uncomfortable is a good thing. It means you're doing something new.
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 09:24:44 PM ---In my current situation, both new stories I've started begin with something really bad happening that sets the events of the story in motion. There may have been other options, but none that worked as well or had the same impact as what I ultimately went with. The one I was working on this weekend is super depressing in the beginning, but will become more uplifting as it goes on... to the point that, as I realized today, I don't even know yet what the climax of the story will be. I know how it will end, but the point when the problem is at its worst and about to be resolved seems like it will come too early in the story to be considered a climax. So that's something I need to think more about, or maybe I will just keep writing what I do have planned and see where my characters take it from there. That almost makes me feel like a plantser LOL.
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Julie's considering becoming team Plantser and letting the characters decide? I am intrigued! I say keep on writing and see what happens. It's a fun new adventure for you. ;D
In seriousness, I wrote a whole story about how there's always hope in the dark. Sometimes things have to start from rock bottom to get to a good place and that's okay. :) Go with what has impact.
nicksgal:
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 09:36:24 PM ---LOL How quickly we forget.
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Time gets muddled together.
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 09:36:24 PM ---I'm not opposed to killing off the Boys, but I understand why some authors are, for the same reason some people consider writing fanfic about real people in the first place crossing a line. What if you put something like that out in the universe, and then it actually happened in real life? That would be horrible. I am not superstitious enough to believe anything we write could somehow curse the Boys in real life - at the end of the day, even if we are writing about real people, it's still fiction. But then why would it bother me to kill off their real kids in a fictional story? Maybe I am a little bit superstitious, or maybe it's just because they're innocent children and that seems worse than killing adult characters.
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What if Nick dated a decent lady instead of Paris Hilton? Glad we as a fandom didn't superstitiousl y summon that into the universe. Phew! ;) In all seriousness, I get it. You want to make sure you don't put bad juju on anyone, especially people you like/love/etcetera, but I like to save my superstitions for my football teams and not my writing. A story is just a story, unless you physically go out there and try to get real life to reenact said story. That's the line for me.
It's the innocent children thing for sure. That and they didn't decide to have a Backstreet Boy for a parent, it just happened. At least the wives chose to have a Backstreet Boy for a husband, though I don't like writing about them either.
On a side note, I would be stoked as hell if the Boys turned out to be demons with magic powers. Stoked. As. Hell.
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 09:36:24 PM ---Have you guys ever crossed a clear line that you used to have?
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Probably? I'm sure when I was younger, I thought many times that whatever was too sad and decided not to write it. Then as I got older, I decided sad was more interesting. I can't think of anything specific though! I'd say I shy away from mental health things more than physical things. I'm thinking of that "BSB is all in Nick's head in a psychiatric ward" idea, but then PBox Nick is basically an amnesiac with PTSD, so... :shrug: Just gotta think long and hard about whatever it is first. Team Story!
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 03:17:39 PM ---Are they spoilers for PNecklace or a future story?
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--- Quote from: nicksgal on February 21, 2021, 06:25:04 PM ---PBox/PNecklace/etcetera
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Julie, was this your offer to contribute to my list as long as it wasn't something you were interested in reading down the line, btw?
RokofAges75:
--- Quote from: nicksgal on February 21, 2021, 09:43:57 PM ---I'd venture to say that if anyone's only motivation for writing dark things is the reader reaction, then they are not Team Dark, they are Team Masochist. haha
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LOL I definitely have my moments of being in Team Masochist too, as AJ can attest to (since he's apparently been living in my brain lately). I appreciate shock value, but it still needs to make sense and serve a purpose.
--- Quote from: nicksgal on February 21, 2021, 09:43:57 PM ---That's interesting, I've never thought to give warnings on specific chapters because I don't want to spoil things. How do you go about giving a non-spoilery warning? I just kind of figure people know to except dark and depressing things from me, so nothing should be surprising. I tend to think that feeling uncomfortable is a good thing. It means you're doing something new.
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Usually it's just a vague "This chapter's going to be intense" (or sad or dark or gross or weird or whatever adjective makes the most sense). Just something to suggest that maybe this isn't one you want to read at work or around other people LOL. Sometimes I give tissue warnings or "dangerously cheesy" warnings too. No spoilers though.
I agree about feeling uncomfortable. Sakabelle/Steph has a quote on her signature here by Rainbow Rowell that I love. “Write a lot. Write something you’re scared to write. That’s the best advice I can give: If you have an idea, and you can’t stop thinking about it, but something about it scares you half to death–WRITE THAT.” My favorite stories I've written are the ones that pushed me out my comfort zone and that I was a little afraid to post.
--- Quote from: nicksgal on February 21, 2021, 09:43:57 PM ---Julie's considering becoming team Plantser and letting the characters decide? I am intrigued! I say keep on writing and see what happens. It's a fun new adventure for you. ;D
In seriousness, I wrote a whole story about how there's always hope in the dark. Sometimes things have to start from rock bottom to get to a good place and that's okay. :) Go with what has impact.
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LOL That's my thought too. It's not like there won't be plenty of other problems along the way, so maybe I don't need a dramatic climax. Or maybe I'll come up with something when I get closer to that point. I'm sure I will figure it out well before I get there, but it's kinda fun not knowing... gives me something to think about. I like having things to think about when I can't actually sit down and write, like when I'm trying to fall asleep at night, getting ready for work in the morning, or driving to/from. It helps to keep me inspired and takes my mind off real life problems.
nicksgal:
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 10:15:18 PM ---LOL I definitely have my moments of being in Team Masochist too, as AJ can attest to (since he's apparently been living in my brain lately). I appreciate shock value, but it still needs to make sense and serve a purpose.
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You know, I don't think I've ever done anything just to be masochistic. Or where I thought being masochistic was a happy by-product. So now that AJ's living in your brain, what are you going to do with that?
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 10:15:18 PM ---Usually it's just a vague "This chapter's going to be intense" (or sad or dark or gross or weird or whatever adjective makes the most sense). Just something to suggest that maybe this isn't one you want to read at work or around other people LOL. Sometimes I give tissue warnings or "dangerously cheesy" warnings too. No spoilers though.
I agree about feeling uncomfortable. Sakabelle/Steph has a quote on her signature here by Rainbow Rowell that I love. “Write a lot. Write something you’re scared to write. That’s the best advice I can give: If you have an idea, and you can’t stop thinking about it, but something about it scares you half to death–WRITE THAT.” My favorite stories I've written are the ones that pushed me out my comfort zone and that I was a little afraid to post.
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Interesting. Do you put it in the body of the chapter or in an Author's Note?
I love that quote too. That's kind of how I felt about coming back to fanfic after so long (not necessarily scared to death about the content of the story, but scared to death about it in a different way), but I'm glad I did it.
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on February 21, 2021, 10:15:18 PM ---LOL That's my thought too. It's not like there won't be plenty of other problems along the way, so maybe I don't need a dramatic climax. Or maybe I'll come up with something when I get closer to that point. I'm sure I will figure it out well before I get there, but it's kinda fun not knowing... gives me something to think about. I like having things to think about when I can't actually sit down and write, like when I'm trying to fall asleep at night, getting ready for work in the morning, or driving to/from. It helps to keep me inspired and takes my mind off real life problems.
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I'm sure you say that now and you'll still have a dramatic climax.
I love having something to think about as I'm driving to work or blow drying my hair. Unless there's a BSB song on with a lyric belting part, then I just want to belt out the lyrics and think about nothing, haha.
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