Scarburg Meadhall Discussion Thread

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Is this thread going to die when I'm not here anymore? I should hope not, but indications are....

I've been wanting to simply take a quiet lead, except I know I'm not sticking around. For that reason, I don't want to become needed in any way.

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

I've been wanting to simply take a quiet lead, except I know I'm not sticking around. For that reason, I don't want to become needed in any way.

Oh, do it, do it, do it! Even if you will have to step out of that lead very soon.

And Elempi, I am sorry I have not posted. I HOPE this thread doesn't just die off when you leave. I haven't been meaning NOT to post - in fact, I have been meaning to post.

*sigh* When I have time and brilliancy I'll write.

-- Foley

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by Folwren

Oh, do it, do it, do it! Even if you will have to step out of that lead very soon.

*hesitates*

I'll take the lead, but only conditionally.

Mostly, the condition is that I be more like an adviser than a boss.

See, the thing with collaborative writing is, multiple people are doing it. Which means that everybody has a say.

This can be either crippling or exhilarating, depending on which way it goes.

I frequently see it become crippling, because everybody (particularly 'new' or inexperienced writers, or those who don't feel like they've been around long enough to have an opinion) is worried that it's not really their story, that they're just contributing, and what if they write something nobody likes, and what if their writing utterly ruins the story!?!?

Solution?

O
M
G

I love editing.

I think everyone should love editing. Editing is what happens when you realize that you wrote a really spectacular four part poem about a crossword puzzle, except for some reason part three is actually about salmon fishing, so you strike a few things out, make it a three part poem that doesn't involve salmon fishing, and tuck the 'deleted' part aside to maybe use later.

My point? Write!

Write, write, write, write, write.

Don't just read everybody else's work and say, "They're so much better than me, I don't want to ruin it..." or "They've been doing this longer, so they must know what they're doing..."

You can't learn to play an instrument brilliantly by listening to somebody else's symphony. You've got to pick it up, hit some dreadfully wrong notes, tune it, practice controlling the speed and strength of your breath (forgive the specification here, I play woodwinds)... Learning scales can help if for no other reason than because it teaches you to hit the note right every time. Play songs you don't think you're good enough to play. Play the tough pieces, because yeah: you're probably going to massacre them, but once you go back to the 'easier' stuff, it's so much easier. Play it even though you don't know the notes: get what you can and ask for somebody to show you the right fingerings. But you must play!

So here's the deal: I'll take the lead so Elempi can bow out quietly as he's been meaning to do as long as nobody asks permission or hesitates to post or move on with the plot.

Just write it already! We can fill in blank spots later, and we can edit if there's a problem.

If you want advice on your writing before it goes on the story thread, post it up on the discussion thread and ask for a critique. Everybody is welcome to participate. What are you worried about? What are you trying to do? Do you think it's working? Once you've got it polished, cut and paste and move on to the next post.

No hesitation, kids. Just write and like it.

K?

[Kath]

Erm, Fea ... that's FrodidEs - with an E.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Originally Posted by Kath

Erm, Fea ... that's FrodidEs - with an E.

I'll get right on that.

I didn't realize that in encouraging you I was creating an easier way out for Elempi.

I'd certainly like him to stay around... but I'd rather have him want to stick around than feel obligated to do so.

[Gwathagor]

If Eodwine weren't such a main character, I'd suggest that, for the sake of consistency, lmp kill him off.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Gwathagor

If Eodwine weren't such a main character, I'd suggest that, for the sake of consistency, lmp kill him off.

I'm afraid he's going to write him off after the games as he has already told us that lord Eodwine is going to an errand to the Golden Hall - and I'm afraid it's up to us to decide whether someone will write him coming back from there.

Well, at least that's the feeling I get from his posts and I hope I'm wrong, but...

I try to sneak in a post for the kids... if Lommy doesn't want to do it? I have a host of essays to read for the few days to come and Lommy said she would like to post something, so please go ahead if you wish. I'll do it if you say no.