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Post by Ganheim on Nov 20, 2004 15:34:51 GMT -5
I've been writing since I was little, it just started out as minor fan fiction and stayed as little scribbles in a notebook at best up until I was 14 or so, when I started actually seriously writing things down. Those were fan fictions, and I think the only one that survives even remotely is the Zelda Interviews and Documentaries comedy that I had on Fan Fiction. By the time I had gotten into that, I had started writing Space Wars (now shelved) and The Legends of Kaizor (which was initially just backstory for a game I was designing). Anyway, I started on Life of the Silver Tear and once that began I put everything else away. I still love what writing I can do in that story, but after a while I got a bad case of writer's block. My sister had recently introduced me into the anime series Inuyasha, so I started writing a fan-fiction I called Crossing the Rubicon, where I basically sat down without a plan and wrote whatever came to me. Eventually, I started writing in Life of the Silver Tear again, and I dropped Crossing the Rubicon. Well, writer's block beset me again, and I didn't like what I had done in Crossing the Rubicon, so I threw that out, sat down and wrote a plan, then started writing again. I consider Crossing the Rubicon to be a fun project and a learning experience, I'm still writing about my characters from Life of the Silver Tear . . . granted they may be possibilities of three years after the end of the first volume of Life of the Silver Tear. By the way, did I mention that I've become the administrator of Dream and Write proboards? You should check it out, it's got a lot of good hints for writing (any sort of fiction, and fan fiction), it's got debate and philosophy boards and plenty of other things to do. I like getting feedback, but I'm not one of those extremely social risk-takers, so I'm often unsure of what to say or ask. Anyone else?
"Of all the words Written by men, These saddest are: What might have been?" -- I'm sure this was from a philosopher whose name I don't know, but I first saw this on a post signature in Zophar's Domain.
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Post by KarotsaMused on Nov 20, 2004 16:10:59 GMT -5
Hey hey! I was wondering when you'd get your own little section of the mb When I've got more time I'll definitely check things out - your rampant link placement makes things so easy. *bows to you* Thanks for that As for your question at the end, I'm not sure what you're asking. Are you asking about what one should ask for when asking for criticism? Or about what you should and should not say in your comments on the work of others?
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Post by Ganheim on Nov 20, 2004 21:40:17 GMT -5
Rampant link placings...heh heh. As for your question at the end, I'm not sure what you're asking. Are you asking about what one should ask for when asking for criticism? Or about what you should and should not say in your comments on the work of others? Yea, I think the primary question would be the "what to ask for in criticism". Though "what (not) to say in comments of others" would be pretty important, also. By the way, although I may know a bit about Inuyasha (or the Legend of Zelda as my quote below shows), but I'm rather lost as to some of the other animes mentioned here. "Saiyuki", "Fruit Basket", up until here I never saw or heard of them before. Maybe I've been living under a rock...
"Any technology sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic." --Arthur C. Clarke
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Post by KarotsaMused on Nov 20, 2004 23:06:58 GMT -5
Heh, well, to start from the beginning: You can't really *ask* anything when asking for criticism, aside from what the reader thinks. Especially because everybody is very different - My comments almost always focus on the grammatical (to the point of my seeming unfeeling, even if I adore the story)...and people do tend to disagree on whether or not your characterisation is good. Receiving criticism in and of itself is a favor on the part of your readers...but you could always say something like "I really think my grammar/spelling/use of Such-and-Such as a plot device/blahblahblah is a little off. Any comments?" and see what happens. A nudge in the right direction can never go amiss As for what *not* to say in criticisms, well...anything is fair game so long as it applies to the work and is justified by examples. You know, common courtesy. I myself am blatant and blunt, but I try to back up my comments with examples and add a few positive things to mitigate the effect...people can be very protective of their work, especially if they are just beginning to write. That's why I only beta for people who can take it. It also helps if you make sure you know what you're talking about, just so you don't look like a dumbass (*has a personal gripe with that bit*) The Author's Notes can sometimes be like a FAQ, so you gotta read 'em! ...*deep breath* Sorry 'bout that. Anyway. As for the fandoms here, I'll admit most of them aren't your usual Cartoon Network fare. (Although that channel is rather good on Saturday nights ) The seemingly predominant fandom, Saiyuki, for example, has been dubbed into English, but it's not been sold to any regular cable networks - thus, it is, for the moment, rather out of the public eye. I get mine by buying the DVDs and don't actually watch the dub (Don't get me started on how bad it is.) Fruits Basket is much the same - you gotta buy it or download it to see it. Anime, manga, whatever, but you'll have to look for it to find it. Of course, I'm speaking from the American perspective, but I think the situation is prettymuch the same in the other countries represented on the message board. Your local Barnes & Noble should have a ginormous rack overflowing with manga - I know mine does. So, in short, don't feel bad if you see unfamiliar anime represented here - go check it out if you're interested. (We've got the wonderful Anime Rec thread just for that purpose!) A word of warning: DO NOT base your conceptions of the characters on anything you read on fanfiction dot net. It's always good to see the canon first and -then- judge writers by your own idea of what the characters are like. Karot knows from experience. Oh, hee, another good resource is the International Channel, if you have it. Primetime on weekends they have a few anime subs... it's how I found Slayers and Fushigi Yuugi, to name a few. Geez, I'm wordy. Anyway, hope that was...uh...informative? Yeah. ;D
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Post by Ganheim on Nov 22, 2004 17:24:07 GMT -5
Nah, that was helpful. As for me, I generally prefer the anime, for several reasons. 1) The DVDs are always (as far as I've seen) bilingual, and I'm a linguist by hobby so I like listening to it in English and in Japanese with English subtitles. 2) I find it easier to establish context in an anime than manga, where you only see one frame every brief period of time. You might see a character holding up her hand and wonder "is that a form of greeting?", "is she asking for something?", but in an anime the flow of frames makes it clear that the character is motioning for something. Though, about my being a linguist, it's rather sad. The best site I've seen online about studying a non-English language is CoE, and that has Elvish - a fake language. Oh well, I guess poor beggars can't be choosy.
" Tolo si, a tiro i cherth Eru!" "Come now, and see the works of God!" -- Psalm 66, v. 5
Science may have found a cure for most evils, but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings. -- Helen Keller
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Post by KarotsaMused on Nov 22, 2004 22:04:35 GMT -5
Generally speaking, I agree with you on that one. And if the DVD has the option to see the English subtitles while the English dub is screening, I like watching that as well. Some of the discrepancies can really be important...and other times (such as in the end of Evangelion) they're pretty funny. I wouldn't call myself a linguist, but I do love languages and my two top behind English are Spanish and Japanese. Getting to hear the original lines and actual voice *acting* is a treat. However, there is one anime in particular where, by and large, I totally prefer the manga. I *LOVE* the Hellsing anime to bits, but the manga is so much better. Because they bastardized the storyline, practically cut the nazis completely out of the picture, and replaced the hot mercenary with Fargason (or however you spell the dude's name). It's because an anime is only *based* on a manga that I try to read/see both. In that way, an anime could even be partly considered to be a fanwork. Paid, yes, but not by the original creator. Hee, as for the elvish language thing, don't feel bad about that at all - it still is a language, just not one that's widely accepted. I heard of a Berkeley graduate who based his major solely on Tolkien languages - elvish, dwarvish, et cetera. If Uruk-hai ever thought to write anything down, I'm sure he studied that as well. Rest assured that, however dorky you think you are, there is *always* someone out there who has devoted even *more* of their free time. oh, by the way, I'm an ass, but I have to say it: So you imply there are...rich beggars somewhere? Politicians and televangelists don't count!
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Post by Blood_Debt on Nov 22, 2004 23:12:01 GMT -5
Compared to other countries, I think the anime/manga's are quite cheap. The manga's in Mandarin and bahasa are only RM 4-5( but I can't read either, as I am an 'english only' person), but the anime's can cost up to RM100- depending on what and how many episodes you buy).
I tend to watch in Japanese with subs, and I reaaaally dislike dubbed anime, but if there's no other option, I will watch it in other languages. It's nice to see the mouth move at the same time as trhe words.
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Post by KarotsaMused on Nov 23, 2004 0:54:26 GMT -5
Manga and anime DVDs are pretty cheap here in America, but it all depends on where you look. I'm over here in liberal land, one of the closest states to Japan so we get cut maybe fifteen cents in taxes ...but imported media has gotten so popular that you'll find it anywhere, and we have free market capitalism to thank for driving the prices down. Eight dollars for the Hellsing soundtrack, baby! Blood_Debt said: Lol! That's very true, although the animation budget on a few anime is poor enough that you can't tell either way And while there is something to be said for watching an anime in its original language (ammguh, I drool) certain ones are done very well in English, and certain voices can transcend the language barrier to make me weak-kneed
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Post by Ganheim on Nov 23, 2004 18:57:21 GMT -5
Manga and anime DVDs are pretty cheap here in America, but it all depends on where you look. I'm over here in liberal land... I am instantly jealous. And while there is something to be said for watching an anime in its original language, certain ones are done very well in English, and certain voices can transcend the language barrier to make me weak-kneed Sometimes, the voice-actors in the English can be better than for Japanese (yes, I know that is often mostly a matter of personal preference). For example, I think Sesshomaru sounds better in English (though Shippo doesn't have quite the annoying squeaky-voice in Japanese). Also, about the dialogue changes, that varies. I'm glad I watched the subtitled versions, because otherwise you can miss out on some jokes, but sometimes they add in other ones on the way into English. Just think, if Inuyasha hadn't been dubbed, we wouldn't have Inuyasha's hilarious line "You outta be arrested." ;D
You know you're not in Vacation Bible School any more. -- Doctor Saunders, in Logos lecture. That man is a genius.
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars. -- Les Brown
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Post by KarotsaMused on Nov 24, 2004 0:47:48 GMT -5
Lol! Very true. I love the English dub of Inuyasha - especially for the best line in episode two (where his voice breaks) "Wh...what did you SaY?" ;D However, in the dub of Saiyuki, we'd miss Hakkai's terrible "Eight times" pun. Not to mention all of the wonderful Gojyo mannerisms that give me fangirl moments. *takes a moment to compose self* (Quick clue-in: Hakkai can be taken to mean 'eight times'...the conversation went something like this: Goku: Hakkai! Hakkai! Hakkai! Hakkai! Hakkai! Hakkai! Hakkai! Hakkai! Hakkai: Now here's the million dollar question. How many times did he say my name? Sanzo: *sweatdrop* Hakkai. (eight times) Hakkai: Bingo!) In defense of the Saiyuki dub (though it vexes me so) there is the hilarious line "What kind of faggot fights with a fan?" and that one had me giggling for a good while. So all in all if you can have both, you should take 'em! There is a thread around here somewhere where everybody waxed poetic on their favorite seiyuu, both in Japanese and in English (Heh, I had rather a lot to say - I'm a chatterbox if you didn't pick that up.) Prolly floating around somewhere in the "General" section. *shrug* I agree, though - Fluffy is *lovely* in English (*has not seen the sub anyhow*) but then again I rather like all of the main-chara voices for the Inuyasha dub. Except maybe Shippou and Myoga, but Paul Dobson (who voices Myoga) also does Naraku, so you can't be too down on him I particularly like that the actresses for Kagome, Sango, and Kikyou don't annoy the hell out of me like in some other anime. (For example: Everybody female (okay, Tenchi too) in Tenchi Muyo! and *almost* everybody in Sailormoon ("Serena" and "Reenie" in particular. UGH.) Anyway. Listen to me prattle on. Eh heh. (This mb really needs a sweatdropping smiley just for my little moments.) So...which anime *are* you familiar with? I know you know Inuyasha, and we'll count Zelda for the time being I was just wondering if you knew of more than that. At the moment I myself am sort of rediscovering a love for Inuyasha - my 42 Days #2 fic is a morning with the hanyou - coincidence? I think not!
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Post by Ganheim on Nov 24, 2004 19:54:29 GMT -5
Yea, as you may have guessed from my semi-bio at the top, I'm not too knowledgeable about animes. I like watching Inuyasha, though that's the only one I've seen. I've heard of a couple of others (primarily ".Hack Sign/Liminality" and "Gundam", because a friend of mine has several soundtrack CDs of those that he's given to me as gifts, and they have really good music). Unfortunately, I don't know anything else about those animes, just Inuyasha.
Then my inexperience with games - I blame that on my being dirt poor. I have a few Legend of Zelda games, but other than that the only game I could tell you anything about would be Command & Conquer up to C&C: Generals (which won't run on my stupid computer for some inexplicable reason).
I have all of the music for the Command & Conquer games up to Generals. Frank Klepacki can do no wrong. ;D
As for your "42 Days" fic, I'll have to check it out.
And to think, up until my sister forcefully introduced me to Inuyasha I thought that all animes were low-production-quality cartoons (though yes I knew that they weren't usually 'little kid cartoons).
These nations have progressed in this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; from faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependency; from dependency back again to bondage. -- Alexander Fraser Tyler
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Post by KarotsaMused on Nov 24, 2004 22:06:12 GMT -5
Aha. I now know my parameters. ;D If I begin to prattle on and leave you in the dust, you have every right to give me a good sharp poke. My brother is the gamer in the family - he's got the Zelda games and every once in a while (out of sheer boredom) I'll watch him play. It's how I developed my recent addiction to vintage super Mario. Woo. As for your opinion on anime, that was how I saw it, too. My mom still wonders why the heck I like it so much - but I don't pay attention to it for the animation quality most times Once eff eff dot net settles down, I'll post the fic. I fear I'm mischaracterising Inuyasha, though, after so many months of writing Saiyuki fic. *rubs forehead* We'll see, I suppose.
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Post by Ganheim on Nov 25, 2004 1:28:45 GMT -5
I don't know anything about Saiyuki, but I am pretty familiar with the Inuyasha series (at least the anime. I've got a word document where I've summarized all of the episodes I've seen. Stop staring at me, it's just one of my quirks).
Anyway, if you're looking for someone to double-check your canon characters I would be overjoyed to give it a shot. And anybody giving an overview for any of my stories would be even more greatly appreciated.
"I won't disturb the slumber Of feelings that have died. If I never loved I never would have cried." -- Simon & Garfunkel, "I am an Island" on "Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits"
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Post by KarotsaMused on Nov 27, 2004 19:08:23 GMT -5
Awww! Inuyasha episode summaries. That's cute, and actually a pretty good way to find little details one might forget with just once-a-week episode showings as I have. Nevermind the fact that half of some of the episodes are recaps of prior episodes (a running joke among my friends is a reference to the ubiquitous Kikyou scene - "And then she pinned him to a TREE!") You're just diligent I used to do it, too, when my friend's cable cut out - I summarized episodes for her, complete with screencaps ^^;; Well, we can play the you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours game for character-checking if you'd like I can easily follow the links to check on your work, but I've got a bit of a tic about posting something online that is still going through polishing stages. Shall I send it to you?
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Post by Ganheim on Nov 28, 2004 16:19:45 GMT -5
Well, we can play the you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours game for character-checking if you'd like I can easily follow the links to check on your work, but I've got a bit of a tic about posting something online that is still going through polishing stages. Shall I send it to you? I wouldn't mind. I've got my email on my profile at both Fan Fiction and Fiction Press. And I can understand the not wanting to posting something still in the "polishing stage", because I go over everything I post at least three times before I post anything. I still post - after all, you could say that all the projects we work on are works-in-progress. If you're going to post something on a site like FanFiction.net which is designed to give you feedback, you might as well take that feedback. That's why my reviews tend to be so long, I can get fairly nit-picky. Don't worry, at least I'm not mean.
"Perhaps we should stop seeking that which never was." --Koukatsu's 'Thinker' shade
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