The Writing (and Artistic) Ranting Thread

[V]

Spoiler: Unpopular opinion but...

Why does it seem like 99% of fantasy stories are set in medieval Europe? It's so boring. I'm so bored with it. Can we set it somewhere else? Anywhere else? Why is highfantasy so scared of branching out?? Please...some sand...rock....varied weather...please....

Haha, I was thinking the other day how easy it would have been to set my latest comic ideas in a medieval setting instead of a neolithic one or a sci-fi one.... mainly because the "world" of Euro medieval settings is already so engrained and understood in UK culture. It's a safe bet and people don't think it's too weird or taxing. But unless there's something else in there to spice it up, I agree - potentially formulaic and boring.

 

[Rebel Dynasty]

I've worked on illustrations for writers that requested NDAs on the material they sent me for reference. It's a little strange, but maybe those writers had something ripped off in the past before and they're just a bit nervous. I can sort of see why but there wasn't much risk from me, lol.

My money is on whoever gave the advice had it happen. Fortunately it's no big deal. I'm sure as hell not going to tell anyone what the story is, or rip her off. I've got 7 WIPs of my own to contend with. That's enough masochism for the next 5+ years. xD

 

[Rebel Dynasty]

That moment when you have two more pages to read in order to catch up on an old WIP, and you procrastinate because you're afraid you still won't know how to proceed from where you left off. Help me. ._.

 

[V's patron]

Writing classes and workshops are a great way to network, learn a new skill, or overcome writer's block. They also can be a distraction just like any kind of research.

Online classes can be cheaper but I prefer an in-person class. Just a different kind of energy.

 

[Rebel Dynasty]

Wildly swinging between panic and optimism as I draw closer to the end of this final edit/read-through. If I counted it as a draft, it would be the ninth--but like with the previous, I don't. When all that's being changed is word choice or the syntax flow, it doesn't really feel like a whole new draft; just a polished version of the ones before it.

The sooner it and the cover are ready, the sooner I can get the ball rolling on the whole promotion side of things. ^^

 

[V's patron]

I started doing 3 writing excersizes i learned from class. Thats my routine everyday.

I also started writing two fanfics at once which is bound to a bad idea. I thought 2 or 3 more when i got up so atleast i got goals to hit.

I wanna make time for my own work too.

 

[Angel]

Have to write a comedy.

I'm not funny.

This is going to be hard.

 

[Rebel Dynasty]

After some uncertainty on whether it was going to fall through, looks like the anthology is back on track. Here's hoping we can get it launched sometime this year.

In other (equally good) news, the cover for Fall of the Spectrum is nearly done (just some minor tweaks), and it is frigging gorgeous.

 

[V's patron]

 

[Rebel Dynasty]

Part of me is getting into the groove with Shattered Time; the other part isn't all that eager to work on it, because I'm split between wanting to delve into final edits on The Mythos Trials (I want to make significant changes regarding Lucas's arc to reflect the character he is in ST, even though it would make more sense to finish ST first) and yet another MG story concept that came out of nowhere yesterday.

Why is my brain like this? ST has been on the back burner for three years now; it shouldn't be this difficult to finish the first draft at least. It's not even going to be my longest work, so what the hell?

I'm going to force myself to finish it this year; TMT's final edits can (and should) wait. Just wish my determination was strong enough to block out any other distraction. ._.

 

[Shadow]

@Rebel Dynasty Ugh, I'm having similar problems with committing to writing things. I really want to work on my Holmes pastiche but I'm having a hard time allowing myself to write it because...I've honestly never seen a Holmesian writer get their novel published without publishing something else beforehand...but I don't have any ideas that are attractive to me right now beyond the pastiche, which...

...y'know. A whole annoying circle that ends in "I'm just gonna go write fanfic instead."

I hope ST starts looking more appealing! And that you can work on it with more ease soon! <3 I hate to say it, but have you considered you might need to rewrite or rework what's already written? Sometimes that helps me, even if it's really annoying.

 

[V's patron]

I've been looking into copywriting as a side gig. I'm wondering about being a ghostwriter on Fiverr. There are a lot of accounts that offer to write a screenplay or coverage for cash. Im wondering if i could do that despite being a screenwriting amateur.

I'm in a similar boat to @Shadow. I wanna develop my original ideas but my brain just comes up with fanfic. Often for series i don't remember or have not played. Like i should've played Ff10-2/ff10 before i wrote my Jak and Daxter/FF10-2 fic.

Ps. I started a smut version of said fanfic. Its terrible.

But thinking about fanfiction, I'm curious if i could just channel what i wanna say into my original work. I've done it before with my tv pilot.

Long story short, it was a movie about time travel and i took the main character and gave him the ability to see ghosts instead.

Besides what is fanfiction but a shortcut or a safety net to say what you wanna say or explore whatever comes to your head?

PSS. Covid19 and Ramadam screwed up my sleeping schedule.

 

[Rebel Dynasty]

@Shadow I'm sorry you're going through the same. The industry can be so fickle; I do recall an older man on Twitter who told me he'd published Holmes stories, but unfortunately I don't recall who he was. If I figure it out, I could ask him how he managed to get his out there, if you like?

As for your suggestion, I might have to--at least in part. ^^; We'll see what happens, though. If I still can't get into it by the time I reach where I left off, a makeover might be what ST needs.

 

[Shadow]

@V's patron if it's any consolation, any time you write smut it's probably going to sound rubbish while you're working on it. It loses all it's...y'know when you have to sit and think it through it all. I don't think I've ever written a smut scene that I thought was good while I was working on it--and I'm not ashamed to admit I've written A LOT of smut in the last couple years. Step away from it a bit and come back to it later; that usually helps me, at least. It might read better later. ^^ (And I'd say go for it, regarding channelling what you want to say into original fic! Why not? ^^)

@Rebel Dynasty I hope, if you do, that it goes well! ^^ And that it's not too stressful. (Also sorry I haven't had a chance to pre-order yet! Am broke currently. OTL But hopefully soon.) Thanks! <3 If you wouldn't mind, I wouldn't mind hearing his answer? If you know his name, might also help cuz...y'know, then can also look up his stuff. But only if it's not a problem for you. ^^

 

[Rebel Dynasty]

@Rebel Dynasty I hope, if you do, that it goes well! ^^ And that it's not too stressful. (Also sorry I haven't had a chance to pre-order yet! Am broke currently. OTL But hopefully soon.) Thanks! <3 If you wouldn't mind, I wouldn't mind hearing his answer? If you know his name, might also help cuz...y'know, then can also look up his stuff. But only if it's not a problem for you. ^^

)That's okay, there's no pressure. ^^ ) If I can find him, I'll definitely let you know. Problem is, it's been quite awhile since I've seen a post from him or received a message, so I'm not even sure if he's still around. ._. But I will try to find him. ^^

 

[V's patron]

1.What do you love the most about your main character?
2.What do you hate the most about your main character?
3.Why does your character need to change? Or do they?
4. Fill in the blanks: This is a story about [main character], who is [dominant trait], who wants [tangible goal], but [obstacle in the way]. This story ends when [completion or resolution].
5. Why must you tell this story now?
6. If this screenplay were found at the bottom of the ocean perfectly intact 100 years from now, what would you hope whoever read it would take away from it?
7.When I am stuck, all I need to do is remind myself of [fill in the blank] and I will continue to write this story.
8.There’s a big part of me that wants to be healed by writing this story. What is it?

These are self-evaluation questions my writing class posted. They are ways for you to remind yourself off your passion and why you started it in the first place.