Date: Feb 16, 2015 10:01 am Title: The Basics
But, I also want to stay historically accurate within the year it's set in (which is currently around March of 1988)
Author's Response:
How does this present as a challenge?
[Report This]Date: Feb 16, 2015 07:04 am Title: The Basics
Sorry for the third review in like 10 minutes, but I'm currently re-reading other reviews on here.
1.) What other places do people post their fics/just talk and hang out?!? I'm so new to this fandom, I have no idea where to go really. I'm with the MJ fans on tumblr and that's about it...
2.) Link to these drunken videos?!?
3.) There's a SEX TAPE?! Yall got me reeling now...come on. What's the context about that???? I need that tape. Christ.
I love/hate the fact that everytime I feel like I've learned all that there is to know about him, MORE comes out. WTF.
Author's Response:
1. mjjeternal, joining by following the same directions I mentioned in a recent response to Brandy. The forum ebbs and flows in terms of the posting frequency, but there is a good group there and a rather level headed group. There are a lot of rules....but one involves no hoax talk (thank gawd)
2. LOL. I would, but I'm in an airport atm.
3. There is believed to be one...but it's under lock.
4. There is always more...and different perspectives. I'm reading Jermy's book right now. Dude raises some interesting points...while downplaying the beat downs they got. Many of MJ's OCDish practices do get well contextualized, at least.
Date: Feb 16, 2015 06:53 am Title: The Basics
Oh, whoops. I see that there was already some convo on his thoughts/opinions about this whole shabang!
Author's Response:
LOL. Ish has been fun in here
Date: Feb 15, 2015 09:39 am Title: The Basics
Good advice. I try to do roughly 2k per chapter. I am struggling with read count at the minute :/
Author's Response:
Welcome :) If you are struggling with reads, my first thought would be to look at your summary (and image) as well as your first chapter. Those are what I consider to be the most crucial in drawing a reader in.
Date: Feb 11, 2015 04:47 pm Title: The Basics
Yeah, I'm so glad Carol reopened the board. I've been catching up on A Dare to Dream, and I'm going to leave multiple comments on the board soon. I agree; I think it would help if half the people who followed the story would comment.
Ah, that's a great suggestion! Thank you! :) I'll definitely use it if/when I ever start my own fanfiction. Right now, I'm swamped with research papers and working on some independent study projects and theses.
Yes, I am US based, and I skipped three grades (the entirety of middle school). It was pretty intimidating starting high school at 11 years old, haha. But, it wasn't that bad. My mom always worried about me making friends, but I have always been fine with just having one or two very good friends. I am very introverted.
Hmm, it is a comforting thought that one can always choose to put effort into building a relationship whenever one is ready. I sometimes feel that people rush into things way too often. That's kind of a vague statement, but I know of lots of people that feel the need to get a job immediately and get married and have kids while still in their early 20's. I think people get caught up in fulfilling all of their life goals as soon as possible that they forget to enjoy the moment. Ironic statement coming from someone that skipped several grades, but it's also advice I tell myself.
I would be interested in hearing your tips about how to write a good supporting cast and not having interactions with them come across as superficial or merely there for the sake of plot/convenience -- how to give them depth without overshadowing the main character(s) or derailing the story.
And... If you don't mind answering, what field do you work in? I've seen some posts of yours that have piqued my interest and make me think you work as some type of mental health specialist. Psychology is a subject that greatly interests me, so I think that's pretty cool if you do work in a field related to that. ^.^
Author's Response:
You are very perceptive (color me not surprised). 3 grades is intense. I thought they'd stopped doing that for fear of social concerns and falling behind in one subject or another? Either way, you must be very academically well-rounded to skip that many grades.
People rush into things very often. Many are in a rush to grow up, so to speak. Looking at the next stage, the next step, and never the current. I think we are all guilty of that, to some extent.
A supporting cast. I will definitely add that to my list. Thanks for the suggestion :)
Date: Feb 05, 2015 07:07 pm Title: The Basics
I love that you're doing this. Having took a break from the site and my stories, I find myself feeling like I've forgotten the basics of writing and feel so disconnected with my characters. This reminded me of all the things I usually keep in mind while writing. Character and plot developments are so important; they're definitely two key things I'm trying to improve on. They really could make or break a story.
Author's Response:
I'm glad you found it helpful. I'm also glad you are back to writing Expect the Unexpected ;)
Date: Feb 04, 2015 09:58 pm Title: The Basics
Or Blanket could just be some love child... I guess we'll never know.
LOL go ahead and quote me. I know the feeling people get when its late, they're tired... they know their story hasn't been updated in like 5 days so they try and throw together a couple thousand word chapter together that usually lacks in quality and doesn't even really line up plotwise with the previous chapters.... I've been there.
Author's Response:
He could be, but it is highly doubtful. After all, she's never come forward, Blanket's never been caught with a woman that looks anything like him, and people who left Michael's circle seemed to have a horrible ability to keep a secret.
LOL. To a certain extent I promote putting up filler chapters. I believe in writing through writer's block, as that can get the creative juices flowing...it also keeps the story from falling by the wayside.
Date: Jan 31, 2015 02:13 pm Title: The Basics
I definitely agree with all you've said. Especially with Tatiana living in a fantasy. I honestly believe she's still delusional.
Author's Response:
Her writings concern me.
Date: Jan 30, 2015 02:15 pm Title: The Basics
I can agree that Brooke disappeared at a convenient time in Michael's life and maybe I might have been alarmed by one of her comments but in my opinion she understood Michael the most besides Elizabeth Taylor. Her comments are nothing compared to Lisa Marie's though. It seems she talks trash about Michael every chance she gets! I really can't stand Lisa and I'll attempt to read them but they bore me. Same thing with the Tatiana fics. They're always the same plot. I just can't get into them and the authors who write fics with Tatiana call those of us who don't care for her and her fics haters and jealous because she kissed Michael. Whatever. I almost always use an OG for the lead female. If I do use a female who was actually in Michael's life she's a supporting character and has different personality than she might have had in real life.
Yes, I know exactly what comments you're talking about. Lol! Research 101. Nuff said. Also, saying that there are other stories with inappropriate themes on the site doesn't justify either.
Author's Response:
She hadn't spoken to him in...years upon years prior to his death. To me, that speaks volumes about how well she cared to know him.
I'm never going to defend LiMP or Tatiana. The former spread lies and later admitted to them, the latter appears to be living in a fantasy.
Date: Jan 25, 2015 09:40 pm Title: The Basics
Brandy,my comment was not meant to be offensive ... I am just speaking from I like to read and being honest... Just my preference.. Like I said I am not attractive and I am certainly not a size 6 . But I do not have a problem or feel alienated when fan fic authors describe their characters as being beautiful and have a perfect figure.. It's just me... I am sorry you think my comment is offensive but I am just being real and I what I like to read.
Author's Response:
I think I understand what you wrote.
To each their own. I'm by no means an expert. I'm just writing from my experience reading stories here and editing (non-fanfic) story manuscripts.
[Report This]Date: Jan 22, 2015 09:16 pm Title: The Basics
THANK YOU FOR THIS! It really helps.
Author's Response:
You are very welcome!
Date: Jan 22, 2015 06:21 pm Title: The Basics
This is all great advise! If you wrote stories yourself, I could only imagine how great they would look! I'm certainly not the best writer but I'd like to think my writing has improved tremendously since I first started here. Recently though, I feel like I've just hit a brick wall. I can't reach a broad audience. I think the next thing you should address is how to avoid clique characters. I'm so bored with reading about all these Mary Sue's!
Author's Response:
Thank you :) I already spend most of my working day writing, so I doubt I'll ever get the drive to compose a full story. I'd likely lose motivation before I completed it, wouldn't be fair to readers. Kudos to you and other writers who do consistently update! Practice definitely improves one's writing. So does stepping outside of one's comfort zone and taking risks.
Cliche characters? I'll have to think about that. If you are primarily referring to the OG, I'll definitely address that in the next segment (which will ASAP...in a week at the absolute latest).
Date: Jan 22, 2015 06:49 am Title: The Basics
How about a tip that if you start a story finish it and or update it. If you don't want to write anymore at least have everyone die in a nuclear bomb or something. Nothing frustrates me more than getting into a story and the author never updates again..I can feel when my stories have run their course and wrap them up. If you can't update your stories up then you shouldn't be starting up another five stories. Many writes abandon their stories or start something else up. As an author I feel I owe it to my loyal readers to update and finish. Just because an idea pops into your head doesn't mean it needs to be published only to be left at one of many. Have a journal book and write down your ideas then bullish when you are fully committed to putting your all into it...you don't just plant a seed in the ground and ignore it you nurture it and it grows.
Author's Response:
That's a controversial and challenging topic. We all have life issues that arise unexpectedly, become hypercritical of our own writing at one time or another (I'm very guilty of this), go through personal/emotional issues that suck the creativity out, and/or get writer's block. Do I wish more people tried to write through writer's block? YES. I think many people simply give into it, when most full-time writers that I know will write regardless.
Your point about starting too many stories - Agreed 100%. That's why IMO planning is necessary.
Date: Jan 20, 2015 09:03 pm Title: The Basics
I can't remember which BSB forum I don't even think it was specifially for just that band. I used to have it saved as a favorite on my old computer but it crashed and is long dead and gone too so I have no way of even trying to find out if maybe the stories resurfaced. They revamped the site I want to say like 5 or 6 years ago (the one I had bookmarked in hopes I'd go back there one day and find they were able to bring back the threads), but none of the old threads resurfaced.
Author's Response:
Just checking. I *think* I was on one for a minute back in the late 90s/early 2000s.