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genlisaeYou know that point where you are so far behind you think you are ahead again? I am so there (I need to go back to my to-do lists! Alright so I never actually finished them ever but at least they reminded me of things that people were waiting for).
With the intent of getting caught up (and not writing that random that is trying to take over my brain ... it has sat there for 10 or so years, it can stay put a bit longer) Formspring #4 with all the questions from July - September (I still have more to answer as well, but this was getting to be a long list for 1 post). As usual, anything in italics is things that occurred to me while I was posting here and are not on the original formspring question.
SPOILER WARNING! - More like hints actually, but if you don't even want that skip Answer 11 from ***Spoiler Potential!*** to ***End Spoiler!***.
1. 2 questions but i will split them up. Telesto was reluctant to have a physical relationship with Juliette, but a week after he hooked up with Ripp and they are already sleeping together? What gives?
Oh! Well spotted. I had wondered if I had slipped that past everyone since no one had commented yet.
First, Tel is young. He really is still figuring things out and isn't as sure of himself as he may seem. As for the rest of this, answered (for the most part) in 5.6 which is (as of this typing) being gone over for continuity errors and will have been posted by the time this answer makes it to LJ. So if it still isn't clear then, drop me a note or a comment. :)
I am hoping this is more clear now, if not, ask, but keep in mind this is a minor plot line in upcoming updates so I may not be able to answer straight away.
2. Second question. Caelan confuses me. Sometimes I think he is flirting with Tybalt but other times he seems very hetero. What is his orientation and is he really flirting with Tybalt?
Ah Caelan! :D I really think Caelan confuses himself which is great fun for me to play with! But that doesn't help everyone else I'm sure.
For the most part his leanings are decidedly hetero. For the most part his leanings are "OMG! Hot chick! T&A. Hell yes! I'm there, but leave the emotional entanglements in another country please." But as with all things Caelan, that is subject to change IF you can get his interest and no, Tybalt has not gotten his interest.
Which brings us very nicely to the second part of your question. Is he flirting with Tybalt? Not yet ......
3. Why don't advertise Pleasantries more like some of the other simwriters do? I think there are alot more people who would like it and just don't know it exists.
I don't really feel I need to advertise any more than I am. Popularity and a huge number of readers has never been my goal. My goals are very personal and even if I had no readers I would still be posting the story. Don't get me wrong, I love having readers and I love the reader feed back and comments (OMG do I love comments! I really love comments! A lot!) but I don't need them to keep me motivated.
By all means though, if you know someone who you think would enjoy the story, pass them a link. Or if you know of somewhere you think I really should advertise because there are several people there who you think would enjoy the story, let me know. Left to my own devices though, I am not going to go way out of my way to "put myself out there" because that is kind of really, excruciatingly painful for me to do :)
4. Admit it, for real, your crush on Anto is not as platonic as you claim it is is it?
LOL.
My crush on Anto, and it is a huge crush, I will admit that, is completely platonic. Really, and there is a very simple explanation for that. Anto very much belongs 250% to someone else. So not only would I just feel really weird having any sort of romantic inclinations toward him (hugely weird, like the Mt. Everest of weird!), it would be totally pointless as well.
5. After reading "Baby", I have to ask... in your world, approximately how large is the age gap between Ripp and Buck? Did the scene where Lyla and Ripp sneak out for pizza take place before or after Buck's birth? (Question shortened for space purposes.)
The age gap is approximately 5 years (leaning a little closer to 6 I believe, I would have to check my calender and I don't have it with me at present. I will have a definitive answer for you when I post this to LiveJournal!). Sneaking out for pizza was before his birth, Don't worry, :D she didn't leave the baby at home with no one really paying attention! However, Lyla would have been pregnant on Ripp's first day of school, only, disappointingly, the Social Worker uniform doesn't have a pregnancy morph. :(
Definative answer 5 years 4 months. It has also been pointed out to me that the Social Worker uniform should have a pregmorph ... *shrug* She was pregnant at the time. No idea why it wasn't showing, that would have been awesome.
6. What color are the Anto fangirl pompoms?
Oooh. Interesting question! If Anto had his way they would be very simple in natural tones (seriously, look at his apartment some time) browns, beige, maybe a wine red, a lighter blue for contrast. This is where I cringe and go "We're fangirling, Anto, not entering a home decorating challenge! Geez!"
So we compromised. They are totally blue and gold with just one or two strands of that wine red thrown in to keep him happy.
7. I like reading the pleasantries prompt replies at sims_anon and I have one I want to put there but I want the canon take on it as well. If I put it here will you answer it?
First, you should definitely put it up at sims_anon! Not because I want more Pleasantries at sims_anon (I am a little shocked the ones that are there are there at all!) but simply because that is what the community was created for. That is their thing and I would hate to take that away from them and from the writers who enjoy responding to them with such amazing creativity.
However, if you have a burning need to know how a situation would go down in my head, you can ask me directly. It doesn't have to be here and I can't promise I will answer it as a prompt response. Actually you are more likely to spark a scene that makes it into the actual story, but hey, if you are cool with that, ask away. I will answer it in one form or another.
While this is still likely to spark a scene in the story, on further thought, please do ask me! I have grown fond of prompts recently and always welcome the practice, both of writing and getting into the character's heads. Of course still posting the prompt at Sims_Anon is enxouraged. You never know it might get filled by someone else there as well!
8. If Anto fangirl pompoms are blue and gold with wine, what would Caliban's be? Also, would it be rude if I reminder-poked you about having him for download? I have plans, you see... :}
Eeep! I forgot! Sorry! Will go directly and do that.
The colour is a harder one to answer though. Cal would want gray because he doesn't have to worry about gray, gray goes with everything. Personally I am thinking a navy blue would be so much more him and of course the mint green because, well, he IS green, and we can't let him be upstaged by Anto (Anto does enough of that just by existing!) soooo
Let's go with Silver, navy and a hint of mint *nod*.
So, wonderful anon Cal fan whom I ♥ a ton, are you ever going to share those plans? :D Anon sharing works fine!
9. I am in awe of how you write the little moments and interactions between your characters. How do you find the inspiration to create these small moments that add so much to the story?
Aw, thank you! The honest answer to this is kind of really creepy.
I watch people. A lot. Like all the time. I always have. I watch and listen and most of the time they don't even know I am there :/. That part I don't do on purpose but I do pay attention on purpose.
People have always kind of alternately fascinated and scared the hell out of me. I can't make sense of them right away. Where they are coming from, why they do the things they do. Add in that I really will try anything, usually twice, and I have been in some strange situations, done some really stupid stuff, seen some interesting things and overheard one hell of a lot of entertaining conversations!
So what is my inspiration? Life, with all of it's wonderful, fascinating, sometimes scary, often baffling as all hell faces.
10. is it too late to sneak in a Caelan meme as well?
Nope! But it might be too early :D I will see what I can do without too many spoilers.
11. When you say dark places, how dark do you mean? Angst dark or horror flick dark. I'm basically a chickenshit and if this is going to scare me knowing about it first so I can prepare myself would help. I'm invested too far to stop reading.
First, sorry this has taken so long to answer. I really had to think about how to answer it. I could tell you it is going horrific dark places again, but I am not sure that is really what you are looking for. Me telling you is not the same as seeing it for yourself.
So, in no particular order, random snippets from Chapter 6 on. Names have been edited out, but do head the spoiler warning. Nothing major, but certainly not completely spoiler free.
***Spoiler Potential!***
“And I thought a potential crazed serial killer with an alien fetish was bad enough.”
“You wish these guys were only that fucked up.”
* * *
“Where is he, <edited>?” she demanded, her hands trembling as she leveled the gun at his head.
“Pull the fucking trigger,” he laughed, “You’d be doing me a favour.”
“I don’t want to hurt you. Please, just tell me where he is.”
* * *
“Stop and think,” his voice turned pleading, “Do you know what they are doing to <edited> right now?”
She shook her head.
“Trust me, you don’t want to, but when you find out, you are going to hate me for putting him there.”
“I am already really pissed with you for that,” she admitted.
“Exactly,” he smiled again, “Now what do you think <edited> is gong to do?”
“He’s going to be angry.”
He shook his head, “He’s going to fucking kill me, and I might hand him the knife to gut me with.”
* * *
"... I couldn’t even move enough to ask them to stop. Tell them they were hurting me. Even when things went wrong, when my throat would swell shut and I couldn’t breathe, or I could feel the blood starting to pool in my lungs and I knew I was dying, I couldn’t do anything to let them know. I had to wait and hope they noticed, hope they cared.”
* * *
"What were you trying to do?”
“I wanted to kill him.”
The look in his eyes gave her pause. She sat back slightly in her chair. “And now? Do you still want to?”
“If I ever get him alone, I will.”
* * *
"You better pray to whatever gods will listen I am the only one who sees it because if the wrong people do, jail will be the least of your problems.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“I wondered. So tell me; how do you plan to protect him when you’re dead?”
* * *
“Oh don’t look so frightened,” the man smiled warmly, “We are making history here, and you are such a vital part of it. I imagine you will lose consciousness soon enough anyway. Be brave. This will be successful. We will be worthy.”
***End Spoiler!***
12. Hey! My friend and I were wondering (we both fangirl over your story. It's awesome), is Winston in a relationship? We need to know, because my friend thinks Lillith needs to get laid, and I think she needs love (with Winson). Keep writing, you're awesome!
:D Thank you and ... :( Sorry, as mentioned in Winston's meme (http://genlisae.livejournal.com/35343.html) he is engaged to Meredith Page, whom you will be meeting in Chapter 6.
I do agree with you though, Lilith needs someone. She spends so much time worrying about other people and making sure her friends are happy, someone worrying about her for a change would be good for her. And Winston does, as much as he can, keeping in mind if he did cross that line he wouldn't have a job. Even beyond professional concerns though, it would conflict with his overly noble sense of right and wrong. If he even entertained the idea he would immediately cease all contact with her because 'corrupting young girls' is not something he could live with having done.
13. Do you ever wonder/worry about what sort of life your sims are leading in someone else's game?
Wonder? Yeah, sure, who wouldn't? That and I wonder what sort of interesting stories others see playing out for them. I love the way different people can take the same character and see a whole other fate for them. I love it more when they share those stories!
Worry? Nah. They are in good hands. Even if those hands are torturing them or hooking them up with the least likely person/people imaginable. :D
I am not at all opposed to people sharing what they are getting up to in other games though! Really. Please share ... feed my obsession.
14. What is it going to take to get you to update?
LOL! ♥
Can you like break into my head and rearrange things so I can focus? Oh! And a few less other things going on would be awesome .. and sleep that actually does something for the tired. Any chance on any of those?
Seriously, I am just not in the correct mind frame right now to do an update justice. :/ I feel guilty about it because I know people are waiting but I would feel worse giving you a half assed update that didn't flow and looked awful. I appreciate the enthusiasm though!
The mind frame issue is now resolved, I am completely in the right mind frame and updates are happening. This is a good thing!
15. I'm asking a few of my favorite writers this. Hope you don't mind. How do you do it? I try to write and it turns out terrible. Do you have any tips for improving?
First, and this is probably the most important part of anything I have to say on the matter: Terrible is awesome! Write it down anyway. Share it. Be proud of it because, damn it, you did it and that right there is HUGE! Finding the courage to share is probably the hardest part.
I don't think what I do write is all that good and a few months from now I will look back at what I wrote today and cringe. I know I will. I expect (and already have, a lot!) at some point in the future to come away from reading back over previous work and think "What utter crap!" and I love it because it is a sign of growth, of improvement and by simply being able to recognize it is crap I know I am refining what skills I do I have and learning new ones.
I am one of those people who will never be satisfied with my own work and I think if you look at the work of those you really enjoy (not necessarily the "popular" work, the good stuff, the work that resonates well after you have finished reading it; It gets in your head and you just can't let it go) you will find the people behind that work are never satisfied either. They always feel they can do more, be more, learn more. Those people are an awesome example to follow and are the example I personally try to follow.
It's interesting that you asked this question now. It has been on my mind recently and I was discussing the subject (more or less) with a friend only a few days ago. This friend (who has now totally been dubbed Yoda-chan) said something that just struck a cord. "You are only as good as what you haven't done yet."
She is so right.
Embrace your terrible, it is your starting point. Everything that comes after is building on that base and don't be afraid to share it. 90% of improvement comes simply from doing. The rest is experimentation. Do, experiment and learn. Never stop learning both from your successes and your mistakes. Especially your mistakes.
16. How do you plan out your time lines? I tend to use days and just do like the day with "morning" "afternoon" or "night" or whatever attached to it, but not give it actual time (i.e. 6 p.m., 8 p.m. etc). I'm guessing you do this to keep the story on track?
asked by butterflyunion
I am not quite sure (it's been a long week!) exactly what you are asking here, so I shared this question with Mathew and said: "Plan? What is this plan thing?" His response: "That thing you do in your head while you're sleeping."
Now that is not to say I don't have a plan! I do and it reads a lot like this http://pics.livejournal.com/genlisae/pic/000wq968 .... for 46 pages (and it keeps growing) Somewhere in there is the entire outline and every detail that needs to be included ... and that is where the timestamps come in. The details.
They all fit together and how one moment plays out will effect another moment later to come or offer "the other half" of the story. Sometimes these moments are happening at the same time and sometimes they are several weeks (and a chapter or so) apart. Now, I know when they are happening because somewhere in that 46 pages and all the stuff I do in my head while I am sleeping is "The plan" but how clear that would be to everyone else? I don't know. So I time stamp.
If you are asking how I decide when everything is happening ... ummm ... yeah, that is just when it happened? I can't be more specific than that. :/ "The plan" dictates it happens at X time so that is when it happens.
I totally just didn't answer your question did I?
17. What is your own personal opinion in regards to the perception of the world the sims live in? Do you consider it an alternate reality to this one or a completely separate one?
asked by butterflyunion
Late answer is approaching ridiculous, but answering none the less!
At first I was going to say alternate, but on further reflection I have to say it is completely separate. Only it is separate in a parallel fashion.
LOL Confused yet?
Okay, let me try this one, with slight plot hints. After all is said and done, Pleasantries will be offering (what I think is) an interesting twist on the origins of humanoid life on the planet my sims live on. Still very heavily evolution based, but with a major twist that some might say, could, theoretically parallel human evolution (depending on which theory of the origins of life on Earth you subscribe to).
It isn't our world, nor is it even our world redone, but there are similarities to go along with the major differences.
With the intent of getting caught up (and not writing that random that is trying to take over my brain ... it has sat there for 10 or so years, it can stay put a bit longer) Formspring #4 with all the questions from July - September (I still have more to answer as well, but this was getting to be a long list for 1 post). As usual, anything in italics is things that occurred to me while I was posting here and are not on the original formspring question.
SPOILER WARNING! - More like hints actually, but if you don't even want that skip Answer 11 from ***Spoiler Potential!*** to ***End Spoiler!***.
1. 2 questions but i will split them up. Telesto was reluctant to have a physical relationship with Juliette, but a week after he hooked up with Ripp and they are already sleeping together? What gives?
Oh! Well spotted. I had wondered if I had slipped that past everyone since no one had commented yet.
First, Tel is young. He really is still figuring things out and isn't as sure of himself as he may seem. As for the rest of this, answered (for the most part) in 5.6 which is (as of this typing) being gone over for continuity errors and will have been posted by the time this answer makes it to LJ. So if it still isn't clear then, drop me a note or a comment. :)
I am hoping this is more clear now, if not, ask, but keep in mind this is a minor plot line in upcoming updates so I may not be able to answer straight away.
2. Second question. Caelan confuses me. Sometimes I think he is flirting with Tybalt but other times he seems very hetero. What is his orientation and is he really flirting with Tybalt?
Ah Caelan! :D I really think Caelan confuses himself which is great fun for me to play with! But that doesn't help everyone else I'm sure.
For the most part his leanings are decidedly hetero. For the most part his leanings are "OMG! Hot chick! T&A. Hell yes! I'm there, but leave the emotional entanglements in another country please." But as with all things Caelan, that is subject to change IF you can get his interest and no, Tybalt has not gotten his interest.
Which brings us very nicely to the second part of your question. Is he flirting with Tybalt? Not yet ......
3. Why don't advertise Pleasantries more like some of the other simwriters do? I think there are alot more people who would like it and just don't know it exists.
I don't really feel I need to advertise any more than I am. Popularity and a huge number of readers has never been my goal. My goals are very personal and even if I had no readers I would still be posting the story. Don't get me wrong, I love having readers and I love the reader feed back and comments (OMG do I love comments! I really love comments! A lot!) but I don't need them to keep me motivated.
By all means though, if you know someone who you think would enjoy the story, pass them a link. Or if you know of somewhere you think I really should advertise because there are several people there who you think would enjoy the story, let me know. Left to my own devices though, I am not going to go way out of my way to "put myself out there" because that is kind of really, excruciatingly painful for me to do :)
4. Admit it, for real, your crush on Anto is not as platonic as you claim it is is it?
LOL.
My crush on Anto, and it is a huge crush, I will admit that, is completely platonic. Really, and there is a very simple explanation for that. Anto very much belongs 250% to someone else. So not only would I just feel really weird having any sort of romantic inclinations toward him (hugely weird, like the Mt. Everest of weird!), it would be totally pointless as well.
5. After reading "Baby", I have to ask... in your world, approximately how large is the age gap between Ripp and Buck? Did the scene where Lyla and Ripp sneak out for pizza take place before or after Buck's birth? (Question shortened for space purposes.)
The age gap is approximately 5 years (leaning a little closer to 6 I believe, I would have to check my calender and I don't have it with me at present. I will have a definitive answer for you when I post this to LiveJournal!). Sneaking out for pizza was before his birth, Don't worry, :D she didn't leave the baby at home with no one really paying attention! However, Lyla would have been pregnant on Ripp's first day of school, only, disappointingly, the Social Worker uniform doesn't have a pregnancy morph. :(
Definative answer 5 years 4 months. It has also been pointed out to me that the Social Worker uniform should have a pregmorph ... *shrug* She was pregnant at the time. No idea why it wasn't showing, that would have been awesome.
6. What color are the Anto fangirl pompoms?
Oooh. Interesting question! If Anto had his way they would be very simple in natural tones (seriously, look at his apartment some time) browns, beige, maybe a wine red, a lighter blue for contrast. This is where I cringe and go "We're fangirling, Anto, not entering a home decorating challenge! Geez!"
So we compromised. They are totally blue and gold with just one or two strands of that wine red thrown in to keep him happy.
7. I like reading the pleasantries prompt replies at sims_anon and I have one I want to put there but I want the canon take on it as well. If I put it here will you answer it?
First, you should definitely put it up at sims_anon! Not because I want more Pleasantries at sims_anon (I am a little shocked the ones that are there are there at all!) but simply because that is what the community was created for. That is their thing and I would hate to take that away from them and from the writers who enjoy responding to them with such amazing creativity.
However, if you have a burning need to know how a situation would go down in my head, you can ask me directly. It doesn't have to be here and I can't promise I will answer it as a prompt response. Actually you are more likely to spark a scene that makes it into the actual story, but hey, if you are cool with that, ask away. I will answer it in one form or another.
While this is still likely to spark a scene in the story, on further thought, please do ask me! I have grown fond of prompts recently and always welcome the practice, both of writing and getting into the character's heads. Of course still posting the prompt at Sims_Anon is enxouraged. You never know it might get filled by someone else there as well!
8. If Anto fangirl pompoms are blue and gold with wine, what would Caliban's be? Also, would it be rude if I reminder-poked you about having him for download? I have plans, you see... :}
Eeep! I forgot! Sorry! Will go directly and do that.
The colour is a harder one to answer though. Cal would want gray because he doesn't have to worry about gray, gray goes with everything. Personally I am thinking a navy blue would be so much more him and of course the mint green because, well, he IS green, and we can't let him be upstaged by Anto (Anto does enough of that just by existing!) soooo
Let's go with Silver, navy and a hint of mint *nod*.
So, wonderful anon Cal fan whom I ♥ a ton, are you ever going to share those plans? :D Anon sharing works fine!
9. I am in awe of how you write the little moments and interactions between your characters. How do you find the inspiration to create these small moments that add so much to the story?
Aw, thank you! The honest answer to this is kind of really creepy.
I watch people. A lot. Like all the time. I always have. I watch and listen and most of the time they don't even know I am there :/. That part I don't do on purpose but I do pay attention on purpose.
People have always kind of alternately fascinated and scared the hell out of me. I can't make sense of them right away. Where they are coming from, why they do the things they do. Add in that I really will try anything, usually twice, and I have been in some strange situations, done some really stupid stuff, seen some interesting things and overheard one hell of a lot of entertaining conversations!
So what is my inspiration? Life, with all of it's wonderful, fascinating, sometimes scary, often baffling as all hell faces.
10. is it too late to sneak in a Caelan meme as well?
Nope! But it might be too early :D I will see what I can do without too many spoilers.
11. When you say dark places, how dark do you mean? Angst dark or horror flick dark. I'm basically a chickenshit and if this is going to scare me knowing about it first so I can prepare myself would help. I'm invested too far to stop reading.
First, sorry this has taken so long to answer. I really had to think about how to answer it. I could tell you it is going horrific dark places again, but I am not sure that is really what you are looking for. Me telling you is not the same as seeing it for yourself.
So, in no particular order, random snippets from Chapter 6 on. Names have been edited out, but do head the spoiler warning. Nothing major, but certainly not completely spoiler free.
***Spoiler Potential!***
“And I thought a potential crazed serial killer with an alien fetish was bad enough.”
“You wish these guys were only that fucked up.”
* * *
“Where is he, <edited>?” she demanded, her hands trembling as she leveled the gun at his head.
“Pull the fucking trigger,” he laughed, “You’d be doing me a favour.”
“I don’t want to hurt you. Please, just tell me where he is.”
* * *
“Stop and think,” his voice turned pleading, “Do you know what they are doing to <edited> right now?”
She shook her head.
“Trust me, you don’t want to, but when you find out, you are going to hate me for putting him there.”
“I am already really pissed with you for that,” she admitted.
“Exactly,” he smiled again, “Now what do you think <edited> is gong to do?”
“He’s going to be angry.”
He shook his head, “He’s going to fucking kill me, and I might hand him the knife to gut me with.”
* * *
"... I couldn’t even move enough to ask them to stop. Tell them they were hurting me. Even when things went wrong, when my throat would swell shut and I couldn’t breathe, or I could feel the blood starting to pool in my lungs and I knew I was dying, I couldn’t do anything to let them know. I had to wait and hope they noticed, hope they cared.”
* * *
"What were you trying to do?”
“I wanted to kill him.”
The look in his eyes gave her pause. She sat back slightly in her chair. “And now? Do you still want to?”
“If I ever get him alone, I will.”
* * *
"You better pray to whatever gods will listen I am the only one who sees it because if the wrong people do, jail will be the least of your problems.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“I wondered. So tell me; how do you plan to protect him when you’re dead?”
* * *
“Oh don’t look so frightened,” the man smiled warmly, “We are making history here, and you are such a vital part of it. I imagine you will lose consciousness soon enough anyway. Be brave. This will be successful. We will be worthy.”
***End Spoiler!***
12. Hey! My friend and I were wondering (we both fangirl over your story. It's awesome), is Winston in a relationship? We need to know, because my friend thinks Lillith needs to get laid, and I think she needs love (with Winson). Keep writing, you're awesome!
:D Thank you and ... :( Sorry, as mentioned in Winston's meme (http://genlisae.livejournal.com/35343.html) he is engaged to Meredith Page, whom you will be meeting in Chapter 6.
I do agree with you though, Lilith needs someone. She spends so much time worrying about other people and making sure her friends are happy, someone worrying about her for a change would be good for her. And Winston does, as much as he can, keeping in mind if he did cross that line he wouldn't have a job. Even beyond professional concerns though, it would conflict with his overly noble sense of right and wrong. If he even entertained the idea he would immediately cease all contact with her because 'corrupting young girls' is not something he could live with having done.
13. Do you ever wonder/worry about what sort of life your sims are leading in someone else's game?
Wonder? Yeah, sure, who wouldn't? That and I wonder what sort of interesting stories others see playing out for them. I love the way different people can take the same character and see a whole other fate for them. I love it more when they share those stories!
Worry? Nah. They are in good hands. Even if those hands are torturing them or hooking them up with the least likely person/people imaginable. :D
I am not at all opposed to people sharing what they are getting up to in other games though! Really. Please share ... feed my obsession.
14. What is it going to take to get you to update?
LOL! ♥
Can you like break into my head and rearrange things so I can focus? Oh! And a few less other things going on would be awesome .. and sleep that actually does something for the tired. Any chance on any of those?
Seriously, I am just not in the correct mind frame right now to do an update justice. :/ I feel guilty about it because I know people are waiting but I would feel worse giving you a half assed update that didn't flow and looked awful. I appreciate the enthusiasm though!
The mind frame issue is now resolved, I am completely in the right mind frame and updates are happening. This is a good thing!
15. I'm asking a few of my favorite writers this. Hope you don't mind. How do you do it? I try to write and it turns out terrible. Do you have any tips for improving?
First, and this is probably the most important part of anything I have to say on the matter: Terrible is awesome! Write it down anyway. Share it. Be proud of it because, damn it, you did it and that right there is HUGE! Finding the courage to share is probably the hardest part.
I don't think what I do write is all that good and a few months from now I will look back at what I wrote today and cringe. I know I will. I expect (and already have, a lot!) at some point in the future to come away from reading back over previous work and think "What utter crap!" and I love it because it is a sign of growth, of improvement and by simply being able to recognize it is crap I know I am refining what skills I do I have and learning new ones.
I am one of those people who will never be satisfied with my own work and I think if you look at the work of those you really enjoy (not necessarily the "popular" work, the good stuff, the work that resonates well after you have finished reading it; It gets in your head and you just can't let it go) you will find the people behind that work are never satisfied either. They always feel they can do more, be more, learn more. Those people are an awesome example to follow and are the example I personally try to follow.
It's interesting that you asked this question now. It has been on my mind recently and I was discussing the subject (more or less) with a friend only a few days ago. This friend (who has now totally been dubbed Yoda-chan) said something that just struck a cord. "You are only as good as what you haven't done yet."
She is so right.
Embrace your terrible, it is your starting point. Everything that comes after is building on that base and don't be afraid to share it. 90% of improvement comes simply from doing. The rest is experimentation. Do, experiment and learn. Never stop learning both from your successes and your mistakes. Especially your mistakes.
16. How do you plan out your time lines? I tend to use days and just do like the day with "morning" "afternoon" or "night" or whatever attached to it, but not give it actual time (i.e. 6 p.m., 8 p.m. etc). I'm guessing you do this to keep the story on track?
asked by butterflyunion
I am not quite sure (it's been a long week!) exactly what you are asking here, so I shared this question with Mathew and said: "Plan? What is this plan thing?" His response: "That thing you do in your head while you're sleeping."
Now that is not to say I don't have a plan! I do and it reads a lot like this http://pics.livejournal.com/genlisae/pic/000wq968 .... for 46 pages (and it keeps growing) Somewhere in there is the entire outline and every detail that needs to be included ... and that is where the timestamps come in. The details.
They all fit together and how one moment plays out will effect another moment later to come or offer "the other half" of the story. Sometimes these moments are happening at the same time and sometimes they are several weeks (and a chapter or so) apart. Now, I know when they are happening because somewhere in that 46 pages and all the stuff I do in my head while I am sleeping is "The plan" but how clear that would be to everyone else? I don't know. So I time stamp.
If you are asking how I decide when everything is happening ... ummm ... yeah, that is just when it happened? I can't be more specific than that. :/ "The plan" dictates it happens at X time so that is when it happens.
I totally just didn't answer your question did I?
17. What is your own personal opinion in regards to the perception of the world the sims live in? Do you consider it an alternate reality to this one or a completely separate one?
asked by butterflyunion
Late answer is approaching ridiculous, but answering none the less!
At first I was going to say alternate, but on further reflection I have to say it is completely separate. Only it is separate in a parallel fashion.
LOL Confused yet?
Okay, let me try this one, with slight plot hints. After all is said and done, Pleasantries will be offering (what I think is) an interesting twist on the origins of humanoid life on the planet my sims live on. Still very heavily evolution based, but with a major twist that some might say, could, theoretically parallel human evolution (depending on which theory of the origins of life on Earth you subscribe to).
It isn't our world, nor is it even our world redone, but there are similarities to go along with the major differences.
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Weee! That is one task off the list.
On a personal note, MY ELBOW IS GETTING BETTER! Not with any great sort of speed, but it moves again and the swelling is way down. Which means the next update is in the works. YAY! It might be interspersed with a mostly text story that is floating around my head as well ... no, I can't focus on one thing at a time ... I've tried, It doesn't work.
