Kat Allen just posted some musings on omniscient, and Elizabeth Bear responded.
Xander: Look who's got a bad case of Dark Prince envy. Dracula: Leave us. Xander: No, we're not going to "Leabbb you." And where'd you get that accent, Sesame Street? "One, Two, Three - three victims! Maw ha ha!"
'Lessons'
Fan Fiction: Writers, Readers, and Enablers
This thread is for fanfic recs, links, and discussion, but not for actual posting of fanfic.
Micole - Nov 29, 2003 6:18:25 am PST #6736 of 10000
I've been working on a song about the difference between analogy and metaphor.
Connie Neil - Nov 29, 2003 1:28:16 pm PST #6737 of 10000
brillig
For myself, I think I've always written in ltd 3rd. When I started writing, I never dreamed of doing it first person. Thinking back, my naive self would have found it both too revealing and too arrogant, using the word "I" in these adventures. I hadn't gotten to the point yet of being able to separate myself from the characters. (Also, my first major fanfic was Star Wars with the dreaded Original Female Character, Riani, source of all my email address. I'm fond of her, dear psychotic, violence-prone alpha-bitch that she is.)
Some writers do tend to take the internal monologue to extremes, 1st or 3rd person not withstanding. There is definitely a place--heck, a requirement--for some internal thoughtfulness, but it's like sex scenes, you really can have too many.
I'm beginning to think I should make myself write some 1st person, just to see what I can do with it. Elena's work (I can never remember the entire series title, but the best bit is Les Noyades) is some of the best I've seen, heartwrenching and individual and making you go "Poor darling needs a hug!"
Katie M - Nov 29, 2003 1:31:00 pm PST #6738 of 10000
I was charmed (albeit somewhat perplexed) by the fannish sensibility of many of the music choices -- it's like the director was trying to vid Canada. --loligo on the Olympic Opening Ceremonies
Then again, omniscience tends to make it harder to win over one's audience, in the fanfic world anyway.
I'm a big fan of omniscient, FWIW, though I think I tend to give a tight POV more wiggle room on writing skill, just because dull omniscient is *really* dull. (Thanks for those links, Micole - very interesting, and yes, that's exactly what I find dull about boring omniscient or distant third. There's no life. Whereas with a tight POV, it's pretty rare that the story's completely lifeless.)
I tie that to my fondness for first person narratives that have a voice that's not only strong but obviously fixed in time - stories where you know the narrator is telling the story, and shading it themselves, and not necessarily telling you everything. (Of course, that kind of thing does run the risk of getting me to a point where I want to smack the author for getting cute.)
Theodosia - Nov 30, 2003 10:20:11 am PST #6739 of 10000
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"
I think the example offered way up above...
"Blair raised his incredibly beautiful azure eyes to Jim's adoring face."would be appropriate in a 3rd-camera-eye viewpoint -- where the plot follows Blair's actions, but we don't get interiorization.
§ ita § - Nov 30, 2003 11:12:04 am PST #6740 of 10000
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
a 3rd-camera-eye viewpoint
Aha. This is what comes of not knowing the terms. I think I'd thought third limited encompassed 3rd-camera-eye.
Thank you.
P.M. Marc - Dec 04, 2003 12:45:12 pm PST #6741 of 10000
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear
shrift - Dec 05, 2003 10:31:20 am PST #6742 of 10000
"You can't put a price on the joy of not giving a shit." -Zenkitty
Dana - Dec 05, 2003 10:54:14 am PST #6743 of 10000
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.
Oh, my god, that's so cute and sweet, in defiance of all the rules of the universe!
Am-Chau Yarkona - Dec 06, 2003 2:26:50 am PST #6744 of 10000
I bop to Wittgenstein. -- Nutty
Oh, wow. That's just... lovely, in a weird way. I mean, I'm a bit of a sucker for a good mpreg anyway, but... so well written. And oddly plausible. And Arziphale is so *nice* about it. Charming. That's a good word. And sweet, in a slithery Crowley way. Thanks for linking, shrift!
erikaj - Dec 06, 2003 6:18:35 pm PST #6745 of 10000
Always Anti-fascist!
I've just read a story with the word "bollucks" in it...I used to be be her beta...I corrected that about forty times. argh. (Picturing filk "Damn, I wish you were my beta" It also has Spike calling himself "buggering selfish" and refers to "adolescent mellow drama" which I think is "Everwood" or something, not the "melodrama" she was looking for.