Random Questions Thread

"10-year old horror superheroine" Y'know this actually sounds pretty interesting, despite the fact I'm not that interested in horror.

That's a pretty interesting concept to say the least.

Speaking of concepts, what do you think of my concept of my sci-fi story: Take the alien invasion setting but with a sense romanticism in it, as if, instead of the usual tentacle like creatures, lizards, or just simple spaceships out of nowhere, why not turned instead of an Urban Fantasy type of war w where they use both magic and techonology and have an appearance resembling elfs.

Many of my friends say that because of it, it makes the story feel like an Earthly version of Star Wars, would you agree?

http://sonicbran23.deviantart.com/gallery/52759755/Earth-Warriors

Okay, follow-up from my last question, but roughly how far apart were cities? In my story right now the main character and his best friend have run away from home and are venturing out for a nearby city. Their hometown was a rural mining town at the base of a mountain range, and I'm not sure how appropriately distanced a rather populous city would be from there. Geography has never been my strong suit.

edited 16th Sep '16 8:04:53 AM by randomdude4

Depends on a LOT of things. Is there a neaby river? A pass through the mountains that traders use a lot? How valuable/useful is the ore mined in the mountains? Failing all that, did an important noble decide that was the perfect place for a castle?

Many cities started as stopping points on major trade routes, and grew bigger because of both the opportunities and security offered.

is making my character, john archer, a dark-skinned italian count as the white saviour trope?

Me and a friend of mine made a web comic and posted it in webtoon recently. Is it appropriate to me if I post the link to our web comic here and ask for critiques or suggestions? It's our first web comic, so if you guys can help us improve, it'll be greatly appreciated.

We used to have a sign up top on the lines of "this isn't a good thread to discuss general story or characterization in detail, start your own thread for that".

We might need it back.

Details like "how do I tell X story"? That's your job, or something for a dedicated collaborator. Generalized q-and-a will not give you the answer you seek. Stop it, please.

I'm not exactly asking how do I tell my story, I can do that on my own. I'm just asking if there is something that I miss or I can improve on, but if that isn't okay, sorry about that. I'll not bring it up again.

edited 16th Sep '16 12:40:45 PM by Advarielle

Sigh

Okay. Remember what this thread is: a random sample of people on the Internet who might have the interest or the capability to answer questions here and there. Sometimes, said people might even answer certain questions at length and in depth; hence, for instance, my own willingness to launch into lengthy discussions related to political science or history topics. Sometimes, we'll be knowledgeable or interested enough to help with some specific details in storytelling—a given story or setting scenario, or a character trait, for instance. All well and good.

What this thread isn't: most thread participants don't know anything specific about your current writing project. We don't know the context of the story you're telling, we don't know the details of how you intend to tell the story, we don't know how you're going to show your characters, how they'll develop, what'll happen to them.

Without those details, the only real answer we can give when you ask a general question like that is "it depends on the story".

If your question will require an extended discussion to tell all of those, and the process of formulating answers for you involves writing plot and characterization for you, you may wish to start your own thread.

Well, I'm just asking is it appropriate to put the link to my and my friend's web comic here and ask for critiques and suggestions, and it isn't, so I'm not going to.

I'm not going to ask you guys to write plot and characterization for me. That is just lazy. Besides, I already write the gist of the plot from the start to the end, obviously, along with the characterization. The only thing left is for my friend to actually draw all of them. We are already at chapter 20. Thanks a lot anyway.

I dont think Sabre was talking specifically to you, but to the preview couple of posters. That said, this isnt the thread for linking to a work of yours, Constructive Criticism is, and that only if you want, you know, constructive criticism.

As for the medieval geography question- few people hiked more than a day anywhere back then, the exception being caravans consisting of merchants and pilgrims. Also soldiers. It's unlikely that two kids from a village in the hills would even know where the nearest city is, let alone be able to get there, at least without help. So you have two options as I see it: either they get assistance from some more seasoned traveler they meet on the road, or the nearest city is less than a day's hike away.

Well they have a map, so they're not totally wandering around blindly. Still, neither one has much experience using it or anything.

Accurate maps, and the ability to read them, were exceptionally rare back then. But the answer to your question is "it depends." You might find this page helpful (it is a summary of historical medieval European population density translated into role playing terms). Just remember that cities are surrounded by towns, and towns by villages, each about a day's walk away, or less, from the others.

Medieval Demographics Made Easy is FANTASTIC.

I got a medal!

ok i got this fairy character who's a dream fey that presents in a androgynous or non-binary matter but i'm curious how i can present them in such a way.

x4 That link is insanely helpful. Thank you so much! I'm not writing historical fiction, but in a Medieval Fantasy setting I assume things would be pretty similar.

Could you rephrase that? I'm not too sure what you mean.

edited 17th Sep '16 9:25:13 AM by randomdude4

how can i present my fairy character as a non-binary person or whatever?

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong/misunderstanding, but wouldn't you write them just like any other character?

Normally I'd just say write them like a normal human being, not some kind of freak, but "normal human being" is already out of the window here.
I'm not sure. I'd say avoid at all costs portraying non-binariness as imbued with holiness or mysticism, but that's just me. I accept that you could probably do it and still get something that has some literary merit. At any rate, be nuanced about it, or you'll end up with the 2010s equivalent of "women are more in tune with nature".

edited 17th Sep '16 11:33:03 AM by InigoMontoya

what's wrong with being overly girly?

If you are talking about writing them like a "normal human being" being out of the line, I am quite sure that was written because your character isn't human, not because of their gender or expressions of it.

edited 17th Sep '16 1:01:46 PM by EternaMemoria

like i meant why is it bad for a girl to be girly that is.

That is completely unrelated to the discussion. Where did it come from? Is this about women being "closer to nature"? Because being girly is a completely different thing.