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Hello, fellow writers! Got any question that you can't find answer from Google or Wikipedia, but you don't think it needs a separate thread for? You came to the right place!

Don't be shy, and just ask away. The nice folks here, writers and non-writers, experts and non-experts, will do their best to help you.

The folder below contains links for special interest threads, mostly at OTC, but also from Yack Fest and Troper Coven.

    Special Interest Threads 

Also take a look at Useful Notes on various topics. They can be pretty useful.

Now, bring on the questions, baby!

edited 11th Apr '18 6:31:51 PM by dRoy

Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#25576: May 10th 2023 at 1:08:35 PM

[up][up]

The Maiden propably wouldn't have been interested in doing that kind of work. She's something of a Expy of Hans Landa.

Edited by Nukeli on May 10th 2023 at 11:09:50 AM

~*bleh*~
Cutegirl920fire Player 222 from the Squid Games (Five Long Years) Relationship Status: Paris holds the key to my heart
Player 222
#25577: May 10th 2023 at 4:52:35 PM

I hope y'all don't mind me reposting this question: it's been a page and hasn't gotten an answer yet.


Does the CASA (court-appointed special advocate) occuptation accurately describes what this character does?

So, in a past NaNoWriMo novel, I had this character who assisted the MC (who's a foster kid) get adopted and was basically her case manager. I didn't know the proper term at the time and I was more focused on getting the words out, so I didn't do too much research on it.

Now, as I remake the novel, I figured I should at least know what this character is occupation wise and with a quick Google search, stumbled upon CASA but I'm not sure if it fits them.

Edited by Cutegirl920fire on May 10th 2023 at 4:52:50 AM

CG for short
jawal Since: Sep, 2018
#25578: May 10th 2023 at 7:33:15 PM

[up]

I am not greatly familiar with the U.S.A. foster family system, but I think CASA will fit in case the child was removed from his original family due to neglect or abuse.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_Appointed_Special_Advocates

[up][up]

The first women police officers, were charged with either dealing exclusively with minors, or as wardens for female prisoners, and they had no right to arrest criminals.

I never heard of a woman Private detective before WWII, in Europe neither in Real Life nor in fiction, (Though in America there was Kate Warne  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Warne)

However, there may be a solution, just make her the secretary or assistant of a male private detective, you can create a lazy, not two bright drunkards of a detective, who do nothing all day, while she is the one solving cases and doing all the work, only to be overlooked at the end because she is a woman, while her boss gets all the credits.

Think of a more serious case of Penny and Inspector Gadget, or of Detective Conan and Kogoro Mori, or even of Tommy and Tuppence (Though in the last case, the two were partners, the man was equally competent, and the woman got respect)

@Septimus Heap

That sounds right, and the third boy will be sent to the hospital, and interrogated when his statues permitted it, the next thing to focus on, is if the burglary and attempted murder got reported, because with a knife with the blood of the victim on it, that will be a proof against them.

Edited by jawal on May 10th 2023 at 5:18:47 PM

Every Hero has his own way of eating yogurt
Florien The They who said it from statistically, slightly right behind you. Since: Aug, 2019
The They who said it
#25579: May 10th 2023 at 10:11:29 PM

[up][up] if it's from before about 1977, CASA didn't exist then. Many states didn't adopt it until even later, it wasn't relatively widely available well into the 2000s. North Dakota still doesn't have it today.

Most foster youth don't get anything like a "case manager" in any case. CASA's a fairly small program with highly debatable usefulness.

Otherwise, it depends a lot on what this character does whether they'd be likely to be in CASA or not. Add more details, maybe it'll be easier to tell.

AdeptGaderius Otaku from the Anime World Since: Nov, 2018 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Otaku
#25580: May 11th 2023 at 3:18:47 AM

History question: What are atrocities motivated by opposition to nationalist sentiments or independence movements in real-life history?

Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#25581: May 11th 2023 at 7:13:08 AM

So in the untitled scifi story idea i havenote , i have alien robots showing up on warn-torn, pseudoapocalyptic 20 Minutes into the Future Earth. Among other things it was inspired by reading somebody somewhere saying that we're more likely to encounter machines built by long-gone/far-away aliens than we're to encounter any actual aliens.

The robots in question are have emotional complexity, self-awareness, obvious-to-human-perception intelligence, and capacity for independent actions and opinions. I have no idea yet what they should look like or how they should communicate with each other, but i've thought the aliens who created them originally created them as companions, which is why they're "pack animals" and still live in groups and form friendships. I also thought they're sort of self-replicating in that they can build more of each other, but don't have internalized facilities for it, and they're learning machines so they kind of start off as "children" when they're built.

Because they're built by aliens, i have to figure what the aliens were like first, even though the aliens themselves never appear. Do these suppositions make sense?

  • Certainly, they must've been pack animals themselves in order to be able to develop and manufacture complex technology (and to want companionship).
  • They should have more than one limb or appendage they could use to manipulate objects.
  • Propably lived on land at least part-time to be able to use fire in order to create metal and robots.
  • Propably had eyes?
  • I remember reading that carnivores and omnivores are generally more intelligent than herbivores (humans, crows, octopi...), plus omnivorousness helps species' spread and survive, so they may also have been omnivorous (or carnivorous).
  • They obviously can't be Living Gasbags or intelligent plants, like some people have suggested aliens may be, because gas isn't solid and plants are not only very slow but stuck to the ground.

Edited by Nukeli on May 11th 2023 at 5:37:57 PM

~*bleh*~
jawal Since: Sep, 2018
#25582: May 11th 2023 at 7:24:17 AM

[up][up]

Can you elaborate more?

Every Hero has his own way of eating yogurt
Altris from the Vortex Since: Aug, 2019 Relationship Status: Not caught up in your love affair
#25583: May 11th 2023 at 7:30:39 AM

[up][up] I guess, though I'm not sure why it matters if they never appear. A few lines of dialogue from the designated Scientist Character ("hmm, based on their pack behavior and intelligence, these robots seem to have been constructed for companionship purposes. Presumably domesticating pets was unfeasible on their builders' home planet" and so forth) should clear it up, unless you want to really delve into the aliens that never actually show up.

So, let's hang an anchor from the sun... also my Tumblr
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#25584: May 11th 2023 at 7:45:26 AM

[up]

It does matter in that a species that builds companion robots would propably build them to resemble themselves, or animals they find cute (as humans are doing, and despite real animals being available), and to behave and communicate like them. So starting from what the aliens were physically like would help coming up with the robots' appearances and communication method without ending up with something that doesn't make sense. The robots could also still be practicing their creators' culture in some capacity, since they're intelligent and have emotions.

The humans are also going to find a way to communicate with the robots, i'm not yet sure how because i don't know what sort of anatomy or senses they have compared to humans, but the humans will be able to actually converse with them and do ask about their origins at some point (the three robots who the guerrillas interact with are too young to have ever actually seen the aliens and maybe even their planet of origin, as they're "kids" agewise, and neither them or any others of their kind was supposed to end up on Earth).

Edited by Nukeli on May 11th 2023 at 6:44:34 PM

~*bleh*~
ArsThaumaturgis Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
#25585: May 11th 2023 at 9:37:35 AM

@Cutegirl920fire:

Ah, I'm sorry that I left this for so long! Some personal matters held me back.

Let me attempt to rephrase:

Let's say that you're writing, and you find your attention starting to waver.

I'm suggesting that, instead of pushing through, you choose to stop writing for the moment, to allow your attention to go elsewhere.

After all, you can potentially just come back later.

My thinking is that this may reduce the probability of burnout, thus making it hopefully a bit easier to write more often.

That said, I'm glad that you got some advice from someone else with ADHD, and that it seems to have been helpful! ^_^

(I've been tempted to agree emphatically with those who have said that you don't need to write every day, but I fear that I don't know your situation well enough to know the truth of that.

I'll say only that, as I think that I argued, I doubt that "write very day" is a universally-applicable tip.)

Edited by ArsThaumaturgis on May 11th 2023 at 6:38:15 PM

My Games and Asset Packs
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#25586: May 11th 2023 at 11:59:04 AM

Lots of atrocities are committed during independence wars. Often on both sides. As for anti-independentist crimes, Stalin's deportations during World War II come to mind.

Regarding my question, one thing I am hung up on is whether these boys (they are 13 years old for reference) would be restrained or not. Most other bits of police procedure don't matter overmuch but this one does, seeing as one of the boys is the narrator.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
jawal Since: Sep, 2018
#25587: May 11th 2023 at 8:28:44 PM

[up]

The choice to handcuff a person is dependent on the surrounding circumstances, and it depends on the officer. Is there a risk of the suspect trying to escape? Are they violent?

Technically the use of handcuffs should be an exceptional measure, particularly against minors, and never used for disciplinary matters, but in the example you cited, two teenagers are armed with a knife, and seem to have been in a fight, so it may be wise for the police officer to handcuff them, particularly if it is just one officer or two, and there is also the question of the third boy who need medical attention.

Every Hero has his own way of eating yogurt
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#25588: May 12th 2023 at 5:34:45 AM

TLDR: Would the relatives of a person who nearly destroyed the world be able to go on living normal lives in the aftermath?

More Detailed Explanation: After my main protagonist goes rogue and tries to usher in The End of the World as We Know It for the supernatural and human worlds, his family (mother, father and aunt) are an instrumental part of the rag-tag team that assembles to catch up to him and put him down.

However, what I wonder is how they would treated after the villain's destruction? Much of the world has been heavily affected by his actions and global society as a whole is in complete chaos—-for both humans and supernatural beings alike.

His family is under the protection of a powerful vampire noble (and since the supernatural is now out of the open, people understand the gravity of this fact), so they don't have to worry about open attempts on their lives. But I wonder about just how their lives would go otherwise?

I intend for them to just go back to as normal a life as possible, with his parents trying to raise their other child in peace. I didn't especially think of them having to go into hiding/change their names, due to being a part of why there even is a world left.

But I guess people, humans and supernatrals, could generally still hold them responsible for the tragedy and suffering of the event and the aftermath, so...I guess I'm just asking how likely it is their lives will be free of drama and danger.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
jawal Since: Sep, 2018
#25589: May 12th 2023 at 5:55:09 AM

Since no one in Real Life ever has-yet- a relative who nearly destroyed the world, No one can answer for sure.

But if we compare the situation to the relatives of dictators and criminals, I expect that while some people my unreasonably blame them, must people will not hold a grudge.

Real Life kings and dictators who caused suffering to their people, but their immediate sons and daughters were not blamed, and even crowned kings.

And since the heroes helped save the world, that is a point in their favor.

Or in fiction, think of it like Luke and Vader from Star Wars, a lot of people in Legends know of their relationship and Luke was still considered a hero.

Or think of Zuko and Lord Ozai in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Edited by jawal on May 12th 2023 at 2:03:11 PM

Every Hero has his own way of eating yogurt
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#25590: May 12th 2023 at 5:59:16 AM

[up]

Thought it propably helped that Luke and Zuko actively fought against said relative (idk how many people ever even knew Luke was Vader's son).

~*bleh*~
jawal Since: Sep, 2018
#25591: May 12th 2023 at 6:02:33 AM

[up]

Swordofknowledge wrote :

his family (mother, father and aunt) are an instrumental part of the rag-tag team that assembles to catch up to him and put him down
.

In Legends, Luke relationship to Vader is a known fact.

In canon too, since Rey-who live in the middle of nowhere-is familiar with it, and refere to the throne room scene to Luke himself, in The Last Jedi

Edited by jawal on May 12th 2023 at 2:11:27 PM

Every Hero has his own way of eating yogurt
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#25592: May 12th 2023 at 6:10:46 AM

[up][up] @ Jawal and Nukeli:

That is true; I didn't even really think of it in terms of Real Life offenders and their families. As both you and Nukeli mentioned, fighting against him is intended to be a huge part of why the world isn't calling for their heads, since most would recognize the heartbreaking decision that had to be made to go up against their own child. Especially since unlike the Star Wars and Avatar examples, they were very close to their son and vice versa (in fact, he's doing the whole "destroy the world" thing for his family's sake).

I just wasn't exactly sure if their exploits would be enough to earn them the world's favor or at least indifference rather than hatred.

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
LoneCourier0 The Wandering Geek from A Diverse Land (Unitroper) Relationship Status: How YOU doin'?
The Wandering Geek
#25593: May 13th 2023 at 3:01:51 AM

So, I'm wondering about the next chapter that I'll write today.

What could be a more meaningful and impactful fate for this particular couple who defected to the enemy when they promised to heal their injured son after a botched attack from the main human force?

A guy constantly implores to have the dad kill himself out of despair for their conflicting choices, while the mom eventually tries to go down fighting against the arriving force to siege the fortress where their child is held captive out of misguided revenge.

Or alternatively the dad, in a moment of lucidity, decides to sacrifice himself by obliterating a vital part of the fortress that would help out the protagonists, while the mom surrenders in shame but is promised that she would receive all the help she can with her child.

Which one do you think would work best?

"Cynicism is not realistic and tough. It's unrealistic and kind of cowardly because it means you don't have to try."
Nukeli Since: Aug, 2018
#25594: May 14th 2023 at 12:24:52 PM

In my WWII superhero story, i have most superpowered characters' powers explained and often having common sources. I just have 4 characters whose powers' origins i haven't managed to come up with an explanation for.

"Magic" isn't a fix-everything solution here because the story's magic isn't all-powerful or generally like a lot of other people seem to think magic should be. It's pretty understated compared to magic in other superhero stories too, though it's still combat/warfare-useful enough that you have war mages like Pittaluga. Nothing i've come up with about the magic could be connected to Thunderlight's and Maiden's powers, Bathory's thing could be magic since magicking fire sounds pretty reasonable though that'd require justification for why he keeps using it like that, and Raducescu's power could maybe be explained as the established magical ability to seep through tight spaces though i'd thought it'd be weirder and creepier.

Thoughts?

(All the other characters whose power source is settled on included for reference on what kind of stuff this is)

The nazi supervillains:

  • The Lightbearer — Enchanced strenght, speed, and endurance. From a Super Serum.
  • Byron Ashford — Enchanced strenght, speed, and endurance. From the same Super Serum as The Lightbearer.
  • Living Inferno — Pyrokinesis. From power source or propulsion attempt somehow since he's a robot.
  • Romano MarchegianoMaking a Splash, breathing in water, possibly something else. From being a human-aquatic hybrid.
  • Thunderlight — Superspeed (not like The Flash, but more like a sports car). From ???.
  • Aryan Maiden — Telekinesis. From ???.
  • Dominik Bathory — Pyrokinesis that graphically damages him like normal fire would damage a normal person. From ???.
  • Nicolae Raducescu — A really bizarre and disturbing thing where he can turn 2D entirely or partially, in which state he's weirdly durable and his edges are sharp. From ???.
  • Pittaluga — Teleportation, some sort of scrying, other non-vampire magic descriped in {{Dracula, plus some othr stuff i came up with. From magic.

The resistance heroes:

  • Wisteria Woman — Sort of Perception Filter and propably some other stuff. From being a vampire-human hybrid (dhampir).
  • The Catalyst — Enchanced strenght, speed, and endurance. From the same Super Serum as The Lightbearer.
  • Grey Howler — Putting people into trance, shapeshifting into wolf, moth, and mist, and possibly heightened strenght, speed, and reflexes. From being a vampire (not related to Wisteria Woman).
  • TadpoleMaking a Splash, breathing in water, possibly something else. From being an aquatic (no relation to Marchegiano).
  • Freedom Fighter — Serious superdurability, plus enchanced strenght, speed and endurance. From a derivation of The Lightbearer's Super Serum.

Edited by Nukeli on May 9th 2024 at 4:17:40 PM

~*bleh*~
Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#25595: May 15th 2023 at 12:29:20 PM

[up][up] @ Lone Courier 0:

The second idea is a much better outcome. I does provide an appropriate "punishment" for their treason, especially if the father was the one who truly drove the couple to turn against humanity, while offering a hope of a better path forward for the mother and their innocent kid.

Edited by Swordofknowledge on May 15th 2023 at 3:32:47 PM

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
LoneCourier0 The Wandering Geek from A Diverse Land (Unitroper) Relationship Status: How YOU doin'?
The Wandering Geek
#25596: May 15th 2023 at 12:59:01 PM

Ah, nice.

It would be nice... if my goddamn "unofficial" editor didn't pull an Executive Meddling to the idea and forced me to write #1.

Edited by LoneCourier0 on May 15th 2023 at 9:59:14 PM

"Cynicism is not realistic and tough. It's unrealistic and kind of cowardly because it means you don't have to try."
AdeptGaderius Otaku from the Anime World Since: Nov, 2018 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Otaku
#25597: May 15th 2023 at 6:25:43 PM

What are examples of offensive, dangerous and ignorant depictions (Unfortunate Implications) in fiction and media causing real-life harm?

MorningStar1337 The Encounter that ended the Dogma from 🤔 Since: Nov, 2012
The Encounter that ended the Dogma
#25598: May 15th 2023 at 6:45:00 PM

The Punisher's logo being sued by cops because they are enamored with the concept?

Also: Cult media like Happy Science's anime films since they double as indoctrinating propaganda

Swordofknowledge Spreading literacy with book and blade from I like it here... Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Spreading literacy with book and blade
#25599: May 16th 2023 at 5:59:56 AM

I'm wondering how to provide a certain subtext to a situation.

In my WIP there is a small side-story about three half-vampire kids, two twin brothers and a girl they pick up along the way, and their journey across the US to find the girl's mother to find shelter at her place. They are not the main characters in the slightest (they don't even meet the main cast) but their story is given some weight.

Anyway, their final appearance has them (and a number of other terrified civilians) confronted by an endless horde of werewolves as the city they are in succumbs to the former main character's apocalypse. One of the twins is a skilled planner and this has saved the three of them countless times.

The girl in the trio quietly asks if they are all going to be killed by the monsters that are filling the city. The planner of the twins just smiles with his usual devil-may-care attitude and tells her that of course he's not going to let anything like that happen, and that he's already found a way to get them out safely.

This turns out to be wrong, and the three of them all die.

What I'm trying to imply is that this isn't a "mistake" on his part. He knew the situation was hopeless, but as one of her adopted big brothers, he was trying to avoid scaring her and give one last bit of hope for as long as possible rather than just admitting they were doomed.

Are there ways to imply this without outright having him admit this before they die?

Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake. — Edgar Walllace
C105 Too old for this from France Since: Jan, 2012 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Too old for this
#25600: May 16th 2023 at 6:44:03 AM

[up] You could have the previous scene with this group involving the "planner" trying to assess the situation and pondering about it for a while. His inner monologue is not necessarily shown in detail - he could simply be described looking at various escape routes and observing how they are all blocked. Depending on how subtle you want this to be, you could even conclude the scene with him having losing his trademark smile if he's alone and looking very grim, only to have him grinning as ever when he's talking to the girl.

Edited by C105 on May 16th 2023 at 3:44:46 PM

Whatever your favourite work is, there is a Vocal Minority that considers it the Worst. Whatever. Ever!.

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