Character Development Thread--Discussion

I'm still tweaking that draft. I'm not yet happy with how and when Sarquoql says the things he'll say.

If not for this anchor I'd be dancing between the stars. At least I can try to write better vampire stories than Twilight.

Thank you, but I was referring to Hummingbird, lol.

You could probably just go ahead in the forest group too, if/when you feel up for it.

every little word and every little step

Trying to decide whether I can get a post in tonight.

Are there any other groups that might be amicable to a new member? Not sure if I can handle two characters speed-wise, but at some point I'm going to need to introduce Gar May's competition.

Arnora and Zarokh are both by themselves right now, although both are actively trying to group up with someone else (Ozurr and Krakka'a, respectively).

@nrjxll, I'm planning to introduce a shapeshifter character to the Rosalind's mustang group some time soon, so if you're interested and Miss D doesn't mind, feel free to join us.

I also have an English language question. I know that in creative writing you're sometimes allowed (encouraged, even) to render the characters' speech with ... off grammar. Consider this:

I know that they're not grammatically perfect sentences, but are they actually comprehensible enough?

Spiral out, keep going.

Like Millership said, Rosalind's mustangs haven't had any interaction with other authors' characters for a while, they're probably your best bet. There's also two Void Maiden Viporises, Syrni Sandra and Jen Jara, who are by themselves, but they're probably going to keep silent about their membership in the Web of Friendship and there's a small chance they might abruptly teleport off to some emergency (depending on the nature of the emergency).

Those sentence fragments are not perfectly comprehensible, but they're comprehensible enough. The character who said that seems to be babbling a bit and stumbling over their words, which if I'm reading between the lines correctly, is the effect you're going for. And now I'm specifically wondering why that character said "Might as well am" instead of "Might as well be."

Edited by Miss_Desperado on Mar 30th 2019 at 9:21:32 AM

If not for this anchor I'd be dancing between the stars. At least I can try to write better vampire stories than Twilight.

Yeah, the latter one is the point of doubt for me. Its more straightforward meaning is supposed to be:

and I had some doubts that I got the point across.

The character in question (Farrah) is supposed to be Book Dumb, so it contributed a bit to the usage of am instead of be.

Edited by Millership on Mar 30th 2019 at 10:34:08 PM

Spiral out, keep going.

I found that the ideas were conveyed readily enough.

Of course, Teri is more surprised that Farrah mistakenly took "in the wars" literally rather than in the context of "you look like you've been through a lot of hardship", but that also works nicely.

I know his lizard form is black, but everytime I see Ryhuza's icon, I think that's what Joesph looks like, lol.

Sorry for the inactivity - Real Life Writes the Plot is the reason, namely:

- Ongoing project (nearly finished!)

- Travel

- Repairing my Mac OSX machine

- Shaky wi-fi at the moment (despite fast Internet!)

I'm going to try and resolve the story arc with Rebecca Jane Walsh, Jenny and Ava.

Also, I'm going to Brother Chuck a few characters who aren't needed so I've got less to work with, it's a bad habit of mine to introduce new characters and have things Left Hanging.

Hope this explains everything.

Edited by Merseyuser1 on Mar 30th 2019 at 9:44:51 AM

That's okay, though it helps to let us know if you're going to be busy, so we aren't stuck waiting and wondering.

Would you like for me to wait in the Forest area so you can post for Rebecca, or do you think you're still going to be a while?

I'm sure he'd love to be so relaxed

Speaking of Joseph's appearance, I know I always use 'lizard', but if you've seen any of my illustrations, many of his features are softer and rounder, veering closer in some ways to something amphibian like a salamander or a newt. The truth of it is that he's not any known earth creature, but there's no easy and accurate word for that. His mind defaults to lizard and no one I've written for is well versed enough in animal morphology to correct him. Or maybe they just don't care enough to do so.

I guess I'm throwing it out there to say that the text surrounding him in particular is often subjective and colored by his own momentary knowledge or feelings. It need not be taken as gospel.

every little word and every little step

I won't be able to post until Thursday or Friday this week.

Rebecca Jane Walsh is going to get them all to re-appear somewhere else, although it's outside the Town Centre.

Against Mequoql's will? Are You Sure You Want to Do That?

It's not kosher to move other characters against the authors' wills, but in this case it's Mequoql who doesn't want to be moved, not me — I don't particularly care where the group is as long as Mequoql and Morpho don't get separated from whom they want to guard.

If not for this anchor I'd be dancing between the stars. At least I can try to write better vampire stories than Twilight.

Guess who got SICK?

Aww, take it easy.

&

I've got no qualms with Joseph and Henry being transported against their wills. Taking them to town could also lead to some interesting encounters.


Anyway, I've got to get some javascript stuff done, but I'll try to get a post out for both locations today.

every little word and every little step

I'm not going to be transporting anyone against their will, but trying to get them a way out of the forest.

It's just an idea I had to try and move the plot along.

Won't say too much more, other than the solution violates Square-Cube Law simply for rule of funny and rule of cool!

Get well soon!

Also, I got a job offer, with much better conditions than my last job. I'm in talks with 3 more companies, who, potentially, can make even better offer(s), so I'm stalling now. Either way, with 95% probability I'll be an employed man again on Wednesday.

Edited by Millership on Apr 1st 2019 at 3:18:29 PM

Spiral out, keep going.

Ah... well, if he's to stay in character, Henry won't be especially keen on going anywhere that isn't home. Not without serious coercion, at least. Joseph's a slightly different story, but I don't know that he'd jump at the opportunity to go to town of his own will.

In any case, I don't think anyone in our forest group is stranded there. I'm not sure if anyone even has a great desire to leave the forest at that moment. Even Henry is too preoccupied with making sure that Joseph isn't broken to want to leave straightaway, and unless he can be convinced that getting back home or some more immediate goal necessitates going to town, that particular settlement won't be in his travel plan.

Congrats!

every little word and every little step

Yeah, nobody's stranded there. Between Bonnie, Carol and Lily's truck; Mequoql and Morpho's spaceship with a teleporter; and Mequoql slated to start testing the teleporting function of the Hunters' gems, transport was thoroughly covered before Rebecca got here. Why are you so keen on getting Rebecca to town, anyway?

@Masterofchaos: Oh noes! I hope it's not the same crud I just got over...

@Millership: Congrats!

Edited by Miss_Desperado on Apr 1st 2019 at 8:52:36 AM

If not for this anchor I'd be dancing between the stars. At least I can try to write better vampire stories than Twilight.

Relax. It's not going to happen now - it's just going to stay What Could Have Been.

However, Rebecca is going to help in some way, and, anyone up for this idea, a group of man-wolves (see this proposed TLP) who people think are evil or out to kill the group, only they're not evil and they're wolves who got humanoid powers from a cosmic source (the mystery is finding where the cosmic source that hit Earth and implanted itself in the ground would be).

They're intended as shared player characters, much like John Smith.

Thought I may as well suggest this before making any major change.

Your wolf man idea intrigues me. I have a character in the rainforest who's involved in a plot started by an author who went MIA. I've been stalling for time hoping that Ladytanuki will return before I run out of stalling ideas, because I'm still reluctant to end that plotline with Seenarnha finding the missing kid in a deadly mirage. Introducing a pack of man-wolves to Seenarnha and her dragonhorses will be a good way to stall.

Usually the Web has good odds of making short work of mysteries, but between the missing kid and the missing mind-controller, I guess we'll see how fast that mystery gets solved while on the backburner.

If not for this anchor I'd be dancing between the stars. At least I can try to write better vampire stories than Twilight.

Okay, I meant to ask this earlier, but Ryhuza, what time period is David from? Is he also from the 70's?

David is from the 60s, though I keep changing my mind on exactly what year. He departed Earth when he was 16.

I don't think I've got anyone from the 70s. Connie is '88 and Joseph is '93. Rip is from the 1100s, though he left at a younger age than the others.



Sorry for having not posted yet. Wasn't able to get any writing done over spring recess so now the threat of class has me hem hawing my priorities.

Edited by Ryuhza on Apr 1st 2019 at 2:30:35 AM

every little word and every little step

@Miss: I don't know; everyone's gotten sick and I think some asshole at school did this to me, lol.

@Ryuhza: ...I could've sworn Joseph was a 70's kid, but I may be mistaking him for someone else. Well, at least I now know he's a millennial, lol.