Fanfiction Lounge

[txteclipse]

Unless if you will be writing text books about stuff in engineering, then no, at the costs these days with tuition... it'd be crazy enough as is.

Just assuming that money is no object. I guess my question is, do I have enough experience as a writer to do okay as an English major. It would probably have been better to just ask Astinus or someone else who's already an English major directly, now that I think about it.

Anyway, I've got yet another fic in the works, about that kid I mentioned a few posts back and his Porygon. I'm planning on having the Porygon be an emotionless A.I. program at the beginning, but slowly gain feelings as it evolves. The problem I'm having is on what the trainer should be like. I've narrowed it down to two options: 1) he's very emotional and sort of "teaches" his Porygon to have feelings, or 2) he's an entitled, self-centered, heartless jerk who kind of learns to be emotional himself through his attachment to this Porygon. The dynamics available from the first option could be interesting, but the second one has that "made for each other" feel to it. In short, I don't know which one to pick...which one sounds more interesting to you guys?

 

[Astinus]

Just assuming that money is no object. I guess my question is, do I have enough experience as a writer to do okay as an English major. It would probably have been better to just ask Astinus or someone else who's already an English major directly, now that I think about it.

People with a lot less skill than you were English majors when I was in college. So you'll be fine. In fact, you might even be considered some sort of godsend to your teachers because you know how to write in a good manner, and you have experience analyzing texts for...literature stuff.

You could become a technical writer, writing instruction manuals or articles for magazines in [a particular field of] engineering. That would work.

Yeah, I'm not an English major by the way. My college didn't have that degree program when I started, and it was too late to transfer by the time they actually started it.

If you do really have questions, Jax's your best bet for good answers.

 

[Feign]

Just assuming that money is no object. I guess my question is, do I have enough experience as a writer to do okay as an English major. It would probably have been better to just ask Astinus or someone else who's already an English major directly, now that I think about it.

Sorry forgot to mention it earlier. I am studying for my English major right now.

Though I've mostly been taking my option courses, as well as other bachelor requirements.

So as of right now I've only taken two courses that are required for my degree, which is the English 101 (which pretty much all students take) and now taking History of the English Language.

If money was no object, then I'd base it on sole interest, as well as if you are able to contend with the course load (especially if you are working or not).

 

[Miz en Scène]

Anyway, I've got yet another fic in the works, about that kid I mentioned a few posts back and his Porygon. I'm planning on having the Porygon be an emotionless A.I. program at the beginning, but slowly gain feelings as it evolves. The problem I'm having is on what the trainer should be like. I've narrowed it down to two options: 1) he's very emotional and sort of "teaches" his Porygon to have feelings, or 2) he's an entitled, self-centered, heartless jerk who kind of learns to be emotional himself through his attachment to this Porygon. The dynamics available from the first option could be interesting, but the second one has that "made for each other" feel to it. In short, I don't know which one to pick...which one sounds more interesting to you guys?

Since Astinus and Feign basically answered that other question, I'll help you with this one. It might not be much help but I kinda like the second option wherein the porygon and the human both develop feelings on their own(if that's what you're looking for). If you ask me, it reminds me of Yin and Hei from Darker Than Black. This option provides more internal character development as the trainer and Pokemon both learn how to cope with emotions and be more opn to each other(kinda). The first approach, although quite nice, is a bit overdone, in my opinion. It reminds me of E.T. and all sorts of other shows where the protagonist teaches the other creature/robot/thing how to feel and interact. Another example of this besides E.T. would be Chobits, to a lesser extent. I wouldn't recommend Chobits to anyone below 13 however...

 

[The Jewel of Life]

Your character is stuck in an elevator. What Macgyver-ish, or realistic, way would your character utilise to escape the elevator?

...Okay I think I get the whole "everyone here is insane" thing now. >:3

Let's see... if Holly was stuck in an elevator she would have Bulk rip the door off only to find that she was between floors .Then she would have him break open part of the ceiling so that she could climb out into the shaft where she would grab the cable only to have it break and send her and the elevator crashing horribly to the basement. Miraculously, Holly would be protected by her pokemon and leave without a scratch.

If Darkrai were stuck in an elevator he would stab the buttons repeatedly until he gave up. Then he would sit around for a while until he remembered that he could transform in this world and he would take on his dragon form. Unfortunately, that would simply end ujp squishing him and he would be all like Aww shiz.. this is not my lucky day.

 

[Ninja Caterpie]

...Okay I think I get the whole "everyone here is insane" thing now. >:3

People usually do pretty quickly. I have to say though, you're faster than most.

 

[Feign]

...Okay I think I get the whole "everyone here is insane" thing now. >:3

That's only scratching the surface XD

Though I doubt you'd want to go back several hundreds of pages either. XD

Mind you, we don't have enough ethical debates here... Though there is the odd masochistic reminiscing...

 

[Astinus]

People usually do pretty quickly. I have to say though, you're faster than most.

'Cause it's Comet! Comet! Faster than lightning! Under the sea! No one's faster than she!

 

[Ninja Caterpie]

'Cause it's Comet! Comet! Faster than lightning! Under the sea! No one's faster than she!

Case in point right here.

 

[txteclipse]

Mind you, we don't have enough ethical debates here... Though there is the odd masochistic reminiscing...

I'm not sure ethical debates would be such a wonderful idea. They have a way of setting people at odds and never ending. I mean, that one religious debate thread went to like five pages last I checked.

Yeah, I'm not an English major by the way.

...I think my brain just popped.

'Cause it's Comet! Comet! Faster than lightning! Under the sea! No one's faster than she!

Well what do you know. Two brain pops in as many minutes.

Go option 2

I agree. Option 2 seems the better way to go, given the development it allows for. That, and I've never had the chance to write a character who's an absolute ******bag before. The remaining question is whether I can get the reader to care about him.

 

[Feign]

'Cause it's Comet! Comet! Faster than lightning! Under the sea! No one's faster than she!

And here I was thinking (and admittedly searching) to see if this came from an 80s cartoon theme. XD

I'm not sure ethical debates would be such a wonderful idea. They have a way of setting people at odds and never ending. I mean, that one religious debate thread went to like five pages last I checked.

You may be right (unfortunately...). Probably reason why I haven't been engaged in a good debate... Because people can't set aside their feelings, and adhere to the formalities of debates... And yet... because ethics and religion is intrinsic with another is perhaps one of the many reasons why the debate never gets off to a good start. Perhaps this is because one's conviction is strong.

Nonetheless, we'd then have to focus on the purpose of the debate, which to me would seem to be to persuade the other... Or at least a 3rd party...

The funny thing is, one thing I have learned so far:

The world is at the same time beautiful, yet dangerous (and I mean that in several sub-textual ways).

It is similar to that quote from that anime:

Because ten billion years' time is so fragile, so ephemeral... it arouses such a bittersweet, almost heartbreaking fondness.

 

[txteclipse]

Because ten billion years' time is so fragile, so ephemeral... it arouses such a bittersweet, almost heartbreaking fondness.

Freaking sig-worthy.

I just spent like two hours joining Jax's site, and now I want cupcakes. It's two in the morning. What is it with my body and wanting baked sweets at extremely late times?

 

[Ninja Caterpie]

Freaking sig-worthy.

I just spent like two hours joining Jax's site, and now I want cupcakes. It's two in the morning. What is it with my body and wanting baked sweets at extremely late times?

It wants your teeth to die! DIE!

 

[SkyBlue]

Your character is stuck in an elevator. What Macgyver-ish, or realistic, way would your character utilise to escape the elevator?

Dianne: "Where's Bravery's Pokeball, where...aha!" *unleashes the fury of her Umbreon* "HYPER BEAM!!!"

Ash: *presses emergency button while at the same time trying to call a Power Ranger* "Freaking horrible day this is...I must be picking up some words from Di and England!" *kicks door* "OW!"

May: "BLAZIKEN, KICK DOWN THE DOOR!"

All the other Trainers: *do the same thing as May, only with their Pokemon's VERY powerful attacks*

Pokemon: *all attack at once* *BOOM!*

Basically, everyone would be irritated, with the exception of Platinum, who'd take the time to read a book.

Oh, BTW...

If your character found himself/herself as someone of the opposite gender, how would they react?

 

[D. Lawride]

Your character is stuck in an elevator. What Macgyver-ish, or realistic, way would your character utilise to escape the elevator?
To get away?
David would undoubtdly send Ampharos out to get the power running with electricity. Otherwise, he'd somehow reach the elevator's top and send Pidgeot to carry him out to smoe other floor.

By the way, I wanted to ask help on a subject.
When writing about tragedy events (in this case, it's the sinking of a ship), what makes these scenes so "tragic"? I mean, is there A way to write it, or is it just up to the use of words?

 

[Redstar]

Your character is stuck in an elevator. What Macgyver-ish, or realistic, way would your character utilise to escape the elevator?
He'd sit tight and wait for the technicians to do their job. He has patience and doesn't need to prove he can do something just because he can.

 

[Feign]

By the way, I wanted to ask help on a subject.
When writing about tragedy events (in this case, it's the sinking of a ship), what makes these scenes so "tragic"? I mean, is there A way to write it, or is it just up to the use of words?

You could focus on several fronts...

Like:

The innocence of the situation (women and children dying, people becoming traumatized, people committing suicide)

People trying hard to escape (if the reader gets to know the character, and yet the character is unable to survive; or for that matter sees the destruction or other things mentioned here, taking place and is effected by it, even to the extent of being traumitized)...

On how different characters act (a la Lord of the Flies or rich vs. poor on Titanic)

Characterization: Have a character crying after the event, and reflecting

Pathetic fallacy: Have nature reflect the emotions of the people.

Also description of the event, such as the destruction of the boat (if done eloquently enough, it can be quite sad, as opposed to just shocking)

Perhaps some more too, that I haven't thought of yet.

 

[Swift!]

If your character found himself/herself as someone of the opposite gender, how would they react?

OMG! Awesome question. xD

James probably wouldn't care, actually. He'd just go about his business as if nothing had changed. Although, his relationship with his father might change. Considering he'd now be a girl. xD Also, he'd probably go and get his nails done with his mother. xDD

Scott would freak out. He definitely wouldn't want to be a girl. His fellow spoiler-ish would make fun of him and he'd probably become really depressed. D: Poor Scott.

Evelyn would also freak out. She'd run around screaming about how digusting she looks as a dude and that she now has extra... bits. xDD

Mark would be pissed off. The person who MAJOR SPOILER-ISH!. So, yeah. He wouldn't like it one bit.

Brace would be annoyed, but he'd be able to handle it. He'd also like having boobs. xDD

 

[Misheard Whisper]

Your character is stuck in an elevator. What Macgyver-ish, or realistic, way would your character utilise to escape the elevator?
He'd sit tight and wait for the technicians to do their job. He has patience and doesn't need to prove he can do something just because he can.

The point. You missed it.

Completely. We're assuming here that your characters want to get out in a hurry.

I know these kinds of bold questions are open to interpretation, but why bother answering if you're just going to act like you're too good for the rest of us?

Your character is stuck in an elevator. What Macgyver-ish, or realistic, way would your character utilise to escape the elevator?

(Warning: Characters you don't know approaching)

Rock would find something explosive in one of his pockets and blow the door open. Failing that, he'd try and punch it out, and most likely succeed.
Carlos would probably start pushing random buttons and hope something worked.
Bianca would hook up to the computer controlling the lift and get it working again. If that didn't work, she'd try and pry the doors open with that sword she insists on carrying for some reason.

General Cooper would immediately call for backup, and spend the interval before his troops arrive berating whichever other hapless souls were in the lift at the time.
Drew would hack the computer controlling it, but he'd have to do it the old-fashioned way.
Santos would probably throw a tantrum. :L
Price would press the emergency button and cry if no one answered.

Asgar would call up one of his cronies to get him out from the outside, pronto, and spend the wait plotting world domination, as per usual.
Nagza probably wouldn't be in a lift in the first place, but if he was, he'd go berserk and start tearing at the door and the walls. If he was thinking a bit more rationally, he'd pop the lid, scale the wires to the top, find the guy who was supposed to be running/monitoring the lift and tear him to shreds.

 

[Miz en Scène]

lolmacgyver.

Indeed. XD

...Okay I think I get the whole "everyone here is insane" thing now. >:3

It took me a day or two to realise that. XD You are fast.

The world is at the same time beautiful, yet dangerous (and I mean that in several sub-textual ways).

That reminds me of Kino's Journey. Sekai wa utsukushiku nanka nai. Soshite sore yueni utsukushii.The world is not beautiful, therefore it is.
This, in my opinion, is sig-worthy too. XD

I just spent like two hours joining Jax's site, and now I want cupcakes. It's two in the morning. What is it with my body and wanting baked sweets at extremely late times?

Sweet treats fuel the creative mind. ;D And give one heck of a sugar-rush, which wears off after a while.

The point. You missed it.

Completely. We're assuming here that your characters want to get out in a hurry.

I know these kinds of bold questions are open to interpretation, but why bother answering if you're just going to act like you're too good for the rest of us?

Now, now, calm down, everyone's entitled to their own opinion. :D The FFL is a place of peace, and insanity to a greater extent. I'm not trying to incite a flame-war either.

Besides, what Redstar said is actually the most logical answer, albeit slightly anti-climactic.

If your character found himself/herself as someone of the opposite gender, how would they react?
Lol gender-bender.

Kana, wouldn't mind that much since she's practically a tom-boy.

Everyone else...
[AGELIMIT]for those above 13 and not opposed to fake gore

Spoiler:

[/AGELIMIT]