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Post Office Buddy November 24th, 2008 9:52 PM

Idea for a new fic, accompanied by questions
 
Okay, so I was hit with inspiration while in the shower today. No, really, I was. This really good idea for a fic hit me while I was rinsing my beautiful hair, but there are a few problems with this. Hence why I am posting here.

Now, I have pretty much the entire prologue written out. I just have a few questions about the overall plot.

First, would it be acceptable to alter our own history to fit my story as long as I gave an explanation for the alterations? There is one thing in particular that I want to include, but it would involve rewriting the last fifty years or so to fit the design. I would prefer to use current technology in it, but if it seems unreasonable then I am willing to work with 1930-1950 technology.

Second, I want to use a very, very, very (I don't think I can use enough "very's" to accurately portray this) overused starter. You can probably guess which one it is, and if you guessed Eevee, then you are right. I have considered alternates, but the ending I have planned just won't work with anything else. There is a specific reason I want to use it, but revealing it now defeats the purpose of reading the fic. I just want to know if I should stick with it, provided that I develop the fiction well enough, or if I should choose a different one.

Third, would it be unreasonable to use someone, say, aged between seventeen and nineteen years as the protagonist? Remember, the antagonist is going to be an "evil" organization (you'll see) with plenty of resources at their disposal. Could using someone that young be appropriate, or should I instead have the main character in his/her twentys or thirtys?

Any and all answers to these questions are welcome. I just want to know what you would all think about these problems so I can either work around them or with them.

DGexe November 24th, 2008 9:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Post Office Buddy (Post 4145981)
Okay, so I was hit with inspiration while in the shower today. No, really, I was. This really good idea for a fic hit me while I was rinsing my beautiful hair, but there are a few problems with this. Hence why I am posting here.

Now, I have pretty much the entire prologue written out. I just have a few questions about the overall plot.

First, would it be acceptable to alter our own history to fit my story as long as I gave an explanation for the alterations?

Yes, yes, and yes. Historical fiction, overall, is okay from what I've seen. Heck, I even read one recent called His Majesty's Dragon, where a lot of the Napoleonic wars were fought upon the backs of dragons, like the air force.... only in the 1800s.

Quote:

Second, I want to use a very, very, very (I don't think I can use enough "very's" to accurately portray this) overused starter. You can probably guess which one it is, and if you guessed Eevee, then you are right. I have considered alternates, but the ending I have planned just won't work with anything else. There is a specific reason I want to use it, but revealing it now defeats the purpose of reading the fic. I just want to know if I should stick with it, provided that I develop the fiction well enough, or if I should choose a different one.
Well, if you can play it out very, very, very, very well... I'd have no issues, really. This part depends on how well you make things work in using such an overused starter (and I didn't roll my eyes or cringe, so you're already okay, apparently, in my book). I'd have to see the fic itself to really say "yes" or "no".

Quote:

Third, would it be unreasonable to use someone, say, aged between seventeen and nineteen years as the protagonist? Remember, the antagonist is going to be an "evil" organization (you'll see) with plenty of resources at their disposal. Could using someone that young be appropriate, or should I instead have the main character in his/her twentys or thirtys?
I don't think there'd be much of an issue with a 17-19 year-old main character; that seems like an okay age, so long as there is good reason for the protagonist and antagonists to intertwine with each other. However, if you don't feel comfortable with this in the end, the 20s-30s would work nicely too.

And... if I may be a spelling overlord for a moment... "twenties" and "thirties", just so you know.

Post Office Buddy November 24th, 2008 10:06 PM

Quote:

And... if I may be a spelling overlord for a moment... "twenties" and "thirties", just so you know
Ooooohhhhhh. I can't believe that one got past me. You may be Spelling Overlord for the time being then :P

Quote:

Yes, yes, and yes. Historical fiction, overall, is okay from what I've seen. Heck, I even read one recent called His Majesty's Dragon, where a lot of the Napoleonic wars were fought upon the backs of dragons, like the air force.... only in the 1800s.
I don't mean just add stuff into that time, I mean alter pretty much everthing that has happened since the 1950's to today. As in, there is one person that died fourty or fifty years ago that I want to appear in the fiction. This person is actually going to be the main antagonist. It just wouldn't be right with anyone else. I am prepared to explain how he has lived this long, however. It may not be the most realistic explanation in the world, but the entire Pokemon universe is full of irregularities anyway.

Spearow November 24th, 2008 10:14 PM

First: yes.

Second: Sure. If you have a purpose for it and make the Pokémon itself a developed and unique character in its own right, I don't think anyone would have a problem with it.

Third: this depends on the plot, really. It shouldn't seem to be a problem in a world that allows ten-year-olds to single-handedly take down criminal organizations, but again this depends on the level of reality you're going for in your story. Use your judgement.

Maybe I don't know a lot about writing fanfiction, but it seems to me that you shouldn't have to ask permission to turn a good idea into something more. If you can write it in a way that satisfies you and obeys the rules, then just do it. If it works, it works, and if it doesn't, it doesn't, and I'm sure the faithful denizens of this forum will let you know about that when you post it. ;)

In other words, go for it!

DGexe November 24th, 2008 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Post Office Buddy (Post 4145995)
Ooooohhhhhh. I can't believe that one got past me. You may be Spelling Overlord for the time being then :P

*assumes the royal garb of the OVERLORD!*


Quote:

I don't mean just add stuff into that time, I mean alter pretty much everthing that has happened since the 1950's to today. As in, there is one person that died fourty or fifty years ago that I want to appear in the fiction. This person is actually going to be the main antagonist. It just wouldn't be right with anyone else. I am prepared to explain how he has lived this long, however. It may not be the most realistic explanation in the world, but the entire Pokemon universe is full of irregularities anyway.
Ah, whoops, my apologies there, Post Office. Hm... Well, I guess that also depends on who it is, and how logical you can make his living... ness be. As I've said before, if you can make it work well enough, go for it. *nodnods* Kind of hard to say without a whole bunch of details, but I'd be willing to see the fic for myself to see how it all plays out.

In short... still sounds alright to me.

Post Office Buddy November 24th, 2008 10:24 PM

Quote:

Maybe I don't know a lot about writing fanfiction, but it seems to me that you shouldn't have to ask permission to turn a good idea into something more. If you can write it in a way that satisfies you and obeys the rules, then just do it. If it works, it works, and if it doesn't, it doesn't, and I'm sure the faithful denizens of this forum will let you know about that when you post it. ;)
Thank you. You have no idea how much better I feel now that I know of one person who wants me to just write what the idea I originally came up instead of getting permission from other people here. You make a great point here. The main reason I made this, though, was to see if my ideas were realistic and whether or not I should tweak them to make them more so. I feel much more relieved now that someone thinks I should just write it out. :)

Quote:

Ah, whoops, my apologies there, Post Office. Hm... Well, I guess that also depends on who it is, and how logical you can make his living... ness be. As I've said before, if you can make it work well enough, go for it. *nodnods* Kind of hard to say without a whole bunch of details, but I'd be willing to see the fic for myself to see how it all plays out.
I really can't give out too many details right now, since giving out too much will spoil the plot. I want everything to come as a surprise, with as many shocking details revealed at just the right time to, well, shock you. As for the long life thing, I plan on leaving that a mystery throughout the fiction and revealing it perhaps somewhere near the end. You'll just have to read it :P

txteclipse November 24th, 2008 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Post Office Buddy (Post 4145981)
First, would it be acceptable to alter our own history to fit my story as long as I gave an explanation for the alterations? There is one thing in particular that I want to include, but it would involve rewriting the last fifty years or so to fit the design. I would prefer to use current technology in it, but if it seems unreasonable then I am willing to work with 1930-1950 technology.

This is called "alternate history," and is perfectly acceptable.

Quote:

Second, I want to use a very, very, very (I don't think I can use enough "very's" to accurately portray this) overused starter. You can probably guess which one it is, and if you guessed Eevee, then you are right. I have considered alternates, but the ending I have planned just won't work with anything else. There is a specific reason I want to use it, but revealing it now defeats the purpose of reading the fic. I just want to know if I should stick with it, provided that I develop the fiction well enough, or if I should choose a different one.
One of my characters has an Umbreon. As long as you aren't using it for the "omg everyone loves Eevee so I'll have it be my character's starter!" factor, then it's fine. Heck, you can even use it for that reason if you develop it substantially as far as I'm concerned.

Quote:

Third, would it be unreasonable to use someone, say, aged between seventeen and nineteen years as the protagonist? Remember, the antagonist is going to be an "evil" organization (you'll see) with plenty of resources at their disposal. Could using someone that young be appropriate, or should I instead have the main character in his/her twentys or thirtys?
I have a thirteen- and fifteen-year old going up against ye olde evil organization, but they have lots and lots (and lots) of help. So I don't have a problem as long as it isn't completely farfetched (one guy killing hundreds and hundreds is unreasonable imho, unless he has access to nuclear missiles).

So yeah. Thassit.

JX Valentine November 24th, 2008 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Post Office Buddy (Post 4145981)
First, would it be acceptable to alter our own history to fit my story as long as I gave an explanation for the alterations?

Allow me to introduce you to steampunk. Steampunk, tell POB all about the awesome that you have wrought upon history.

Seriously, though, yes. Really, if you think about it, in order to have the technology that the Pokemon world has anyway (let alone in order to have creatures that can control aspects of nature in ways that normal beings can't), the Pokemon world's history is probably incredibly different from our own to begin with. Altering history for the sake of a Pokemon fic is perfectly fine.

Quote:

Second, I want to use a very, very, very (I don't think I can use enough "very's" to accurately portray this) overused starter. You can probably guess which one it is, and if you guessed Eevee, then you are right.
If you have an excellent explanation for it (which I assume you do, given your lack of ability to replace it) and your character isn't named Mary Sue, we can live.

Quote:

Third, would it be unreasonable to use someone, say, aged between seventeen and nineteen years as the protagonist?
Again, if you can come up with an excellent explanation for it, then go right ahead. For example, sending a teen out as a new trainer because you don't like the canonical license laws = bad explanation. Sending a teen out who previously had another job, just now took a slight interest in setting out for the sake of it, and/or happened to just get aware of the world around him/her (and thus gain a sense of awareness of the evil team) = good explanation. You can try thinking about it in terms of what happens around that age. Average teen in that range would probably be graduating high school, so you could couple a lack of direction with a trainer's journey, for example.

Post Office Buddy November 24th, 2008 10:37 PM

Quote:

Again, if you can come up with an excellent explanation for it, then go right ahead. For example, sending a teen out as a new trainer because you don't like the canonical license laws = bad explanation. Sending a teen out who previously had another job, just now took a slight interest in setting out for the sake of it, and/or happened to just get aware of the world around him/her (and thus gain a sense of awareness of the evil team) = good explanation. You can try thinking about it in terms of what happens around that age. Average teen in that range would probably be graduating high school, so you could couple a lack of direction with a trainer's journey, for example.
Hmm... Good points. I forgot to mention that this isn't going to be a fic taking place in the Pokemon world we know. My plot is... complicated. You'll notice right off the bat (well, maybe at Chapter One since the Prologue is the present whilst the rest of the fic is pretty much just the main character looking back on his choices) that this isn't like the Pokemon universe at all. I really wish I could elaborate more, but the central point of the fic focuses on this idea. That's also why I can't elaborate more on the first question.

burningfoot November 25th, 2008 8:25 AM

History can be changed because in the world of fiction there is no set past. Usually authors write about the present and the future as it happens, very rarely the past is brought into it but it really should be a lot more. So go ahead revive who you want, kill who you want, change what you want... Time is yours to fiddle with.

Eeevee, Eevee, Eevee... Who cares if you can pull it off without any ridiculous cliches nobody cares that it's so overused. Write an Eevee right and nobody will know it's an Eeevee at all... Actually that probably came out wrong.

17 to 19 years old is a fine age, it's certainly different and a more mature age than other fics.

Inspiration in the shower! You're kidding right? Well, I suppose it had to come from somewhere.

JX Valentine November 25th, 2008 8:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burningfoot (Post 4146670)
nobody cares that it's so overused.

Actually, POB has every right to worry. Eevee tends to raise red flags for most in-depth reviewers because Eevee signals that what comes afterwards will probably be either an overdone plot or a Mary Sue. (This is unfortunate, but there are a ton of new-trainer-gets-Eevee fics that follow essentially the same plots. Believe me. Not much has changed with regards to that since the early days of FFNet.) In fact, if you want a nice example for how much people actually care, Pokemon Sues did a nice week on Eeveelutions. (It's a shame that site isn't kept up, but it should give you an idea of what goes on in the fandom.)

So, yes, people do care. However, POB's taken the time to think about his choice of a starter, and he realizes that there's no other way to do it. The Eevee actually fits into the plot in a way that makes it impossible for any other Pokemon to be there. Ergo, yes, it's fine. I'm just saying it's also good he's taken the possibility that people would cringe into consideration.

An-chan November 25th, 2008 10:05 AM

About the Eevee thing: Well, I used an Eevee in my fic. That Eevee was pretty lightheaded and sometimes thought she was a Vaporeon already. Moreover, she wasn't a starter Pokémon... In my opinion (of course, many people may disagree with me and think of my fic as a horrble drabble) it was okay to use an Eevee as long as it wasn't like teh cutest thing eva and like so storng it like pwns everyone!!111

So, give the critter a personality, a nickname that's not "Fluffy" or "Cutey" or anything and a few non-cute traits and people will just forget the thing is an Eevee in the first place. And, does it have to be a starter? What if it was, say, a gift from your character's local computer technician or even Bill himself? Or a Christmas present from the said character's parents? Eevee is a wonderful gift, after all, because Eevees are much like gift certificates: if you're not sure what type your grandchild wants, get the kid a all-in-one set - Eevee!

On the "alternate history"-thing: Have you ever thought that even supposedly historically accurate fiction like Sinuhe the Egyptian(it's a famous Finnish book!!111) or some sappy Victorian romance story also alternate the history? In Sinuhe, the protagonist has very much to do with the pharaoh and other high court officials and he even travels around the shores of the Mediterranean even though nothing like that ever really happened? Besides, the fact you write a Pokémon fanfiction that apparently has something to do with the history of our world tells me that you are indeed going to burn our history and write a new one. So, why the heck should you restrain yourself? If people have problems with it, then those problems have nothing to do with you.

Go ahead: resurrect Hitler and Napoleon and Ramesses the Great and Sokrates and whoever you wish to resurrect! Make people invent quantum mechanics in the 1700's and travel to space before year 1900! Have extra terrestial gyborgs be one of the Allies in World War Two! If you have a pen and some paper, the whole world is yours. That's what I think, anyways.

On the subject of the age of the protagonist: You know, Joan of Arc was 29 when she died. That means she cannot have been very old when she began her crazy attempts to win the war. it's not unreasonable to have young people go against huge organisations *counghactivistscough* it's just a lot harder to make credible. So, do it well, and no-one will condemn you.

On the subject of getting struck by inspiration while taking a shower: That happened to me, too... Actually, it happens to me a lot. I got the idea for my marysue-story when I was in shower after reading of the hilarious character Xanthine has invented as a joke. Actually it was because she had a note in the end of her post that said something about how hilarious it would be if someone actually wrote a story with Sora Tranquility Whatnot in it. Thus, I came up with my story in the shower.

I also came up with another story, but you've yet to see that, so I'll just shut up now. Thanks.

I hope I helped. I doubt I did, because I pretty much just repeated what everyone else had already said, but maybe that made you more confident about your story. I dunno. I just hope I helped.

Lukespade November 25th, 2008 11:11 AM

well
 
wat you gotta remember is that every movie, book, or tv show somhow changes our history (like national treasure). so thats fine.

i dont see a problem with eevee it might be overused but its also got wat... 7 evolutions?

ash is 10 and he fights an evil super powerful pokemon who wants to kill all humans and pokemon that arent clones... i thnk a teeneage person can fight off a evil oraganization.

Post Office Buddy November 25th, 2008 1:11 PM

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I went ahead last night and posted the prologue (link is in my sig, the fic is called Affliction).

The reason I can't use Eevee as anything other than a starter is because Eevee will be the only Pokemon the character possesses. Don't worry, I'm not going to give the Eevee to the character in an extremely generic professor-gives-Eevee-to-trainer way; I have quite an interesting way for the character to find the Eevee.


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