Hey everyone,

It's been slow lately, so I'm just wondering if there's any topics that you'd like to discuss. We can brainstorm together in this thread, or you can go start the thread with the desired topic yourself. Have fun!

I think I have something but I'm not sure if there isn't already a thread about. It's about ratings, especially between T and M.

How explicit, concerning a romantic scene, is too explicit? I've been wondering about this for quite a time, especially because some of my fandoms contain some rather sensual scenes (vampires feeding ^_^).

Hello Miarath,

I think we have a thread about ratings already, but feel free to start it. :) If I find the thread, I'll edit this post and put the link for you.

I was wondering if we could talk about the three D's in storytelling:

Description

Dialogue

Details

I'm not so sure if a thread like that has already started, but if it hasn't maybe it would be a great idea since there are newcomers. Even some experienced writers have trouble balancing them (mostly 1 and 2), and I've been having the same problem myself.

Another idea I had in mind was to start a thread for making good romance stories.

I think I have something but I'm not sure if there isn't already a thread about. It's about ratings, especially between T and M.

How explicit, concerning a romantic scene, is too explicit? I've been wondering about this for quite a time, especially because some of my fandoms contain some rather sensual scenes (vampires feeding ^_^).

Something I was told (entirely unofficial, but it makes sense to me...)

Bedrooms are where you go to sleep - K

We notice if two characters go off hand in hand, but we stay in the living room - K+

Characters have sex, but we stay outside the bedroom door - T

Characters have sex, but we stay outside the sheets - M

We're right in there seeing everything - MA.

Not sure how this would equate with vampirism, but I'd personally say that if what you're being explicit with is feelings then it's T but if it's physical reactions of a sexual nature then it's M.

Thanks for the reply cathrl.

Well, most of my confusion is because that the rating seems to be rather fandom specific; at least that's what I've noticed.

And then is there the fact that the one manga is rated T+, so it's somewhere between T and M, which isn't really helpful at all.

Your fanfic doesn't need to have the same rating as the source material, though. It's what happens (and how explicitly it's described) in your fic that matters. It's perfectly possible to write a K rated fic about two characters from MA rated source material having a picnic. It's equally possible to write MA fic about characters from a kids' cartoon. Most of what I write is T rated, from two shows which would probably have the rating below K if it was used :)

Cathrl, your explanation about the ratings and sexual content was helpful for me too. Thank you for posting that.

StarLove18, balancing dialogue, description, and details would be a great topic. I know I tend to write a lot of dialogue and sometimes not enough details or description.

As I mentioned before, we may have threads posted about these topics already, but it's okay to start them again.

How explicit, concerning a romantic scene, is too explicit? I've been wondering about this for quite a time, especially because some of my fandoms contain some rather sensual scenes (vampires feeding ^_^).

I love explicit scenes, as long as it fits in with the fandom.

Michael

I love explicit scenes, as long as it fits in with the fandom.

Never said I didn't like explicit scenes. Actually, the contrary is true but that is exactly my problem. I love to write sensual scenes and I'm afraid to cross the lines sometimes.

I've been wondering because ratings are rather obscure and sometimes ratings are fandom specific, meaning things, which are the norm in one are not in a other one. And there are fics on these site, which I would've rated M but the authors did rate them T.

Hey everyone, I had some ideas for threads. I'm gonna post some here. Let me know what you think. Otherwise, when I'm not so slack, I'll just go and post them. :) I have ideas, these are just the titles. If these sound like good or bad ideas, feel free to say so--or start the thread!

1. Networking off of FFN: LiveJournal, MySpace, Facebook (a thread to exchange this info)

2. Spectacular to Craptacular to Spectacular (about how we think we have a good idea when we first write it, decide later that it's really bad, i.e. crappy, and delete/revamp/edit it so that its much better for the story

3. Favorite Words (do you have favorite words? I do. "Smooth", "glisten" "crunch")

4. Adverbs anyone? (Discuss using words that end with -ly. Use sparingly or not at all? Thoughts?)

5. Why it's important to read as a writer (Perhaps we can list reasons in this thread, discuss it in general how reading has helped our writing)

6. To review whore or not review whore: that is the question (thoughts on review-whoring---does it work or not work? etc)

7. How did you find out about FanFiction.Net? (we may've done this one already. your story on how you found this site)

8. Reader's Thread (for readers who may be lurking around and want to share their views, opinions, feelings, thoughts as primary readers of FFN. this thread wouldn't be for those who are writers and readers. it's for strictly readers to share their pov. dunno if this thread would work given the name of this forum.)

9. Writing about the dark side of humanity (considering movies like Sweeney Todd, Kill Bill, Batman Begins/Dark Knight and other movies/anime/comics/t.v. show and whatever else has themes that relate to dark side of humanity. writing that delves into violence, and other serious topics. again, this may've already been done already)

10. Cliches--making them your own (about making cliches our own, even though most writers are often taught not use them and admonished when they do).

I thnk fav words goes under annoying things you do when writing, but Spectacular to Craptacular sounds like a good idea.

5 might also be good. 4 is on the fence. 6 should probably be 'Review Whoring Versus Advertising: How far is too far?'

8 is a great idea. Just because you aren't a writer, doesn't mean you don't know crap when you see it. 9 could be good too. and 10 is again on the fence.

The rest I have no real opinion about and probably wouldn't post in.

9, 6, 5 and 4 sound quite interesting. I write in a fandom that has to do with the dark sides of humanity, so it's all good. 4 and 5 would help writers abroad benefit. I have the slightest feeling I've used a few adverbs myself (without realizing it). 6 sounds like an interesting discussion, because in many fandoms, we see it all the time! You might wanna change the title, though.

I would also go with 2 and 8; they're not bad themselves.

Thanks for the feedback, Darkwinter and Starlove! I'm gonna post some of these topics here and there.

I'm very into writing about the dark side. I dunno...I like things that delve into it because I believe we all have a dark side. Lord of the Flies is very dark so that topic would be perfect for you, StarLove.

As for adverbs...I use them too. There are all these zany rules about "use adverbs!" vs. "don't use too many adverbs!" so I thought it'd be good to have a convo about it.

As for the reviewing one---Darkwinter suggested a title change for it, and I'm going to go with the one he mentioned.

Darkwinter, the favorite words topic would be different from annoying thing you do when writing. I got the idea after reading a book on writing where the author listed his or her favorite words. I found it intriguing and considered making a post about it.

So I think we're on our way to more discussion in Writer's Corner! Yippee-ki-yay! ;) (Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

I used to believe that my dark side defined me, until I learned that everyone has both light and dark, and all that really means is that a person who is mostly light has an easier time being good, and a mostly dark person has an easier time being bad, but everyone is capable of either if they really try, and not automatically destined for either one. Since then, I've become almost obssessed with writing stories about people who seem borderline at best and struggle between light and dark, teetering dangerously on that fine line between them and occasionally toppling over onto one side or the other and sometimes draggingg themselves back toward the center again. Mostly they topple over onto the dark side and drag themselves back from that, but it could probably work both ways.

I use a moderate about of adverbs. If an area seems strangely devoid of imagery, I usually toss a few of those in. But going overboard can make it sound like you are trying to hard, and not doing it at all can be... boring? Yeah, it's all in moderation. I'm all about the middle road-see above.^ ;)

Darkwinter, I like your comments about the dark side. It reminds me in Order of the Phoenix when Sirius Black told Harry Potter that the world isn't made up of good guys and Death Eaters. It's the line where he says we all have dark and light in us, the side we choose to act on, that's who we are. I love that quote! Anyway, I want to say more, but I'd like to have it in a separate thread so that we can have discussion about it. Same with the adverbs. ;) If you like you can copy/paste your comments into those threads. I'm sure they'll make for good convo!

For the past few days, I haven't received any e-mail replies from any member of fanfiction .net, to whom I've sent personal messages, and I haven't received any copies of the ones I've sent. If any of you have sent me any messages I haven't received them. I don't know if anyone else is having this problem. I don't know if I'll receive a copy of this message. I've just sent an e-mail about this to sassy-lil-scorpio. I've received a copy of that. If any of you want to reply to me, and don't receive a copy of your reply, please go to my e-mail address.

Tefchnically, this is not the topic for that, and if you've got questions about stuff, there is a very popular and informative help thread in the Longest Forum Ever. http://www.fanfiction.net/topic/31628/2800019/24/#9563922

Anyway, the non-existant alerts happen from time to time and it's usually just admin screwing with us or a glitch that will get fixed soon.

It's okay Darkwinter999. Everything was functioning normaly on Tuesday morning.

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