4674 replies to this topic

[Mara=^.^=]

Err...trimming hedges?


~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

No, you use hedge-trimmers for that. They use scalpels to operate on people in surgery. *thinks* This isn't going where I think it's going, is it?!

[okmeamithinknow]

@Crys: They do NOT, Crys! How many times must I say it??

You can say the word it as many times as you want, eventually it will stop holding any meaning.

No, you use hedge-trimmers for that. They use scalpels to operate on people in surgery. *thinks* This isn't going where I think it's going, is it?!

Unless you think she's headed to a patient consult with Dr. Gregory House, then you're most likely wrong.

~Crys~

[Pigquet3]

Thanks for pointing out my authorial jackassery, haha


~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

You have been quoted, my friend.





Pigquet

[Mara=^.^=]

Hooray!

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[okmeamithinknow]

(Oh God I went there.)

~Crys~

[J/C AVA]

LOOOL!!!

[Mara=^.^=]

OK, I am seriously considering cutting Libby's dream from the sequence (AKA, keeping her awake along with Carl). Why? Well, that's what I was originally going to do anyway, and I feel like it would help pare the section down and contribute to the overall clarity of the narrative.

I've gotten lots of negative reactions to Libby's part of that chapter on ff.net - not that I would listen to THEIR advice or anything - but I kind of agree. I mean, it was fun to write and all, and I always appreciate a little Egyptian thrown in for good measure, but...well, I feel like it's not contributing anything to the story. I mean, do we really LEARN anything about Libby, or is it just potentially misleading filler?

Your honest opinions would be appreciated on this matter.


~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[okmeamithinknow]

Ok so I'm of two mind sets on this.

Mind Set 1:
I say you should keep it in. You've already worked long and hard on it, keep it in!

I think it's possible that the reason there has been some backlash towards her dream is that we (at least I do) tend to see Libby as this semi-perfect individual because every other character's flaws are so pronounced. Jimmy and Cindy practically rent out billboard space declaring one another's faults, and Sheen and Carl, well they're Sheen and Carl. Most of the time she's over shadowed by the craziness of the other characters. I think it's a good thing to point out some of her failings. I know DJ already did some of that when he captured FL, but let's face, DJ's an ass. (Yes FL's not actually Libby. She has had some time to grow as a person, but they do share some of the same shortcomings.) Seeing her weakest spots, forcing her to confront it head on, may make her grow as a character.

Mind Set 2:
There's another part of me that says it makes sense to keep her awake. If you're intending for FC to be the one to find the kids (Which most of us are predicting you are) I think he would be less likely to consider the sight of his younger self to be one of the side effects of the emotional labyrinth if he sees someone else with his young doppelganger. Yes, of course he's going to see the other children's bodies stretched out on the floor (If they haven't woken by the time he gets there), but really what catches your eye, bodies lying on the ground or someone standing above them? I also think Libby would be able to more eloquently explain things to FC if those two were the only one's awake at the time.

Jeeze, that probably doesn't help at all.

~Crys~

[SweeneyxxTodd]

I agree with Crys. It really depends on how you work with that dream sequence whether it is important or filler. If you follow up on it, I'm sure you could find something interesting to work with, and show the readers a deeper part of Libby we don't usually get to see. But if you can't seem to come up with anything to go with it, I don't see a problem with taking it out and having her be awake with Carl.

[Mara=^.^=]

I agree with Crys. It really depends on how you work with that dream sequence whether it is important or filler. If you follow up on it, I'm sure you could find something interesting to work with, and show the readers a deeper part of Libby we don't usually get to see. But if you can't seem to come up with anything to go with it, I don't see a problem with taking it out and having her be awake with Carl.

Grrr, I see your point...I don't really have a "purpose" for Libby's dream sequence like I do with the others. Since Aurora is the closest thing I have in this story to a single protagonist, I wanted to downplay her heroic aspects by giving Cindy an absolutely AWFUL doppelganger (plus, to be honest, I feel that Aurora and Cindy's deep-seated issues are completely different. Aurora has changed a LOT as a person). I wrote Sheen's dream with the goal of making Future Sheen seem like less of a stretch as a character - I wanted to show that Sheen already had the potential inside to exhibit some of FS's nastier tendencies, and I wanted it to tie in with the show in a very concrete way (hence the werewolf metaphor).

Now with Libby - well, I was never entirely sure where I wanted to go with that. I planned all along to leave Carl out (I felt like I could do this with Carl because we already see so many of Future Carl's issues, not to mention the fact that Carl spends almost all of TOSOT being a whiner, and he needs a hero moment to redeem himself). But with Libby - well, I was just at a loss. I don't want to completely ignore Libby's flaws , but to be honest I couldn't really figure out how to portray her bad side in a way that wasn't identical to Lady Sings the News.

Or maybe I'm just using a cop-out, and I idealize Libby too and don't know how to realistically give her the same psychoses that I happily pile on the other characters.

GWAH

...So, if you HAD to pick one or the other, would you say "cut it" or "don't cut it"? Is it benefiting the story in a concrete way, or is it just distracting from the buildup?


~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[J/C AVA]

Seem to be a TOSOT/Libby dilema. Such conflicts are with every writer.

Frankly I don't have any knowledge suggestion to give you as I'm still playing TOSOT catch up with the rest of the volume.

Hope you come to a solution. I'm sure it'll benifit TOSOT etheir way.

[SweeneyxxTodd]

If that's the case, then I say cut it.

It's a really cool part, but if it has no higher point to it, then there's no reason to leave it in there.

[Mara=^.^=]

What about you, Beks?

Carl's your man - what take do you have on the whole section? Should Libby be awake too?


~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Beks]

Hm...it kind of depends on what happens to Carl while the others are out cold. I'm interested to see how Carl and his mental unstable future self interact (if they do) and I don't know how Libby would play into that. Usually when anyone else is around, Carl just stands quietly in the background and says goofy one-liners. I'm interested to see what he'd do all by himself.

Goddard's still with him, right? He didn't become unconscious? Some one-on-one Goddard and Carl time is something anyone rarely gets to see.

But that's just my personal, Carl-loving opinion.

[Mara=^.^=]

I wish I could knock Libby out without giving her a dream sequence. Boooooo.

Well, I suppose I could, but that seems like unnecessary authorial intervention to me.

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Mara=^.^=]

You know what? F*ck it.

Who cares if it's cheating? I don't have time for this crap. I want to finish this thing.


~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[okmeamithinknow]

~Crys~

[underwater]

wow this seems like a really big topic. I guess I will have to read this fan fiction sometime soon, but not right now.

Corinne

[Pigquet3]

~Crys~

*screams* ROFL! Oh my gosh! You see, Crys, this is why you're my favorite IDOJer...well, ya know, at least for today.


@Corrine--*in mysterious voice* Yes, you must read it, reeeeeead TOSOT or you shall be doomed...

Nah, I'm totally kidding. Do whatever you want.






Pigquet