Help! All talented writers, your attention, please.

[icarus]

I am currently avoiding my homework reading an SG-1 story.

A letter to the author:

I realize that realism is important. Naturally, in real life we don't know where our 'stories' are headed. There is no foreshadowing, no order, no meaningful sequence of events. We are often sidetracked by frivolous detail, and yes, there are redundancies, people doing, saying, and thinking the same thing over and over again.

But when writing a story like this, there is no tension. The reader is lost in your lovely prose wondering why are they reading this. Imagination, beautiful characterisation and a glimpse of originality is not enough to keep the reader wandering through this vague mess. *regretfully hits the Back button*

Comments

Curious now...

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Oh, do tell. As long as it's not me. (Lovely prose? Probably not).

Re: Curious now...

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh, I would never do that to someone. I'll complain anonymously, but I don't do anti-recs. But here's a terrific story, just to make up for that (http://www.geocities.com/keiko_kirin/thevetia/coldwinter.html) (though no doubt you've read it).

Icarus

Re: Curious now...

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I read that quite some time ago, but thank you for reminding me of it. It's a very lovely story. Painful, yet lovely.

[ev-vy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, yeah. Do tell. Curiosity is eating away at me.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I'd be so bummed out if someone did that to me. I'm sure it's early work of theirs, created while they were learning how to formulate a story.

But here's a terrific story, just to make up for not telling you (http://www.geocities.com/keiko_kirin/thevetia/coldwinter.html).

Icarus

[ev-vy.livejournal.com]

Wah, I knew you wouldn't tell. :P

Oh, yeah. I've read that story. Some ages ago. Still makes me ache.

Oh, and give a try to some recs here (http://www.lyricalmagic.com/miscrecs2.html).

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*glomp!* Thank you!!!

*runs off to read*


Icarus

[prillalar]

I've always figured that fiction should make the reader *think* that things are realistic, while never coming close to actual realism, at least not the kind you refer to.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

There's a reason why security cameras make dull viewing.

Hey, I just read your Aftereffects of Sustained Sarcophagus Use. Loved it. Funny stuff (WhooHoo! said Jack's libido?). I take it Jack felt like dirt making out with Daniel because a) he'd turned Daniel in, and b) he used continued making out as means to distract Daniel, and also c) because he was technically using Daniel to get off anyway, knowing Daniel was stoned out of his mind.

It's that last one that's very subtle, and makes Jack's POV very interesting, because you see the push and pull of his ethics (and his failure to live up to them). Hmm. I've noticed that seems to a theme of yours, failure to live up to one's standards, or the standards of one's profession, things not living up to expectations, sort of an unrepentant observation.

Icarus