Ok, before I go any further, I need to apologise for not having spent the time to quote individually, this post has taken me two hours as it is *eek* I would like to invite those who have not seen it to read at least the first couple of pages of this thread
Community It has some very valid points by current and some past writers. It also gives a little insight into how each writer came to join the DF, and their feelings towards the community. I am partly to blame, I know, but it is a shame this thread descended to being a twin of the Discussion thread. Ideally, the one I have linked should have become the true discussion thread – as was intended – which was to be a place to thrash out ideas, or issues, from characters, to plot, to general ideas of advancing the story and maintaining and nurturing the special community we have all spent (sometimes too much) time building. The original Discussion thread, in which we write now, could then have been left as a socialising thread. Nevermind, I am rambling. But please take time to read the Community thread if you will, then you will get some sense on who we are, and what we feel about the DF.
First and foremost, it is fun
a bit of escapism…but it has evolved over the years to become a more continuing and coherent story, with some wonderful character development and interaction, and has lead to some very real offline friendships. This is evident in a lot of the writing. This goes for the old and the new writers, we are all part of this project, we all commit what time and energy we have available to look after what has been created. We are all bit players, and apart from one or two characters, we are not uber, we are fallible, and it is this that demands our team work. Our strengths and weakness compliment each other, and I think this goes for our writing as much as our characters sometimes lol!
The purpose of the discussion threads, as DW rightly pointed out, is to exchange ideas, or offer/request edits where necessary. We have *all* contributed to advancing this story in one way or another, there *is* a plot line in place…I know it is frustrating for some of the existing writers sometimes – never mind newer writers with lots of energy to expend
– but it needs to grow at a pace that suits all of us, and the time and energy that we have to commit.
Galuf, I realise that some of the writers are no longer contributing, or haven’t for a while but intend to as soon as they can, but to accelerate the story without reference to these people I personally find a little disrespectful. Especially when it not only appears to be rushing us towards a conclusion we may not all be ready to get to, it is also rewriting what a few of us already have in mind, and a smaller few have spent more time developing for the rest of us.
If you are unsure as to what each person intends for their character, or indeed who are actively taking part, you could have posted in Discussion, or PM’d them directly. This also goes for the general plot. Have you read the whole of Book 5? If you could find the time, not only will you get to know some of the characters, and how they have evolved, but you will also get a little history into how and why we are where we are now. You might also come to appreciate the work we have put in so far. In fact, the plot starts much further back than Book 5, the nucleus of it began before I joined over two years ago now, but this episode is almost a year old itself now, in real time, but in itself I consider it a must read for new writers…
I do not want this post to sound like a rant, though it is probably too late for that now, but what is core to the existence of the DF is interaction, of the writers first and foremost, then of the characters in story. I welcome newcomers, new ideas are like a breath of fresh air, and I like very much what you have written so far – you are a talented writer!
but this should be tempered with respect for the other writers…if we had an over uber character that could have coursed through the underdark alone, and in a day, and saved the world, where would the fun be?
At this point, I'm mainly looking to lend a hand with the skeletons, and then have Galuf go out on his own adventure story (yes, the promotional statement). Galuf's mainly going to be the helping hand in one situation, only to disappear for personal reasons. His character development requires writing of his own, at this point. So, regrettedly, I'm cutting his part in the Dark Flame saga short.
Look at it this way. Galuf can be seen like Kierstaad in the R. A. Salvatore book "Passage to Dawn". The young barbarian ends up being a temporary character that becomes a part of the sub plot of just that book, and is not a part of the major continuim (sp?). I'd hate to do this, but I guess that at this point it's the best that could happen.
If your intent is to take Galuf off on his own adventures in another thread, then good luck to you
but all the more reason for him not to advance the DF story out of time with the other writers.
That said, I would be more than happy for you to stay and share your skills - I like your character
I like your energy, and ideas, and you are a fine writer!…all that irritated me was a seemingly disrespectful intent to change the plot, and involve characters without their consent. I apologise if I have misinterpreted your intent, I recognise you have a lot of creative energy and wish to use it, it is just I am away from the boards for a couple of days and see a major plot change possibly afoot.
There is nothing to stop you writing introspectively to further his development, outside of his interactions with the other DF, and there will be nothing to stop him having his own loosely linked adventures within the DF…so long as there is cohesion
Many of our characters have had introspective moments lol! And others have ventured out alone, it is only when writing in other characters are you asked to respect the author, and if you are intent on changing a major plot, to refer to the group as a whole, either in PM or publically in this thread, to involve them all.
Please don’t take my words as criticism of your writing or ideas, far from it! I am sadly not known for my diplomacy *sigh* I, for one, would like for you to consider continuing writing with us, and sharing your energy and ideas, but please bear with those of us who are a little behind sometimes, and please share your ideas with all who may be involved…
*sigh* so then I posted it and had too many emoticons, and had to try and remember the edits. Oh well...
