Tips for writing fanfic please

What kind of tips can you give me for writing my own episode? What is important to make it look "authentic"? Maybe we could compile a list of speech patterns and other remarkable things about the characters. That might be very useful for fanfic authors. MSB

In article , [email] (Matthias Benkmann) wrote:

Unfortunately a lot of times, particularly when you are working with the characters a few years into the future like I am with the "Lawndale, CT Continuum" you wind up having to take the blind leap into the void and GUESS about the characters. I've been right a few times but a lot of times I've been wrong.

However, you really should just jump in and play with it. Don't let authenticity concern you *too* much. If you read back what you've written and it feels right to you, it's right.

BTW folks...because of my new job it might take a while for me to finish "Best Served Cold" and go on to future fics...just bear with me, OK?

--.\\<-H--

Michelle Klein-Hass wrote in message news:[email]...

Congratulations on the new job, Michelle, whatever it is!

Martin.

On the mountaintop, "Martin Sylvester" spake thusly:

Aye! Congrats, and I hope you can stand it a lot better than I'll end up liking whatever stupid teenage job I end up getting.

BTW, did anyone see the episode of That 70's Show where Eric got a job at Fatso Burger? I kept thinking, "Wow, it's like me but in the 70s." Which I think is the allure of the show, when "I remember when I dressed like that!" doesn't apply.

-Mindy

"Stop staring at me, you squirrel pervert!" -Daria Morgendorffer "I have a brief funeral for my poor, deceased pet squirrel Stimpy." -Stoner

Dcode: Ap D+ T7 Wl Q++ Fn^Fr O- Or+Os+Od m-- c MV-- C5X F:101,308 BBd FCJ -DT-- q fJ,fM,fO

Why get a teenage job if it's not going to be enjoyable? I never had a job when I was at school. Start how you mean to go on, that's what I say...

-Shez.

On Wed, 28 Jul 1999 13:26:37 +0100, Shez wrote:

I totally agree. My mother's constantly bothering me about getting a job during the break between semesters. What for? If I stay home and work on understanding Linux, I think that's a more useful way to spend my time. She's just like Helen sometimes. Always thinking of my resum�. MSB

I want a job because i have no money. I had to walk seven fucking miles today to avoid paying an unreasonable (for someone of my 'income' - ie �5/week) amount to get the bus. Although the other day i did get charged a child fare without asking for it, which is yet more evidence that i don't look over 15.

On Thu, 29 Jul 1999 21:35:45 +0100, "endless, nameless" wrote:

I feel like a spoiled brat. My parents pay $25/month for that public transportation ticket to get me to university each day. MSB

ahh, now i'm the spoiled brat here. my mother drives me to school. despite the fact it's only a 15-minute walk. she doesn't get home 'til after shops close though, so i have to get the bus or walk if i need to go to town. i get a bit of money for clothes, but not enough that i can waste it on bus fares whilst travelling into town to spend it lol. ;)

Michelle Klein-Hass <[email] t> of The Underground Bummer Culture writes:

Is that "Best Served Cold" as in the Klingon saying?

Oh my god, I actually know a Klingon saying!

-Shez.

In article , Shez wrote:

Actually if anyone knows the *real* origins of that maxim (it's got to be older than Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan) please let me know.

--.\\<-H--

from http://www.mit.edu/people/pslively/quotes/common.html:

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."

The sentiment of this phrase is actually quite old. "Eat the dish of his revenge cold instead of hot" from C. Lowe's book Prince Bismarck (1885), is sometimes listed as the origin of the phrase. But most people will recognize it from Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan, quoted by Khan (Ricardo Maltobahn). Others will remember it from The Godfather by Mario Puzo (or the Movie made from the book).

(I thought it was in Shakespeare, but I guess not. :) )

• Chad

I remember very clearly reading this sentence at the beginning of a stephen king story in his book o' short stories, "nightmares and dreamscapes." The story was entitled "dolan's cadillac." It was kind of an introduction to the story, i guess.. anyway, and i'm recalling this from memory,

"Revenge is a dish best served cold." ~an old spanish saying

or something along those lines. FWIW.

---
~Po

CROWDSURFERS WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE BUILDING. It can be harmful, and most of all disrespectful to climb on other people's heads. Crowdsurfing should only be done naked and in the privacy of your own home.

Thank you The Beastie Boys

---
~Po

CROWDSURFERS WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE BUILDING. It can be harmful, and most of all disrespectful to climb on other people's heads. Crowdsurfing should only be done naked and in the privacy of your own home.

Thank you The Beastie Boys

[email] (Matthias Benkmann) wrote:

IMO, 90% of good writing is rewriting. Of course, it helps a little more if you watch the eps and buy the 2 books. Other than that, just write, write write, edit, edit, edit, set it aside for a week, edit, edit, edit, rewrite some, then repeat until you feel that it doesn't suck. ;-) I find that setting anything I'm writing aside for at least a few days makes it much easier to edit-- you get a better feel for whether what you're writing rings true or not, and you can't remember exactly what you wrote before, so you won't assume that things like spelling or punctuation are correct.

Oh, and the best piece of advice I ever got about writing? Write what you know.

HTH, rich.

Jane: All I want is to make beautiful things!

On Tue, 27 Jul 1999 19:01:06 GMT, [email] (paperpusher) wrote:

Which might add a strange touch to how my writing will feel to you US folks. The environment I've grown up and live in is very different. Thinking of it, maybe I should start watching BH90210 to get that US high school feeling. I think they got enough arche- and stereotypical stuff to make fun of. MSB

I dunno, maybe do a fanfic of Daria's family and Jane's family both visiting Germany...?

But for God's sake do *not* watch BH90210...that is a pathetic excuse of a show. Aaron Spelling never seems to get that *reality* bit down on his shows (except for maybe "Hotel", unless that wasn't produced by Mr Spelling...I don't know, it's been over ten years since I last saw that show).

There must be some sort of universalism involved in being alive. We all have our dreams and goals and setbacks. Write from there and then you'd be fine. I think.

Diane

Matthias Benkmann wrote:

On Tue, 27 Jul 1999 19:46:26 -0500, Diane Aguilar wrote:

I thought about it, but what should be the motivation. Helen's too busy for an overseas trip so it wouldn't be a family vacation, Jake (sorry, pal, don't take it personal) simply isn't up to the task and what could make Daria want to take part in an exchange program? About Jane, I don't remember clearly, she did say something about some members of her family being in Europe. But they'd probably be in France which is, I think, more famous for artists. Hmm, maybe I could invent some distant relatives. After all "Morgendorffer" is a German name. But the question remains. Why would Daria want to go there? She even hates field trips. Besides, I fear I could not resist the temptation to put together all those stereotypes about Germans (you know, lederhosen, ze Oktoberfest, beer). After all, I lif in Munich, ze town of ze Oktoberfest, ze heart of Bavaria, ze state vhere all zose stereotypes actually originate. I also think that such an episode would only be fun if done with sound. Possibly Daria's German would be as poor as her Spanish.

But it's really a serious problem that I don't know enough about how American high schools work. I would like to adapt some anecdotes from my own school life. For instance that one about my graduation ceremony, when everyone was dressed up in fine suits except for me (I am proud of not owning any real shirts, jackets or ties although my mom's continually pressuring me to buy some decent clothes) and some other classmate I don't remember. It was even more drastic since I was actually to be honoured for my achievement. I wonder what the audience thought, seeing me go up to the stage in ordinary street clothes to receive my book (I finished 2nd best and all that I received was a stupid book about Munich and the surrounding countryside, the crap you give tourists, duh.). I think it sounds like Daria. What do you think? Will we see her in an evening gown or her usual outfit when it's her turn? MSB

In article , [email] (Matthias Benkmann) wrote:

I have an idea for a fanfic...how about writing about Daria doing a stint as an exchange student in Deutscheland? That would mean you could write about Daria in an environment you know.

--.\\<-H--

On Tue, 27 Jul 1999 21:48:18 GMT, some letters randomly coalesced from individual pixels, claiming to be from [email] (Matthias Benkmann), and it said:

Do not, I repeat, do not rely on a television show to get an idea of what US schools are like. Most of the time, they are about as inaccurate as they can get.

On Wed, 28 Jul 1999 17:03:05 GMT, [email] (Tarvok) wrote:

Take a closer look and you'll notice that I'd only rely on 90210 to pick up some stereotypes to make fun of. After all, Daria's world is a caricature. MSB

My first choice would be "Don't write fanfic!"

If you must, take your time. Don't try to rush through it. Don't be afraid of a few rewrites.

On Tue, 27 Jul 1999 10:53:06 GMT, [email] (Matthias Benkmann) wrote:

Kyle He complained when I hit him. All my friends do. Wusses.

On 27 Jul 1999 16:51:58 GMT, [email] (Kyle) wrote:

What's wrong with writing fanfic. No one forces you to read it. MSB

On Tue, 27 Jul 1999 21:48:18 GMT, [email] (Matthias Benkmann) wrote:

No, they don't. But writing fanfic is a long, tedious process and most people will not feel it's worth it when they are done.

Kyle He complained when I hit him. All my friends do. Wusses.

On 28 Jul 1999 00:09:46 GMT, some letters randomly coalesced from individual pixels, claiming to be from [email] (Kyle), and it said:

"You sound like one that tried."

Quick, which movie did I pull that from? (Assuming I got it right, that is...)