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Topic:
The Essential Guide to Original Characters: *challenge winner & updated rules for challenges now up*
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MsLanna
Title: CR GSFF Central
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
4/24 3:55am
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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*is adrift on the wild waves of unpredictable mood swings*
I'm with face on having more readers now than back on '05. But then , I was brand new here in '05 and had never heard of formatting before. I don't post huge blocks of text anymore, so my readership has grown. 
Also, I am not sure if canon gets more comments, because most canon I write is challenges (which usually have guaranteed amounts of comments) and silly stuff. Silly stuff is the sure way to comments, no joking.
And, I think, silly is easier with canon characters, because you don't have to inrtoduce tehir characters first. Confront Vader with the muppets, Palps with wrinkle cream or Obi-wan with the Alcoholics Anonymous and people will laugh at the mere idea. With OCs, you have do do some more work.
I'll take yout tip, Ale and wrtie up some viggies before getting Front Lies up. Already have some plans, so be very afraid.
Woohoo, I'm about to rant, so I better shut up. [face_mouth_zipped_shut]
*sails away on wordy waves*
-----signature-----
Padawan owned by Corellian_Ale Procrastinators of the world unite - tomorrow. Proud FanFic Master of Darth_Sathanos I owe Steve Sansweet a cookie. TISSI-1 standing by. 
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kecen
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
4/24 7:44am
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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Corellian_Ale posted:
kecen posted:
I haven't gotten many reviews on my OC fic (Yun-Yammka In Escrow) per update now that it's exceeded 2 pages in posts (people assume they can't catch up to that much reading)... Vignettes are a hit with casual readers for their length (and focus the plot in one installment). I also don't have celebrity writer status over here.
Big tip for oldbies and newbies alike. I've known OC authors that will write several vignettes, sometimes using the challenges here, and usually set previous to the longer epic they plan on writing. This way the casual readers that you find repeatedly reading those shorter stories, will come to know and become attached to these new personalities, and are usually more inclined to follow them into an epic.
Think of your epic as a movie, and the vignettes as the previews or commercials; even though they're not cut directly from the movie...
The problem is, my fic is made entirely of (semi)self-contained vignettes XP
-----signature-----
there is nothing in the world that we can count on
even that we will wake up is an assumption...but i know for a fact that i loved someone
and for about a year he lived in bastion...
Member of the George R. Binks fanclub, whoo!
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Jinngerbread
Registered:
Sep '07
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Date Posted:
4/24 12:23pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
- Date Edited:
4/24 12:49pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Jinngerbread
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Corellian_Ale posted:
kecen posted:
I haven't gotten many reviews on my OC fic (Yun-Yammka In Escrow) per update now that it's exceeded 2 pages in posts (people assume they can't catch up to that much reading)... Vignettes are a hit with casual readers for their length (and focus the plot in one installment). I also don't have celebrity writer status over here.
Big tip for oldbies and newbies alike. I've known OC authors that will write several vignettes, sometimes using the challenges here, and usually set previous to the longer epic they plan on writing. This way the casual readers that you find repeatedly reading those shorter stories, will come to know and become attached to these new personalities, and are usually more inclined to follow them into an epic.
Think of your epic as a movie, and the vignettes as the previews or commercials; even though they're not cut directly from the movie...
Ale, I really like that advice, and I had been keeping all the vignettes to Triad in one thread, thinking I would clutter the boards. I guess that wouldn't be considered clutter though, perhaps. I suppose I'm doing my OC's in the story a disservice by not sharing them with other snippets. I decided to take your advice for the OC challenge 
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Thumper09
Registered:
Dec '01
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Date Posted:
4/24 12:37pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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There have been a couple of mentions of story trends and genres on the boards and how canons and OCs tie into that (or don't). I've been mulling it over in light of this discussion. My post is pretty tangential, and I apologize for that. If it's *too* tangential, never mind it because I don't want to interrupt the current discussion.
The lesser-known or lesser-used areas of SW often have very few, if any, canons directly associated with them that could be used as a protagonist in a fanfic. So writing in these areas or genres is almost predisposed to using OCs, as Face mentioned (hopefully I didn't stretch your words too much).
But what happens when a lesser-used area of SW suddenly gets a spotlight and some EU canons to play with? Did Clone Trooper stories increase after the Republic Commando books started coming out? Did medical stories pick up speed with the Medstar books? Will Coruscant Nights affect the numbers of sleuthing stories? (I don't know. I'm asking.  )
More to the point here, would these new EU canons change the way OCs are used in those types of stories? For example, if there's a small but dedicated audience on the boards here who follows the adventures of Chiss basketweaving (all OCs except for some Thrawn guest appearances), and then a profic novel centering on a Chiss basketweaver is published (pick your era), what does that do to the fanfics here? Would the protagonist OC basketweavers be replaced with the new canon ones, thereby dwindling the amount of OCs since they're no longer exclusively needed for that type of story? Would the number of OC basketweaver stories stay the same and be joined by an increase in the number of canon b'weaver stories from more of the fanfic community (plus AUs, etc.)? None of the above? Would it depend completely on how much the profic novel captures the community's imagination? (I can think of a few examples of that, both good and bad.) Would readers be more inclined to make their way over to an OC b'weaver story after reading the profic novel and learning about the new canon characters?
I guess I'm trying to figure out the connection (if any) between story genre, canons/OCs and how people perceive them and react to them (either readers or writers).
I'd best end here. The rest of what I wrote goes off on an even crazier tangent and is gibberish even to me.
-Thumper
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"Like anything worth writing, it came inexplicably and without method." -Karen Eiffel The Way--Imperial pilot OCs, OT: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28104637 OC X-wing fics: http://www.coronasquadron.com/corona.html
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Corellian_Ale
Registered:
Mar '08
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Date Posted:
4/24 4:48pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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Thumper09 posted:
Will Coruscant Nights affect the numbers of sleuthing stories?
I was wondering the same thing lately, but I'll substitute your analogy of Chiss basketweavers with the above mentioned genre.
I've always wondered if The Coruscant Nights series had some deep rooted influence from some our own OC writers (Face and Luton among them) and the growing popularity of their stories and series. And yes, granted the CN series has been in development for few years now, but I can't help but wonder as to whether it's firm release date has any correlation to the genre's expanding popularity here. I know we've heard that solemn oath that no EU work has been influenced from the Fanfiction community, and I'm not one easily given to conspiricy theroies...but...just saying.
Will Coruscant Nights affect the genre here on the boards? Will there be a sudden onslaught of stories in that vein that will water down what Face, Luton and others have created? Will it dwindle the interest in characters like Remy Diabet and Tadgh Maitland, or create a slew of copy-cats?
As for those of you who seem to think my advice about introducing your OCs in small bites is sound, thank-you. Some of you already have vignettes all on one thread, but you tend to run into the same dilema as if it were an actual epic: it's ovewhelming for new readers. If it's more than a couple of pages, it can actually be a turn-off, even for the more established, and popular writers. Personally I prefer to pick up a story at the beginning, or as close to it as possible.
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Dath Writer's Block stands at the end of my bed while I sleep and laughs...  Proud Master to MsLanna  ...
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JadeSolo
Title: NSF managing NSWFF
Registered:
Sep '02
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Date Posted:
4/24 5:06pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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Speaking as a reader, I'm with ale - I prefer to start a story from its very beginning. If there are already several pages, some authors are very good at sucking me into catching up all in one go, but at the same time, I miss out on all the conversation in between story posts.
Plus, going one vig at a time, especially with OCs, might make it easier to hook loyal readers - give them a great one-shot that leaves them wanting more. You know they'll be back for the next vig, and then the next short story, and then the next epic.
As for Coruscant Nights, the cover art for the first book is my wallpaper. I am enamoured of the mood it evokes.  Reminds me of Humphrey Bogart.
On the one hand, I think CN is great for drawing attention to good folk like Face and Futon. At the same time, I hope you two, and everyone else who has made such stories a labor of love over the years, take every opportunity to say, "I thought of it first!!"  You all deserve that (e-)fortune and glory.
-----signature-----
"If you expect a kick in the balls and you get a slap in the face, it's a victory."
"May God bless you and keep you always...I mean that in a civic deist way." -Prof. Siegel
"No guaranteed money, but all guaranteed fun!"
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kecen
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
4/24 6:33pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
- Date Edited:
4/24 6:34pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
kecen
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Pity me the day they publish an official novel about a heretical female Yuuzhan Vong warrior with a stalker boyfriend in the big city. That's essentially what my stories involving Elmira are about. However, it would be awesome that I would be able to claim to be the first person who did. The same goes for a Yuuzhan Vong metal tuba player in disguise as a projectionist at a alleyway attraction.
I'm part of the General Grievous fanbase who write stats for the Kaleesh species. It's a shame the official versions aren't as cool as mine, because I took years to develop them to what they are today. I hate it when a canon source comes out that knocks all my hard work out of the spotlight. Here's hoping they never shine the spotlight on the state of science on planet Kalee, or the whereabouts of Domain Val (they better worship Dolphins!).
-----signature-----
there is nothing in the world that we can count on
even that we will wake up is an assumption...but i know for a fact that i loved someone
and for about a year he lived in bastion...
Member of the George R. Binks fanclub, whoo!
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BigE
Registered:
Jul '02
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Date Posted:
4/25 8:32am
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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I like to start a series at the beginning myself, even if an author says that it shouldn't be necessary if only because I feel like I'm missing out on something.
And so, I've tasked myself to read the previously posted Galaxy Noir and The User stories before getting around to reading the current stuff.
Unfortunately it's taking some time and by the time I'm done reading those, the current stuff will probably be OVER!
Jinngerbread posted:
I've started posting my story for the challenge response. Where are the rest of you guys? I don't want to be out here alone! I'm trying something a little different with mine, nothing like experimentation!
Just finished mine - it will be up shortly. 
-----signature-----
Aha! That's it. Hold it right there.
Pronoun trouble.
It's not "he doesn't have to shoot YOU now," it's "he doens't have to shoot ME now."
Well I say he DOES have to shoot me now!! So shoot me now!
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Corellian_Ale
Registered:
Mar '08
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Date Posted:
4/27 6:14pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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BigE posted:
Jinngerbread posted:
I've started posting my story for the challenge response. Where are the rest of you guys? I don't want to be out here alone! I'm trying something a little different with mine, nothing like experimentation!
Just finished mine - it will be up shortly.
Hey guys, I know I'm not the HSIC (Head Sucka' In Charge) on this thread anymore, but I really love reading the all the challenge responses. So that being said...
Last chance to submit your entries!
-----signature-----
Dath Writer's Block stands at the end of my bed while I sleep and laughs... Proud Master to MsLanna ...
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Commander-DWH
Registered:
Nov '03
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Date Posted:
4/27 7:40pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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Ale, you took the words right out of my mouth. And I'm seeing a shockingly low number of entries, so I'm hoping all you procrastinators are typing like the wind, right? 
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The_Face
Title: Fan Fic Manager, now with real butter flavor
Registered:
Feb '03
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Date Posted:
4/27 7:52pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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Finals. 
JadeSolo posted:
On the one hand, I think CN is great for drawing attention to good folk like Face and Futon. At the same time, I hope you two, and everyone else who has made such stories a labor of love over the years, take every opportunity to say, "I thought of it first!!" You all deserve that (e-)fortune and glory.
Fortune and glory? 
I'm not sure whether CN will have an effect of sleuthing stories or not. It seems to vary, probably in accordance with the popularity of the book. I wager most clonetrooper fics wouldn't exist without Republic Commando (though I did write a craptastic fic about Clone Wars commandos before Karen Traviss wrote her good one ). But the Medstar duology, near as I can tell, didn't spawn a lot of medical dramas on our side. Maybe that market is already writing M*A*S*H fanfic. The ultimate subgenre success story, I think, is squadfic. The X-wing books launched a big trend. Heck, they were some of the first EU books to legitimize the nearly-all OC cast.
So I think it really depends whether CN is any good.
-----signature-----
If mercy falls upon the broken and the poor Dear Father, I will see you there on distant shores * Galaxy of Suspects, a CorSec Mystery: http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=28083207&brd=10476
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Jinngerbread
Registered:
Sep '07
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Date Posted:
4/27 7:54pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
- Date Edited:
4/27 7:59pm (2 edits total)
Edited By:
Jinngerbread
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Commander-DWH posted:
Ale, you took the words right out of my mouth. And I'm seeing a shockingly low number of entries, so I'm hoping all you procrastinators are typing like the wind, right?
Aye-aye, Commander!
My story is all completed except the epilogue, my poor muse is fried. And the epilogue isn't really necessary for the voting round.
And deep fried muse sounds like some awesome southern dessert
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OCDatabaseSock
Registered:
Dec '04
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Date Posted:
4/28 12:27pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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All right, folks, the polls are open!
We have two excellent stories for you to choose from this month:
Just Before Dawn - by Jinngerbread
Jim-E, the Well-Intentioned Jedi- by BigE
Voting ends Saturday, May 3 at midnight, board time! Happy reading!
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kecen
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
4/28 1:47pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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Wait! I was going to have my entry up by today D:
It's almost finished, and I didn't get the announcement.
-----signature-----
there is nothing in the world that we can count on
even that we will wake up is an assumption...but i know for a fact that i loved someone
and for about a year he lived in bastion...
Member of the George R. Binks fanclub, whoo!
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Commander-DWH
Registered:
Nov '03
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Date Posted:
4/28 1:59pm
Subject:
RE: Essential Guide to OCs - April Challenge: Two Challenges for the Price of One!
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Sorry, kecen. Them's the rules.
You should still finish it and post it, though. Wouldn't want to deprive the boards of another OC fic.
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