Dara,
I was thinking about what you've just said. I too, look forward to reading these little vignettes. Here's a few of those thoughts of mine:
It's fun to make them twist and turn, with everyone's voices added. But the key to not making this story too complicated, or complex, is by not adding too much, too soon, into the story..
You have to feel each of these existing subjects, characters, and players, get to know what they're saying to you.... but I know everyone wants to add their own voice/twists in as fast as they can, as soon as they come onto the board. But you can't, or it will get disorganized, as it is now showing stress.
You have to restrain fast changes, and keep playing off of each other's piece/storyline, longer. Only add one character or storyline at a time, and then try to expand it. Whether it be a dragon, or a fairy, or whatever the creature, or subject, or disaster at hand...stay with it until you understand it's purpose in the story, and when the story starts to see an end, someone pick it up and give a new dimension to to it, to bounce off of.
I'm not saying it always works, having so many people involved, but it should make it interesting and fun, to try and stretch someone else's imagination. It's like playing ball: If someone throws it to you, you run with it, then toss it to someone else when you think you're going to go down.
If you were to read this as a book, you want the reader to understand each and every situation, before taking them forward, too fast. These little scenarios are conversational, which would take a lot of editing to put them together well enough, to create an actual story from them. As I said, they're vignettes, or products that create simply a soap opera kind of effect. As it stands now, it's full of holes that need to be filled before making it into a readable story. It reminds me of a pot full of stew. Can you taste each ingredient and spice? If you can, it's good. You want each one to stand out, but when mixed together, you want it to become one flavor; the whole of the novel. If you're the reader, you don't want to struggle, working too hard to put it together, and then trying to keep it together is painful.
My original feel for it, for this story, was to keep it funny. Keep it Goofy, as it were. Keep it obsurd, unreal. If your character/subject is too real, or dark, or creepy, the story will no long stay lighthearted. This is what I was ultimately trying to get at. If you start introducing dark characters, you're going to have to figure out a way to give them a light spirit. Make them fun to hate, and get rid of, without killing them off, or being brutal in how they're treated. They can't be too mean and scary. It's okay to have an antagonist in a story, it's actually great, but you definitely have to make it work.
Dreamer4ever wrote:
Kathy,
I think that this was a great idea, in the first place, and I appreciate the creativity it took in order to start this. I think that in a way you've started a new story--could be a book--that many people here are contributing to. It's constructive and imaginative and I think that everyone else will agree with me when I say that it's one of those things that we look forward to when we come here to B&N.
I see what you're saying about this becoming out of control, because I'm already struggling to remember who everyone is and all these scenarios and such. It's funny though, to read everything and see what our minds have created in relation to "Wordsmithonia." It's an ongoing story and is much like the real world--just add in some dragons and elves and Goofy.
The creepy stuff is kind of cool, in my opinion. But I really think that's because that's not the way real evil in the real world looks like. It's...different.....like maybe scarier, but less brutal. I don't know how I'm getting that from the pictures, but that's what keeps going through my head. I respect what you feel on the subject, though. Thank you for telling us.
And I am glad that you created Wordsmithonia! Such fun everyone's had with it!
Dara
KathyS wrote:
Krista,
I'm going out of character for the moment. You don't need to apologize to me. I went into character, with you, to voice my opinion of these new additions you offered, to the Wordsmithonia realm.
I'm really not in control over this, or any other section of these boards, so you and others can use it any way that you wish, of course, as long as it stays safe and clean, and respectful, as I know you and everyone have kept it so far.
I only introduced this so called Kingdom to the community room, just for a lark. Something fun to play with, but I never expected it to grow in the way that it has, and trying to keep every character, and person or thing straight in our minds, has given way to Ryan having to create a lengthy glossary for everyone. Introducing more and more, of course is really up to the majority of players in this scenario. I don't know how everyone feels about this, and it may not be the problem that I see. But, this is not a board we have, it's just a thread, and it can become so convoluted and congested with scenarios and players, that it will become lengthy and out of control.
I'm honestly not into fantasy, as it becomes paranormal, or demonistic, or other related darksides. It's not my interest in literature, but I know it now incorporates a large part of the readers, here on these clubs. I grew up on the old vampire and zombie movies. They scared me, but I loved them. But I'm now probably one of the oldest members, both in age and longevity on B&N, and I honestly have an aversion to the horror, and blood thirsty evil driven violence involved in a lot of these fantasies of today. Even the dark pictures give me the creeps. I'm just saying this to tell you who I am, and to voice my opinions, with no disrespect towards you. I respect everyone who has contributed to this strange board thread, so far.
Anyway, just my thoughts about these subjects. If anyone would like to say something to this subject, you are all welcome.
Have fun with whatever you do!
Kathy
