Ever wonder about tarantulas?

[krislaughs]

So, I've decided to attempt to write a story again, and I've got a few questions to ask.


[Poll #646232]

Right. Later, then.

Comments

[amberlynne.livejournal.com]

I almost didn't even click on the cut-tag because I am *that* Arachnophobic. The last question really doesn't an answer that conveys my true feelings of OMGNO! Heh.

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

hehehee. But tarantulas aren't like the scary spiders. They're more like dogs with eight legs and a tendancy to eat bugs. :D

[amberlynne.livejournal.com]

*cries*

[ignipes.livejournal.com]

Interesting questions!

So, explanations. I like "Muggle with a twist of Magic" because what I love most about the HP books, and always haved loved most, is that it's such a familiar world, in spite of the magic. The magic doesn't make it strange or alien, it just makes it more fun.

For characters, I think that strong words make a story readable and engaging, strong actions make it exciting and interesting, and personality quirks make it memorable. Clever banter alone can't sustain a long story (though it's fine for short ones!) and action by itself runs the risk of keeping the reader at arm's length from the characters.

For the plot, I couldn't decided between the first two, assuming that "action" doesn't only mean "blowing things up and car chases and such" and "mystery" doesn't always mean "whodunnit". Basically, I want something to happen. The characters have to do something, figure something out (whether about themselves or the world or whatever), and take steps to act on it.

Depends on what you mean by friendship, I guess. Casual friendships, people you hang out with but don't really know all that well? Yeah, it's possible to enjoy somebody's company without loving them.

And finally: Yes, thanks to you. *sticks tongue out*

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

hehehe I like muggle with a twist of magic. Hell, I'd like to BE a muggle with a twist of magic.

Yeah, s'funny. I think I've got slightly different ideas about love and friendship than most people.

But I definitely think that in a story, while they're all important, good, strong language can make a mundane character come to life.

Hmm

[jazzypom.livejournal.com]

Like characters with little quirks to their personality, because most memorable people have little idiosyncrasies. I like stories where magic is a part of the characters and their world, and it comes naturally to them like breathing. An example would be when Molly cooks, and she has stuff coming out of her wand.

A story doesn't have to have action to be interesting. Some of the best stories I've rad are the ones that say alot about the quiet moments we find ourselves in.

Nah, you don't have to love your friend. Besides, at times I think that love is overrated and 'like' is underrated.

Re: Hmm

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

Nah, you don't have to love your friend. Besides, at times I think that love is overrated and 'like' is underrated.

heh. Good point. I think I get those mixed up quite a lot.

[sasha-davidovna.livejournal.com]

I couldn't decide between "Muggle with a twist of magic" and "batshit crazy magical worlds" because I like both, as long as they have rules and internal logic that make them feel realistic. I don't require a great setting to enjoy a story, but really good ones make me fangirl like anything. :)

See Kali's answer for mine on plot. Good plots can range from massive War and Peace/Game of Thrones epics to the tiniest of character sketches, as long as something compelling happens or is discovered or something.

I'm not sure that friendship can exist without love on one level or another, but it certainly exists without romantic love! :) I've occasionally wondered what would have happened if my best friend or I were male, or we were lesbians or something, but meh. It would be pretty stressful if everything really were all about sex. But romantic love doesn't "cheapen" friendship either. ;)

[sasha-davidovna.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. I lied about the tarantulas, but it's the sort of thing I would think about, so :p. *g*

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

hehehe. Everyone should know about tarantula sex. Or at least in order to be as traumatized as I was. The lengths I got to for fanfic research... ;)

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

I agree with you completely on the plots. And on friendship, actually. Go us!

[midnitemaraud-r.livejournal.com]

When I said action, I didn't mean of the action movie variety. I just like when things happen - i.e. they characters actually move, go places, and do things besides talk to each other, observe their surroundings and think a lot. Or just have sex. Even if I'm reading a story about characters having sex, I prefer more to it than just PWP.

As for the love v frienship, it depends on your definition of love. There's family/friend-type love and there's sex/lust/passion-type love. You can like or love a friend without ever wanting to shag them, you can also want to shag someone without loving them, and you can love someone and occasionally or desperately want to shag them.

Spiders are cool, but damn are they ugly and creepy looking! *shudders*

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

I agree. PWPs get old. real fast. And yeah, I meant the family.friend love.

[lostrocket.livejournal.com]

I couldn't answer the "good plot" question - that's the one I couldn't decide between. For me, what really makes a story is a strong plot first - if it's tight and well-executed I am more likely to believe in characters and forgive things that, to me, feel OOC. But I liked all of the options! I'd say I'd rather have a happy ending than a tragic ending, but it's hard to claim that and not have to answer awkward questions about the amount of tragic S/R fic I read.

For believable characters, I think "words" is the top hitter there, with personality quirks a close second. I can muddle through a story until someone says "Siri", or uses a horrible nickname and actually means it, or it just has crappy dialogue for more mundane and hard-to-pin-down reasons, and I'm done right there.

I hope the tarantulas are in the story, because NOW I'm curious.

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

hehehe I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that language is so important to written characters. Hell, its what separates the fabulous from the crowd as far as I'm concerned (which is one reason I wish I wrote it better).

Anyway, yes. There may just be a tarantula cameo. ;)

[dolorous-ett.livejournal.com]

It was pretty hard to make decisions between some of these. A lot depends on the author. (and what a typical academic "Well, yes and no..." comment this is, to be sure.

Although I ticked the All of the Above box, I think with characterisation, special quirks aren't necessary if the character is properly worked out. Otherwise you just get so sick of quirky whimsical types that you end up swatting them away with a rolled-up newspaper.

Well then? When are you going to tell us about the mating habits of the tarantula?

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

hehee. I agree with you about the personality quirks.

And as for the tarantulas. I might be... you never know.