Writing

[kerravonsen]

Memed from astrogirl2

01. Do I have a distinct style of writing?
02. If so, what exactly is it that defines my style?
03. Would you say my stories follow a certain theme?
04. Is there anything you feel I ought to improve or change?
05. Does my style (if I have one) remind you of anyone else?
06. Judging from whatever writing of mine that you've seen, what do you think is/are my strength(s)?
07. What do you think are my weaknesses?

Comments

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

All right, I'm going to give this a shot. Keep in mind that it's been a while since I read a lot of your stuff (only because I need a few months between rereads *wink*).

01. Do I have a distinct style of writing? Given that I can sometimes guess whether a story is yours, I'd say so. Though I didn't guess your Multi-Lyric fic, at least not right off.

02. If so, what exactly is it that defines my style? A concise and specific choice of words; an ability to integrate description, dialogue, and pov thoughts without overemphasizing any one of them, weaving whole cloth, as it were. No lopsidedness, no frayed edges. In other words, the kind of style I like. :-)

03. Would you say my stories follow a certain theme? I'm not sure. I could get all cosmic and say that in most of your stories, destiny intertwines with choice (or something like that), but a stronger theme that I've seen in several stories of yours is the necessity of teamwork and trust: not only to solve problems, but to live a full life.

04. Is there anything you feel I ought to improve or change? Not off the top of my head.

05. Does my style (if I have one) remind you of anyone else? Madeleine L'Engle. A similar graceful economy of storytelling.

06. Judging from whatever writing of mine that you've seen, what do you think is/are my strength(s)? Your ability to be concise and precise in your use of language, and to convey emotion through action, showing rather than just telling.

07. What do you think are my weaknesses? I've said I like your economy of style, but occasionally it might be a bit too economical. I don't have a ready example, so feel free to disregard. Maybe a more sensory approach--but you've actually done some of that, iirc.

I'm rambling, I think. :-P Well, I tried! There you go. Hope it was mildly informative. :-)

[kerravonsen]

a stronger theme that I've seen in several stories of yours is the necessity of teamwork and trust: not only to solve problems, but to live a full life.

Interesting. I know that's definitely there in Verity, but I hadn't really been aware of it in my other stories. I wonder if the theme is also influenced by the universe, because teamwork and trust is certainly a theme that fits with TS, while in B7 it wouldn't be so much teamwork -- except that trust is a BIG thing in B7. On the other hand, I wouldn't write fic in universes that didn't resonate for me in some way, so... (shrug)

Madeleine L'Engle. A similar graceful economy of storytelling.
Oh wow.

I've said I like your economy of style, but occasionally it might be a bit too economical. I don't have a ready example, so feel free to disregard. Maybe a more sensory approach--but you've actually done some of that, iirc.

Oh, I know what you mean. Some of my (especially TS) stories have been "more sensory" but it isn't my natural mode, I have to do it deliberately. Actually one of the things I really like about The Sentinel universe is that it challenges you to pause and imagine the world with all your senses.

And I know that what can often happen -- as did happen with, for example "Anaesthesia" -- is that I want to get the story finished (especially for deadlines), so I try to get down the absolute minimum needed to convey what needs to be conveyed, and then I don't go back and turn the sketch into a painting.

Hope it was mildly informative.

Oh yes! Thank you for doing this.

[izhilzha.livejournal.com]

"a stronger theme that I've seen in several stories of yours is the necessity of teamwork and trust: not only to solve problems, but to live a full life."

Interesting. I know that's definitely there in Verity, but I hadn't really been aware of it in my other stories.

Oh yes, it's blatant in Verity. *g* But I've seen it show up in your other TS stories, as well as stuff you've written in SG-1 (well, maybe sorta kinda) and Dr. Who. I confess to not reading your B7 stories, yet, as all I know about B7 I learned from your site's info page. :-) Now I want to go read them and see if the same themes crop up....

And you're so right when you say that we gravitate towards universes that resonate for us in some way. I've really noticed that over the past few years; my fannish tastes haven't changed drastically, but there have been subtle shifts as my own self grows and changes. (There's a paper in there somewhere, or would be if I could handle writing something with a title like The Psychology of Fandom Choices. *snerk*)

Actually one of the things I really like about The Sentinel universe is that it challenges you to pause and imagine the world with all your senses.

Amen to that!

I want to get the story finished (especially for deadlines), so I try to get down the absolute minimum needed to convey what needs to be conveyed, and then I don't go back and turn the sketch into a painting.

*nods* Yeah. That's the one thing I don't like about ficathons, because deadlines and I have a complex relationship. :-P There are many things about Interim Choices that I'm not pleased with, because of how fast it was written.