Recommendations, plz?
Jun. 8th, 2010 10:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tsukinofaeriiThe door to my office has a "Beware of Dragon" sign taped to it. Yeah, it's like that. Following my recent luck, my coffee maker broke on Monday. RAWR. We have coffee at work, but I am so not functional before I've had my fix. (gentle twitch) No coffee and no sleep make Faerii something something.
Pepper/Natasha is at almost 9k, and goes not so well. I attempted writing last night. Pepper would not stop thinking of cake, when she should be thinking oflearning to defend herself in case of villain attack . When I'm projecting that badly, it's time to put the keyboard down.
I am not very certain about my handling of the established Tony/Pepper relationship. Whoever Iforce convince to beta for me will have to keep an eye on that. I don't want to demean either Tony or Pepper, but I want to make it clear that It's Not Working without casting blame. Pepper and Tony do love each other, but I think that (on Tony's end) it's at least partly that he's starved for affection and Pepper is this... massively stable, caring force in his life. He's more in love with what she represents than he is with her. It doesn't help that he's also in love with being a superhero, his tech and the whole playboy persona that he's had going for so long. Then "Natalie" is there, and she just adds a wrench to the works just by existing and listening and looking very good in a miniskirt.
I do keep failing the Bechdel Test though. (facepalm) Natasha and Pepper have had two scene together, and they've spent the majority of both talking abouteither Steve or Tony . I'm sure that I can fix that when they have time alone which isn't initiated by things involving the men in their lives. I've made a note to keep it in mind, at least. Hopefully it'll work.
Okay, now for the less fanficy stuff. For anyone not in the know, I'm planning on putting together some writing resources for fanfiction. There really aren't any collected resources that I know of. A great many forums and individual topics for specific issues, but it mostly seems to be a case of trial and error. Many of us may have had experience with trial and error—the first one I remember was riding my bicycle into a tree. So, yeah.
It still needs a title. The one I used when discussing it with my mother this morning was The Great Batshit of 2010. I'm pretty sure that's not going to work.
Anywho! The point of that rehash above is that I am getting myself put together to throw out a list of Useful Writing Resources to link at every post, because I am actually useless for my own writing at the moment. I want to include both General Usage and things that would be specifically handy for fandom, as well as good websites for Handle With Care issues. I've a few listed, but damn it, I know there are more out there. High quality fandom meta would be wonderful. I've done a quick scan through metafandom's Delicious for anything I remember being good, but more suggestions are always great. :D
I note that I don't have anything on grammar or porn. Gah. D: This is Sad.
Most of what I have so far is below the cut. Some things are pretty obvious to people who have wandered the plains of the internet for a while, but I just know that if I don't include them, someone will need it. This is pretty extensive so far. I want to keep it to one or two meta articles on each general topic (there's no need to flood a list of fifty different version of "misogyny bad"). So, if anyone knows a better article, please link meh!
In Your Home/Library
Dictionary & Thesaurus.
Invaluable when buried two feet underground or deeper. These are absolutely necessary to have, but should be used sparingly. Chances are, if you can't think of the word off the top of your head, neither will your reader. One trick I use is to make them hard to get at. My deep-seated laziness will usually prevail, unless I have absolutely no choice in the matter.
Encyclopedia
Also invaluable for research on specific topics. This can help craft a plot or make a plot twist. For example, at least one fic that I know of used the combination of citric acid and salt to make sodium ascorbate, which ended up being crucial to the plot. Personally, I would have needed an encyclopedia to know that.
Movies/Comics
Okay, this is completely gratuitous. Do any of us really need an excuse to watch RDJ strut around the screen, or to sniff a brand new comic? (Don't judge me.)
On the Web: Fandom
Scans Daily
This is not the resource it once was, but it is incredibly useful to keep up with comics of all sorts. Considering that Marvel is a multiverse with many crossovers, this is how you can avoid buying every comic ever.
Marvel Wikia
Specifically a wiki for the Marvel Universe, this will give you more detail on canon than the actual Wiki does. Mind, it has the same failings, but it's also a good touch-stone, especially for things like eye-color, powers, etc.
TvTropes
WARNING: DO NOT CLICK THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOT OF FREE TIME. MAY CAUSE A WIKI WALK. TvTropes is the go-to place for information on tropes, clichés, plot twists, specific canons... the works. It's invaluable. Know your tropes, know your own story.
Fiction Alley's Writers' Corner
Has many good forums worth checking out. It's Harry Potter specific, but there are lots of topics on things like characterization, plot, inspiration and more. Like TV Tropes, I recommend getting started when you have a lot of free time, though it doesn't have the same sort of black hole quality as TV Tropes.
Essays, Tips and Advice at GWAddiction.
Has a Gundam Wing angle, but some of these can be incredibly informative.
On the Web: General
Wikipedia
Like the Encyclopedia, except on the internet. The disadvantage to Wiki is that you can't page through it randomly looking for a pretty diagram to catch your eye, and that it isn't fact-checked. Still, this source of common knowledge is very, very useful.
Writing Handouts from UofNC at Chapel Hill
I will be doing my best to put these in a fiction-specific form for easier access later, but here they are now for anyone who's interested. All of this applies as much to fanfic as to non-fiction.
Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
On racial privilege, this is highly recommended as a starting point for anyone at all, regardless of intention to write or topic choice.
But You Don't Look Sick
A good resource for information specifically about Lupus, but can be applied to many chronic illnesses.
Meta and Essays Worth Reading
Glass of Water by Cleolinda
On plot coupons and mcguffins.
On popularity and the Claw by Penknife
On fanfic popularity.
Transformative by Satorias
On fanfiction as legitimate literature.
Genderswaps in Fanfic by Havocthecat
On Genderswap fics, has some thought-provoking questions.
Apparently there are men here too by Potatoe1988
On male slashers perspectives; read the comments.
Personal responsibility can bite me by Gabrielleabelle
WARNING: MAY BE TRIGGERY. On rape and victim blaming.
Are we avoiding one mode of sexism only to perpetuate another? by Abyssinia
On sexism in fandom and slash fic
Fannish spaces, girls, and the culture of silence by Bookshop
WARNING: MAY BE TRIGGERY. On Rape Culture.
On privilege and the burden of proof by Thingswithwings.
Race and privilege
Only women are allowed to be perfect by Isiscaughey
On misogyny.
Fandom, its kicking, sparkly pony and the right of reasonable protest by Jazzypom
On kink and —isms.
"I know you care for him as much as I do." by Bookshop
Homoerotic subtext in mainstream media
Queer women, the slash debate, and the question of internalized oppression by Paradox-Dragon
On the appropriation of male-gay culture in slash and privilege.
Your Guide To Fandom Ships and New Characters That Interfere With Them by Obsession-Inc
On canon love interests that are not the OTP.
The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino
On disability and illness.
Just Hold Your Breath until Your Prose Turns Purple by Loch Ness
On florid writing.
On Reviews, Concrit, feedback or flames, what not to do on the internet by Djin7
On feedback and internet manners.
Ladies, Please (Carry On Being Awesome) by Sarahtales
On Women and the Bechdel Test.
Pepper/Natasha is at almost 9k, and goes not so well. I attempted writing last night. Pepper would not stop thinking of cake, when she should be thinking of
I am not very certain about my handling of the established Tony/Pepper relationship. Whoever I
I do keep failing the Bechdel Test though. (facepalm) Natasha and Pepper have had two scene together, and they've spent the majority of both talking about
Okay, now for the less fanficy stuff. For anyone not in the know, I'm planning on putting together some writing resources for fanfiction. There really aren't any collected resources that I know of. A great many forums and individual topics for specific issues, but it mostly seems to be a case of trial and error. Many of us may have had experience with trial and error—the first one I remember was riding my bicycle into a tree. So, yeah.
It still needs a title. The one I used when discussing it with my mother this morning was The Great Batshit of 2010. I'm pretty sure that's not going to work.
Anywho! The point of that rehash above is that I am getting myself put together to throw out a list of Useful Writing Resources to link at every post, because I am actually useless for my own writing at the moment. I want to include both General Usage and things that would be specifically handy for fandom, as well as good websites for Handle With Care issues. I've a few listed, but damn it, I know there are more out there. High quality fandom meta would be wonderful. I've done a quick scan through metafandom's Delicious for anything I remember being good, but more suggestions are always great. :D
I note that I don't have anything on grammar or porn. Gah. D: This is Sad.
Most of what I have so far is below the cut. Some things are pretty obvious to people who have wandered the plains of the internet for a while, but I just know that if I don't include them, someone will need it. This is pretty extensive so far. I want to keep it to one or two meta articles on each general topic (there's no need to flood a list of fifty different version of "misogyny bad"). So, if anyone knows a better article, please link meh!
Dictionary & Thesaurus.
Invaluable when buried two feet underground or deeper. These are absolutely necessary to have, but should be used sparingly. Chances are, if you can't think of the word off the top of your head, neither will your reader. One trick I use is to make them hard to get at. My deep-seated laziness will usually prevail, unless I have absolutely no choice in the matter.
Encyclopedia
Also invaluable for research on specific topics. This can help craft a plot or make a plot twist. For example, at least one fic that I know of used the combination of citric acid and salt to make sodium ascorbate, which ended up being crucial to the plot. Personally, I would have needed an encyclopedia to know that.
Movies/Comics
Okay, this is completely gratuitous. Do any of us really need an excuse to watch RDJ strut around the screen, or to sniff a brand new comic? (Don't judge me.)
Scans Daily
This is not the resource it once was, but it is incredibly useful to keep up with comics of all sorts. Considering that Marvel is a multiverse with many crossovers, this is how you can avoid buying every comic ever.
Marvel Wikia
Specifically a wiki for the Marvel Universe, this will give you more detail on canon than the actual Wiki does. Mind, it has the same failings, but it's also a good touch-stone, especially for things like eye-color, powers, etc.
TvTropes
WARNING: DO NOT CLICK THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOT OF FREE TIME. MAY CAUSE A WIKI WALK. TvTropes is the go-to place for information on tropes, clichés, plot twists, specific canons... the works. It's invaluable. Know your tropes, know your own story.
Fiction Alley's Writers' Corner
Has many good forums worth checking out. It's Harry Potter specific, but there are lots of topics on things like characterization, plot, inspiration and more. Like TV Tropes, I recommend getting started when you have a lot of free time, though it doesn't have the same sort of black hole quality as TV Tropes.
Essays, Tips and Advice at GWAddiction.
Has a Gundam Wing angle, but some of these can be incredibly informative.
Wikipedia
Like the Encyclopedia, except on the internet. The disadvantage to Wiki is that you can't page through it randomly looking for a pretty diagram to catch your eye, and that it isn't fact-checked. Still, this source of common knowledge is very, very useful.
Writing Handouts from UofNC at Chapel Hill
I will be doing my best to put these in a fiction-specific form for easier access later, but here they are now for anyone who's interested. All of this applies as much to fanfic as to non-fiction.
Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
On racial privilege, this is highly recommended as a starting point for anyone at all, regardless of intention to write or topic choice.
But You Don't Look Sick
A good resource for information specifically about Lupus, but can be applied to many chronic illnesses.
Glass of Water by Cleolinda
On plot coupons and mcguffins.
On popularity and the Claw by Penknife
On fanfic popularity.
Transformative by Satorias
On fanfiction as legitimate literature.
Genderswaps in Fanfic by Havocthecat
On Genderswap fics, has some thought-provoking questions.
Apparently there are men here too by Potatoe1988
On male slashers perspectives; read the comments.
Personal responsibility can bite me by Gabrielleabelle
WARNING: MAY BE TRIGGERY. On rape and victim blaming.
Are we avoiding one mode of sexism only to perpetuate another? by Abyssinia
On sexism in fandom and slash fic
Fannish spaces, girls, and the culture of silence by Bookshop
WARNING: MAY BE TRIGGERY. On Rape Culture.
On privilege and the burden of proof by Thingswithwings.
Race and privilege
Only women are allowed to be perfect by Isiscaughey
On misogyny.
Fandom, its kicking, sparkly pony and the right of reasonable protest by Jazzypom
On kink and —isms.
"I know you care for him as much as I do." by Bookshop
Homoerotic subtext in mainstream media
Queer women, the slash debate, and the question of internalized oppression by Paradox-Dragon
On the appropriation of male-gay culture in slash and privilege.
Your Guide To Fandom Ships and New Characters That Interfere With Them by Obsession-Inc
On canon love interests that are not the OTP.
The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino
On disability and illness.
Just Hold Your Breath until Your Prose Turns Purple by Loch Ness
On florid writing.
On Reviews, Concrit, feedback or flames, what not to do on the internet by Djin7
On feedback and internet manners.
Ladies, Please (Carry On Being Awesome) by Sarahtales
On Women and the Bechdel Test.
no_scans daily might be worth a look
Date: 2010-06-08 04:14 pm (UTC)Re: no_scans daily might be worth a look
Date: 2010-06-08 04:38 pm (UTC)And I think I'm in love with that link. ♥♥♥♥♥ Thank you!
Re: no_scans daily might be worth a look
Date: 2010-06-09 01:41 am (UTC)Also!
Date: 2010-06-09 12:21 am (UTC)Spawn of Also
Date: 2010-06-09 01:45 am (UTC)Re: Spawn of Also
Date: 2010-06-09 04:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-09 01:48 am (UTC)And I also suggest including the 2007 animated Iron Man movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903135/) (the one with Tony and Rhodey and the OFC who's descended from [spoiler]) under the list of movies & comics. The animation is gorgeous, and in some ways it's an even better take on Tony's origin story than the movies, in terms of characterization, though lacking in RDJ (plus, it has Fin Fang Foom).
no subject
Date: 2010-06-09 04:04 am (UTC)I need to see that movie. I keep meaning to buy it in the whole Marvel Animated Movies Box Set I see every time I drop by Best Buy, and yet I don't. >_>
no subject
Date: 2010-06-09 04:40 am (UTC)Warning for character death in the second film, but it also includes T'Challa fighting shape-shifting Nazis, and Thor jump-starting Tony's heart with lightning. edit: Thor is probably the closest to his Ult-verse self, which since he's the best part of Ultimates #1, is awesome.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-09 01:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-09 03:16 pm (UTC)Given that they characters are sort of corrected back to 616 default, I suspect it might be "this is the version of the character the scriptwriters and everyone else are most familiar with," as much as the age thing.
Plus, Original Flavor Avengers are probably more marketable and mechandizable than Ultimates, since Ult-verse is a small, self-contained handful of titles, while 616 has been around much longer, has way more comics for them to pimp you into, and all the toys and things like the Superhero Squad are based on it.
also...
Date: 2010-06-09 01:53 am (UTC)I feel your pain. We're trying to do that with one pairing in the fic we're working on right now (it doesn't help that it's a minor character pairing, so a lot of it has to happen off-screen), and it just... isn't going anywhere. Like, literally isn't. We keep writing scenes where character X is involved and not being able to fit "oh, and she's in the process of breaking up with Y, but it's a friendly break-up and nobody's fault" in them anywhere without it looking awkward.
Re: also...
Date: 2010-06-09 04:07 am (UTC)Pimping mahself
Date: 2010-06-12 09:46 am (UTC)Re: Pimping mahself
Date: 2010-06-13 05:13 am (UTC)