MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1978 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. by "Alexia/Sabrina" 2) Singers of Fire by ladyember-+AT+-email.com 3) chai by "Tanya Evans" 4) silver gryphon and magic dependence by "Chris Robertson" 5) Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. by "You" 6) Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. by Jamie Jacobs 7) Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. by dennis-+AT+-jmf.org.ph ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 15:53:50 +0100 From: "Alexia/Sabrina" To: Subject: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. Message-ID: <02f801bea85e$d706eca0$01c928c3-+AT+-oemcomputer> I think whether or not a writer can write about something they've never experienced depends on what the 'thing' is. I think it's very hard for writers to write with a depth of feeling and an accuracy about thoughts, etc for something like child abuse unless they've been through it. We've all had people yell at us and say nasty things and so some understanding on emotional abuse might be more likely... but I still think that's something that would 'show' the writers experience or lack of. Things like that... Things like some illness are easier to understand... we've all been ill so we can extrapolate from that. Terminal illness etc are harder but a fair number of people have had a friend or relative die so that's possible to extrapolate for. Things that are factual are much, much easier... I remember writing a piece about hacking and got people mailing me to ask if I was a hacker... and I'm someone who doesn't know what to do with password boxes- even when I've got the password! Basically, I think it depends on what you're writing about and how much you're writing about it- ie a mention of something or a few pages on something is always much more likely to be able to be glossed over rather than having something be one of the main thread-topics of a book. I'd also agree with Star Wars being more fantasy than sci-fi... I've always liked Star Wars where as I never liked Star Trek... and I tend not to like sci-fi books, whereas I do like a fair amount of fantasy. If I like sci-fi books, they tend not to be focused on the sci-fi side, just happen to be set in space. Anyway... an obmisty... think think... come on brain! Um... I agree on Kero and Eldan being life-bonded... I don't think Darkwind and Elspeth are... my take on that would be that it's a love-bond and they're both quite content with that- and neither one really needs a life-bond because, though they've got huge hurdles in their lives they're both relatively stable people with a healthy dose of self-preservation instinct and self-esteem. Hope that counts enough! Sunny sheep-shaped clouded to all!:) Alexia ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 16:37:31 -0400 (EDT) From: ladyember-+AT+-email.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Singers of Fire Message-ID: <99052716373155.17382-+AT+-www5.iname.net> Heyla all! Shadowblade said (about the Singers of Fire): > we are the people who defend firesong the way the order of amber and > marigold defend van (not that van needs much in the way of defending...) Wow! I love Firesong. Can I become a Singer of Fire?? I also wanted to say that I finished Silver Gryphon this morning, and I really kind of liked it. Better than White Gryphon, anyhow... =) Lady Ember Echosinger {Jedi Knight in training} ----------------------------------------------- FREE! The World's Best Email Address -+AT+-email.com Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 16:40:56 -0400 From: "Tanya Evans" To: Subject: chai Message-ID: <000701bea881$38e609c0$23040618-+AT+-baycty1.mi.home.com> Question for you all, I'm sure someone will know the answer and find my theory interesting. Cast of Corbies S P O I L E R W A R N I N G Pg 154 (PB edition) Cast of Corbies Did anyone else notice that the Tilsani mentioned in this area is strikingly close the the hertasi in the Velgarth books. ...Like a lizard caught in the middle of turning human... is what was used to describe him. I don't know if this has been brought up before, probably has, but I wasn't around at the time so missed it. Pg 136 (same edition) Magpie suggests to Regina that they should go get a cup of chai. Isn't this the same drink that the Taleydras are found of, as well as others. This is just a theory mind you, but perhaps the Bardic books take place in a far country from Velgarth. Like on another large continent, perhaps? Or it could be just as simple as the recycling of ideas. - Ellevaranachai Shay'Nara'Val Herald Trainee, but Bard wannabe => Rethwellan by Nature, Chosen by Virtue ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 23:06:56 PDT From: "Chris Robertson" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: silver gryphon and magic dependence Message-ID: <19990528060657.27036.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> Bright the day, Lady Ember wrote: [about star wars and star trek getting mixed up by the uninitiated] >really, there is a big difference. Star Trek >takes place in the future, Star Wars takes >place just elsewhere, maybe even in the past. >And, they have "magic", even if they call it >"the force". So I would classify Star Wars as >fantasy. Maybe technological fantasy, but >still fantasy. I keep getting accused of being a trekkie too. Not thati don't like Star Trek [i do , just less than star wars] but i don't like something as wonderful and different and individual as star wars being treated as a subset of a weird tv programme. Also i am annoyed when people assume that just bevcause there are a few crappy fantasy novels and other genre novels around, all fantasy and by extension all genre fiction is crap. Lady Ember also asked about whether silver gryphon was worth reading: I read a review of it on the net that said it would ahve been a good short story, but was too lightweight to make a good novel. I think that was a pretty good summary. However, it is good in its own way, a rather sweet coming-of-age story, so read it, but not when you're in the mood for some brilliant characterisation or thoughtful treatment of themes. Earthsong said that people wouldn't go back to dependence on magic because they were used to doing without it and because they would be wary of new things. Good point, but what about later generations who aren't used to doing without? And also, sometimes people are wary of new things, but sopmetimes, especially with perceived money- or labour-saving devices they are very quick to want it. Slight Owlflight spoiler S P O I L E R A L E R T And remember owlflight when people kept trying to get Justyn to produce magical marvels - seems like they would be pretty quick to get dependent given the chance, especially after their butts get saved by the Tayledras, of whom even the scouts reek of magic. E N D S P O I L E R Wind to thy wings, and help yourself to the fluffy popcorn sheep, Shadowlight ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 14:14:02 -0000 From: "You" To: Subject: Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. Message-ID: <005501bea915$ab9f3e20$22a615a5-+AT+-knbwubxl> Hey there all... Alexia wrote: :I think whether or not a writer can write about something they've never :experienced depends on what the 'thing' is. yes. that's why books where the hero gets dumped are often very poignant. books where there's this theme of unrequited love or love that's impossible... well, don't you ever notice how these books call out more than books where there's a huge bang up with special effects? taking the fantasy example, writers never experienced magic per se. they can't write it and emote you know? Maybe that's why Misty's growing-up books sound so boring: coz she's so far from that period in her life? the pain/confusion is not so close to the surface. that's one more thing that I noticed: that the closer you are to the event/happening, the easier it is to get the emotion across. and like Alexia wrote, if you haven't been through the real McCoy, your writing of it is not really.. you know. :Anyway... an obmisty... think think... come on brain! Um... I agree on Kero :and Eldan being life-bonded sorry. Kory asked Misty at the last DraCon they were at, and Misty said that they are Not Lifebonded. Lady Ember asked/wrote: :Wow! I love Firesong. Can I become a Singer of Fire?? heh, sure. *winks and puts on a posture of mock severity* "I dub thee Singer of Fire. Welcome to the camp, and may your perseverence be rewarded someday. 'Ware, there are many non-believers out there..." Sorry, "The Cranberries" does things like that to me... Confused looking chocolate sheep to everyone... ( ) Wind to thy Wings <==-+AT+-==> Shadowblade, mindmate to Raul | | Fairgove elven archer >>~~~> | | High Priestess of the Goddess of Elves and Unicorns and OOPS | | Singer of Fire, Member of the Mistic Circle \/ OOUH Advocate of the entire Urban Fantasy group! :) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 02:03:08 GMT From: Jamie Jacobs To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. Message-ID: <19990528020309.96234.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> I'm rather sure that Darkwind and Elspeth are bonded, because they traded bond animal things in one of the books, cn't remember which one though, so you'll have to forgive me >From: "Alexia/Sabrina" >Reply-To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk >To: shadowcat19-+AT+-hotmail.com >Subject: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. >Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 18:08:57 +0100 (BST) > >I think whether or not a writer can write about something they've never >experienced depends on what the 'thing' is. I think it's very hard for >writers to write with a depth of feeling and an accuracy about thoughts, >etc >for something like child abuse unless they've been through it. We've all >had >people yell at us and say nasty things and so some understanding on >emotional abuse might be more likely... but I still think that's something >that would 'show' the writers experience or lack of. Things like that... > >Things like some illness are easier to understand... we've all been ill so >we can extrapolate from that. Terminal illness etc are harder but a fair >number of people have had a friend or relative die so that's possible to >extrapolate for. Things that are factual are much, much easier... I >remember >writing a piece about hacking and got people mailing me to ask if I was a >hacker... and I'm someone who doesn't know what to do with password boxes- >even when I've got the password! Basically, I think it depends on what >you're writing about and how much you're writing about it- ie a mention of >something or a few pages on something is always much more likely to be able >to be glossed over rather than having something be one of the main >thread-topics of a book. > >I'd also agree with Star Wars being more fantasy than sci-fi... I've always >liked Star Wars where as I never liked Star Trek... and I tend not to like >sci-fi books, whereas I do like a fair amount of fantasy. If I like sci-fi >books, they tend not to be focused on the sci-fi side, just happen to be >set >in space. > >Anyway... an obmisty... think think... come on brain! Um... I agree on Kero >and Eldan being life-bonded... I don't think Darkwind and Elspeth are... my >take on that would be that it's a love-bond and they're both quite content >with that- and neither one really needs a life-bond because, though they've >got huge hurdles in their lives they're both relatively stable people with >a >healthy dose of self-preservation instinct and self-esteem. Hope that >counts >enough! > >Sunny sheep-shaped clouded to all!:) > >Alexia > _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 23:39:36 +0000 From: dennis-+AT+-jmf.org.ph To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. Message-ID: The night was... Alexia wrote: > I think whether or not a writer can write about something they've never > experienced depends on what the 'thing' is. I think it's very hard for > writers to write with a depth of feeling and an accuracy about thoughts, etc > for something like child abuse unless they've been through it. We've all had > people yell at us and say nasty things and so some understanding on > emotional abuse might be more likely... but I still think that's something > that would 'show' the writers experience or lack of. Things like that... I have to disagree on this somewhat. Obviously, someone who has never experienced any deep pain or loss is going to be hard put to emote authentically through the characters. However, I think it is possible for an author who has experienced a related intensity of emotion to give an accurate representation of a situation that they have not themselves personally experienced. Especially, if they have had close proximity to the their subject (relatives, close friends, etc.). At the end of the day, pain is pain. Sara ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1978 **********************************