MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1983 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. by "charlotte distefano" 2) Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. by Miranda Warren 3) Re: various by Alinea 4) Re: SW, Velgarth Visitors and other things... by DNurkTwins-+AT+-aol.com 5) FLUFF AND QUEEN'S OWN by "Jessica Love" 6) Re: Tantras and lots o'other stuff! by ladyember-+AT+-email.com 7) Announcements? by "You" 8) Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced by dennis-+AT+-jmf.org.ph 9) Re: FLUFF AND QUEEN'S OWN by Adrianne.Cook-+AT+-wiley.com 10) =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re:_SW,_Velgarth_Visitors_and_other_things=2E=2E=2E?= by Adrianne.Cook-+AT+-wiley.com 11) Re: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re:_SW,_Velgarth_Visitors_and_other_things=2E=2E=2E?= by Orelalaith ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 12:24:59 PDT From: "charlotte distefano" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. Message-ID: <19990601192500.88102.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> > >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... Sara wrote: >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. Sorry, but I must disagree with this. There are some things that an author cannot write about unless the have experienced it. Alexia mentioned child abuse. Well, I had some pretty horrible things done to me when I was a child, and since then, I have read a few books in which the main character was in a similar situation to some of my experiences, and I can tell you that not one author even came close to expressing the pain and fear and everything that goes along with it. Anyone who thinks that they can understand abuse, especially child abuse (I say that because a child cannot understand the situation like an adult can, although abuse of an adult is still horrible), is completely wrong. Anywaym that is what I have to say on the matter. i hope I didn't offend anyone. Lightsong ~Royal Defender of the Brat ~Dame of Amber and Marigold "If you're going to traverse thin ice, you might as well dance your way across!" -Skif "Nothing is more important that playing the piano...except for maybe eating" -My piano teacher ;) _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 15:21:27 -0700 (PDT) From: Miranda Warren To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced, etc. Message-ID: <19990601222127.21983.rocketmail-+AT+-web204.mail.yahoo.com> Greetings listsibs! On this little writing thread. I am a writer so I fell I may actually be able to contribute to this. I feel it's harder to describe something you have felt previously for one reason. You are writing for others that have not neccicarily felt the same pain. Since it's different for ever person, you want to describe how you felt, and that can cause confusion. It's easier for me to write on what I haven't experienced because there is a good chance you will describe it with less emotional overtones. Just my two cents. I've got writers block, so I'm in a bad mood about my book, anyway. :) Over the Skif issue---> He's suppost to be tall, skinny, lanky... Pretty much a grown up gawky man. (Don't flame me, I like Skif. He's just...well...gawky. :) ) I can't think of anyone right off the bat that could play him well. Then, I can't think of anyone worthy enought to play any of Misty's characters, so I'm at a loss. On who I would like to be in Velgarth---> I would love to see some of Tanya Huff's characters from "Sing the Four Quarters". It would be interesting to see how they would react to the changes in a bards position in Valdemar and other countries. Well I'm going to go now and bask in the glorious Texas heat! I've finally come home! Aryenne Winterfire _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free -+AT+-yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 18:38:47 -0400 From: Alinea To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: various Message-ID: <375460F7.A112D319-+AT+-geocities.com> Adrianne Cook wrote: >warning)? interesting that keral could see double images when looking -+AT+- stef >& yfandes; van saw this occasionally when looking at yfandes (magic's >promise, for example) IIRC, Vanyel also got a double image of Gala, in _Magic's Pawn_, the first time 'Lendel introduced them...In reference to authors writing about things they haven't experienced - Isn't all fantasy and s/f based on some author's imagination? Misty's made an almost fool-proof magic system, but is that based on reality? (Granted, I *do* believe in magick, of a sort, but in my, I must admit *limited*, experience, it doesn't condense itself into nodes and ley-lines). In a way, all fiction, whether realistic or pure fantasy, is based on an idea. Just a thought to think on...I loved the Bardic Voices series, but I was a little disappointed...wait, better spoiler this..._Four and Twenty Blackbirds_... S P O I L E R S P A C E I was a little disappointed that none of the older Free Bards we know and love (?) from the first 3 or 4 books were there. Hearing of Ardis again was good, but I *would* like to hear more of Nightengale and T'Fyrr... E N D S P O I L E R Well, that's about it...better go do my homework...(3 days of school left!! I've gotten so envious of the high schoolers...they get to exempt finals...augh!) Caffine-filled sheep to help those who need it with their studying! Zhai'helleva! Alinea Songwind ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 19:20:12 EDT From: DNurkTwins-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: SW, Velgarth Visitors and other things... Message-ID: hmm, for ewan mcgregor...i would have to say that he would be good as a hawkbrother of some sort- he showed he could pull off the exotic look in eposode one as far as his hair goes. but i do think that he would make an ok skif (i didnt think he looked _that_ short :o) ) alright i have a question, i havent read owlsight yet (none of my bookstores carry it yet), but is karal mentioned in it? he was my favorite character of the mage storms trilogy, so i dont mind if you spoil it for me. as for the people from other books that i would like to see in valdemar (sorry that this topic is kinda old), i would have to say: Ged from ursula k. le guin's earthsea series (as an adept) and someone from diana wynne jones's dalemark quartet (preferably mitt, althought moril would be good as a bard/mage). and of course, i'd like to see someone from star wars. well, that about it for now ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1999 16:51:18 PDT From: "Jessica Love" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: FLUFF AND QUEEN'S OWN Message-ID: <19990601235120.23042.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> Heyla all! ****The weary adventuress slid off the back off her faithful mare and patted her on the neck bringing up great clouds of dust. She handed over the reins to her stable master, and turned to get the packs of presents she had brought back from the far ends of the earth to her list-sibs. Sheep of every color and flavor that were magically changed so as to never shrink.**** Just got back from vacation, and though it was wonderful, it's great to be home! Although I don't know what to say about all the e-mail that has piled up! ;) When there are two rulers of Valdemar like Selany and Darren, except that maybe they got married before they got the throne would Talia have been Qween or King's Own? Or would there have been two or not one at all? If I'm being confusing or just amazingly stupid, I apologize, but this has been bothering me. I think Jody Foster (from Contact and a new movie Anne and the King or something) would be good as Kero in a movie. Also Brandon Lee (From the Crow) would have made a good Vanyel. May the god of your choice watch and care for you Jess _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 19:58:40 -0400 (EDT) From: ladyember-+AT+-email.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Tantras and lots o'other stuff! Message-ID: <9906011958400X.13675-+AT+-webc01.globecomm.net> Heyla list! Ambermoon said: > Sorry folks, but it was Jaysen whose thoughts Van picked up, and who fell > asleep. Tantras was a friend of Van's, and on that night he was the one to > find Van and Yfandes in the grotto. I always did think that Tantris, Kris' > Companion, was the reincarnation of Herald Tantras. > Thanks Ambermoon, (and everyone else too) for clearing this up. I knew that the Companion and the friend of Van couldn't have the same name, that they had to be similar. I was even more confused than ever, because I remembered when Jaysen fell asleep and that whole thing, but I didn't think Tantras was even in MPawn...please, somebody, correct me if I'm wrong! =) I would also like to thank everybody about the whole Fantasy as modern myth / writing about what you know discussions. It really helped me in my english class, defending my choice as a fantasy story as a personal narritive... Oh, here's my opinion about the writing about what you know, for people who write fantasy or science fiction too. If you are "thinking thematically" (to borrow the phrase of my history teacher!) you can write from personal experience in these kinds of stories. You can write about basic themes that you have experience with, without having to have actually lived through the actual experience. If that makes any sense at all. Which I have a feeling that it doesn't! =) I think I shall step off of my pedastal now! Croissant Sheep to everyone... wind to thy wings, Lady Ember Echosinger, the choreographically challenged Singer of Fire (yay!) {Jedi Knight in training} ----------------------------------------------- FREE! The World's Best Email Address -+AT+-email.com Reserve your name now at http://www.email.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jun 1999 12:53:38 -0000 From: "You" To: Subject: Announcements? Message-ID: <00d401beacfd$26911be0$90a915a5-+AT+-knbwubxl> Heyla heyla!!! *bounces on virtual energy* (virtual, coz I'm sick. Energy coz this list is good!) :Sorana spoke of trying to find a spot for Ewan McGregor. Personally, I :think he would make a pretty good older Skif. OOH OOH! The casting thread is back! And I just got this idea, it struck me on the head while I was looking, _looking_ not staring, at some pictures... ;) Anyway, we all know that Raven (I _know_ yer here darlin', yer jes' not showin' yerself) was keeping up a list for votes/suggestions to which actor should play which character, etc, right? Well, I was wondering if each actor could be linked to a pleasant picture of him/her. If voice-overs are done, a .wav file maybe? I know it would take up a lot of space, but consider! won't it make more sense to discuss how these actors would look if _every_ listsib knew how he/she looked? I mean, I never heard of Stefano Dionisi (sp?) before some nice listsib mentioned him and a fansite, and now I'm hooked to the possibility of him playing van! If anyone agrees with this, I'm willing to spend some of my webspace on this effort... And typo? I agree with you. Ewan McGregor really looks like Skif does... heh... and that hairstyle _does_ look a bit Hawkbrother-ish, eh? Moving on to more announcements... (yes, I _do_ believe that I'm on a caffeine high) I declare the Misty Awards'99 officially open for nominations! (Newbies, here's where you volunteer characters/scenes for your 'faves' categories) Below are the categories up for this year: Fave Human Male: Fave Human Female: Fave Non-Human Male/Neuter: Fave Non-Human Female: Fave Male Supporting: (character supported by OOUH) Fave Female Supporting: (character supported by OOUH) Fave Villain: (oxymoron-ish, who cares?) Fave Scene: (Please state where scene begins, and where it ends. I'll give it a name... or you can do it) Fave Filk: The process of nominating a character is very easy. You can send me an email, or go to a form online (I'll only update it later, so you've gotta wait for that one) to vote. State your name, the category, and the characters you want up for each category. During the nominations round, there's no limit to the amount of characters you can nominate. No shortlisting occurs, it's all just a simple matter of listing. Results will be posted on June 30th. Thank you for listening... *Shadowblade skips uncharacteristically to the punch table and drinks cup after cup of punch.* Excuse me, I'm psycho today, must be the homework piling up... ( ) 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: Wed, 2 Jun 1999 20:33:17 +0000 From: dennis-+AT+-jmf.org.ph To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Writing about stuff you haven't experienced Message-ID: Lightsong wrote: > Sorry, but I must disagree with this. There are some things that an author > cannot write about unless the have experienced it. Alexia mentioned child > abuse. Well, I had some pretty horrible things done to me when I was a > child, and since then, I have read a few books in which the main character > was in a similar situation to some of my experiences, and I can tell you > that not one author even came close to expressing the pain and fear and > everything that goes along with it. Anyone who thinks that they can > understand abuse, especially child abuse (I say that because a child cannot > understand the situation like an adult can, although abuse of an adult is > still horrible), is completely wrong. Anywaym that is what I have to say on > the matter. i hope I didn't offend anyone. No offense received or intended. I dislike using child abuse as the example as it is an emotionally charged and potentially painful subject for many; however, since this is what was handed to me... Understanding the pain/fear/despair/humilation of abuse cannot be understood without experience, true. But it can be described. I have never personally experienced the agony of having an alcoholic parent, so I can't understand how it feels. But I am very close to someone who has and I have her words and experiences, have seen its effect on her life. Also, it is impossible and highly presumptuous to assume knowledge of an author's past experience based on our critique of their work. Forgive me if you know for a fact that the authors you were referring to have never suffered child abuse, but maybe they have and could just not find adequate words to describe it. Sara ------------------------------ Date: 2 Jun 99 11:12 EDT From: Adrianne.Cook-+AT+-wiley.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: FLUFF AND QUEEN'S OWN Message-ID: <37554b2fRe: FLUFF AND QUEEN'S OWN*-+AT+-m400gw.wiley.com> about the rulers, i'm not sure ... arden & leesa (sp?) are listed in the chronology as co-consorts, and i'm not sure how they became co-consorts as opposed to one being the monarch & the other monarch's own. brandon lee: interesting choice, when are you holding the seance? "mercedes-lackey/-+AT+-herald.co.uk" on 06/01/99 08:04:54 PM To: adrianne cook-+AT+-wiley cc: Subject: FLUFF AND QUEEN'S OWN Heyla all! ****The weary adventuress slid off the back off her faithful mare and patted her on the neck bringing up great clouds of dust. She handed over the reins to her stable master, and turned to get the packs of presents she had brought back from the far ends of the earth to her list-sibs. Sheep of every color and flavor that were magically changed so as to never shrink.**** Just got back from vacation, and though it was wonderful, it's great to be home! Although I don't know what to say about all the e-mail that has piled up! ;) When there are two rulers of Valdemar like Selany and Darren, except that maybe they got married before they got the throne would Talia have been Qween or King's Own? Or would there have been two or not one at all? If I'm being confusing or just amazingly stupid, I apologize, but this has been bothering me. I think Jody Foster (from Contact and a new movie Anne and the King or something) would be good as Kero in a movie. Also Brandon Lee (From the Crow) would have made a good Vanyel. May the god of your choice watch and care for you Jess _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: 2 Jun 99 11:28 EDT From: Adrianne.Cook-+AT+-wiley.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re:_SW,_Velgarth_Visitors_and_other_things=2E=2E=2E?= Message-ID: <37554ee8Re: SW, Velgarth Visitors and other things...*-+AT+-m400gw.wiley.com> owlsight: karal is mentioned in passing (ie: what's he up to now?). & speaking of owlsight (& tons of plot-holes / continuity problems), if you find errors &/or typos in misty books (or any daw books), please e-mail them to: daw-+AT+-penguinputnam.com. i just sent them a bunch this morning & got a reply that they'll work on correcting them for the pbk. some problems i spotted (& i probably missed some too): mrs. lutter's name (see pg. 241); darian's views on the barbarians (see pgs 280-1 & 364), and "what language am i speaking?" (pages 362 & 384). the annoying thing about finding these problems (& maybe you also have this problem) is that it spoils the thrill & joy of reading a really nifty book for the umpteenth time (or even first time) when i have to stop & decipher the meaning. arrgh. well, if i didn't enjoy the books so much, it wouldn't matter. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jun 1999 13:25:33 -0400 (EDT) From: Orelalaith To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Re:_SW,_Velgarth_Visitors_and_other_things=2E=2E=2E?= Message-ID: On Wed, 2 Jun 1999 Adrianne.Cook-+AT+-wiley.com wrote: > owlsight: karal is mentioned in passing (ie: what's he up to now?). > > & speaking of owlsight (& tons of plot-holes / continuity problems), if you > find errors &/or typos in misty books (or any daw books), please e-mail them > to: daw-+AT+-penguinputnam.com. i just sent them a bunch this morning & got a > reply that they'll work on correcting them for the pbk. some problems i > spotted (& i probably missed some too): mrs. lutter's name (see pg. 241); > darian's views on the barbarians (see pgs 280-1 & 364), and "what language am > i speaking?" (pages 362 & 384). ::grin:: as well as the most obvious "Oversight"... > the annoying thing about finding these problems (& maybe you also have this > problem) is that it spoils the thrill & joy of reading a really nifty book > for the umpteenth time (or even first time) when i have to stop & decipher > the meaning. arrgh. well, if i didn't enjoy the books so much, it wouldn't > matter. > yeah, I know, I wanted to mail to someone for a while, thanks for the info dude!:) * -------------------------------------------------------------------- * "Eventually we come to a point where High Science becomes indistinguishable from High Magick" -NOT misquoting A.C. Clark, CORRECTLY quoting me! * -------------------------------------------------------------------- * http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~avariel uid : hsug-+AT+-ug.cs.sunysb.edu * -------------------------------------------------------------------- * ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1983 **********************************