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Kumquat21

Topic: The Flip Side of the Coin

I'm feeling happy/perky/joyous, so instead of talking about all of the bad things an author can do, here's a topic for the good things!

For me, I love it when an author makes a tale bittersweet, something happy/funny, but with a touch of darkness. I always try and do that, but I can never get it quite right - those who actually can are quite masters of their art!

The reverse is equally satisfying - something really dark but has parts that make you smile. Again, something I can't yet do . . . T_T

#1 Oct 18th 2006, 4:22pm

Royal Bliss

I love when authors have amazing detail put into their writing, not the type that stutters along but the type that makes sense and flows smoothly. Where it comes natural and the person isn't desperately digging through a thesaurus in order to sound smart...

I also like when a character is kind of a quiet smartass. Everyone has that friend that throws in those cool/funny one-liners into the conversation, not when it's annoying but when it's nicely timed and makes you want to hear more.

#2 Oct 18th 2006, 8:03pm

Bloodflower

I love it when the dialogue is well-placed -- that kind of relates to what McCaid said. I tend to see stories kind of as if they're, like, plays, sort of: I don't think they necessarily work unless you can see and hear the action playing out realistically and believably in your head. Clearly this analysis is flawed; doesn't necessarily work for that Calvino-style post-modernist writing style, but I don't see very many deliberately novelistic stories on FP, so I'm sticking with the Stanislavskian analysis.

#3 Oct 19th 2006, 12:54am

Raz Nic an t-Saoir

I adore it when the author suddenly reveals a jaw-dropping plot-twist that I never saw coming. The sort of ones that you suddenly realise the author was building to all along with little clever clues that you never noticed as you were too lost in the story. I have been known to exclaim out loud when that happens.

#4 Oct 19th 2006, 1:42pm

Sakka-Fenikkusu

I love when an author updates often. :)

#5 Oct 27th 2006, 10:22am

Kumquat21

Me too, but unfortunately I never do it . . . which is very hypicritical of me, but true.

I agree that oneliners are great, but I don't think the character should have a perfect line for EVERY single sittuation. There just human too, and people can't find something funny for EVERYTHING. If you overdo it, it rots.

I do love a badass character, though!^^

#6 Oct 27th 2006, 2:07pm

Sakka-Fenikkusu

Yeah, I also love when an author gives some background with their characters, especially minor ones. It's just good to know where they're coming from.

#7 Oct 27th 2006, 3:05pm

Kumquat21

Oooh, yeah! Especially when the author gives a lot away without saying much.

ex: 'I grew up in an orphanage' he said ruefully,' or something like that (I can't quite do it, but oh well.) It makes the person deeper without going overboard. And it makes the reader sympathetic.

I love it when you can understand the characters. I mean, you can really connect with them. I don't mean that you've nessiscarily done what they've done, (I know, horrible spelling, but I'm completely useless without spellcheck!) but you know the emotions their going through. I love it when that happens!

#8 Oct 27th 2006, 6:40pm

Sakka-Fenikkusu

I love when authors give interesting viewpoints and use perspective in unique ways.

#9 Nov 27th 2006, 11:43am

Kumquat21

Yeah! Like from the veiw of an inanimate object!

(Actually seen that . . )

#10 Dec 08th 2006, 12:48pm

Blackbird552

I do love a badass character, though!^^

So do I...

Which makes me think: I have tried to make this badass character with a softer side to him (somewhere) and I would like to know how I succeeded:

http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2274609/1/

Karl is in chapters 1 and 3 (twice as kickass in 3).

Hey, I just got an idea. (that's usually where people go "Oh, God") We should have a Badass character review from movies, books, stories, etc...

#11 Dec 08th 2006, 3:49pm

Underground Constellation

I don't think soft side and badass go together well. Any character with a soft side stops being badass, in my opinion. Maybe he's still cool, though.

- Dice

#12 Dec 08th 2006, 5:48pm

Sakka-Fenikkusu

I don't think soft side and badass go together well. Any character with a soft side stops being badass, in my opinion. Maybe he's still cool, though.

Well, it's kind of like Spike... he'll always be a badass even if he did go wimpy when he got his soul. I loved to see him go back to the good ol' days in Angel though - he got kinda pathetic in Buffy S7.

#13 Dec 09th 2006, 2:43pm

Underground Constellation

he'll always be a badass even if he did go wimpy when he got his soul. I loved to see him go back to the good ol' days in Angel though - he got kinda pathetic in Buffy S7.

Wimpy and pathetic leads to an automatic loss of badass status. He did come back strong in angel though.

#14 Dec 09th 2006, 2:53pm

Kumquat21

I don't know . . . If you have a crazy tough cool character who carries samurai swords or a machine gun or whatever and has a motorbike, but on the inside just wants to be loved and writes poetry and wants a my-little-pony set for christmas . . .

No. Don't. I think makebadasses with an emotional side, and you can even make them cry at times (that's really dramatic and cool, I think, and gives power to a scene) but don't make them soft. At least I think.

#15 Dec 10th 2006, 5:10am

Royal Bliss

Bad asses with an emotional side kind of suck though. Unless they're like pissed off for how they are that's kind of interesting. But otherwise the ones with no soul and terminator-like personalities are cool. Ones that would punt an old lady's kitten and not care.

#16 Dec 10th 2006, 10:52am

Sakka-Fenikkusu

This reminds me of Tenderness by Robert Cormier, for some reason.

#17 Dec 10th 2006, 11:00am

Will Sachiksy

I like stories that take seemingly unrelated events or details and ties them together thematically or in a dramatic reveal. Difficult to do, but when done well, it really shines. Example: "Bitter Grounds" by Neil Gaiman

#18 Jan 25th 2007, 4:16pm

Elevator

I love well-developed and complicated characters that I can really come to care about. Plus, I really like when an author creates such an intricate, unique world thar I can see very clearly.

Oh, and subtle humor is always great too.

#19 Feb 01st 2007, 6:01pm

Spleeny

I love when the author has a good sense of humor, but the story can still be taken seriously. I love happy endings after a million things have gone wrong. I love really well-developed characters with good qualities and flaws. The way those traits are balanced should determine whether the character is good or bad. Amazing dialogue entralls me. Adorable romance pleases me for some odd reason. Some satire mixed in is nice.

I try to create the perfect mix of all these things when I write.

#20 Feb 01st 2007, 7:38pm

Kumquat21

I love when the author has a good sense of humor, but the story can still be taken seriously.

Me too. Check out Terry Pratchett, you'll love him. Even though he's called primarily a 'humor novelist', there's some pretty deep shit there, too.

Oh, and subtle humor is always great too.

Of course! Like in Harry Potter, where theres just some stuff you have to read it over to get. ^_^

#21 Feb 02nd 2007, 2:15pm

The Ferrett

I love knowing that in the end all will right itself in the world and that there are some authors who genuinely rock.

#22 Mar 01st 2007, 3:48am

Kumquat21

I love knowing that in the end all will right itself in the world and that there are some authors who genuinely rock.

This pretty much sums it up!

#23 Apr 19th 2007, 12:51pm

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