A question for the writers

[Peregrinus]

Although I have just recently registered here, I have for some time been following the ongoing chronicles of Arconia with interest. I have noticed something that strikes me as curious, and I wish to ask a question of the writers here.

Recently we all stumbled upon the sudden and unlooked-for demise of two of the characters on the board, namely Lochinvar and Josephine Dame d’Escrime. Purportedly they were known and loved by the other characters, and judging by the volume of words they contributed between them they were major characters in the developing plot. Yet strangely their passing apparently happened in a vacuum; not a single word have I seen written about how any of the other characters feel about their deaths other than a passing and unelaborated “Gee, that’s sad.”

This is perhaps understandable in the case of Rayen, Keira, Scaramouche (are they even still around, those last two?), Darian McNair, and others who have come lately to the scene; these new characters presumably never really interacted in any substantive way with Lochinvar and/or Josephine, so the deaths would have minimal impact.

More puzzling, I think, is the continued silence of Lady Rosaline and King Arcon, who had significant ties to Lochinvar and were present at his passing.

Likewise I have seen little or nothing from Moonitic, Swordsman, Zelda, or Latenight regarding the unforeseen death of Josephine, which happened on the eve of the tournament; instead, everyone seems to be passing over that event in favor of writing fencing combat scenes.

It seems to me that the deaths would provide golden opportunity to add depth and detail to your characters, to use the death of friends as a vehicle to explore innermost feelings about aspirations and mortality, further defining your characters in the eyes of the reader as real people struggling in a real world with real events.

But no one seems inclined to explore this. Is it that no one feels any impact from the loss of these two? Or are you perhaps uninterested, unable, or unwilling to explore these topics in print?

Understand that this is not meant as negative criticism; I am just wondering why none of the original mainstay writers has seized this opportunity to explore the tangled inner land of heart and mind.

Comments?

[latenight]

The character of Latenight the Attorney is really just there for a smattering of humor in the storylines. He was seldom involved with the characters in question. His storylines are almost always asides to the main story, with a few exceptions.

He is not a prime mover in the story, I've never have time to take on such a large role, and I'm not really much of a writer That having been said, Z and I play around with the Latenight character from time to time. She's a friend and it's fun play up the character with her.


So I guess that's my answer.

[Zelda]

I must admit I have been soo busy lately that that part of the story line totally and utterly slipped my notice. I knew she had gone but forgot to do anything about it. Also probably becuase it wasnt "told" to the people involved inthe story line too far in advance so we were surprised as much as anyone else! I guess we will ift a funeral in somewhere!!!

[latenight]

Thsoe that were present at the accident are not yet back in Arconia yet, If I am up to date. So no one at the castle would know yet, would they? ;-)

[Swordsman]

After this demonstration of not only your interest in the story line, but your perceptiveness and desire for character depth and detail, I do hope you might be persuaded to join on!!

In answer to your question, however:

As of right now, Nani is the only one who knows of Josephine's death. No one presently in Arconia knows of Lochinvar's death, or of anything that's happened with that party, for that matter.

I had thought of Nækos' reaction to her death; after all, while he was not in love with her, he was still attached as he might be to a younger sister. Her death would be devastating to him - however, he has had no way to know of it yet. After all, the last time he saw her she was sound asleep in bed - and that was only the night before. She died only the present morning; there have been but a scant few hours for news to travel.

Another consideration: While she was well known and well liked by some people in Arconia, she was not an altogether important person - not a lot of people even knew who she was, let alone knew her enough to miss her. Zelda mentioned a funeral, but it shouldn't be anything grand or even out of the ordinary; after all, the only interaction Zelda and Josephine had was Zelda locking her in the tower for a while for all the problems she caused.

And so, without further ado, nor any pretense at a conclusion, here is the end of my post.

[Iwant2bafencer]

Jo's gone?!?! Man I'm oblivious! When did this happen eer we know when, but where more likely?? Everyone's leaving
As for Loch, Rosaline expressed a good deal of crying, and will no doubt be showing more sorrow, but as for Rosaline in real life she's emensly busy with keeping her math grade up, and trying out for the school play. I plan on writing more asap!

Keira, aye she's still here, but she's been busy with school as well. I'm giving her an up-date on everything that's happened roughly since she joined us, and then she'll be coming back once we reach home.

----------------------
Carpe Diem
Ad Asha

[Rayen]

I'm still here. If Arcon doesn't get back soon, however, I'm going to start writing random scenes where Rayen is doing mundane things like washing her hair.

See Rayen epically...

Clip her toenails!
Brush her teeth!
Get spit up on by Talla!

...please hurry. I'm bored.

[Moonitic]

You must not have followed as close as you let on. Lady Moon doesn't know about Lochinvar's death. She's ill, & Meekal does not want to upset her at this point.

And Lady Moon is NOT in Arconia right now. Her twin sister, Ken-Dall is there. Ken-Dall doesn't know, & doesn't care about, Josephine. Why should she when she has other things on her devious little mind?

We can only operate in the scope of our CHARACTERS when a story is written. I, writing for Lady Moon, cannot know something that is not directly told to me, or that I have not learned.

This interesting problem has been touched upon recently in, I believe, Writer's Digest magazine. A newer writer fails to realize that even though THEY know what is going on in the story, the reader cannot get into the writer's head. Likewise, the character can't know something unless the character is privy to that information.

And now, back to the novelization process.

[Moonitic]

The last time I tried to add depth to my character, people got upset. So...I'll keep her as a two demensional being on this board, & save her depth for my own benefit.

[Zelda]

Oops, I think that was me wasnt it????

[Moonitic]

I can name 5 off the top of my head.

That appears to be a majority. Want depth? Buy the book(s)!

[Peregrinus]

Originally posted by Moonitic
The last time I tried to add depth to my character, people got upset. So...I'll keep her as a two demensional being on this board, & save her depth for my own benefit.

I'm not certain I see how being pregnant with the king's bastard qualifies as character development, especially since you took no great pains to include the reader in how you felt about it or the potential problems it might cause vis-a-vis the other characters' relationships to Buffy/Lady Moon. (How will her--and Arcon's and Zelda's--old friend Lochinvar react? Does she care? What will her mother say? How will she deal with the inevitable rift between Arcon and Zelda? Etc., etc.)

Nor am I certain I understand why it should be an "all-or-nothing" proposition: surely sex is not the only venue for developing one's character, is it?

But let it pass...

Thank you all for your responses; my curiousity has been satisfied. I see that either 1) people are too busy IRL and/or 2) the news hasn't really been promulgated among the characters yet.

I look forward to enjoying more of your offerings.

[Iwant2bafencer]

Now now, let's all play nice and get along eh

----------------------
Carpe Diem
Ad Asha

[Moonitic]

Once AGAIN I will say this: You obviously haven't read as close as you let on. Moon didn't know she was pregnant! How can she explore her feelings, or the feelings of others, if she isn't privy to the information? Good grief, if you're going to criticize, at least be darn sure you know what you're criticizing!

And, as I said before, you want depth? Read the book. I don't have time to do double duty & post the story twice.

That said, I'm not going to explain myself anymore.

[Peregrinus]

Originally posted by Moonitic
Once AGAIN I will say this: You obviously haven't read as close as you let on.

I never claimed to be a subject expert; if I had the answers, why would I be asking questions? I simply noted what appeared to be an anomaly and thought to ask about it.

Moon didn't know she was pregnant! How can she explore her feelings, or the feelings of others, if she isn't privy to the information?

Ah. That explains much.

Good grief, if you're going to criticize, at least be darn sure you know what you're criticizing!

Touchy, touchy...
Was I criticizing? Sorry you thought so. I was merely asking questions--as a reader--about things that seemed confusing from a reader's standpoint. Excuse me all to hell for being curious. I'll be sure not to do it again.

And, as I said before, you want depth? Read the book. I don't have time to do double duty & post the story twice.

They have this new technique called "copy & paste"...
But if you don't want to share, that's alright.

I'm curious now as to what this book will look like, and I look forward to seeing it.

[Zelda]

Ok, I think the question originally asked in this thread has been answered so I am closing it. Peregrinus please feel free to create a character and join in, we love new ideas and people. If you dont want to please keep reading...its nice to know someone is enjoying for what most of us is a hobby.