Firefly Fanfiction: What Are Your Pet-Peeves?
POSTED BY: Xeyra
UPDATED: Friday, November 30, 2012 02:57
VIEWED: 59700
PAGE 9 of 17
Quote:
Originally posted by Mavourneen:
I enjoy reading fic that introduces Original Characters - hell, where would we be without Atherton Wing, Nandi, or Jubal Early? They were all single episode characters...the closest equivalent of an OC. Their presence enhances the continuing storyline.
I don't mind OCs. In fact, I quite like them... when they're done well.
It seems fandom, whatever it is, has a tendency to have a frightening number of female or male original characters that border or are, without a doubt, Mary Sues/Marty Stues, too perfect to be true, more powerful than any canon character, who save the day and get to be the love of a beloved canon character. Too many times OCs tend to fall into this trap, of being just a bit too perfect. Of being too... two dimensional. I really hate those kinds of OCs.
On the other hand, I love a well done original character, with strengths and weaknesses, with a belieavable story, with an actual personality instead of an aglomeration of all known virtues or somesuch. I've found quite a few stories in the Firefly 'verse that introduce some really cool and interesting new characters, even if some of them desmontrate a few Sue/Stue characteristics, but I don't mind them so much because the characters are actually truly fleshed out and they fit well!
When they're done well, when they are written by someone who really knows how to write and doesn't fall into the trap of making their OC just a bit too powerful or perfect, then I absolutely love them. But when I read "long flowy hair" and "violet eyes" and "psychic" in the same sentence, I tend to hit the back button if I'm smart or continue reading with dread if I'm feeling sufficiently masochistic that day...
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Wash: This landing is gonna get pretty interesting.
Mal: Define "interesting".
Wash: [deadpan] Oh God, oh God, we're all going to die?
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Quote:
Originally posted by LaughingMuse:
(Sincere apologies to the original poster of this sentiment - but I don't remember which poster you were!)
No apology needed; that was me. And I certainly agree with your point; depth of character is a nice thing to have. For second there, I thought I was the only one that had a beef with S/K fics.
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"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you."
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Quote:
Originally posted by Xeyra:
[When they're done well, when they are written by someone who really knows how to write and doesn't fall into the trap of making their OC just a bit too powerful or perfect, then I absolutely love them. But when I read "long flowy hair" and "violet eyes" and "psychic" in the same sentence, I tend to hit the back button if I'm smart or continue reading with dread if I'm feeling sufficiently masochistic that day...
Ertia tossed her long red hair over shoulder, gazing sulkily at Jayne with her dark hazel green eyes. Since Blue Sun had stripped her natural psychic abilities, she could no longer drink his simple sexual thoughts. She would have to wait for him to come to her.
Yah...okay, see what you mean.
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Hey Eloisa,
I take your point about the fact that third person subjective is the way most fiction is supposed to be written. You're right; almost everything I read is third person subjective and I never even notice it.
But I really do dislike a lot of Firefly fanfic written in third person subjective. Hmm... I think it's because I'm reading it mostly because I miss the TV show -- I want the TV show back, not a novel or written piece of fiction at all -- and so I get annoyed reading lengthy descriptions of the characters' insides, because I picture the TV screen with the characters just standing there, not doing anything.
And maybe that's why I actually really liked "Fine Line", even though that's third person subjective from Inara's point of view; I can picture exactly what she's doing while she's thinking :)
At the end of the day, I guess good writing is good writing and can break any rules and violate any pet peeves.
Indigo S.
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Even though in my story Kaylee's five months along, I've actually thought about the whole conundrum you've brought up. I wanted there to be a story where Simon and River go home and deal with what has happened with their family with their folks. I've read some reunion stories that are similar in nature, but they all seem rushed to me, mainly because they're still fugees and the whole "The Alliance is coming" thing always makes them leave early before anything is really resolved. So basically the main reason why I decided to bankrupt the Alliance was so that they could reunite with their folks without having to worry about being caught. They'll leave when they're good and ready.
The reason why it's taking so long for me to write this story and post chapters of it is for two reasons. 1) Work and regular life with school and summer jobs and 2) I really want my story to be incredibly well written. Everything you've mentioned at one point on this thread I'm taking into consideration so that I can write something more emotionally honest and better than anything out there.
LaughingMuse, I'd like to know what you think of my story, YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN and if addresses your issues with S/K fanfics.
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"There's only one "Return" ok, and it ain't "of the King", it's "of the Jedi."
"Maybe we should start calling your friend 'Padme' because he loves 'Mannequin Skywalker' so much, Right? (imitating robot) Danger...danger...my name is Anakin...my shitty acting is ruining saga."
Excerpt of internet teaser for CLERKS 2.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Steamer:
Another thing that gets me, in Firefly and elsewhere, is when a fanfic writer seems to be deliberately misspelling a name. Like ... 'Malcom', which drives me especially nuts. These are canon spellings, lads and lasses, and IMO they should be observed.
Sorry to dispute, but it's spelt "Malcom" in the movie. Three times. Check out when the Operative is looking up Mal's war records. Some of them are in the deleted scenes. You'll need freeze frame.
How much more canon does it get?
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Those are simply misspellings. I suppose a case could be made that it is a canon spelling, but Joss always spells it "MalcoLm", and it's that way is in his script.
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Welcome to Serenity - Joss Whedon
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Yes, it is spelt "Malcolm" in the script. But it's also spelt "Malcom" in the movie. So which is more canon, where script and movie contradict?
Could it really be a mis-spelling? Mal's war record? As delivered from the Alliance by computer to an Operative of the Parliament? Could it really be mis-spelt three times?
Those screens in the movie really are there. Go check. And nowhere in the TV series do we ever see either spelling written down.
Just causing trouble! :-)
I don't really care either way. But there is certainly no need to criticize those fanfic authors who spell it "Malcom". It could be they did that on purpose because they, too, use the freeze frame button, and care enough to get the detail right (by which I mean, consistent with the movie). It could be, in other words, that they are simply more geeky than those who criticise.
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Well, when I said "misspellings", I meant on the part of the production crew that made the screens up (and somehow the director must have missed it. ;)).
In any case, Joss is the creator of Mal, and so how he has always spelled the name trumps how it was in the movie, to me at least. Tho, as I said, it can be argued to be canon. I just believe it's a flub, and not intentional.
It might be picky, but these are pet-peeves, which tend to be picky little things. :) For myself, spelling Mal's name wrong doesn't bug so much because it's a fairly subtle spelling error (and then there is always the movie to support the spelling), but misspelling Jayne as Jane, or Inara and Anara or something just really bothers me because it jumps right off the page and screams "wrong!" to me. But that's just me. :)
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Welcome to Serenity - Joss Whedon
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