Just going to leave the previous post hanging for a while. So Solly.
I love stories. Whether they be books, plays, music, movies, or television shows (yes, I count anime in this genre), if you are a storyteller and you want to share your world, I will gladly offer you my time. I suppose I feel this way because I consider myself a storyteller as well, and it's the craftsman side of me that is piqued by another who shares my enthusiasm.
I remember when I first started lurking at OtakuBoards I didn't find much to stay me. I posted in a couple of 'debate' topics, but only for clarification of certain ideas; I was never held by the debate itself, only the desire to see truth disseminated. But I knew precious little about anime—save what occasionally aired on [as] at the time, and that certainly wasn't current discussion—or its printed counterpart, was too money-less for video games, and was not a visual artist, so I saw nothing to involve me.
I think the first item that actually drew my attention and held it was a thread started by the long-absent member known as kalon (sic). This member, who I believe was female (don't ask me why, I can't remember if it was stated or I assumed so), had begun posting snippets of her own universe for vetting, and to my surprise it was very well constructed and intriguing material. The general theme was of a very nice Victorian dark fantasy, named Ever Unmistakable—as I have named my universe Veridan.
Probably one of my favorite excerpts:
Mary Sue.
Mary Sue, whose full, self-given name—Mary Sue Isis Selene Terpsichore Hecate Eris Thalassa Rhiannon Undine Euterpe Amelia Rose Cendrillon Hyacinth Eva Nirvana E'bony Mira Yvonne Ophelia Felicity Winter Rhea Ivory Thalia Iris Natalea Guinevere—trounces those of the Irving women, is too many things to be described in one entry. Her past is tragic and angst-filled, and too horrible to ever be written.
I remember watching a couple of threads appear under this theme, and after a bit I felt compelled to respond, sharing the appreciation I felt, and offering, for the first time, my thoughts on a few spots I felt could be improved. I think that without this thread, I would never have become as comfortable as I am with the editing/vetting process, and by proxy been less able to vet my own works. And she, apparently was more than happy to banter back, which is always good for fostering interest.
The works in question have long since been removed, and the member vanished. As much as I'd like to share her works with other people, that is no longer a possibility. Still, that's not the point. The point is that I was drawn deeper into this pair of sites via a very good, very strong story, because that is who I am.
All that to say something so simple.
