I need to know what the name of that new word that was added to the dictionary last year and everyone make a commotion about it but it means 'constantly browsing the Internet going from topic then getting sidetracked to another topic then getting side tracked to another topic'.
I'm 78% sure it has something related to Google in the name.
The only other thing I can really add to this is that there's always certain kinds of styles of cities/towns, y'know? Even if the details really set it apart from the rest, a big, busy metropolis is still a big, busy metropolis; Anytown, USA is always the quaint, suburban place with the friendly folks. The old, European city with its narrow brick roads, the dirty industrial complex, the secluded town up in the mountains - it's not cheating to start from one of these broader description points.
Perhaps we could have a workshop on the tenses used in story or in casual writing? I tend to get mixed up on writing in past, present or future tense. I've been told that I switch between them but to be honest I can't tell!
I don't have a specific example to post though.^^ I'm mainly wondering if there is a specific set of rules to help you determine what to use or how to remain consistent.
Where research is concerned, it's important to make sure you know the area you're placing the town in. Look into things like the geography, climate, the individual counties in the area, and your town's position in relation to recognizable places. However, I think getting too specific will cause a disconnect for people who really do live in that area. If you say that your town is "sixty miles west of New York," the people who really live there will go, "No it's not..."
As Allamorph said, the importance that the setting is going to play is key in determining how much detail you want to go into about the town. For that, you'll have to determine how large you want the town to be, and what sort of internal politics there are. It's probably best to figure out who all the important people are in your town, and what they do, before you start writing. Even if those people don't appear in the story, it may influence what the characters do and think.
Otherwise, you have a lot of room to explore the setting, since it's all yours! As long as you're aware of where your town is and how it runs, you're set to start playing around with it.
Okay, apparently the current preferred possessive form for singular nouns ending with "s" is to add the full ('s) ending. So yeah, it would be "Lucius's son" and "James's broken computer".
As for the ever-loving exceptions, this one's a judgement call. Basically, anytime it would be physically awkward to say a possessive S-sound afterwards, then you are allowed to leave the second S off the word/name. This, of course, opens it up for personal taste of it all (so I could say "James' broken computer" if I really felt it was more comfortable that way).
It ain't written in stone, anyway.
Speaking of writing in stone . . . seems biblical names ending with S generally never take the full ('s) deal. So it'll always be "Jesus' disciples", for example. Go fig, huh? But since I imagine this will probably be a non-issue, we'll leave it at that.
This one's a very loose rule, so I guess you can go with whatever makes you feel more comfortable. Y'know, just keep consistent, is all.
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
Something I've been thinking about lately, and that I've always wondered about: if something ends in an "s" (a person's name, an object, a place, etc), is it correct to do "s'" or "s's"?
EXAMPLES:
Lucius' son went to the store.
OR
Lucius's son went to the store.
I should know this. =P But I want to be sure I've been doing it right.
My initial question/response to that would be how important do you want the town to become? Or rather, how central to the plot would this town be, in relation to the other actual places as well as on its own? Is it simply the type of setting that you want, or will the setting be becoming allegorical in function?
Also, how much will the town's residents play into the story? How many people will be implied, how many will be faceless regulars, and how many will get (even cursory) personalities and histories?
As far as I know, italics is standard for book and movie titles. You would underline if you were handwriting the titles somewhere, but otherwise, book and movie titles are italicized.
Though if it's a short story, it'll always be in quotation marks.
ShadowLight
Otaku Eternal | Posted 06/15/08 | Reply
However, I always get good tips from the other ones here since some of the doubts that were exposed I also had them. Especially the one Times had.
The crazy bubbly shadow
ShadowLight
Otaku Eternal | Posted 06/15/08 | Reply
I do have questions to ask but at the moment none of them pop up, heh. ^_^;;
The crazy bubbly shadow
somegirl
Bossman's Wife (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/14/08 | Reply
I need to know what the name of that new word that was added to the dictionary last year and everyone make a commotion about it but it means 'constantly browsing the Internet going from topic then getting sidetracked to another topic then getting side tracked to another topic'.
I'm 78% sure it has something related to Google in the name.
SomeGuy
Canadian Liaison (Team) | Posted 06/14/08 | Reply
@:
The only other thing I can really add to this is that there's always certain kinds of styles of cities/towns, y'know? Even if the details really set it apart from the rest, a big, busy metropolis is still a big, busy metropolis; Anytown, USA is always the quaint, suburban place with the friendly folks. The old, European city with its narrow brick roads, the dirty industrial complex, the secluded town up in the mountains - it's not cheating to start from one of these broader description points.
Well, I wouldn't call it cheating, anyway.
TimeChaser
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/14/08 | Reply
@SomeGuy:
I only have issues when the tense makes it sound like a script or outline rather than a story, as well you know. =P
Bazinga!
SomeGuy
Canadian Liaison (Team) | Posted 06/14/08 | Reply
@TimeChaser:
I motion that we make Timechaser write that one since he once told me all about his issues with particular tense uses in fiction writing.
Hear that, buddy? I'm totally callin' you out on this one!
SunfallE
Nyaa~ (ZE MEANIE) | Posted 06/14/08 | Reply
I'll second Sabrina's recommendation. >_> Just about any workshop is useful. I so need to learn more about the rules of grammar. XP
In the name of the tune I will punish you!
NightBeck
Otaku Eternal | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
@Sabrina:
Ooh, that's definitely a good one to cover, since it's such a common problem. Thanks for the suggestion!
Sabrina
Otaku Archangel | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
Perhaps we could have a workshop on the tenses used in story or in casual writing? I tend to get mixed up on writing in past, present or future tense. I've been told that I switch between them but to be honest I can't tell!
I don't have a specific example to post though.^^ I'm mainly wondering if there is a specific set of rules to help you determine what to use or how to remain consistent.
-Sabrina
Kimmeh
The Beautiful German | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
@NightBeck:
That's what I thought. Thanks. :D
"This is Schweinsteiger fashion. ZIS IZ FASHUNN."
NightBeck
Otaku Eternal | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
@:
I'll take a crack at this!
Where research is concerned, it's important to make sure you know the area you're placing the town in. Look into things like the geography, climate, the individual counties in the area, and your town's position in relation to recognizable places. However, I think getting too specific will cause a disconnect for people who really do live in that area. If you say that your town is "sixty miles west of New York," the people who really live there will go, "No it's not..."
As Allamorph said, the importance that the setting is going to play is key in determining how much detail you want to go into about the town. For that, you'll have to determine how large you want the town to be, and what sort of internal politics there are. It's probably best to figure out who all the important people are in your town, and what they do, before you start writing. Even if those people don't appear in the story, it may influence what the characters do and think.
Otherwise, you have a lot of room to explore the setting, since it's all yours! As long as you're aware of where your town is and how it runs, you're set to start playing around with it.
TimeChaser
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
@SomeGuy:
Wow... nothing is ever lacking in complexity, eh?
I think the apostrophe without the extra "s" looks cleaner anyway, so as you say, as long as I'm consistent, I'll go with that.
Thanks
Bazinga!
SomeGuy
Canadian Liaison (Team) | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
@TimeChaser:
Edited for a better answer.
Okay, apparently the current preferred possessive form for singular nouns ending with "s" is to add the full ('s) ending. So yeah, it would be "Lucius's son" and "James's broken computer".
As for the ever-loving exceptions, this one's a judgement call. Basically, anytime it would be physically awkward to say a possessive S-sound afterwards, then you are allowed to leave the second S off the word/name. This, of course, opens it up for personal taste of it all (so I could say "James' broken computer" if I really felt it was more comfortable that way).
It ain't written in stone, anyway.
Speaking of writing in stone . . . seems biblical names ending with S generally never take the full ('s) deal. So it'll always be "Jesus' disciples", for example. Go fig, huh? But since I imagine this will probably be a non-issue, we'll leave it at that.
This one's a very loose rule, so I guess you can go with whatever makes you feel more comfortable. Y'know, just keep consistent, is all.
TimeChaser
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
Something I've been thinking about lately, and that I've always wondered about: if something ends in an "s" (a person's name, an object, a place, etc), is it correct to do "s'" or "s's"?
EXAMPLES:
Lucius' son went to the store.
OR
Lucius's son went to the store.
I should know this. =P But I want to be sure I've been doing it right.
Bazinga!
Allamorph
Spiritus Memorae (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
@:
My initial question/response to that would be how important do you want the town to become? Or rather, how central to the plot would this town be, in relation to the other actual places as well as on its own? Is it simply the type of setting that you want, or will the setting be becoming allegorical in function?
Also, how much will the town's residents play into the story? How many people will be implied, how many will be faceless regulars, and how many will get (even cursory) personalities and histories?
NightBeck
Otaku Eternal | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
@Kimmeh:
Ah, that's a good one!
As far as I know, italics is standard for book and movie titles. You would underline if you were handwriting the titles somewhere, but otherwise, book and movie titles are italicized.
Though if it's a short story, it'll always be in quotation marks.
... hmm, did I forget anything...?
Kimmeh
The Beautiful German | Posted 06/13/08 | Reply
Here's a good idea. Clear up the situation between underlining and italicizing titles of like, books and movies.
I get confused with that stuff all the time.
"This is Schweinsteiger fashion. ZIS IZ FASHUNN."