character sheet!

[bestonehere.livejournal.com]

I found this quite some time ago by simply googling "character sheet fiction writing." It's fairly long, and much of the time I don't even fill all of it out, but it does get me thinking about my characters in 3D terms rather than just stick figures placed inside a complicated plot. The goal is a balance of both, right? (right?) Anyway, thought it might be useful to some!

( Basic character sheet. )

Foreign languages.

[incandescence.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I'm running into a tiny issue as I'm trying to figure out what to write for NaNo.

I've almost sold myself on an idea that will have the setting change to a foreign country (specifically, Japan). The problem is incorporating it in a way that doesn't seems like bad fanfiction, or without it being overly complicated.

The main issue, specifically, revolves around the... ugh. I don't know the English word for them. Forms of address, maybe? Basically, san, kun, chan, sama, dono, gimi etc., attached to names, which show the level of honor/respect given to a person. (I have a whole slew of them listed, since I'm still debating the era in question. ;p) These are a pretty integral part of Japanese, and have a whole slew of cultural issues that can pop up because of them that I would love to play with in various scenes... But I don't want people to think, "Oh God, it's like a bad fanfic!" Of course, I would -- through the scenes -- be explaining the differences between them for the readers to understand... But still.

The problem is that there is no English equivalent, except for the more lordly sama (or gimi), in which I can use equivalents of "Lord/Lady". There's no way for me to use English to denote a chan feeling versus a kun feeling, though I can use context to somewhat give off a san feeling... but then if I do that, how am I supposed to show the character struggling through different forms of address in an attempt to be culturally aware? Argh! At least I can use English equivalents when there are equivalents (titles and ranks, for one!) , but when there aren't... blah.

I guess the main problem is just -- at what point is it too much? I suppose it's close to the same problem that you run into with fantasy novels and creating your "own" language, and incorporating various words/phrases into story...

... Ugh. Any advice or thoughts? I'm driving myself insane second-guessing myself. :p

eta: edited for clarity. x-x

POST YOUR DAILY INTRODUCTIONS HERE!

[jynxgirl.livejournal.com]

POST YOUR DAILY INTRODUCTIONS HERE!


also - please keep using the other community threads!

2008 Community Rules - read them if you haven't.

2008 NaNo LJ'er Regional Friendling Thread!

2008 Pimp and Post Thread - talk about your projects here!

Weekly Plot Help Threads - help your fellow community members with their plots!

also - please keep using the other community threads!

2008 Community Rules - read them if you haven't.

2008 NaNo LJ'er Regional Friendling Thread!

2008 Pimp and Post Thread - talk about your projects here!

Weekly Plot Help Threads - help your fellow community members with their plots!

POST YOUR DAILY INTRODUCTIONS HERE!

[jynxgirl.livejournal.com]

POST YOUR DAILY INTRODUCTIONS HERE!


also - please keep using the other community threads!

2008 Community Rules - read them if you haven't.

2008 NaNo LJ'er Regional Friendling Thread!

2008 Pimp and Post Thread - talk about your projects here!

Weekly Plot Help Threads - help your fellow community members with their plots!

also - please keep using the other community threads!

2008 Community Rules - read them if you haven't.

2008 NaNo LJ'er Regional Friendling Thread!

2008 Pimp and Post Thread - talk about your projects here!

Weekly Plot Help Threads - help your fellow community members with their plots!

Random question of the day.

[natane.livejournal.com]

I am, technically speaking, a good writer.

However... I have this nagging feeling that my writing, while usually perfectly correct in usage and grammar and all that whatnot, is... lacking emotion. I'm afraid I have a tendency to write what happens and less what the character is feeling... I was always told to show, not tell, but I think it may have gone too far. And I can't seem to find the balance.

Anyone else had this problem? If so, how did you fix it?

Random question of the day.

[natane.livejournal.com]

I am, technically speaking, a good writer.

However... I have this nagging feeling that my writing, while usually perfectly correct in usage and grammar and all that whatnot, is... lacking emotion. I'm afraid I have a tendency to write what happens and less what the character is feeling... I was always told to show, not tell, but I think it may have gone too far. And I can't seem to find the balance.

Anyone else had this problem? If so, how did you fix it?

Weekly Plot Help - Week of October 27th

[alison-sky.livejournal.com]

Wow, by Saturday NaNo will have begun and we will be heading into the craziness. Are you ready?

... come on, that was weak. ARE YOU READY?!

*grins* Ok, that was better.

Anyway, here's your plot help post for the week. Simple as always.


Add a comment with the help you need. Don't be shy. We're all writers here, and you never know, someone might give you a new plot bunny to add to your NaNo.

Reply to others and help them. You might be the one holding that bunny.


And just be awesome :)

Weekly Plot Help - Week of October 27th

[alison-sky.livejournal.com]

Wow, by Saturday NaNo will have begun and we will be heading into the craziness. Are you ready?

... come on, that was weak. ARE YOU READY?!

*grins* Ok, that was better.

Anyway, here's your plot help post for the week. Simple as always.


Add a comment with the help you need. Don't be shy. We're all writers here, and you never know, someone might give you a new plot bunny to add to your NaNo.

Reply to others and help them. You might be the one holding that bunny.


And just be awesome :)