Some questions

[BlackShanglan]

Whoa, Horsie... (I just wanted to say that. )

I wasn't quoting Rumple, but rather Weird Harold.

Oops! So you were. Sorry, Rumple. Sorry, Harold. My apologies.

Shanglan

 

[BlackShanglan]

Anyhow, it's critical to make main characters unique and easily differentiated from one another -- but physical endowments are merely one way. I don't think readers always need every mole and pubic hair to be described.

Elven would indicate to me a smaller person with tiny features, but no two readers are going to picture a character exactly the same.

Agreed. I tend to leave a good deal to the imagination as well. I think my own point - and I don't dare venture to speak for anyone else as I can't even keep their names straight - is that "elven" now means enough different things to enough different people that I question if it conveys much meaning at all. It's getting a bit like saying someone is "European"; doesn't really give me much to go on. That is, if one did choose to describe a character physically, I'd suggest using another adjective or clarifying that one, as it's not a very precise or descriptive word.

 

[MichelleLovesTo]

Agreed. I tend to leave a good deal to the imagination as well. I think my own point - and I don't dare venture to speak for anyone else as I can't even keep their names straight - is that "elven" now means enough different things to enough different people that I question if it conveys much meaning at all. It's getting a bit like saying someone is "European"; doesn't really give me much to go on. That is, if one did choose to describe a character physically, I'd suggest using another adjective or clarifying that one, as it's not a very precise or descriptive word.

I agree. I suppose I would do something like:

Erin's features were what some might call elven. She was a small woman with tiny features and a rosebud of a mouth which turned up at the corners. Even in repose her features gave her the illusion of being up to mischief, and often she would have to explain that she was merely thinking about how she needed to pick up a quart of milk.

Of course, because she always looked like she was planning something,her husband would often be pleasantly surprised to find that she'd spent the last several days planning the perfect sexual fantasy to recreate for him.

Eh... so/so.

 

[gauchecritic]

It's not that you can't use elipses severally and in one sentence it's a matter of being readable rather than realistic.

It's unlikely that however timid or unsure a person is that they are that way all the time, in every sentence.

"which burger do you want?"

"I'll have... erm... cheese... no... erm."

"You like king size woppers don't you?"

"Erm... ooh er... erm... usually, yes but erm..."

"Well? Yes or no?"

"Yes I do sometimes but... erm..."

"JUST PICK A FUCKING BURGER WILL YOU!"

But do that again as they sit and eat their meal and you've lost the effect and the reader...


Elven is a nice word, unfortunately as some have already pointed out, a word that has lost its niceness. Describe someone as elven to me and I have a very specific picture of what they look like but it may not be the kind of elven that you you want me to see. On the other hand I think it probably is very close to the elven kind in LOTR and is probably in that case fairly standard the western world over.

 

[Guest]

Interesting comments all, but now that I think about it, I rarely see ellipses in any books I read, or else they fit so well they made no particular impression. Personally I wouldn't read past a couple lines of anything like Gauche's example above. (But on Lit., who cares, eh? )

I'm also not likely to read anything with "elven" in it (before the LotR flics I never gave a thought to elves 'cept for Santa's helper types). I presume anyone reading a story with elven persons will know what you're describing if you've given good context.

best, Perdita

 

[Blangis]

Hi again, apologies for the absence.

I should’ve been more specific with the Elven question. Basically I want to use this description solely for a persons ears, nothing else, I know a woman who has rather strange ears that always get likened to those of the LoTR elves, I’m using her as inspiration. I would be a bit more specific saying they are perhaps less pointy or something, but I think everyone has at least a vague idea what characterizes an elves ear and I don’t want to linger on describing them, just use something that is quick and easy.

As for the elipses, I don’t use them quite as often as in the example you provided gauchecritic, usually in just in at the beginning or end of a sentence, rarely in the middle and then never more than once. I also use them often whenever people get interrupted mid sentence.

I’ll check out the How To guides on dialogue as suggested, any further opinion on the Elf thing now it’s narrowed down?

Thanks all

 

[Boxlicker101]

Hi again, apologies for the absence.

I should’ve been more specific with the Elven question. Basically I want to use this description solely for a persons ears, nothing else, I know a woman who has rather strange ears that always get likened to those of the LoTR elves, I’m using her as inspiration. I would be a bit more specific saying they are perhaps less pointy or something, but I think everyone has at least a vague idea what characterizes an elves ear and I don’t want to linger on describing them, just use something that is quick and easy.

As for the elipses, I don’t use them quite as often as in the example you provided gauchecritic, usually in just in at the beginning or end of a sentence, rarely in the middle and then never more than once. I also use them often whenever people get interrupted mid sentence.

I’ll check out the How To guides on dialogue as suggested, any further opinion on the Elf thing now it’s narrowed down?

Thanks all

Maybe you can somehow compare them to Mr. Spock's ears.

 

[Blangis]

Negative

 

[Stella_Omega]

Hi again, apologies for the absence.

I should’ve been more specific with the Elven question. Basically I want to use this description solely for a persons ears, nothing else, I know a woman who has rather strange ears that always get likened to those of the LoTR elves, I’m using her as inspiration. I would be a bit more specific saying they are perhaps less pointy or something, but I think everyone has at least a vague idea what characterizes an elves ear and I don’t want to linger on describing them, just use something that is quick and easy.

As for the elipses, I don’t use them quite as often as in the example you provided gauchecritic, usually in just in at the beginning or end of a sentence, rarely in the middle and then never more than once. I also use them often whenever people get interrupted mid sentence.

I’ll check out the How To guides on dialogue as suggested, any further opinion on the Elf thing now it’s narrowed down?

Thanks all

You might say that her ear tips were oddly pointed; noticecable so- and she'd gtten tired of the "elf" comments from every starnger...

 

[CharleyH]

Darling Charley, that's very offensive.

I don't care to let you influence anyone else's viewpoint of me. You tell me you don't ever read finished work- you only read work that needs editing. So, how can you judge?
You may of course base your estimations of my skills on a story that is six years old and never finished, if you wish. Or, you could take a moment to read something that I've published- Like this one Or this one before you make a statement like that. They are both less than two full pages.

I DO need work as an authour! Anyone got a job for me?

I was attempting, not well mind you, to articulate that we all need work. We all have our faults, and probably all think we have more faults than we do, but we still have them in our writing, whether published or not. We are our own worst critics, although sometimes we learn best from both criticism and praise, although the latter we rarely learn from.

I did not intend to be cruel or point you out, as I was not referring to your whole body of work, but only to 'one' story you had asked for feedback on and because you were not happy with it. It was more a comment to push you to send it to me, as you had promised you would, and goddamn it I have been waiting for weeks!

In any case, I have apologised personally and am only posting here, not to point it out again, but rather my appreciation for your candour and my sincere apology (publically) for offending you.