(no subject)

[reenka]

Hah! abitloony, whoever you are-- I've found the first Luna that works for me ^^

Almost (but not quite) too insane. The poetry really helps.

Hee. This whole RPG (natternet) looks to be totally cute and IC~! Whee! ♥ ♥

Every time someone I consider intelligent (from afar, usually) unfriends me, I think this journal became really boring at some point. Alas.

Seriously, I'm very impressed with people who can RP in-character (or, uh, -write- in-character... which I never claimed I do...). Or just generally write with a natural, age-and-character-appropriate 'voice', which is really what's essential to believable RPing (to me). See, I don't think I do different 'voices' for characters -nearly- enough, so basically I can only RP people who're like me (that's... Luna... and also Luna... and then there's Luna). Uh. Which is why I don't write her much (it would be too embarrassing and I'd feel like I was cheating.)
    Basically, I don't think I've ever truly caught a character's voice in HP (though I think I did with Peter Pan... that one time... *sigh*). I mean, at least I know I suck. I really wonder where are the fanfics the good RP-ers write, or whether the talent doesn't necessarily extend itself to plotting, overall characterization and dynamics of multiple characters, non-dialogue things in general, etc-- so maybe it's just the difference between actors & writers. I'd make an... odd sort of actor, I think. If I ever got over my stage fright, that is. Hahah, though I did play a lead role in a school production at age 10 without too much trouble....

I think the best fanfic (as far as I'm concerned) also captures the characters 'voices' distinctively, and makes you -believe- it's Really That Person because they just -sound- like it, if nothing else. (Interesting) people really talk very distinctively. The Hermione here (parchmentandink) and the Harry, too (whatherocomplex), as well as most of the old N_A players were really good examples of what I mean, too-- they just speak their characters' language.

I do think that as soon as real 'romance' comes into it, often enough this ICness/voice-accuracy goes out the window and people become walking talking cliches because-- well, probably because the players/writers get carried away with the excitement. Thusly, I think it's truly a mark of a brilliant writer when they can write characters 'in extremis' emotionally still sounding and acting recognizably like themselves. So generally, my choice is either to stop reading romance & read gen (...argh) or to accept my reading choices are very limited-- and I hate the idea of both, because obviously I'm an addict. *sigh*

It's a lot easier when it's not fanfic though, so the writer is more naturally comfortable with the characters-- maybe. I can't say there's really a greater percentage of 'realism' in original yaoi, say, than slash fanfic, not by far. Argh, I am doomed. But on the bright side, that really is a cute RPG.

Comments

Re: Um!

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

Hi! Um, talking to the people doing the RPing doesn't bother me anymore than talking to writers about their fics does, so no need to worry about butting in or anything :D I'm very impressed by people who can play characters authentically, as I said-- there's that rush of... surprise and even recognition that is different than anything one experiences writing/reading a fic, quite, even as a watcher. As as someone who -has- played a little, I know what you mean about the fun of seeing new facets of dynamics you'd thought familiar. I love going back over old RPs of mine and for some reason I always feel like they're -brill- even though rationally I doubt it, just 'cause of that remembered rush of 'ooh, shiny! new!' or something, I suspect :D ...Though it can't help but make me wish there was fic in my own pairing that gave me that same authentic-voice feeling even more, but I think that's just my little fixation talking, eheheh.

Re: Um!

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

So yeah, you're right, and I totally sympathize with all the difficulties you mentioned with writing H/D-- hahah, and believe it or not, it's sort of nearly inspiring me to write H/D again ('nearly' because I'm definitely also a perfectionist and it's true there's always something more to change about the stuff I've written-- which is partly why I tend to be too lazy to edit, because I -know- that once I -start- it'll be endless-- but anyway, I think my self-satisfaction is mostly 'cause of the pleasure I have in writing/RPing itself, y'know. I know most people as picky as me don't get as much of a kick out of it, but I definitely separate my writing-addicted and my critical self, or I'd probably have gone insane by now from sheer constant self-criticism~:)) So what makes me happy on re-reads is just a good turn of phrase or rhythm (I tend to have that, at least), and just that remembered sense of -fun-. :D

argh, try again -.-

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

(This is what happens when I don't proofread.... I don't even know what I was going to say at first). Um. I too get sick of having to have this huge big deal to get H&D together, and yearn for easier, more natural pairings-- and that's when I pack up and run away to Sirius/Remus (though woe, I cannot write them for shit! Alas). It would feel weird to me to give up on a pairing for practical or like, convenience reasons, I guess-- I can leave it alone and not read/write it, sure, but I can't say that impacts my -vision- of why it's a good idea in theory, I guess :> ...and I'm a v. theoretically-minded person -.-

I'm totally with you that Harry wouldn't go for anyone on Voldy's side, but at the same time I don't think anyone but Snape and Voldy get the intensity of reaction Draco inspires in him (like, Harry's prickled by other people, but it's really nothing in comparison, I guess). I think what you said about the temptation to cross the line from 'thinking he's the best thing on earth' & being it is brilliant-- that's it exactly, and it's why I've grown to hate (or rather, be furiously bitter with) fanon and like, a large portion of fandom in general ^^;;; It's very true that most people don't write him IC, and that drives me insane-- but at the same time it's a challenge, and I can't resist a challenge~:) Especially since the potential pay-off is so large... lazy as I am, I'm also ambitious, I guess :>

I think making Draco unsympathetic and yet self-absorbed and delusional is a particular challenge/quest of mine-- like, I'm always out to make characters not-so-sympathetic (like, y'know, JKR actually does, whether or not she means to), and the over-sympathetic Draco in fandom is something that's really driven me up the wall. Then again, most people's Harry doesn't inspire much more confidence in me ^^;;;; I totally see all these problems, and paradoxically it's what I -adore- (and what's so damn tiring, I admit!) about H/D, even now. I'm -dead- tired, completely tired, totally burnt out on all of these issues-- and yet even now, I'm stirred to passionate monologues because I believe in the sheer potential pay-off of overcoming all these obstacles.

There -is- something to be said for naturally developing relationships, of course :D ...Me, I'm a Harry/Ginny shipper in canon, ahahahahah. *coughs* Hey, she prickles him! Badly as that was portrayed, I think she does... but yeah, um, I think the point of H/D is really ridding Harry of his prejudices against Slytherin (as is the point of canon, I think!! no, really!) as it is in ridding Draco of his prejudices against Mudbloods. You're completely right in that it's a dangerous temptation to 'fix' Draco in a lot of ways, or to fix any character in general, but at the same time I think a journey of growth and self-awareness doesn't -have- to be a fix and rather an unfolding, a sort of... maturation process, y'know? It's a really difficult thing to write, but oh god, the challenge of it still makes me salivate~:)) Even moreso 'cause everyone else tends to fail (and me... I also tend to fail, though not as spectacularly as some others, I do believe, ahahah.) :>

I both want to and don't want to change Draco, and same with Harry. I think characters are most interesting in general when they have a central conflict within themselves that is the subject of some kind of crucial transformation. I'm addicted to coming of age stories and drama, and with H/D you have both in spades-- as well as all the sturm-und-drang you ever wanted to last you a millenia, with some left over for safe-keeping. :> Basically, I think it's more true to say no one -does- anything new with the pairing because fandom is largely unimaginative, rather than there -being- nothing new to do with it. ^^;; Yeah, so basically I stopped reading fic and kept shipping H/D, in the end, not a choice most fangirls are willing to make~:)) ...And even me... man, I slip and read a slew of badfics every so often... *sigh*