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Heya, gang!! O.o Time for writer's poll!! Alright, yeah...err...(where to start?)...Just answer the questions, and be as specific as you can. XP

1.) SCENARIO: You are simultaneously writing and reading a book (or watching a movie), and are halfway done with each. This is when you notice that the book/movie you are reading/watching bears a noticable resemblence to the book you're writing.
--------How do you feel? Cheated? Angry? Or perhaps joyed that you and a great author think alike?
--------What would you do to the book you are writing? Continue it as you originally planned? Drop it completely? Continue but change a few things, etc.
--------Please explain why.

2.) CHARACTERS: Could you relate to a main character that is somewhat weak and defenseless, or would you prefer the "bloodthirsty killer"? Explain your ideal character. (Personality wise...I don't need to hear what he/she looks like) Please explain why.

3.) PLOT: Do you enjoy plots that are entricate, and make you pay attention to every little deail, for it effects how you understand what's going on? Or do you prefer a simpler, straightforward plot that doesn't require much thinking or reasoning? Please explain why.

4.) SCENARIO: You are reading/writing a fantasy story. You decide you want there to be some form of magic in there, but you want to limit it because you know magic is a sort of way for a character to "cheat" their way through a story.
---------What kind of magic do you prefer? (i.e. "non-sparkly magic" like telekinesis and ESP; or "magic-magic" like spell-casting and shape-shifting) Please explain why.

5.) OPINION: Do you think character deaths are good (if they're limited), or do you prefer a story with as less killing as possible? Please explain why.

6.) OPINION: Do you feel that dragons being telepathic or empathic is now something that's much too common or not? Do you look down on it and think that authors should try and put more "spiff" into their fictoinal creatures? Pleae explain why.

7.) OPINION: What do you think of good books being made into movies?
---------Answer the question according to your beliefs, then answer it from the perspective that the "good book" was written by YOU. Please explain why.

8.) SCENARIO: When you are browsing the book store or library, what is it most about a book that catches your attention?
----------Is it cover art, a famous author name, a good summary in the backside, a brief skimming of the first page/chapter, the tite, etc.

9.) SCENARIO: You've finished writing your book, and are now ready to get it published! However, you feel that content of your novel is something most authors are ALSO writing about, and is already too popular. What do you do?
---------To heck with that! Send it in anyway; or would you wait for a time when people will be more likely interested?

10.) OPINION: If you HAD TO choose, which book-based movie would you say is the best?

11.) Does length have an effect to how much you enjoy a book? How many pages would you prefer a book to be?

NEW QUESTION!!!! 12.) Do you often share your stories with others while its under the development process, or would you rather gather everyone up, and lift the red curtain all at once?

NEW QUESTION!!!! 13.) While writing pieces that take particularly long, how do you get it done? Do you just write it when you have time, or do you set up a strict schedule and force yourself? Do you have those periods where you'll just drop a story, then suddenly come back to it weeks later?

NEW QUESTION!!!! 14.) How do you deal with writer's blocks?

NEW QUESTION!!!! 15.) Do you enjoy writing solo, or do you sometimes prefer writing in groups, where the work is evenly divided?

NEW QUESTION!!!! 16.) Do you consider yourself a good writer?

...Yes, if any of you haven't already figured it out by now, I'm writing a dragon novel, and I do plan on getting it published...these ten little things are a few fears I need to overcome first, so if you could help me out a little, it'd be much appreciated!!

THANKIES MUCHO!!!

Hey, thanks a ton, TikTak!! Really and truly, your thoughts (as well as everyone elses' of course) mean a lot to me. I appreciate you taking the time to fill this out.

Perhaps you are right. Something I tend to do a lot is over-analyze, and sometimes, I feel as though people will think I copied off the ideas of someone else when in reality, I have no idea who this person is, or what they've done. I fear what others will think about me, and that's why I had to make this topic.

As for writing to be me, I really must agree with you. Most of my characters fall under the cliché category, and I really should try to loosen up with the worrying...but here's the thing though -- YOU'RE not the only one who is influencing the public to read your book. If a mad critic bashes your story enough, you WILL loose your audience. Nonetheless, I you've given me a brief surge of hope and inspiration!!

Much obliged!! And thanks again!!

Thank you very much, wearedoomed. Your answers and opinions are highly valued, and once again, I appreciate the time you took to fill this out. ^^

Well first off, I think you're asking the wrong people XD But I, myself, will do my best.



--------How do you feel? I feel rather angry because after I got done writing someting, I never feel like going back to change it, but at the same time I HATE copying something. Yes, great minds think alike, but really, the world doesn't need more than one of the same idea provided for them.
--------What would you do to the book you are writing? I'd continue, but do some MAJOR tweaking and try to get it as original as possible, but at the same time make it twice as good as the idea prior to it, because ideas can always improve and be better and be more original based on the amount of thought that's put into it.



I think everyone can relate to a weak character, because no matter what anyone says, there is always some point in our life when we feel defenseless and it is always interesting to see how and if a character gets out on top. Maybe it could help with my own life kinda of thoughts would be flowing through my mind (because obviously a human being wrote the book and they themselves would have to relate to the character SOMEHOW, so therefore the reader would relate to the author) "Bloodthirsty killers" are interesting...but only if they're done correctly. Human beings may be "evil" and all that stuff, but not every human being wants to kill another living thing. Its not that relatable. It may be interesting, but not relatable to me.



I prefer simpler (yet, well-thought out) plots because I love to have an open mind when I read a book. I like to get enough information to know what's going on, but as far as small unimportant details like "how many freckles a character has" go, I don't really care to know those (unless they play a part in the plot somewhere) because I like to use my brain when I read. Reading a story is different than watching a movie: (I personally think) A story shouldn't have to tell you what to see and feel like how a movie does. I mean, reading a broad use of vocabulary is nice too, but there is such thing as too much of a good thing.


---------What kind of magic do you prefer? (i.e. "non-sparkly magic" like telekinesis and ESP; or "magic-magic" like spell-casting and shape-shifting) Please explain why.

I don't prefer any kind of magic. I just prefer that there not be too much of either. I believe that certain beings could have psychic powers, but I also believe that some could shape-shift. I'd make magic vary because everyone is different and everyone puts skills to different uses. I don't think it'd be very fair if every character had the power to cast spells because...where's the fun in that? A variety spices things up.



I do think character deaths are good. I like a good amount for the feeling you get when a favorite character dies (like, you hate it, but then you don't) But I don't like so much that it gets to the point where its predictable. As much as I hate surprises, I think its very healthy for the death of a character (or characters) to be unexpectable. The response should be big. So I guess you could say I prefer less killing.



I don't think its common, but I can't say its something I favor. I always believed dragons to be masters of langauges and I believe that they should speak them with their mouths and not their minds. I know that dragons are mythical creatures, but I prefer a realism to them, like making them more like all the other animals (from as disrespected as the insect to as worshipped as the eagle) instead of making them these all-powerful gods of the world, know what I mean?



I actually rather enjoy books being made into movies, as long as they do it right, of course. I love for the movie to be as close to the book as possible, but at the same time make it more interesting as a movie (like, for instance if its too serious, I don't think it's tragic to add in some comic relief, as long as it can fit) I can't stand it when the movie has naught to do with the book its based from, I think it ruins everything and completely disrespects the author of the book. If my book were to be made into a movie, I'd be sure to practically direct the entire thing just to make sure they didn't screw anything up



I never pay attention to the popularity of an author, if I like how they write, I think they write good. I believe every author deserves as much recognition as the next and I don't think a book should be based soley on how popular an author they are. I rarely pay attention to cover art first because it rarely has anything to do with the quality of a book, although if the cover art is nice I enjoy looking at it for a good sum of time. However, for many people I think that an interesting, busy looking cover would grab more attention. I never skim through a book, not even the first page. Sometimes its hard for me to get surprised when reading a book, so I try to know as little about it as possible before I read it. Although I do read the summary every time before I buy a book, just to make sure its something I can be interested in, but I never want to know too much about a book before I read it, just in case I ruin the best part for myself. Naturally I pay attention to the title of a book, but almost imediately after seeing the title, I flip to the summary to see what its about.



It all depends on money issues. Either way I'd need to prepare to not make very many sales and have a backup job to keep me on my feet. I'd send it in, hoping to get some recognition and some money at least, but at the same time, I'd be afraid that no one would ever buy a book of mine again, just for the fact that my first idea was used by other people too many times. I think the safer way would be to write another book that's idea is not "too" popular and come out with something fresh and new, but at the same time make it something people would actually want to read.



Can't really say...I haven't really read too many books that were made into movies. But out of the ones I've seen, I'd say Eragon was the best. It stuck to the book as much as possible without it being too boring or long. The only tiff I had with it was that I didn't grow close to the characters in the movies as much as the ones in the book (which I know is the same thing, but if I were to watch the movie before the book, I wouldn't have attached to the characters very well) and it rather bummed me out.

Hope I was able to help somehow.

Obliged, cat!! With respect, but I don't at all think I'm asking the wrong people, since most members of this site seem to fall within my target market. XD Anyway, I think we can come to an agreement on most things here. You and I have the same outlook for the question to #1. I haven't read a single line of Eragon in my life, but when I saw the movie, it was obvious my story was stemming from this one (or is that the other way around?).

The story is fantasy, but I seem to have problems interpreting the boudary between it being "realistic" and "fantasy".

Again, thanks a ton, catwhohas14tails. I'm gonna consider revising a few things, and I'm just hoping this won't alter the direction of the novel. But I suppose that's something more of my problem than yours. lol.

BTW, (going by a few spoilers my brother spilled about the book [the rascal]) I've gotta say Eragon was the best book-based movie too. XD

First off, let me say congratulations to you, oh my brother. Good luck with the book! I'd love to publish fiction one day, but law opinions are probably as far as I'll ever get. Anyways, on to it!

1. I wouldn't mind, seeing as how I didn't cheat and I would seriously doubt anyone would steal an idea from me. I'd continue with the book, although I wonder how much my opinions about it and my ideas would be colored by my experience with the coincidental movie/book. I'd probably end up having to change a few things along the way, simply to make it seem to myself as though I didn't just copy the novel. That would be a bizarre coincindence at all though.

2. I prefer realistic main characters. I much prefer an Indiana Jones style of character to a "Neo from the Matrix" style character, if you get my drift. If a character is unstoppable then there's no joy when he's victorious or agony when he's defeated. Whether he's good or evil, there has to be that moment of indecision when you don't expect the outcome. The perfect character is a flawed, human, character. Perhaps there are things that make us like or identify with the evil character, or things that make us uncomfortable with the hero. Straight good and bad doesn't work as well for me.

3. It depends largely on my mood. Sometimes I'm in for a ripping good read where the twists and turns get so think that I have to pay close attention. Other times, I don't want to think that hard and just enjoy plowing through something easy. I'll relate it to relationships: an intricate book is like a relationship where you have to spend time with the other person all the time, but when you finally reach the pinnacle of the relationship, it's wonderfully satisfying and enjoyable. An easy read is like a one night stand: enjoyable and easy, but not something you can do all the time because it's not as fufilling.

4. I prefer spellcasting and shapeshifting. I dunno, I've always liked wizards and sorcerers and incantations and such. That's how "magic" gets imagined in my head. I always see Merlin, in the blue pointy hat and everything.

5. Character deaths are good, but it has to be done exactly right, or there's no punch. It has to be someone we care about, someone we're attatched to, for good or evil, and someone who'd death ultimately matters. When Charlotte dies at the end of Charlotte's Web, that's hard to deal with, even though I don't like spiders. But if you told me on page one that Fran (I think that's the name of the little girl, it's been a good 10 years since I read the book) squished a spider on her way to school, I wouldn't give it a second thought. You see, the character is the thing that matters, not the death itself.

6. I honestly don't know, I haven't read books with that many dragons. I think Smaug (The Hobbit, of course) was the only one I've encountered so far (that I can remember).

7. I don't mind it. I think you need to go in with the right mindset. Too many times people go in and they're disappointed because "it wasn't like the book". Well, duh. No movie is ever exactly like the book, because it just doesn't work that way. I think you just need to have the right mindset and try to enjoy or dislike the movie on its own terms. I do like it when the movie tries to stay true to the book, and I'd like it more if it were my book. Unless they pay me alot of money. Then they can do anything they want to it.

8. I use a mixture of all 3. But then, I usually know what I'm looking for. It's rare that I pick up something just at random without having experience with the author or the book being on a subject I like. I read alot of nonfiction stuff as well, so that helps perhaps.

9. I'll publish it anyways, if I think it's any good. If I think it's trash, I'll be MORE likely to publish it to take advantage of the boom in popularity. Maybe some kid will not know any better and read my scribblings because everyone else is.

10. I like Clockwork Orange, even though Kubrick changed the ending. That movie rocked my socks and if you're over 16 or so, I encourage you to watch it. If you're under 16, your parents probably won't want you watching such stuff, since there are several rapes and beatings and graphic nudity.

Hope this helped in some way! Good luck again with your book, tell me when it's out and I'll pick up a copy (and send it to you for autograph!)

Thank you, HrryNrmn, for your very neat and thorough answers!! As some of you may've noticed, questions 1 and 9 are somewhat related, and is my biggest problem so far. These "coincidences" are not slight things that I can just delete and replace with new words. They are critical parts of the novel that will make all the difference in understanding the story. Unfortunately, I'm a worrier, and, as stated before, the similarities are rather noticeable. I'm going to have hard time trying to re-route the whole plot, but I hope with you all all these great repliers' help, I can somehow pull through.

I've been lifted some. Truly, I considered dropping the whole story before I made this thread (I've written about 80 full pages so far...it kinda blows). But now, I'm starting to see a little hope.

I know I'm sounding cheesy, so I should stop now. XD HrryNrmn, thank you again for your support.

EDIT: Your comments are all wonderful, but I belive most of you are missing the point to question #6. Dragons being telepathic/empathic was merely an example. The real question I wanted to ask was that second part. XDDD

As a writer myself, I might as well take a bash at this little pollie you've got here, Suka!

My Answers:

1) SCENARIO: You are simultaneously writing and reading a book (or watching a movie), and are halfway done with each. This is when you notice that the book/movie you are reading/watching bears a noticable resemblence to the book you're writing.

I don't know exactly how I would feel. I suppose I'd be surprised by the similarities of my story and the book/movie/whatever. Perhaps I would make a slgiht change so that my work isn't exactly the same as the other work, but I agree with Cat's response. "Great minds think alike" - so I believe this would hold true here as well.

Actually, I like to reread through my work while I'm on a different part and . . . change things as I see fit. I don't like doing that often with fics that I've already posted parts of online, but if I change it, I'll change it. I guess that's a good thing about being a writer: You can change the world you've created into something different and new whenever you want. (I think so, anyway.)

2) CHARACTERS: Could you relate to a main character that is somewhat weak and defenseless, or would you prefer the "bloodthirsty killer"? Explain your ideal character. (Personality wise...I don't need to hear what he/she looks like)

Hmm, my ideal character . . . I have no idea, to be honest with you. I really get turned off by "blood-thirsty killers" (unless they have a valid reason for their sudden bloodlust - most of them are trademark stupid clones: killing because they want to, not for a reason IMO . . . the fad's getting old and very overused by immature fan writers nowadays.) and weak, defenseless characters are the obvious ones that overcome hardships and inspire others to believe in them . . . I like those a lot, but they too are becoming overused.

I suppose I like characters with a normal look but deep down inside, they long to escape some torturous past that seems to scar them for life (or some other trait that they can't help but to accept) - I suppose that's why I like writing about Aleu in most of my fics - she acts normal as a child, not realizing that her wolf looks cause others to turn away from her gaze. When she grows up, she goes through life, day by day, learning to appreciate the wolf blood that runs through her veins and the heritage that she was born to uphold; however, although she knows it's not allowed, she secretly longs to return to her birthplace (I suppose this is her 75% husky blood that's doing the talking here), hoping to make peace with those that shunned her. At times she's naive, childish and somewhat playful, but in a heartbeat, she becomes mature and almost grown when she learns from her mistakes and takes action for what she believes is the right thing to do. I'd love to make my own character with similar qualities as I've made Aleu in my fics . . . so I guess I lied earlier . . . oops. XD

3) PLOT: Do you enjoy plots that are entricate, and make you pay attention to every little detail, for it effects how you understand what's going on? Or do you prefer a simpler, straightforward plot that doesn't require much thinking or reasoning?

I enjoy detailed stories - most of my recent stories are pretty detailed mainly with the scenery and character design (markings, colors, eyes, etc.) - but the down side of that is that they are very difficult to write. However, I enjoy simple plotlines too, but the con here is that they seem too boring to me.

I suppose I like a mix of both - a straight-forward plot with details to help you understand the situation a bit better.

4) SCENARIO: You are reading/writing a fantasy story. You decide you want there to be some form of magic in there, but you want to limit it because you know magic is a sort of way for a character to "cheat" their way through a story. What kind of magic do you prefer? (i.e. "non-sparkly magic" like telekinesis and ESP; or "magic-magic" like spell-casting and shape-shifting)

I suppose I like both types of magic that you mention . . . minus the sparkles (we can save that for the anime and other cartoon shows, okay?). I mostly use mental powers in my fics, in which a character slowly develops a mysterious ability to either read minds, see visions of the future, or do other things that others couldn't do without changing the physical aspect of the character. However, I do use shape-shifting and spells (whenever I use Aniu mostly, since she qualifies as a shape-shifting spirit), but in moderation. One cannot take too much shape-shifting; it'll confuse people. XD

5)OPINION: Do you think character deaths are good (if they're limited), or do you prefer a story with as less killing as possible?

Well, since this is my opinion here, I think I might as well say it. I like killing off characters - especially if their death is the catalyst of a bigger, more major storyline. (For example, in my fic "Proud of Your Boy," I killed off a major character and the character that the fic is focused on deals with a lot of internal conflicts due to this sudden death; at one point, the character thinks about taking its own life in order to be with that character again.)

Personally, I prefer stories that aren't violent bloodbaths due to villians that kill for the heck of it because they're evil. Natural deaths are just more exciting IMO, because they're random, like life; everyone dies, you just don't know when the fates have determined when your heart stops. That sudden drama and fear of the unknown makes a story good. Terrible, ain't it?

6) OPINION: Do you feel that dragons being telepathic or empathic is now something that's much too common or not? Do you look down on it and think that authors should try and put more "spiff" into their fictoinal creatures?

I suppose that's the typical dragon for you. It's up to the author on if they choose to alter that stereotypical quality. To tell you the truth, I'm not really into the whole dragon thing - personally, I prefer unicorns (which are mainly used in the stereotypical matter of being immortal healers with a terrible weakness to beautiful virgins. XD).

But this could be asked about any type of animal - a wolf (or part-wolf), for example. Most people have wolves as the typical hunters, killing anything that moves - usually taking over the role as the villain in most classic tales. However, most writers here use wolves as feuding packs of untamed fury, and any character that is not a pure wolf is shunned and looked down upon for that one factor.

I guess it's just up to the writer on what they do to the character, whether it be a dragon, some other mythical creature, or a real animal like a wolf.

7) OPINION: What do you think of good books being made into movies? Answer the question according to your beliefs, then answer it from the perspective that the "good book" was written by YOU.

It depends on the director, IMO. If they see it in a similar or exact way that the author writes it, then I suppose it'll be good. However, it may also be bad, depending on the story, characters, and whatnot. One crappy thing in a book-turned-movie can cause people to turn away. Then again, some people that worship a book (or book series) may not like the film version(s), due to scenes in the book being cut or new scenes/characters/etc. not in the book debuting in the film version. Sometime things like these will affect the film, but they usually don't affect the sales of the books.

However, if it was a movie based on something I've written, I suppose I'd say what I said above. Maybe if I had some work with the finished product, it might be much better than I ever imagined it to be.

SCENARIO: When you are browsing the book store or library, what is it most about a book that catches your attention? Is it cover art, a famous author name, a good summary in the backside, a brief skimming of the first page/chapter, the title, etc.

Usually it's the summaries and the cover art that catches my attention. Since I usually buy/read graphic novels (and Japanese manga - comics), cover art is usually key if a new series catches my attention. For other books, it's usually the summary on the back and the cover art that makes me buy it (that's mainly how I recently got into the "Warriors" series. Gotta love those cats. XD)

9) SCENARIO: You've finished writing your book, and are now ready to get it published! However, you feel that content of your novel is something most authors are ALSO writing about, and is already too popular. What do you do? To heck with that! Send it in anyway; or would you wait for a time when people will be more likely interested?

Who cares? Just go for it! I'd send it in just for crap and giggles - watch the surprise when you find out that it will be published! Haha. You'll never know what'll happen unless you try; even if it isn't accepted, that gives you more eagerness to try again!

10) OPINION: If you HAD TO choose, which book-based movie would you say is the best?

Well, I know of a lot of good book-based movies; most of them were altered (chapters cut, character names changed, storylines switched, etc.), but I haven't seen too many live-action ones. I like the current Harry Potter series, for it gives you that visual thrill of what you read on the pages; "The Secret of NIMH", based on the book, "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH", is fairly well-done, although most characters in the film are much different than their book counterparts - still the movie is a visual delight; and also the fairy tale films - Snow White, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, to name a few - are all classic staples in movie history, and no matter what company revitalizes the story on film, the films are joyous classics (although they may be seriously altered in the finished version).

I hope that my answers help you, and good luck on your dreams!

- Juuchan17

Whoo!! Thanks, Juuchan. ^^ Yeah, the oast couple of days, I've just got REALLY frustrated with my book...I actually started cursing the heck out of my writer's journal the other day...lol. I've been needing a break from writing, and instead have focused more on what I, myself, need to do, and to stop comparing my ideas to others. But this, I can't help, since I am an over-analyzer of everything. XP It sucks, really.

As of now, I've been reading everything I wrote, and have made a few changes here and there, but I still have a ways to go. Thank you kindly for your support, Juuchan!! I appreciate it!!

EDIT: I've added yet another question. O.o Be obliged if any of you'd answer. Thankies!!

Say a book about as big as half a sheet of paper. What's your ideal amoung of pages? (A range, if you please.)