Minutemen characterizations
anonymous
February 28 2010, 07:28:34 UTC
Watchmen doesn't give the readers a 100% view into the personalities of the characters, but they give us enough that we can work with it without it being like some wild estimated guess. But you don't really get that with the minutemen. Sure with Sally, Hollis, Eddie, heck, even Rolf and Nelson you get a good view of what they might've been like since they're in the book often, but you don't get that with Ursula, Bill, and Byron since they're not really present that much. Everyone seems to have the same badass, made-of-awesome personality set up for Ursula, but I have a hard time reading anything with Bill or Byron in it. I have my own personal head-canon of what they acted like, and most of the time, it's not the same as what's written in fics. Like, sometimes they make Byron a real soft-spoken, low self-esteen kind of guy, and other times, he's an overly-radical loudmouth who pushes his opinions on everyone, and that's before he drinks. It's harder with Bill since the only thing he's got going for him is Hollis saying what a nice guy
( ... )
Re: Minutemen characterizations
anonymous
February 28 2010, 12:20:21 UTC
It's the one reason I haven't let myself read any Minutemen fic. I feel like there's too much left unsaid about the characters. Like the thought of people making Byron really shy makes me cringe, and I personally think Ursula had a very subtle personality (I think that's just because of the actresses' face, curse me).
I'd love to read something about Bill, but I feel like I'd just be sad. He's a Kansas kid, like me, so I definitely see him having all these little charming 'farmer' quirks like a farmers tan. And he definitely says super corny things like 'Boy I'll tell ya what', always says Arkansas by pronouncing it like Kansas, and he totally pronounces wash like 'warsh' and puts H sounds with his W's (like 'Hhhwheat or Hhhwhite', or a slightly more infamous 'Cool Hhhwhip')
But not southern, Midwestern. stfu there's a difference! Can't think of other examples at the time as its morning now and I'm drunk, but boy that would kill me dead if I saw Bill portrayed 'culturally' correct, ha!
Re: Minutemen characterizations
anonymous
February 28 2010, 17:27:58 UTC
OP- I agree, I don't think Byron would be shy. I think he's be the type who'd be polite and tolerant, up until someone Nelly says one too many racist or insensitive remarks, then all that repressed anger would just explode outta him. Or maybe I just think he'd be like that cuz that's sorta what I'm like :\
I think subtle's a good way to put Ursula. Subtle and fierce.
I think it would be cute if Bill was a simple country boy. He'd probably be super polite like Hollis. And the corny things he'd say...aww. <3
But not southern, Midwestern. stfu there's a difference! I'm from Alabama, and I had a boyfriend from Kansas whom I visited all the time, and you're right, there is a difference. like how they eat gross cream of wheat instead of grits
Does anyone else have a hard time filling out requests because of how old they are? This has ALWAYS been my problem with kinkmemes. I mean, I don't want to spend the time filling out a prompt no one will read, especially since I specifically want to try and fill older prompts. I feel bad seeing so many great prompts go unfulfilled for so long! I have the same problem with recent prompts, as I don't want to fill out something that someone else was already working on and/or really wanted to do.
I donno why this bothers me so much. I don't even write that often. I guess what I'm wondering is how you guys pick prompts; what weird quirks do you have for the prompts you fill, etc. :3
I once filled a prompt that was three or four memes old, and I think the OP had long since moved on - but it inspired me, and a lot of *other* people seemed to like it, so I'm not sure what the hesitation is. I think fills generally find readers regardless of how old the original prompt is; a lot of people probably, like me, just click on every damn thing that wanders through the updates thread without much thought as to how old the prompt is.
Nobody's perfect: negative traits and how to deal with them
anonymous
February 28 2010, 17:28:44 UTC
These aren't really kinks, but they are things I've struggled with in writing. We know that all the characters in Watchmen are less than perfect, and sometimes it's hard to write them that way, at least for me, because these characters are very beloved to me after spending so much time reading and writing about them
( ... )
Re: Nobody's perfect: negative traits and how to deal with them
anonymous
February 28 2010, 19:01:33 UTC
5 sec reply because I only have 5 sec:
I think Ror's misogyny isn't as troubling as it could be because it's personal, not systematic. It's partially a reflection of the system but it doesn't engage with it and doesn't contribute.
Maybe like the difference between racisim and racial prejudice.
Re: Nobody's perfect: negative traits and how to deal with them
anonymous
February 28 2010, 19:37:26 UTC
Fangirls infamously give misogyny a pass, but I think in this case it's just because we know so much about Ror. It's like 'well, no shit he's got issues with women. His mom was a mean fat whore who beat him.' Like, if HJ had been gangraped by black guys as a kid, we'd probably mind him less, because we'd understand. Of course, I think a little too much is made of his not hating Hitler. A lot of people didn't. There's a Lord Peter Wimsey novel where a character says 'what we (Britain) need is a Hitler'. Until people found out about some of his nastier habits, to a lot of people he was just someone who made the trains run on time (yeah, I know that's Mussolini, but you get it.)
Personally, I think everyone's baggage is what makes them interesting, and at the same time have that urge to buff the flaws a little, mostly to make characters happier. I'm the fix-it fairy, after all. But I try to stay IC, warts and all. Also, AUs are your friend. Change someone's circumstances, change their prejudices.
Little Details, the anon version
anonymous
March 1 2010, 12:03:04 UTC
This anon feels disadvantaged in writing fic for the watchmen universe because it's set in New York, far far away in another country :) I've read meta about Americanising fics, and try to do it, but, it can sometimes be a challenge, especially if an idea calls for something more than vague references to the streetscape etc. Research can only go so far, it doesn't really capture the actual experience of inhabiting a place. I know that Watchmen's NY is not the same, but, still...
All this is an excuse to ask if anyone knows of a) good winding drives just outside New York with some trees and scenery b) beautiful scenic spots that are within a afternoon's drive. I've looked up NY tourism sites, but it's still not enough... Asking here because I don't wish to deanon and ask on littledetails etc.
Re: Little Details, the anon version
anonymous
March 1 2010, 14:19:16 UTC
I lived in NYC for 5 years; as I recall, all the scenic drives within an afternoon's distance of NYC were over in New Jersey, where there's a lot of farmland.
Kinda spammy, but I promise not to do it again.
anonymous
March 2 2010, 11:33:12 UTC
Today I found the book Pride/Prejudice, by Ann Herendeen. It's a slashy retelling of Pride and Prejudice. If it sounds even vaguely interesting, buy it. We should help a sister out, since she's a slasher going pro. And the book starts with Darcy and Bingley in bed together, so I know she's not fucking around. XD It reads like the fanfic it is, but it's a pretty good fanfic. I'm picky and and Jane Austen purist, and I'm still reading.
Comments 623
But you don't really get that with the minutemen. Sure with Sally, Hollis, Eddie, heck, even Rolf and Nelson you get a good view of what they might've been like since they're in the book often, but you don't get that with Ursula, Bill, and Byron since they're not really present that much.
Everyone seems to have the same badass, made-of-awesome personality set up for Ursula, but I have a hard time reading anything with Bill or Byron in it. I have my own personal head-canon of what they acted like, and most of the time, it's not the same as what's written in fics. Like, sometimes they make Byron a real soft-spoken, low self-esteen kind of guy, and other times, he's an overly-radical loudmouth who pushes his opinions on everyone, and that's before he drinks. It's harder with Bill since the only thing he's got going for him is Hollis saying what a nice guy ( ... )
Reply
I'd love to read something about Bill, but I feel like I'd just be sad. He's a Kansas kid, like me, so I definitely see him having all these little charming 'farmer' quirks like a farmers tan. And he definitely says super corny things like 'Boy I'll tell ya what', always says Arkansas by pronouncing it like Kansas, and he totally pronounces wash like 'warsh' and puts H sounds with his W's (like 'Hhhwheat or Hhhwhite', or a slightly more infamous 'Cool Hhhwhip')
But not southern, Midwestern. stfu there's a difference! Can't think of other examples at the time as its morning now and I'm drunk, but boy that would kill me dead if I saw Bill portrayed 'culturally' correct, ha!
Reply
Reply
I think subtle's a good way to put Ursula. Subtle and fierce.
I think it would be cute if Bill was a simple country boy. He'd probably be super polite like Hollis. And the corny things he'd say...aww. <3
But not southern, Midwestern. stfu there's a difference!
I'm from Alabama, and I had a boyfriend from Kansas whom I visited all the time, and you're right, there is a difference. like how they eat gross cream of wheat instead of grits
Reply
I donno why this bothers me so much. I don't even write that often. I guess what I'm wondering is how you guys pick prompts; what weird quirks do you have for the prompts you fill, etc. :3
Reply
Like I'll read the prompt and get a scene in my head, or a conversation. So I know I can write it.
A lot of the prompts pass me by because I don't get any ideas, and I refuse to force some out heh >.< lazy writer is lazy.
So... um... that's how I pick them :D.
Age of the prompt doesn't really matter to me.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
I think Ror's misogyny isn't as troubling as it could be because it's personal, not systematic. It's partially a reflection of the system but it doesn't engage with it and doesn't contribute.
Maybe like the difference between racisim and racial prejudice.
Reply
Personally, I think everyone's baggage is what makes them interesting, and at the same time have that urge to buff the flaws a little, mostly to make characters happier. I'm the fix-it fairy, after all. But I try to stay IC, warts and all. Also, AUs are your friend. Change someone's circumstances, change their prejudices.
Reply
All this is an excuse to ask if anyone knows of a) good winding drives just outside New York with some trees and scenery b) beautiful scenic spots that are within a afternoon's drive. I've looked up NY tourism sites, but it's still not enough... Asking here because I don't wish to deanon and ask on littledetails etc.
Reply
Reply
Reply
I think it's because I'm an Alaskan, so it's not like anyone gets my hometown right. I'm desensitized.
Times Square audiences, stop shouting at the screen, it'll only get worse if you pick at it.
Reply
Ha, captcha likes it, is says 'warmed arousing'.
Reply
Leave a comment