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Writing meta

Because I vow, as I sit alone (woe!) in my hotel room in Houston without internet access, to write my remix story, and possibly the apocolyptothon story (both of which are complete and gorgeously, magically written in prose that sounds nothing like mine in my head). I ought to have internet while working, so I may be able to email them off to beta and get feedback, yadda, but the point is to get them drafted and rolling.

So I'm thinking about the craft of writing. I'm thinking about my remix story and thinking about the atmosphere I want to create, the notion of focus and distraction and thoughtlessness and panic and anger, but all in a controlled moment, a safe place. It's not a pivotal moment of decision except in her head, so it needs to be a story of perception and sensation. Detail and impressions. I think I'm telling you that I'm going to try to create a space like Sal does; and man, am I intimidated by my own gall.

I'm also thinking about the discussion with Thea and Rydra about whether Teal'c drinks alcohol. I want to believe that he will turn down alcohol while on a mission and that maybe he always viewed his time on Earth as a mission; one in which he could never afford to let his guard down. And I want to see Mitchell ask him about it. I want Cameron to see the difference when Teal'c comes back to live on Earth and I want someone to teach Teal'c the difference between sipping, pulling and chugging; hard alcohol and mixed drinks and beer and wine; top shelf and well drinks. I don't know if I want a team moment or a romantic insight slashy moment or what, but I'm clear on one thing: I really want someone else to write it. Keep in mind, please, that barring a complete absence of alchohol dehydrogenase in the Jaffa physiology (unlikely) T would have the tolerance of an elephant.

Anyway, writing: I came across this blog at Powells (biggest independent bookstore in the galaxy and I love that it's in Portland) City of Books website which takes the first paragraph of novels about to be published and discusses them as they stand alone. Cool idea. First Paragraph Previews.

In reading through one, a commentor mentioned that one of Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing (1. Never open a book with weather) had been broken, and in checking out the other rules I must agree, both with the rules and the exceptions to each of them. I love the rules about 'suddenly' and the judicious application of exclamation points. Heh. Now I'm considering buying 'When the Women Come Out to Dance' since that's my favorite title of the ones I see there and I've never read Leonard. Anyone else read him? Wonder what the first paragraph looks like. Bet there's no weather.

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Thank you for the link to Leonard's list. I loved evey rule, although I have broken a couple, but not the weather one.

I hate writing about the weather.

I haven't read Leonard, but the spouse has. My understanding is well-paced and tightly plotted. Very focused, as you would expect from his list. A number of his books have been made into movies, and I believe he's written a number of screenplays as well.

I remember thinking, while reading Smila's Sense of Snow, that I couldn't believe the author had actually made 14 different kinds of snow interesting.

I do think space is interesting. Light, shape, air, interaction with surroundings. Weather, though? Not so much.

I liked Leonard's notion of trying to disappear as a writer, be less important than the story. Very nice idea.

Thanks for the link to the ten rules of writing. I know breaking the adverb one is my weakness.

I'm bookmarking that page, and I don't recall ever reading him before. But I think I might, heh.

He verbalized stuff I had opinions about, but now I feel all validated and stuff.

*silly smug face*

I have an aversion to adverbs as well as verbs other than 'said'; actually, sometimes I go through whole conversation without specifically telling you who is speaking because I don't even like the using 'said' that much. This may be carrying it a bit too far.

She announced, smugly.

There are exceptions to every rule, too.

I have a lot of books on writing and I read them voraciously. But I do have this to say to you, me, and everyone else here.

Rules like these are not hard and fast. Go with the feel of the scene. Quality writing will always trump the rules that circulate out there.

Did you read through these? I would totally understand if you didn't of course, but I mention it because part of what I liked was a verbalization of the rule, then a much longer explanation of how the rule had been broken to spectacular effect by this writer, or that writer, and the very last line was about one of his favorite books and how breaking all these rules he just listed was part of the reason he loved it.

Very tongue-in-cheek and flexible, which I love about rules.

Except the exclamation point thing. God help us.

I read it or something like it a while ago. That is why I commented on it.

For every rule, there's an exception. Except for the rule that says...

;-)

Doesn't Teal'c get quite squiffy in one episode when he's hanging with his Jaffa buddies? Is it The Warrior? There seems to be quaffing going on...

See that's what I think. There was that scene where they were all chillin' in tents, drinking from earthenware stemglasses, right? And in the commentary I swear I remember jokes about how it was supposed to be wine, but really they wouldn't let the actors have any.

Seriously, though, Rydra remembers a scene from the episode with Odo in which Teal'c says he doesn't drink. I don't remember it, honestly. I watch that episode and thing 'ODO!', 'BENSON!' wuzzup?

Someone with DVDs should look these things up. The Warrior and the one with Odo. Anyone?

Rydra's right, he does but that could be because he just doesn't want to drunk on duty and gets the racist vibes coming off him, too.

It's notable that in 2010 when they're all drinking champagne at the start, Teal'c's glass is filled with something different, like juice.

The scene where Teal'c says he doesn't drink (as far as I remember) is "The Other Side"...when they're toasting to the Earth/Eurondan alliance, Teal'c doesn't drink, the guy (I forget his name) asks why, and Teal'c answers, "I do not imbide in alcohol."

Okay, I was right about the ep and the moment, but not the quote. *face/palm*

From http://www.moon-catchin.net/gatenoise/sg1transcripts/s4/402otherside.htm (http://www.moon-catchin.net/gatenoise/sg1transcripts/s4/402otherside.htm)

ALAR: (Chuckles) Rest assured, Colonel. Your brief exposure with cause you no harm. Now, come! Let us celebrate our new alliance. (Jack looks at Olan, who has his mouth open, and rubs his jaw.) (In the dining room) I entended to save this bottle until the end of the war. May the friendship between our worlds be the first step toward that end. (Holds up glass of Wine) To Friendship!

FERRAL: To friendship.

DANIEL: Friendship.

SAM: Friendship.

JACK: Friendship. (They all drink) (Jack smells it, then drinks)

ALAR: (Noticing Teal'C's full glass sitting in front of him.) You ... did not join in the pledge.

TEAL'C: I do not consume alcohol.

He refuses alcohol during Daniel's wake in Fire and Water. And in Lost City, he's drinking something non-alcoholic.

I'm with

moonshayde, I think his not imbibing is a cool character quirk. Maybe the Jaffa juice is something different?

Well drat. That is rather unqualified, isn't it? Coises.

..and yet...I seem to remember a scene where they're all sitting around Jack's living room - and Daniel is getting tipsy - and everyone, including Teal'c, is drinking beer. But maybe I'm misremembering and he was having something different.

Maybe I'm just hoping to see the guy smile? If he relaxed a little, got happy, he might flash one of those Knock You Out at 100 Paces smiles. *melts*

Yeah, those smiles are pretty amazing, aren't they? I have to admit that I've hit the point where I'd kind of like to see him loosen up a little bit more, at least with Daniel and Sam. It's been pretty well shown that the whole uptight, gotta be in constant control thing is a Teal'c issue, not a Jaffa characteristic, so it'd be nice to see him shrug some of it off around his friends - but not in the playing basketball and doing odd little victory hip bumps with Vala way, thanks. ><

I was certain he was drinking somethign different in that scene. They all had bear bottles and he had something else.

It's cranberry juice. At least that's what it looks like to me in the screencap.

Hmm. I'm not sure if it's okay to post the direct link, so here's the main site page. And for Lost City Part 1, it's on Page 24. The pic is 2687.

http://www.stargatesg1971.com

Or really foofy red beer. *is deeply in denial*

LOL. I'm sorry. It was a kind of cool idea.

Sure, it's um, Killian's red. Yeah. LOL. It's resemblance to cranberry juice is completely coincidental! LOL

Exactly. *curls up in blissful ignorance*

Yeah, that's entirely possible and I'm way too lazy to try and find the ep and see if I'm mis-remembering.

LOL! I am not the only one that thinks Benson in that episode. Funny.

I get distracted by stuff like that. Kept thinking 'Benson' whenever I saw DS9, never got into it for that reason; took me years to get into SG-1 because of Macgyver.

Just watched a Farscape episode where I identified a highly prostheticy alien as Nem from Fire and Water in SG-1 and kept doing doubletakes every time he spoke.

I'm a little sensitive to previous roles, clearly. Heh.

Intimidated by your own "gaul", are you? ::g:: What, you have your very own PreFrench barbarian lolling about, have you?

And how is it possible that you have not read anything by Elmore Leonard? Lord, are you missing out! He's best known for his urban stuff but back when he was cutting his teeth as a writer (in the '60s or so) he wrote Westerns.

He wrote VALDEZ IS COMING, which was made into a pretty awful movie but that's not his fault. He took the money and ambled off to the nearest bar, I suppose. But that novel has one of my favorite opening lines ever: "Everybody used to be somebody else."

Extremely good story. Check it out.

HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Gall. I meant gall. *is laughing too hard at self to edit the post just yet*

Will check out Valdez is Coming. I'd read something based on an opening line like that.

'Scuse me, I need to go edit my spelling now. *is still giggling at self*

What, you have your very own PreFrench barbarian lolling about, have you?

*SNORT*

Priceless.

And, Minxy, thanks for this link! Excellent advice, indeed.

Hi! *waves* You're most welcome. I love having a witty flist. *snickers again*

I kinda like the quirk that Teal'c doesn't drink alcohol. He doesn't off-world either. Take note of episodes like The Lost City when he's drinking something different than everyone else. It just adds character to him somehow. ;)

I think... I think why I don't embrace it is that I don't know that it adds anything new to the character. His constant control is legendary, I don't need to hear that he avoids the weakness of lowered inhibitions, unless they are deliberately nodding to the Arabic and Muslim traditions they initially based the Jaffa upon, but they mixed all that into Middle Eastern, Greek and Egyptian cultures too, and more than a few of those rely traditionally on wine and beer (watered wine sometimes, but still) as a primary drink at most meals.

It also means that the distinctly beer-centric world of O'Neill's SG-1 was a consistant reminder of being an outsider, and not participating, and I would want more team cohesion. I know when a friend of mine didn't drink in college we really didn't either, just so that she wasn't different.

Plus, I would like to see the trust implicit in Teal'c changing his mind and getting to the place where he would trust himself and trust his friends enough to let go, just a little bit. That would be an interesting development. The constant control is one-note to me.

I don't know. We'll have to agree to disagree and have a difference of opinion on this one. I think it really speaks to his character. He is huge. He is controlled. He could drink if he wanted to, but he doesn't. He just doesn't. And I find that striking.

And while Jack, Sam, and Daniel will drink, they've never shown that Sam goes nuts with it, and Daniel has a low tolerance to begin with so he tends to hold back a bit. It's Jack that really goes gung-ho with the beer, and even that was more of a later season development. (He always drank it, but it didn't become more of a joke until later.) Because of that, I don't see Teal'c as an outsider in that respect.

And I like the fact there everyone is their own person but can be cohesive. They function amazingly well, even Cameron, and yet they all have their own preferences.

That's just how I look at it anyway.

Eh, yeah, I see it, but I like change. I always like changes in characters, how they influence each other, how they respond and arc. How they react to their situation psychologically. So I can see starting from there, from this really striking characteristic, but then I want to see a reaction to it, a way it changes how people around him are, how they think of him. Even beyond that, one of the most fascinating aspects of Teal'c to me is that he is rethinking his choices as he rejects his God; shaving his head, wearing the adornments of Apophis, thinking this way, following these rules... are they his choices, are they necessary, or are they a rule that was set for him by a society that no longer needs to abide by those rules?

So that is the most striking characteristic about Teal'c to me, that he is actively questioning everything. Questioning is cool. *g*

I am all for character growth and devlopment which means change has to happen. But there are certain things about a character I like to stay the same. Something about their core being.

For some reason, I see this as something that reflects Teal'c's core and you're obviously free to disagree with me on that. It just...I don't know. it really speaks to me.

But then again, I hate the hair so... ;)

Really? I love the hair!

We're doomed as a couple, you know that, right? Doomed. *g*

I knew you'd love the hair. I knew it!

I guess you're Jack to my Daniel or Daniel to my Jack...

Long-haired Daniel or short-haired Daniel? *g*

Bickering is good for the soul, this is what we've learned from Stargate, right?

dysfunctional relationships rock! Who needs peace, love and harmony anyway?

Oh, long or short-haired? *whines* You know, I am insane but I adored Daniel will long hair. I did. But then again, I do like him with short hair too.

Who needs peace, love and harmony anyway?

Makes for very poor copy. Never makes the front page.

I know when a friend of mine didn't drink in college we really didn't either, just so that she wasn't different.

Clearly you are more tactful and sensitive than me and my friends *g* - I don't drink, and that's never stopped friends from drinking (or getting drunk) if that's what they were doing anyway.

Although I also expect them to understand when I decide they're too drunk to talk to. And when I subsquently remember perfectly what they did when they were hideously drunk and use it for blackmail/mockery purposes.

Actually, come to think of it, Teal'c always has a slight air of "I am the only fully sober person in this room".

(I'm saving up "Designated Driver" to use as a fic title one day).

Plus, I would like to see the trust implicit in Teal'c changing his mind and getting to the place where he would trust himself and trust his friends enough to let go, just a little bit.

Oh, definitely - but IMHO, drinking is the least interesting way that could happen ... ;)

Well, I'm a really mellow person when I drink, and I have the tolerance only a person with German/Scandenavian/Dutch/VariousNWEuropeanCountries heritage can boast, so I'm really boring, blackmail-wise (worst thing I've ever done is pick up someone else's identical looking cup.) My other friend? Scandenavian and 5 years older and thus deeply unimpressed by college type drinking shenanigans (that was her reasoning, not mine). Our other friend? Really, really annoying drunk. So that might have played into all of us willing to avoid letting her irritate us that much.

I do believe that in the time since college A has discovered the entertainment value of blackmail.

Don't you think T always has a 'I'm way more sober than you are' thing going on? Even when no one is drinking and it's just Jack doing his cosmic!giddiness thing?

Oh, definitely - but IMHO, drinking is the least interesting way that could happen ... ;)

*long suffering sigh* It's a metaphor! *rolls eyes*

Why, what were you thinking? Besides offworld sex up against a wall dealing with Jaffa robes, obviously.

And now I must sleep. There has been much silliness on the LJ this fine evening.

Don't you think T always has a 'I'm way more sober than you are' thing going on?

Hey, I did say "always" *g*. I suspect that even Drunk!Teal'c would still manage to be more sober than anyone else, and subtly (but distinctly) smug about it.

Why, what were you thinking? Besides offworld sex up against a wall dealing with Jaffa robes, obviously.

And even then, he managed to stay pretty cool ...

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