Reviews Schmeviews

[Sycamore]

Aleisou, I would like to know more as to why you think seers are so twinkish. I've never really thought of a seer as a twink, although I can see how they might be able to use their mystical powers to extract information they should not know. However, it seems more like something you'd find in a roleplay site with a newbish and immature writer, not one applying for a legitimate writing contest, and if so, probably wouldn't have the charm, speculation, and possible fraud that Nyika exhibits.

Have you witnessed firsthand how seers can be twinky? Was there a specific instance that turned you off to them? I'm curious!

[Balmafula]

I second that. I never really thought of seers being twinkish; it's not like they have any real control over their powers. Even if a seer could see the future, it doesn't mean they can do anything to stop or change it. It's not like they can cast magic or read people's minds.

[Rousseau]

I second that. I never really thought of seers being twinkish; it's not like they have any real control over their powers. Even if a seer could see the future, it doesn't mean they can do anything to stop or change it. It's not like they can cast magic or read people's minds.

I'm glad I didn't submit the seer application I almost sent in for the Yew Guard then. The whole thing was a redo of my Redscape application Claire, a seer police officer, but changed in a few ways. The new application was for a fox seer who used her ability to see the future to catch criminals and stop crimes from happening in Yew... all for the reason of desperately wanting the satisfaction and approval of the racist woodlander who raised her. It doesn't sound too bad on paper, but she was pretty good at fighting, could see the future (and control her abilities pretty well. She was basically all-seeing and a total twink). There was a reason I didn't submit it.

I can see Seers being considered twinks if done poorly like mine was about to be. But I think Nyika has done a good job of making herself not all powerful and still be an interesting character.

[TNT]

I've read over Nyika's application a few times, and I don't feel like I've come to a concrete conclusion as to what really happened in it. But I think that's the point. I think the ambiguity surrounding her is a great way of getting around the inherent twinky-ness of seers. Personally, I see Nyika as somebody who is genuinely gifted with a seer's ability, but cannot control it. She can't choose when to see or hear the spirits; they approach her of her own accord, and the ambiguous ending to the application is a reflection of the fact that even Nyika herself doesn't really know what's going on. And she's only sixteen. Every single day for a sixteen year old is a series of confusing events. :P

Yesss. My thoughts exactly.

And, I know I've picked on poor Poko too much already, but to her author I would just say, take note of how Nyika's age comes through in this, without her having to be over the top sassypants. Nyika feels like a believable teenager, and she FAILED at something. And pouted about it. She didn't win the entire world ever.

And I would just like to say that overall, I was really impressed by the caliber of apps we got! I think no matter what, this is going to be a great story. Also, I am also really, really happy that we are able to discuss these apps without dissolving into flaming and name calling. I'm already attached to many of these characters and I just wanna put in a good word for them! And that's what everyone else is doing too. Yey!

[Sycamore]

I'm posting about Poko because I missed the party Monday night when I was at work. But most points have already been covered!!! I guess I'll just bullet point things...

Ain't nothin' wrong wit' accents...: Seriously, read the books. Brian Jacques is notorious for writing out his accents, it only makes sense that fan-writers will emulate this. Taking points off for this is annoying and aggravating when you're trying to emulate the author that inspired this contest.

The musk thing...: Has been done before. As a matter of fact, I wrote a female otter named Ebb who used to purchase bottles of her friend's stench to cover up her own smell and pretend to be her (dead) brother.

The idiocy of woodlanders...: I actually didn't have a problem with this. Someone mentioned her hat falling off and the badger not seeing it. This is completely believable, considering badgers are large, hulking creatures and it makes sense that they can be short-sighted in some areas. On the squirrel lass, she is enamored by the Players! Look at her, she's smitten! She's been described as being sympathetic, which means not only did she enjoy the show but she cares for these Dewhurst Players, and then she watches with starry eyes a fantastic act with fire torches and all that good stuff.

" 'Oh, if only he were a squirrel and not a ferret...' she sighed forlornly," because all she wants to do is take one home and feed grapes to him as he lays in a provocative position on a gilded couch. I didn't see the squirrelmaid enamored so much by Poko, per se, as much as the entire Dewhurst Player troupe. If we're talking about twinks and the like, the entire troupe should be at fault, not necessarily Poko.


Let's look at Poko for a minute. Brattish, invincible, lovable. This is what she is when she's with the Dewhurst Players. Let's imagine a scenario where she's out of her element, where she can't rely on her father or the other members of the troupe to back her up or guide her. Poko could very well fall apart at the seams, being forced to venture in unfamiliar territory, finding herself unable to woo the hearts of the other survivors like she can the crowd. Yet somehow her skills, particular and unique as they are, might be the one thing they need for survival.

[Aleisou]

Ever seen the movie Ghost, with Patrick Swayze? XD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAb2_-uv41Y

I haven't seen that film, but that clip was hilarious! Definitely going to have to watch that now.

Aleisou, I would like to know more as to why you think seers are so twinkish. I've never really thought of a seer as a twink, although I can see how they might be able to use their mystical powers to extract information they should not know. However, it seems more like something you'd find in a roleplay site with a newbish and immature writer, not one applying for a legitimate writing contest, and if so, probably wouldn't have the charm, speculation, and possible fraud that Nyika exhibits.

Have you witnessed firsthand how seers can be twinky? Was there a specific instance that turned you off to them? I'm curious!

Well ... the fact that I grew up on a healthy diet of exactly those kind of noobish roleplaying sites may have something to do with it. I couldn't link you to any examples but I definitely encountered some VERY badly written seers who could use their abilities to control what would happen and escape from it ... It's left me prejudiced for life, hahaha.

I'm sure a talented writer could pull off a genuine seer, but as you said, the speculation and possible fraud is what makes Nyika so charming!

Rousseau, your seer police officer sounds like the concept for a new crime drama TV series! XD Think you're onto something there.

[Rousseau]

Rousseau, your seer police officer sounds like the concept for a new crime drama TV series! XD Think you're onto something there.

It was originally based on the show "Medium," so someone's already beaten me to it unfortunately :P

[TNT]

Ain't nothin' wrong wit' accents...: Seriously, read the books. Brian Jacques is notorious for writing out his accents, it only makes sense that fan-writers will emulate this. Taking points off for this is annoying and aggravating when you're trying to emulate the author that inspired this contest.

I guess this is true, but I found them kind of annoying in the books themselves. Again, I have no problem with accents, but I just personally prefer them to be toned down. And again: why change it to "nuthin'" when it doesn't change the sound? It's excessive, unnecessary changes that I dislike. I still would've pronounced it exactly the same in my head. I just think it looks sloppy, which I find irritating.

Also, emulating, yes. I would argue that a writer can emulate another writer and still maintain their own unique voice, though. I don't want to read someone trying to sound just like Brian Jacques, because, well, a lot of his characters were underdeveloped and boring, and a lot of them were the same (this happened more and more as he wrote stacks of books). As a kid I didn't really notice, but the man did write a lot of twinkish characters. Felldoh, most badgers, etc. Point is, I stopped reading the later books for a reason: the characters just never really seemed to change by that point. So while I love nods to canon, I don't really want a character c/ped from a Redwall book. As I'm older now, I appreciate complexity a lot more than I did as a kid. If that makes sense. Bah. I have to go to work. More later.

[TNT]

Meh. I'm so tired from work and antihistamines I can't think. I got nothin'. I've already picked on Poko enough anyway. I'm sure she'd do fine in the contest, but unless she changes a few things, she just may not have a fan in me. That's all. She seems to have plenty of fans anyway. We'll have to just wait and see.

[TNT]

Here, have a crappy Pyracantha drawing. I started it like, the day I wrote the prologue, but I couldn't be bothered to finish/scan it. It was gonna have Flax too. XP

[Rexim]

That is a wonderful piece of art! She looks quite tough

[Chokk Wulgar]

I second that! It's a good piece of art, I like it :D I love seeing art for these contests in general.

[TNT]

Thankee! I'm just glad to see so much art already! :)

[TNT]

Um. So. This was written up (but not sent) last night on these forums. But I can't not share this with you now.

Hnm. I have had entirely too much Fireball Whiskey and I thought vageuly about doing reviews to see if alcohol had any effect on my opiniosn, but I'm pretty sure if I tryied to type a coherent post it wouldn't work. Even this small post ins a failure. NOt sure why  im even trying. MMMKWAY. plus I already voted anyway.


BUT GO TWAM VIST

TEMA


TEAM VIST!!!!


YEAH.


That si all. Your admin ais inebriated, ladies and germs.

Even DTNT (Drunk Totally Not Tara) approves of Vist. I think that's a compliment? I'm Ron Burgundy? My head hurts a little. I need some water.

[Chokk Wulgar]

Soooo I think DTNT should have her own account. That would be very entertaining  ^-^