Need Help or Ideas? Come to the Think Tank and Idea Box!

[Ahiko]

Secks Shae: Okay, look, even if R&C isn't the place to be, it's certainly not here. This is for advice when it comes to writing stories, not the entire plot. Nobody here will write an entire story for you; that's all that matters. Being the writing freaks we are, we (oh so selfishly) use whatever good plot we can think of for ourselves.

So, if you want to find a place to post about that, ask a mod or post in the chatterbox. I'll be frank; I don't know where you'd request writing. But it's not here.

Now please, let's not get into the whole elist b*****d thing. Name calling isn't cool, and neither is a flame war.

[x_haphazard_x]

slightfoxing

Wanted to run this concept by people--

As writers, we all know and hate deus ex machina. Lots of amateur stories are full of it. So, what if Deus ex Machina was a person? Maybe a minor god, like the Verucca Gnome or the Happiness Fairy in Hogfather.

So--in some world or other, Deus ex Machina is one of the "small gods", saving heroes on a daily basis. Wouldn't you get bored of that after a while? Maybe a little annoyed that you couldn't do anything but randomly save people? Well, Deus gets fed up and leaves for some other, better world.

Havoc ensues. A lot of the great heroes in this world's history have been saved by Deus ex Machina, so when Deus leaves, the heroes were never saved. History comes flapping loose and starts to proceed along its own path, dragging the world with it. Of course, nobody wants that to happen, so a wizard, a witch and an alchemist run off to put the past back where it was before.

The catch is that this world is inside the book of some fantasy writer. So while the characters run around to save the past from dying off, the writer has problems of his own--his books are completely rewritten given to Deus' departure.

Questions? Comments?

Damn it! That was my idea! scream

Damn damn damn damn damn...

I've really got to learn how to stake my claim better.

[Slightfoxing]

x_haphazard_x

Damn it! That was my idea! scream

Damn damn damn damn damn...

I've really got to learn how to stake my claim better.

0_o

Seriously?

That is weird.

[x_haphazard_x]

slightfoxing

x_haphazard_x

Damn it! That was my idea! scream

Damn damn damn damn damn...

I've really got to learn how to stake my claim better.

0_o

Seriously?

That is weird.

Well, it wasn't exactly the same. The Deus Ex Machina (yes, you always have to put the "the" in front of it or else he gets mad) was originally a character from some sort of ancient play- and he's one of the sins of writing. Yes, there are seven of them. The Deus Ex Machina, Inconsistency, Plagarism, Cliche, Vagueness, Melodrama, and Disarray. They were all originally characters from books, but after the story was over, they came out of their world (through a magic dryer) into the real one, and set up shop. They make a living in the real world by selling rare items they find in fantasy stories, and also get called on for all sorts of jobs in amateur fantasy stories. There were also the muses (9) and the virtues (5) of writing, but I didn't get into the virtues.

The Deus Ex Machina was an old-looking man, and had the power to solve problems by clapping his hands together. He couldn't solve his own problems, nor could he hurt people with this power, and for that he was kind of angry. But he got kicks out of saving to-be heroes from stories without any comission. He's dreadfully stubborn, too. Inconsistency, the shop-owner, doesn't like him very much... but that's just the way he is.

They're fun to write... and they were also made out of paper. So not exactly the same, but very, VERY similar.

Is it possible that you have seen the thread "Deus Ex Machina?" and stole my idea without even realizing it? I posted a short description of him there, and you might have taken it by accident. I've heard this happen before. Beware of easy inspiration.

[Slightfoxing]

x_haphazard_x

slightfoxing

x_haphazard_x

Damn it! That was my idea! scream

Damn damn damn damn damn...

I've really got to learn how to stake my claim better.

0_o

Seriously?

That is weird.

Well, it wasn't exactly the same. The Deus Ex Machina (yes, you always have to put the "the" in front of it or else he gets mad) was originally a character from some sort of ancient play- and he's one of the sins of writing. Yes, there are seven of them. The Deus Ex Machina, Inconsistency, Plagarism, Cliche, Vagueness, Melodrama, and Disarray. They were all originally characters from books, but after the story was over, they came out of their world (through a magic dryer) into the real one, and set up shop. They make a living in the real world by selling rare items they find in fantasy stories, and also get called on for all sorts of jobs in amateur fantasy stories. There were also the muses (9) and the virtues (5) of writing, but I didn't get into the virtues. They were fun to write... and they were also made out of paper. So not exactly the same, but very, VERY similar.

But great minds think alike, right? Right?

Hehe, I like your take on the Seven Deadly Sins.

[x_haphazard_x]

See? I posted it in the thread "Deus Ex Machina" like this:

Quote:

I had a character named Deus Ex Machina once. Very fun. He could solve all problems just by clapping his hands together- but he couldn't solve his own problems or hurn anyone. He was too independent for his own good, angry that he couldn't hurt anyone, and kept rescuing people who would later become legendary heroes from certain doom. He was awesome.

...That sounds a lot like your character, aside from the hands-clapping part.

[Slightfoxing]

x_haphazard_x

See? I posted it in the thread "Deus Ex Machina" like this:

Quote:

I had a character named Deus Ex Machina once. Very fun. He could solve all problems just by clapping his hands together- but he couldn't solve his own problems or hurn anyone. He was too independent for his own good, angry that he couldn't hurt anyone, and kept rescuing people who would later become legendary heroes from certain doom. He was awesome.

...That sounds a lot like your character, aside from the hands-clapping part.

Yeppers, it does. Although I haven't actually given him a personality as such yet--he's just a sort of vague concept

I was skimming over one of the Series of Unfortunate Events books and happened upon the bit where he talks about deus ex machina...

[x_haphazard_x]

slightfoxing

x_haphazard_x

See? I posted it in the thread "Deus Ex Machina" like this:

Quote:

I had a character named Deus Ex Machina once. Very fun. He could solve all problems just by clapping his hands together- but he couldn't solve his own problems or hurn anyone. He was too independent for his own good, angry that he couldn't hurt anyone, and kept rescuing people who would later become legendary heroes from certain doom. He was awesome.

...That sounds a lot like your character, aside from the hands-clapping part.

Yeppers, it does. Although I haven't actually given him a personality as such yet--he's just a sort of vague concept

I was skimming over one of the Series of Unfortunate Events books and happened upon the bit where he talks about deus ex machina...

*starts sobbing*

You're still going to go through with it, aren't you?

*latches onto the Deus Ex Machina* Nooo! I don't want you to go awaaaaay!!!!

[Slightfoxing]

x_haphazard_x

slightfoxing

x_haphazard_x

See? I posted it in the thread "Deus Ex Machina" like this:

Quote:

I had a character named Deus Ex Machina once. Very fun. He could solve all problems just by clapping his hands together- but he couldn't solve his own problems or hurn anyone. He was too independent for his own good, angry that he couldn't hurt anyone, and kept rescuing people who would later become legendary heroes from certain doom. He was awesome.

...That sounds a lot like your character, aside from the hands-clapping part.

Yeppers, it does. Although I haven't actually given him a personality as such yet--he's just a sort of vague concept

I was skimming over one of the Series of Unfortunate Events books and happened upon the bit where he talks about deus ex machina...

*starts sobbing*

You're still going to go through with it, aren't you?

*latches onto the Deus Ex Machina* Nooo! I don't want you to go awaaaaay!!!!

Eh, don't worry, I'll probably forget about it before I have the time to do anything with him... 'cause I'm just that preoccupied. You can hang onto him for a while.

[x_haphazard_x]

slightfoxing

x_haphazard_x

slightfoxing

x_haphazard_x

See? I posted it in the thread "Deus Ex Machina" like this:

Quote:

I had a character named Deus Ex Machina once. Very fun. He could solve all problems just by clapping his hands together- but he couldn't solve his own problems or hurn anyone. He was too independent for his own good, angry that he couldn't hurt anyone, and kept rescuing people who would later become legendary heroes from certain doom. He was awesome.

...That sounds a lot like your character, aside from the hands-clapping part.

Yeppers, it does. Although I haven't actually given him a personality as such yet--he's just a sort of vague concept

I was skimming over one of the Series of Unfortunate Events books and happened upon the bit where he talks about deus ex machina...

*starts sobbing*

You're still going to go through with it, aren't you?

*latches onto the Deus Ex Machina* Nooo! I don't want you to go awaaaaay!!!!

Eh, don't worry, I'll probably forget about it before I have the time to do anything with him... 'cause I'm just that preoccupied. You can hang onto him for a while.

Yay! He's here to stay! *stops strangling the Deus Ex Machina*

[Secks Shae]

Ahiko

Secks Shae: Okay, look, even if R&C isn't the place to be, it's certainly not here. This is for advice when it comes to writing stories, not the entire plot. Nobody here will write an entire story for you; that's all that matters. Being the writing freaks we are, we (oh so selfishly) use whatever good plot we can think of for ourselves.

So, if you want to find a place to post about that, ask a mod or post in the chatterbox. I'll be frank; I don't know where you'd request writing. But it's not here.

Now please, let's not get into the whole elist b*****d thing. Name calling isn't cool, and neither is a flame war.

Perhaps this is all blown out of proportion because not enough people around here understand what I'm asking. See, this particular chapter of the comic series is as random as it gets. There literally is no plot, just a bunch of friends and people I've asked writing some dialogue between characters that pops into their heads. Essentially these comics are set up like a joke.. three panels of dialogue that build it up and the fourth for the punchline. I'm not asking people to write my entire series, in fact I have my own plot devices for the rest of the series, I'm asking three people to write four, simple bits of dialogue each. Had the remaining three people I asked not backed out on me, I wouldn't even be here.

I do sincerely apologize for being an utter a**, but I'm desperate here. And when I get desperate I become, well, really mean hearted. This sticky is meant for discussion of ideas and helping people who're stuck in their writing, is it not? I happen to be a lyricist/poet/fan-fic author as well, so understand the writing freak syndrome and wanting to keep all your best ideas to yourself. But really, is it so hard to take 10-15 minutes to slap together a bit of random conversation or satire? The whole reason I even started this guest chapter was to take a break from my plotline to gather ideas for the rest of the series, and it's seriously backfiring on me.

If I can just find 3 people to do this, you'll never hear from me again.. until I post something in the Lyricism/Poetry forum which I do from occasion to occasion.. but even then.

[Kayla_agent#1]

I usuly have issues with remembering to put in details. I mean I give really decriptive details about the carictors, but I hate decribeing the setting becouse I always leave stuff out. ninja

[Lea Fealith]

Secks is right, I think her request belongs here, as it has to do with the written word and not illustration. Please don't worry about the people who are spending time being negative instead of trying to be helpful.

That said, I'm not sure I can help you.

I remember a very old conversation in Gaia that was funny, but it may not be nearly as good out of context.

Person 1: I was just wondering, you have all these common items and then you've got a devil tail. How did that happen?

Person 2: Maybe she slept with lanzer.

Person 3: What? She got a devil tail and all I got were these damn glases?!

Person 2: That's pretty funny.

Person 3: Not to me it isn't. crying

Kayla - Just remember this. You're not supposed to describe everything, just what matters. The hardest part of writing well is deciding what to leave out, in my opinion.

[Secks Shae]

Lea Fealith

Secks is right, I think her request belongs here, as it has to do with the written word and not illustration. Please don't worry about the people who are spending time being negative instead of trying to be helpful.

That said, I'm not sure I can help you.

I remember a very old conversation in Gaia that was funny, but it may not be nearly as good out of context.

Person 1: I was just wondering, you have all these common items and then you've got a devil tail. How did that happen?

Person 2: Maybe she slept with lanzer.

Person 3: What? She got a devil tail and all I got were these damn glases?!

Person 2: That's pretty funny.

Person 3: Not to me it isn't. crying

That is kinda funny, and I'd use it too, if I could just find a way to apply it to 4 Chao sharing a hou- *lightbulb* I could tie it in to Christmas..

SCORE! 2 down, 1 to go. Of course, you'll be credited with the idea for this issue, as is the custom in Sprite Comics. I appreciate your kindness and help smile But uh.. for t he record.. I'm a guy x.X;

[x_haphazard_x]

Hey, does anybody have the basic formula for figuring out how many wide-rule written pages equals a full typed page? I'm curious, because I've written about 111 wide-rule handwritten pages, and I just want an estimate of how that would look typed.