Help Me, Please! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Samwise · 07-05-2002, 11:10 PM

Some of you may have seen the following link after my posts:
My Story
Or something similar. Anyhoo, even though I know where I want to go with this story, I'm stagnated. Could someone please read it over and post some ideas, here? I may not use your idea, I might just go off on my own tangent, but brainstorming sometimes helps me get my juices going again. Thank you! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Quote:

"You don't need to tell me that!" said Sam. "I came without any, and I've been worried ever since. But I was wondering what these were made of, knowing a bit about rope-making: it's in the family as you might say. "

(Actually, I would like you to tell me...) [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Anna Licumo · 07-06-2002, 02:13 PM

I'm sorry Sam, I'd love to help, but your link doesn't work for me!

Samwise · 07-06-2002, 03:01 PM

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/187925
That way if the link dosen't work, the URL is there at least.....thank you again!

Quote:

"Swans!" said Sam. "And mighty big ones, too!"

Nevfeniel · 07-06-2002, 03:03 PM

I read your story, Samwise, and it's wonderful, but I can't think of what should happen next. I'm definitely no writer. Sorry. But you do have my support, the story is great.

Samwise · 07-06-2002, 03:08 PM

Well, thank you for reading, anyway, Nev. Maybe if I read it over again, something will "pop out". Maybe I just have too much on my mind at the moment. I haven't touched the story in a while. Like I said, I know where I want it to go, it's just getting there from where I am! [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

Quote:

Sam looked from bank to bank uneasily. The trees had seemed hostile before, as if they harboured secret eyes and lurking dangers; now he wished that the trees were still there. He felt that the company was on a river that was the frontier of war.

Anna Licumo · 07-06-2002, 04:11 PM

Hey, it is good! Well, you said you knew where you wanted to go- maybe you could perhaps type up a sketchy outline? I'd really love to help, but last time I helped my friend I ended up changing her precious plot. >.< So an outline would certinly help little me and my lack of writing talent...
PM me if you'd be so gracious as to give me more details so I could give thee my humble hints without clogging up the poor Barrow-Wight's webspace. If you want to anyway. (Whew, talk about run on sentances.)

Tigerlily Gamgee · 07-06-2002, 04:11 PM

Lovely story, Samwise... I wish that I could help, but I have the same problem with writer's block. I have a fan fic that's been sitting around for months because I need to come up with an ending that will make sense.
I have faith that it will come to you, fellow Gamgee. Keep up the great writing!

Lothiriel Silmarien · 07-06-2002, 04:15 PM

Samwise, it's good! I remember reading some of it a while ago, but it wasn't as much. I like the elf friend. I'm not that good at giving advice like this, because I've never really done so before! But...um...how about you write about Primrose and Iau on a trip and something happens to someone (either one of them or someone else) and help is givin. I thought it might go along with the theme you have going on there. It's not much help at all, but I hope maybe it helps!

akhtene · 07-06-2002, 05:40 PM

Samwise, very nice style (as far as I can judge). As for the ideas - one seems quite banal - disappearing kids, perhaps Tom included. Another is a bit wierd for your story, but still - something about the preacher (sorry if the word isn't suitable). Did he arrive from some other time? Or another world?
No real help,I know [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img]

Samwise · 07-06-2002, 08:27 PM

Thank you all...I'm going to continue to refer back to this page....I've got to reread through Prim's adventure to get a "feel" for it again....Yes, I agree...Iau is going to go with Prim...I thought of her going by herself, but now...heh--"like father like daughter..." and heaven forbid Primrose Gamgee should be accused of being a "Mary Sue"!

Raefindel · 07-06-2002, 08:55 PM

You've come a long way since I read it last, Samwise. You are ment to write hobbit stories.

I'll PM you if I think of anything, but Lothiriel's suggestion sounds good to me. Maybe an attack by some creature you can invent.

NyteSky · 07-07-2002, 10:03 PM

Nice! Finally the long neglected genre of hobbit adventurers is being used again at last! It was fun reading, where's it going to go from there? You could probably use some more characters. 2 adventurers isn't enough to get most quests done, or make them gripping. Great job with the characterizations so far though! Even the dialogue parts were interesting. I never would have thought of including Christianity that way either. Well, good luck with it! Make sure you let me know when you update it, I'd like to read it.

Samwise · 07-07-2002, 10:37 PM

Thank you for both the comments and compliments, NyteSky. It's been a while since I've written an adventure, and while I remember my last one having more than two involved, can you tell me why you think that makes it "more gripping?"
Thank you again! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Quote:

"A fair jaw-cracker dwarf language must be! "
~Sam Gamgee

NyteSky · 07-08-2002, 08:34 PM

Well, with more characters there's more interaction. Also, it's much harder to become sick of a character. Though I don't think you need to worry about that.
With more ppl there's more opinions so there's more conflict. Also there can be possible likes/dislikes, even romance. Tho that has a tendency to overly complicate things sometime. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Two characters is good, because you get to know them really well, but it's nice if there's other people to keep track of, or at least that's the way I feel about it. Like in my book, I've got... um... 7 characters so far, but they haven't met up yet, and later they'll split up making a couple of groups of 2 or so. So I'll have interaction between characters (humans vs elves vs dwarves, throw in some class differences, etc) but then I'll split them up so the reader can get to really know them. I'm rambling, sorry. I'd say look to the master, as usual. Tolkien started with a few characters, added some on, then split them up. Worked well for him. Hope you can find a little sense in all that. I'm glad to (try and) help. Feel free to email me (davidone_2000@msn.com) if there's anything I can help with. What are you stuck on exactly? It seems to be going great so far.

Samwise · 07-08-2002, 08:41 PM

Thank you much. That certainly makes sense.
Well, to tell the truth, I know what I want them (the characters) to do, but I'm not quite sure how to get them there. Maybe if I read the story over again...my mind's just been so full of stuff lately, maybe that's part of my problem.

Quote:

"They are sailing, sailing, sailing over the Sea, they are going into the West and leaving us," said Sam, half chanting the words, shaking his head sadly and solemnly.

My Picture Page

Raefindel · 07-08-2002, 08:44 PM

I agree with Nytesky, two characters really doesn't give you too much in the way of dynamics to work with. If you are writing a romance a third preson cna offer a "jealousy" factor, if you are writing a comedy two gets dull really fast. And especially if you are writing an adventure, if one gets in trouble it can sometimes take two to save him.

07-06-2002, 02:13 PM	#2
Anna Licumo Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eryn Lasgalen... okay, KS actually. ::sigh:: Posts: 78	I'm sorry Sam, I'd love to help, but your link doesn't work for me! __________________ Rock-a-bye Nazgul, on Weathertop, when the Ring calls, the horses will run. And when Sauron calls, the Nazgul will go, and down will come evil, Ringwraiths and all!

07-06-2002, 03:03 PM	#4
Nevfeniel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mithlond Posts: 783	I read your story, Samwise, and it's wonderful, but I can't think of what should happen next. I'm definitely no writer. Sorry. But you do have my support, the story is great. __________________ Consider the purr a variety of audible tranquilizer. [. . .] For a few of us, there is one more purr, a secret purr. When we combine our secret purrs, we produce the Purr of Power. And that is simply the amplified amity we feel as furred and purred beings.

07-06-2002, 04:11 PM	#6
Anna Licumo Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2002 Location: Eryn Lasgalen... okay, KS actually. ::sigh:: Posts: 78	Hey, it is good! Well, you said you knew where you wanted to go- maybe you could perhaps type up a sketchy outline? I'd really love to help, but last time I helped my friend I ended up changing her precious plot. >.< So an outline would certinly help little me and my lack of writing talent... PM me if you'd be so gracious as to give me more details so I could give thee my humble hints without clogging up the poor Barrow-Wight's webspace. If you want to anyway. (Whew, talk about run on sentances.) __________________ Rock-a-bye Nazgul, on Weathertop, when the Ring calls, the horses will run. And when Sauron calls, the Nazgul will go, and down will come evil, Ringwraiths and all!

07-06-2002, 04:11 PM	#7
Tigerlily Gamgee Hostess of Spirits Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Meduseld Posts: 1,055	Lovely story, Samwise... I wish that I could help, but I have the same problem with writer's block. I have a fan fic that's been sitting around for months because I need to come up with an ending that will make sense. I have faith that it will come to you, fellow Gamgee. Keep up the great writing! __________________ ~ ExerciseJunky.com (Hobbits fitness of choice!)~ ~Lady of Rohan: An Eowyn Fansite ~ ~The NEW/OLD Barrow Downs Photo Page~

07-06-2002, 04:15 PM	#8
Lothiriel Silmarien Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New York Posts: 829	Samwise, it's good! I remember reading some of it a while ago, but it wasn't as much. I like the elf friend. I'm not that good at giving advice like this, because I've never really done so before! But...um...how about you write about Primrose and Iau on a trip and something happens to someone (either one of them or someone else) and help is givin. I thought it might go along with the theme you have going on there. It's not much help at all, but I hope maybe it helps! __________________ Si vanwa na Romello vanwa Valimar!~~ ~~Now lost, lost to those from the East is Valimar! My LotR page

07-06-2002, 05:40 PM	#9
akhtene Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: May 2002 Location: stronghold of the North Posts: 390	Samwise, very nice style (as far as I can judge). As for the ideas - one seems quite banal - disappearing kids, perhaps Tom included. Another is a bit wierd for your story, but still - something about the preacher (sorry if the word isn't suitable). Did he arrive from some other time? Or another world? No real help,I know [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img] __________________ Где найти мне сил, чтобы вернуться через века, Чтобы ты - простил?.. А трава разлуки высока...

07-06-2002, 08:27 PM	#10
Samwise Faithful Spirit Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: #3 Bagshot Row, Petaluma, Ca Posts: 2,299	Thank you all...I'm going to continue to refer back to this page....I've got to reread through Prim's adventure to get a "feel" for it again....Yes, I agree...Iau is going to go with Prim...I thought of her going by herself, but now...heh--"like father like daughter..." and heaven forbid Primrose Gamgee should be accused of being a "Mary Sue"! __________________ Giving thanks unto the Father...In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.~Colossians1:12a,14 * * * * * * * I am Samwise son of Hamfast, if by hoe or trowel I can get these weeds out of your garden, I will.You have my shears!;)

07-06-2002, 08:55 PM	#11
Raefindel Sword of the Spirit Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,313	You've come a long way since I read it last, Samwise. You are ment to write hobbit stories. I'll PM you if I think of anything, but Lothiriel's suggestion sounds good to me. Maybe an attack by some creature you can invent. __________________ Blessed be the Lord my Strength, Who trained my hands for war and my fingers to fight. Psallm 144:1

07-07-2002, 10:03 PM	#12
NyteSky Haunting Spirit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tower of Sorcery and Lore Posts: 76	Nice! Finally the long neglected genre of hobbit adventurers is being used again at last! It was fun reading, where's it going to go from there? You could probably use some more characters. 2 adventurers isn't enough to get most quests done, or make them gripping. Great job with the characterizations so far though! Even the dialogue parts were interesting. I never would have thought of including Christianity that way either. Well, good luck with it! Make sure you let me know when you update it, I'd like to read it. __________________ The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. AIM: NightSky717 Email/msn IM: davidone_2000@msn.com

07-08-2002, 08:34 PM	#14
NyteSky Haunting Spirit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tower of Sorcery and Lore Posts: 76	Well, with more characters there's more interaction. Also, it's much harder to become sick of a character. Though I don't think you need to worry about that. With more ppl there's more opinions so there's more conflict. Also there can be possible likes/dislikes, even romance. Tho that has a tendency to overly complicate things sometime. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Two characters is good, because you get to know them really well, but it's nice if there's other people to keep track of, or at least that's the way I feel about it. Like in my book, I've got... um... 7 characters so far, but they haven't met up yet, and later they'll split up making a couple of groups of 2 or so. So I'll have interaction between characters (humans vs elves vs dwarves, throw in some class differences, etc) but then I'll split them up so the reader can get to really know them. I'm rambling, sorry. I'd say look to the master, as usual. Tolkien started with a few characters, added some on, then split them up. Worked well for him. Hope you can find a little sense in all that. I'm glad to (try and) help. Feel free to email me (davidone_2000@msn.com) if there's anything I can help with. What are you stuck on exactly? It seems to be going great so far. __________________ The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. AIM: NightSky717 Email/msn IM: davidone_2000@msn.com

07-08-2002, 08:44 PM	#16
Raefindel Sword of the Spirit Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,313	I agree with Nytesky, two characters really doesn't give you too much in the way of dynamics to work with. If you are writing a romance a third preson cna offer a "jealousy" factor, if you are writing a comedy two gets dull really fast. And especially if you are writing an adventure, if one gets in trouble it can sometimes take two to save him. __________________ Blessed be the Lord my Strength, Who trained my hands for war and my fingers to fight. Psallm 144:1