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Jun. 14th, 2006 04:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lady_kareliaOh. My. God.
Someone has nominated Without Magic for the Multifaceted Awards.
*Drops_dead*
Thank you, whoever you are. You made myday year!
Someone has nominated Without Magic for the Multifaceted Awards.
*Drops_dead*
Thank you, whoever you are. You made my
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2006-06-14 04:23 pm (UTC)Lady J xxx
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Date: 2006-06-14 05:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-14 05:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-14 05:30 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-14 05:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-14 05:31 pm (UTC)Let's SQUEEEEEE together, LOL
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Date: 2006-06-14 05:46 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-14 05:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-14 06:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-14 10:09 pm (UTC)Can't believe it myself, either.
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Date: 2006-06-15 04:56 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-14 09:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-14 10:12 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-15 03:13 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-15 12:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-15 02:20 pm (UTC)Isn't it wonderful how many new stories there are to read? I've hovered over your story every time I've seen a new chapter post, but I've been so busy I haven't had a lot of time to devote to 'fun' reading. Last weekend was catching up on the other stories in the DM/HG ficexchange so I didn't write something (as a backup writer) that had already been done. But I'm going to find some time this weekend to read your story.
If you get the chance to read Paladins, I'd love to hear what you think.
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Date: 2006-06-15 03:50 pm (UTC)Same here - I've not spent much time reading lately because I've been busy with my SS/HG Exchange contribution. Am cleaning it up just now, and have every intention of making up for lack of reading over the weekend.
Of course, I'll let you know what I think of Paladins! It has to be good, a lot of friends who share my taste told me so. :-)
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Date: 2006-06-15 04:28 pm (UTC)It's awfully nice to think people have said good things about Paladins. Thanks, and I really hope you enjoy it.
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Date: 2006-06-15 05:41 pm (UTC)This coming from a writer whose works I tremendously value is a real honour.
I found the exchange a real challenge. I was curious to find out whether I'd be able to actually work towards a deadline. As a translator, I used to love working to deadlines, and the busier I was the happier I was. I'm glad to say that it's the same with writing, now that I've done it.
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Date: 2006-06-15 05:42 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-06-15 06:03 pm (UTC)::blushes at your compliment:: Thank you. I'm hoping for a quiet evening tonight and I might have a chance to look at your story, but I have a proof-reading assignment to finish today. I guess I should get to it. Sigh.
Okay... you are or were a translator? Either is fascinating.
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Date: 2006-06-15 08:02 pm (UTC)I would love to know what you think of my story/writing.
In the meantime, happy proof-reading!
Was/were. I guess once a translator, always a translator. My punctuation is dismal, so I was very lucky to work as a technical translator for architects whose punctuation was non-existent, and my grammar and spelling was far better than theirs. It was indeed fascinating.
Presently, I am very sad to see the German language going down the drain to the extent it does. That is the down-side of the profession. My German teacher, whom I used to correct frequently (without the hand-waving--I wasn't polite enough for that--I simply butted in) in class, turns in his grave. It is far worse than the butchering of the English language in the last few years so bemoaned by many writers, believe me.
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Date: 2006-06-16 02:02 pm (UTC)I think all languages are going through a shifting process. It won't be long before there's a polyglot sort of 'basic' global language, which is what science fiction writers have been inferring for years. It's always rather startling to me to see how badly mangled people make the language of their birth.
In any event, my proof-reading yesterday was good, and I'm onto revising my little exchange piece so I can ship it off for a beta. I want it delivered by Monday so I can start on Summoning! I really can't wait to finish that piece of work. It's become something of a 'monkey on my back.'
Oh, I read several of your chapters last night on Ashwinder (then I fell asleep on the couch with my laptop in my lap! It was late, not your story which lulled me to sleep.)
'Without Magic' is a very ambitious piece. You've incorporated so many soft-science concepts into the wizarding world it's interesting to see how you have the magical folk react. As I was reading, I'd forgotten just how many of JKR's characters are either half or full Muggle-borns.
You've taken Ron's occasionally suspicious and rather petulant character (which usually stems from insecurity, which we know he has,) and extrapolated him very well here. He's done an excellent job of alienating Hermione, even though I don't think his suspicions of Red Cloud are without foundation. Not that Red Cloud is 'evil,' just that Ron has good reason to be doubtful. In his experience, he's had more than one authority figure turn out to be something they don't appear to be.
I really enjoyed the conversation between Hermione and Tonks about Muggle v. wizarding... and esoteric v. practial. You've raised a point which isn't discussed much in fanon, and it's nice to see the envelope expand a bit.
In any event, I'm hoping to find the time to read more of it this weekend. The pool (that albatross) is still requiring work, so I'm off to take my sander in hand and rough up some of the already painted surfaces so we can paint on Sunday.
Hope you have a great day!
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Date: 2006-06-16 06:14 pm (UTC)Any language that is spoken today moves.I guess that's why it's easier to learn Latin *grin*. I wouldn't mind one bit if there was one polyglot language for everyone in the world to have a basis for communication. But do so many people have to mangle their own languages? I see it in English and German, and I have friends who bemoan this in various other languages, too. I dare say there is a big difference between a language moving/growing and mangling.
Ooooohhhh. Yes, please, do update/finish The Summoning. That was the one that fascinated me more than any other story out there, and the reason for that was your references to Scott Cunningham's work! Until then, I thought, well, there are some really good stories, well written an all, but I totally missed the magic(k) factor.
Thank you loads for taking the time to share your thoughts on Without Magic, you cannot begin how much I appreciate this thorough review.
I don't find it an "ambitious" piece as such. Esoterics and what you call soft-science are something I am fairly familiar with. And at the end of the day, it all comes down to the same.
I also miss the esoteric references in canon. We're talking about a magical world here, and personally, I would expect a little bit more metaphysical thinking. But then, I miss music in canon, too; so maybe it's just me.
Happy sanding the albatross. I can imagine you'll be very happy when the pool finally gets filled with water!
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Date: 2006-06-17 02:20 pm (UTC)Fantasy writers (and I'm sure Linguistics Professors as well) call the alteration of languages, lingual shifts, and it's a fun thing to explore for original stories set years/decades/centuries in the future.
I hadn't remembered until now that it was my use of Cunningham's work which initially intrigued you. He was a wonderful writer, and in many ways, his initial, lay explanations for the creative forces surrounding us come the closest to explaining my personal concept. As a result of my initial study, we no longer celebrate Christmas (except with the greater families,) but we have a Yule feast and invite the family and close friends. It's been a huge success so far, and it takes all the commercialism out of the bigger holiday.
As for 'Without Magic,' it was my pleasure. I've long thought the reason JKR didn't blend more 'magick' into her story is her desire to court the mainstream audience, and to closely parallel the boarding-school world which is so familiar to children and young adults. It's an intelligent reading of her audience, and I understand it. She wanted to write professionally, and since this is her first story(ies) she needed to make it as marketable as possible, while still telling her story. See, there's hope for me yet! And you? Do you want to write professionally?
You're quite right about the pool. I will, indeed, be happy to see it filled with water.
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Date: 2006-06-17 07:11 pm (UTC)I've not thought of exploring lingual shifts with regard to something set in the future, but it sounds intriguing. I will go googling on that to satisfy my curiosity.
I agree with you on Cunningham. Funny to find another one who changed Christmas into a Yule feast. :-) We sort of decided a few years ago that Christmas has turned into pure business, but it took me until last year to convince the family to let go of traditions none of us really believes. We had fun, and this year, it'll more thought out, I think.
Interesting thoughts about JKR... I remember that I couldn't repress a snort when she proclaimed to be a member of the Church of England. But then again, being a member does not necessarily mean that she follows that belief system.
Do I want to write professionally? Hell yes!!! I am working on an original work presently that stands at about 55k words, but still needs a fair bit of work. And I don't know if I'd be able to edit it to the extent that it becomes a commercial success. In a way that would feel like selling myself. Of course, if ever any publisher takes me on, I'm likely to think differently, for the sheer kick out of my work being wanted by someone.
I understand about the pool. When we lived in Pleasanton/CA, we lived in an apartment complex that had a pool with it. Of course, for us, it was an entirely alien experience to actually be able to go swimming outdoors in the middle of January. Boy, did we make use of that pool!
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Date: 2006-06-18 01:22 am (UTC)I think the great thing about fanfiction is the practical aspects of discovering whether you can reach an audience or not. Along the way, I've discovered an entire group of like-minded friends. A remarkable feat indeed!
If you're having trouble with the commercial v. art issue, does it help to remember that both Michelangelo and daVinci were both commercial artists? It helps me a lot!
I'm not surprised about JKR's mainstream leanings.... it's good politics whether she practices or not. It's very difficult buck the established order, and Christianity, in one form or another, is quite forceful about its place in our civilization.
You celebrate Yule, too? How spectacular! We've only done it for two years. DH and I agreed it was extremely hypocritical to celebrate a holiday we don't believe in at all. So I started doing some research... and all the original holidays were based on the Winter Solstice... so Yule it is. The first year was just the four of us, but my brother's feelings were really hurt, so this last year I cooked for 18! It was spectacular. The evening was so much fun and so relaxed in the midst of all the holiday stress, we're definitely doing it hereafter.
Pools are an essential when it's 100 degrees in June. August and September are our hottest months of the year, and I foresee spending a lot of time in the water this summer. We do swim every now and then in my mom's pool in January, it's heated. Ours isn't.
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Date: 2006-06-18 06:58 pm (UTC)I agree on the fanfiction. What I also found tremendously inspiring is reading the reviews, it really does help me to keep focussing on writing more and improving. And finding like-minded people to make friends with is a tremendous side-effect!
Am still not sure about the commercial v. art issue. Yes, in a way, I think, it helps to remember. I will try that for a while and see where it leads me.
We've celebrated the Summer Solstice for a number of years, although it's mainly me and, surprisingly, my 8 year old. He is the one willing to get up at any time of the night to go to a spot of nature and watch the sunrise with me. Winter Solstice was only added last year because the entire family got extremely tired from all the commercialism surrounding the holidays. It was the first time they were willing to listen to my reasoning. Looking back, we've been increasingly ignoring those system imposed holidays and appreciation days over the years. Yeah, I'll never get the award for political correctness *laugh*.
Pool... I could have done with one today. 90 degrees in inland Germany, with high humidity and looming rain is something I could do without. I am truly looking forward to moving from here...
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Date: 2006-06-21 02:16 pm (UTC)I have several world building reference sites which I've played with while creating a whole new world for my original work. For the most part, they're fantasy oriented, which is why I know about lingual shifts, but I did have one site specifically focused on language, called The Language Construction Kit: http://www.zompist.com/kit.html#dichotomy
I haven't checked again this morning if it specifically discussed lingual shifts (my brain isn't that clear yet,) but I thought you'd find it intriguing.
Reviews really do help, don't they. They're tangible evidence that someone likes your work. I worry about it each and every time I post something. There's the lurking question, does this one work?
Happy Mid-summer to you! I just looked at the date and realized it was the 21st. I hope you celebrate with great fun and frolic! Our reasoning, yours and mine, for avoiding the commercialism associated with artificial holidays is remarkably the same. Since we live in commericalism-central, I wanted our children to grow up with better core values that the concept that the almighty 'dollar' is king. ::laughs:: I'm afraid political correctness isn't in my cards either!
The pool is very pretty and we're going to fill it in about five days (time for all the layers of paint to dry. I'll definitely take pictures.