Have I mentioned that this time I got . . . FOURTEEN slammers this time!
Okay, so one of them was completely useless, but NONETHELESS! FOURTEEN! I'm
quite happy right now, can you tell?
Yeah, I have to warn you that I was brutal in editing this. I mean, I was
in a really good mood and completely not afraid to delete entire responses,
etc. It's okay, it'll make the whole thing better overall. Plus, thanks to
one of my slammers, I got the idea to apply to get this turned into a
column and I currently have no information on what's going on with that,
but it could happen! Then you'd all be famous! Well, my slammers, that is.
This section is titled "The Author and the Reader." It focuses on questions relating directly to J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling, and also really basic questions about the slammers that have nothing to do with fan fiction. It's good, at least I like it.
Oh, and one thing. In this chapter I ran into a lot of sensory issues, because my slammers were very . . . um . . . colorful. Just as I usually rake the responses to change 'gods' to 'goshes,' I went through this and changed the inappropriate language to more subtle, less severe terminology. However, to preserve the fact that the word was not one that the slammer chose, I put an astrix (*) by words that I altered. Thanks! And the slammers are . . .
Monique4
LadyWillow
T.W.
Letalis
A Happy Little Bumble-bee
crity2re
Burenda
*evenstar*
Maikafuiniel
angelskates12
Burp
Cathelm
Jessi Black
And, back by popular demand . . . Hermione 'DB' Granger!!!!
Question Set #4: The Author and the Reader
(1) Who are you? (I mean anything you want to tell me. Age, weight, love life, interests, anything about you that you feel like saying when you answer the question)
----- I am LadyWillow on fanfiction.net, but in real life Jessica. I'm 16 years old, and I live in Wisconsin, as far as love life... *twitch* it's there...I guess... *looks around* Yup, I think so. I gots me a man. *nod nod* (LadyWillow)
----- I'm a typical nineteen year old girl who's just trying to find her place in the world. (T.W.)
------ My life isn't particularly interesting, but if you wanted a point of reference to differentiate me from others, you could say I play lacrosse, have a great interest in foreign languages, and I like to draw anime when I can. (Letalis)
------ I'm a thirteen year old girl obsessed with Draco Malfoy, Shonen Ai, and Anime, plus this boy I like at school! (Sorry, can't say the name!) I'm short, only five-foot, and a total fluff-lover. That's all I write 'cause I can't stand sad stuff. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------ Who am I? I'm a 20 year old college student who's 20 pounds underweight, two shades too pale from lack of sunlight, and prone to fits of obsession with various books and anime series. Love life? Life? What's that? My life consists of books, anime, and fanfiction. (Burenda)
------ My name is Heather, I'm 17, and my turn ons are whips and chains. I'm a writer who reads some of the NC-17 stuff and loves it majorly. I live in a small city in Northern Canada. In snows 9 of 12 months. I have a dead dog. I have hamsters who are cannibals (yep. They ate their mama). I have a crappy job. ...and people wonder why I read fanfiction... (Maikafuiniel)
------ Name is Jenn, my love life sucks and writing is something I picked up from a friend of mine. I am 5'4, but when I went for a physical yesterday the nurse told me I was 5'2 (which is VERY untrue). Right now my arm is sore because of the tetanus shot they gave me, but otherwise it's just another rainy summer day (in other words it sucks). (angelskates12)
------ My real name is Jessica and I live in Tawas, Michigan. My interests are reading (Harry Potter, Vampire Chronicles, Stephen King, Sailor Moon, ect) drawing, mainly manga, and playing around on my computer. I'm single, but I might have some one who likes me. My favorite bands are Disturbed, Ozzy Osbourne, and 3 Doors Down. My favorite show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, duh. I have a slight case of insanity, but I don't mind. (Jessi Black)
------ I'm Burp. I'm 15 yrs. old, I'm tall, dark, I have really long brown hair, and I love animals. (Burp)
(2) Do you think that people who write fan fiction have more or less self- esteem than people who don't? Why?
------ Of course not! People who write fanfiction may be more talented at the arts, basically writing, than other people, but self-esteem has nothing to do with writing, honestly. Plus, just because you write it, doesn't mean you have it posted about. (LadyWillow)
------ I don't really think self-esteem has a place with fan fiction. I really think fan fiction is just an expression of how well people can expand their minds with the credit of another author. (T.W.)
------ Honestly, I think that some fanfiction writers may not have much of a life, seeing as they have enough time to write the stories, and get them out there, but most fanfiction writers that I know of don't tell anybody who actually knows them personally about their writing. Frankly, ff writers probably have less self-esteem then the average person. Always trying to get reviews... (Maikafuiniel)
------ I for one have quite a bit of self-esteem, but I don't necessarily think one is dependant on the other. I think self-esteem helps if you're looking for other people to read your writings, but isn't usually a factor in the quality of writing, or even inspiration for writing (Letalis)
------ Actually writing fanfiction has little to do with self-esteem. Sure, it takes some guts to post your work where people can see it and comment on it, and the way that readers respond to it can have either a positive or negative impact on your self-esteem, but you don't need self-esteem in order to write. Heaven knows I've seen plenty of authors with poor self- esteem. However, I find that people with better self-esteem tend to be better writers, probably because they have confidence in their work and aren't always second guessing themselves. - Burenda
------ It really depends on what you write, though, to me it seems that you would have more self esteem is you did write anything other than schoolwork, letters, etc. So yes, I do believe so. (*evenstar*)
------ In my opinion, writing helps build self-esteem. Who cares how it's done? Fanfiction just makes it easier to have fun while writing, since the characters and places are already there. (Cathelm)
------ I think they have more self-esteem than those who don't, because they have to have the nerve to post them and not care what the people think of it. (Burp)
(3) Why are you answering this survey?
------ Because...well first off because I think this is a very interesting idea, and secondly because I think this is a good way to gain a bit of insight to myself, and get what I think and feel and believe out to others. (LadyWillow)
------ I got this e-mail, and since I'm totally new to the whole slam thing, I thought I'd try it out. (Cathelm)
------ Because I'm opinionated and will jump at the chance to have my opinion heard. (T.W.)
------ Honestly? Because I'm bored, it's 11:00 PM, and I have no life-yay!! But also because I'm interested to see where this information is going and if other people are at all interested in what I have to say. I think this is rather creative (Letalis)
------ I enjoy peeking into the thoughts of other authors, and I imagine that other people feel the same way. I think it'd be neat for MY thoughts to be some of the thoughts people get to peek into. =) - Burenda
----- 1) nothing better to do until I get my license 2) I'm always happy to help out people who ask for it 3) I like going against the rules sometimes. 4) I love to tell people what I'm thinking about. (crity2re)
------ Because I like knowing that people out there will see my name, and read something by me. :) Like I said, less esteem. Fanfiction writers are people who are obsessed with others finding out there ideas. Yes we have imagination, but most people are able to get it out there where others can say, "Good for you." A lot of us writers are too freaked out about showing this stuff to people we actually know. (Maikafuiniel)
------ Because you sent it to me! I like the Qs, they make me see things in myself I didn't realize were there. They give me an excuse to talk about stuff that wouldn't come up in 'ordinary' conversation ('ordinary' because most of my conversations are quite bizarre). (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
----- I have WAY too much free time. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
(4) If you could pick as many characters from either Harry Potter or LOTR to be members of your family, friends of yours, or significant others, who, and who would they be in your life?
------ Well, I think I'd have to pick Sirius Black from Harry Potter and Remus Lupin from Harry Potter to be my parents. *giggle* I think I'd want them to be my parents because they honestly would be great at raising a kid. Remus would have the more strict, 'clean your bedroom do your homework' attitude, and Sirius would be the one to play and the one Remus would consider just another child of his. It would really fit! (LadyWillow)
------ From Harry Potter, it would definitely be Tom Riddle as my personal slave, just for fun. (T.W.)
------ Actually, given the choice, I'm not quite sure I would, but hypothetically, say I was feeling spontaneous that day, I'd most defiantly pick Hermione for a buddy, and probably Harry and Ron to keep her company. Maybe Draco and Seamus and Dean and Oliver and Alicia and...all them, too. Also, I think Tonks would make a great friend. Knowing me, I'd probably take Snape for a teacher just to make life more interesting. Or even Voldemort-how many people can say they have an evil dark overlord as a teacher? I'd probably take Mrs. Weasley as a second parent though, and most definitely Lupin and Sirius, although I don't exactly know where I'd put them in my life. I'd just like to have them around, and perhaps I could switch between them as boyfriends? Yeah...that'd be pretty cool to say I was dating one of them...haha. I don't really think I'd take anyone from LOTR because they wouldn't make my life as interesting, although I might take Legolas and Faramir just for fun, and perhaps Gandalf as a grandfather if I felt lonley. Oh, there are probably loads more. I know I'd take all the extras and people they only mention once in the books just for the heck of it if I could. I'm just strange like that. (Letalis)
------ I would have Draco Malfoy as my husband, Sirius as my Uncle, Harry Legolas, Lupin, Aragorn, Pippin, Merry, Sam, Frodo, Ron, Fred, George, and Gimli as my bestest friends. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------ Well, I definately would have to choose the Weasly's for my immediate family. They are so down to earth, yet completely out of this galaxy. They aren't afraid to go against the grain, nor are they afraid to stand for what they believe in. But I would also want to have Arwen for a sister. She's so loving and brave! And, finally, I would definately want Legolas as a "significant other." Who can resist the rugged outdoors type? (crity2re)
------ I would have to pick Aragorn. I would want him to be my older brother, so that he could protect me and love me and care about me. I would also have to pick Elrond. I would want him to be my father. (Burp)
------ From LOTR, I'd have to say Legolas, and he would just be a friend. Why him? He's cute! From Harry Potter, I'd pick Sirius Black, and likewise he would be a friend. Sirius is a very dynamic character, and I would love to know him personally. No romance with either, because, frankly, I'm not interested in romance right now. - Burenda
------- Hermione- a friend, Frodo & Legolas- boyfriends or very close friends, Aragorn- brother, Eowyn-sister, Pip & Merry- cousins, Sam- Chef, Gandalf-friend that I could talk to about anything. Sort of like a father, Galadriel- mother, Elrond- Father (*evenstar*)
------ Hmmm... Legolas. Probably as a best friend. He's cool, very nice, willing to help, and he'll fight through thick and thin for you. (Or as a lover - he's HOT!!). I might choose Neville from Harry Potter as a team mate type of thing, because he's the sweet sensitive soul who, when properly motivated, can do damn near anything. Draco would be cool, because there is so much twisted emotion in there. It would suck to be friends with him, cause then you would have to help him through stuff. But it would be interesting nonetheless... (Maikafuiniel)
------- I would have Frodo be my husband (yeah, I know, predictable), and Draco Malfoy be my evil-brother-in-law, I dislike people who are know-it- alls (because I'm one myself) so NO Hermione, Legalos be my cousin because he's real trusting and he has a good shot with that bow of his, strider would be my body-guard because he's cool (and he has a sword), and I think I would want Eowyn as my big sis because she's knows a lot about love and all that mushy junk (and she just seems like an all-round cool person). Oh I forgot Ron Weasley, as my friend, just because we could snack on things that make your teeth rot together. (angelskates12)
------ I would like to have Strider as an uncle, and Elrond to be my grandfather, 'cause then I could live in the woods when I wanted to, or live in a palace when I didn't. (Cathelm)
------ Sirius Black-Boyfriend Remus Lupin-Friend James Potter-Friend Lily Evans/Potter-Friend Hehe, Marauders rule!!!!! (Jessi Black)
(5) First person, second person, and third person: which is a writer's privilege, which is a writer's right, and which is a writer's duty?
------ Honestly, I'm not all too sure there's much of a difference to me. Granted, each P.O.V. tells its own story, but most of the time, it depends on how you want to get across a character's emotions. (T.W.)
------- Hmmm... hard one. I think every writer's duty is to write in 1st person because you see things so differently when you're in the person's shoes. 2nd person is personally harder to write, but I think it's a privilege because some people just totally screw up this kind of writing. Last but not least, 3rd is every writer's right because it is the basic and easiest way of writing. (angelskates12)
------ I think all writing is a privilege. I try not to take the characters for granted any time I write, because I know they're not mine and out of respect to the author, I hope I'm not doing a horrible job of botching their personalities. I think that it's a writer's duty to *think* in 3rd person as he or she writes, because really, we're all observers in these tangled little worlds we get to look into, so that should be the style in which at least 90% of a writer's thinking takes place, unless of course it's your original piece, in which case you should think in all points of view at every possible opportunity. (Letalis)
------ First person is a writer's right, second person is a writer's privilege and third person is a writer's duty. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------ It is a writer's right to write (tongue twister) in the first person. Telling your point of view is the most natural form of writing. It is a writer's privilege to tell a story from someone else's POV. Telling someone else's story is almost a form of gossip. (But I guess when you talk about fiction, it's more a duty to write in the third person...you can be the ominous author...all knowing) (crity2re)
------- 1-writer's duty, 2- writer's privilege, 3- writer's right (*evenstar*)
------ Okay then, privilege. The writer gets to fit the character to his needs. The whole point of a story is to fix things to work with the story line. As long as there is evidence for WHY he made the characters how he did, he can do whatever he wants with it. Right? The writer has the right to write whatever he wants. The writer has the right to put his ideas, and thoughts out into the world. Nobody who doesn't want to read it has to. There's nothing forcing the reader, so really, why can't the writer say whatever the hell she wants? Duty? Easy. To do a good job. The point of fanfiction is to get those ideas out there, and even to touch on issues. What some people don't realize is that, say in a suicide fic, people who have tried to will read it. They will expect a good story, with good details, and as close to the truth as possible. To mess with this can seriously change a person's perception of the original story, or even life. It is the duty of the writer to do as good a job as possible. (Maikafuiniel)
(6) What would piss off Tolkien or Rowling the most on this fan fiction site? What would they think of your work?
------ Probably finding a fanfictioner who got what was really going to happen; I would have no idea, but I'd like to find out. (Monique4)
------ Piss them off the most? Well, I read this one fic where one of the elves (I think it was Legolas) became a vampire, and went back to Lothlorien and made the rest of the elves vampires and there were no more real elves... that pissed me off, and I'm sure it would have pissed Tolkien off too. *nod* (LadyWillow)
------ I can imagine how changing either of their characters for the worse would make them feel. I know that would completely anger me. I don't know what they would think of my work, but if they had a problem with it, I would appreciate some form of contact, even a rude letter or email, just so I would know to stop. (T.W.)
------ I think they might be pissed about the pairings some people write. I haven't written stuff for LoTR, but my Harry Potter story may make Rowling a bit angry, since Draco loves Harry. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------- I think it would most definitely piss off any writer (not just them) the way that people leave out specific details. On fanfiction, writers will come right out and say that it doesn't matter what is in the original publication. It's almost an insult, telling someone that it doesn't matter what they do for a living. (crity2re)
------- I'm sure there are plenty of things on this site that both authors would find offensive. Just making a guess at what would be the most offensive to them, I'd suspect homosexual relationships between their characters. Authors can be very possessive of their characters' love lives, regardless of their views on homosexuality. I honestly don't know what they'd think of my work, because I haven't written anything LOTR or HP related. - Burenda
------- Honestly, I don't know what they would think of my work. For Tolkien, I think he would be pleased. I try to show the friendships, and dealing with emotional issues. :) Rowling would kick my butt.* I like to make Harry get tortured and stuff, and really dark. I have this one where he goes on a murderous rampage after finally getting out of Azkaban... (Maikafuiniel)
------ I think Rowling would die of a heart attack if she saw all the Hermione 'over the summer she just turned into a slut' ones. (angelskates12)
------ OVER CHARACTERIZATION! Or shall I say, mischaracterization. I mean, I like some of the parodies and all, but, Lord of the Rings especially, these books were meant to be works of art, or at least decent entertainment! They shouldn't be screwed with (at least not to a great extent), especially by slashing. (Cathelm)
------ Probably the slash. I love Rowling's work, except when she killed off ______. (Jessi Black)
------- I think that if they read some of the stuff people write that isn't true and the things about the girls all wanting to marry Legolas and crap like that, I think J.R.R. would get really pissed, because that's not how he meant everything to be. (Burp)
------ I happen to think very highly of Mrs. Rowling and Mr. Tolkien, although I don't know half as much about him as I do her. Therefore, I'm pretty sure they'd both be understanding to the kind of fics posted on ff.net, and not a lot would "piss off" either of them. If it were me, though, I'd have a problem with the fics that purposefully deform the characters' personalities, those that are poorly written (i.e. spelling "you" "u", "with" "w/", and etcetera), and those that show blatant disrespect for the works they were based off of. A lot of people don't remember all the thought these authors have put into their works and that although they're here for our amusement, they are due a lot of respect. I mean, seriously, let's see some of these pre-teens who don't know how to spell come up with a literary classic! (Letalis)
(7) How much control should the author of a published book have over things like media, sales, movies and fan fiction related to their work?
------- I think they should have complete and total control over ALL of the above EXCEPT fanfiction. Why do I think this? Because it's their characters, their literary work, their sweat and tears that went into that book, and they alone should be able to decide how they're portrayed in movies. However, fanfiction is a different story, because the fanfiction author is doing the same thing the original author is doing, which is pouring themselves into the work. They're almost making each thing they write a tribute to the original work. I know when Anne Rice stated that she didn't want any fanfiction written about her books I was offended. I took it as a personal insult that she didn't feel we, her fans, could do her work justice. Just my opinion. (LadyWillow)
------- One hundred and ten percent. It was their original creation and they should have the say as to whether or not someone else can base their ideas on that. (T.W.)
------- A whole heck of a lot of control. I don't think fanfiction is so much of an issue, but the rest of it should definitely be kept well-guarded by the author. Fanfiction belongs in a different category than the others though, as it wouldn't usually be bought and sold for a proffit that the author would loose. Same thing for fan art and the like. (Letalis)
------- Well, an author should have the majority of control, which in reality is the ability to say YES or NO. That gives them all the freedom that they choose. Rowling chose to have the actors in the Harry Potter movies be Brittish (at least when concerning the main characters). An author's wishes should always be respected. It is, after all, their property. (crity2re)
------- They should just give advice for the movies and music stuff, they shouldn't have a say about the fan fiction (it's a free country) And the sales they should have the final answer, it's their work. (*evenstar*)
------- The author has cash rights, yes, but she/he shouldn't be able to control fiction. Hell, it's us telling you we like your stuff enough that we actually THINK about it for more then ten minutes. Once they put it out there, what right do they have to stop us from talking about it, and using ideas? It's our RIGHT. (Maikafuiniel)
------- A lot. I mean this is their baby, their book, and letting people like me ruin them is kind of heartbreaking. Some authors just sell the rights and watch the big executives turn their story into moneymaking stuff, usually full of explicit stuff and gore. (angelskates12)
(8) What pisses you off the most about how the movies of these two books have mutated the original work? (cast, missing scenes, OOC, etc.)
------- I'd have to say how the Harry Potter movies messed up the big scene with the basilisk in The Chamber of Secrets. That's not how it worked in the book, and it REALLY pissed me off. And in LoTR, when they had Arwen say lines that were not hers. Argh. *shakes head* (LadyWillow)
------- Mostly the fact that a lot of scenes were deleted, but if you think about it, if every scene of the Harry Potter books had to be incorporated into film, the first two films would be over four hours long each. (T.W.)
------- I don't know a lot about making movies, and I'm sure there are a lot of time restraints that don't allow the directors all the scenes they'd like. I know I was very happy with the casting of Harry Potter, except there's this one line in the second movie that sounds so absolutely fake to me...but that's beside the point. Harry Potter I was very happy with. I'd read the books 7 times each before any of the movies came out and I can tell you that the directors clearly did their homework. True, it's not perfect. But neither is my memory. (Letalis)
------- I have to admit, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Movie, they totally butchered the scenes on the way to Quirrel. And In the second Lord of the Rings, Aragorn doesn't go off a cliff. The casting was good, but I hate Emma Watson with a passion. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------- Nothing really pisses me off too much about how these productions are turning out. Some of the little things make me mad (like Peeves not being a more notable character) but films have budgets, time limits, scripts. It would be impossible to include it all. As long as the story isn't changed, I'm happy. (crity2re)
------- I would be willing to sit through a 4 hour movie as long as it was good, but both of them seem very good and nothing really bad about them. (*evenstar*)
------- Harry Potter: Dud's not as fat as he should be. His father doesn't look ANYTHING like him. Dumbledore doesn't "radiate goodness" or whatever the hell he's supposed to do. In fact, he seems rather board through out the entire thing, and has an incredibly dry voice. (I did love how Snape looks in the second movie, during the fighting Lockhart scene though.) (Maikafuiniel)
------ Probably missing scenes. Like in the 1st HP, they left out a lot of good stuff (like when Harry gets his broom and Malfoy tries to tell on him {that was a classic moment}), or like in LOTR, they put stuff from the 2nd into the 1st and left a lot out of the 2nd. That makes me mad, because I really look forward to some of these scenes and they just get taken out. (angelskates12)
------ Oh gosh,* now you're now in for such a rant..... I FRICKING* HATE THE HP MOVIES!!!!! Hypercritically I love the LOTR ones (ducks from things die hard LOTR bookies are throwing). I got into LOTR thanks to the films, but I loved HP before hand. Even so, I think Peter Jackson has done Tolkien's work more justice than Warner Bros have done HP, because he genuinely cared about preserving the book. They've aimed the hp movies at kids who are too young and it's SO over merchandised!!!! I hate Emma Watson more than any of the rest of the mismatched cast as she has slaughtered Hermione (my fav character). They gave Hagrid a stone hut for goodness* sake - this makes one of the best lines completely redundant ('But Hagrid, you live in a wooden house' - Hermione on Norbert). And they cut Peeves! PEEVES! He's fantastic! And what do they put in instead?! Crap that isn't in the book and isn't even acurate, like Hermione taking Harry to see a plaque and telling him he'll be a great seeker because it's in his blood!!!! ARRRGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
------- Everyone who hasn't read the books is misinterpreting the characters; Now Boromir is a fool, Legolas is insanely sexy, and Frodo is 20 years old. Which they're NOT!!! Not that it's a bad thing, but it's just not the way they are. (Cathelm)
------- Missing scenes, defiantly. (Jessi Black)
-------- Well, I haven't read Harry Potter, but I have read LotR. I think that they should have put Tom Bombadil in there, and they shouldn't have made Boromir die in the first movie, because he didn't die in the first book...he died in the first chapter of the second book. And I also think that they shouldn't have had the Elves come and help with the Battle of Helm's Deep, because it didn't happen in the book, and Haldir didn't/doesn't die! Oh! And I think they shouldn't have made Aragorn look like a two-timer. That whole Aragorn Arwen : Aragorn Eowyn thing NEVER happened. Aragorn and Arwen love each other and get married...not Aragorn and Eowyn. They're making it look like he's going to marry her instead of Arwen...curse Peter Jackson for doing this! (Burp)
(9) What is your life like?
------ My life? You ask about my life? Well, my life is like this: Throughout the school year I kind of drift, going from place to place. I've learned to sort of ignore the people around me, most of which like to say some not-too-nice things to me. (Living in a small town in Wisconsin and being a Wiccan lesbian has those problems). I have minor schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, so things are a bit difficult for me, but I manage just fine. *nod* erm...I balance homework with psychiatrist appointments, which isn't easy but it's worth it, 'cause Ann is really cool... during the summer I basically stay up until around 3:00 am, go to sleep and sleep until about 3:00pm... and I'm online until I go to bed again. *nod* That's pretty much my life. In a nutshell. (LadyWillow)
------ Work, pay bills, plan to be a published author myself one of these days. (T.W.)
------- My life? Relatively boring. I'm not a particularly interesting person. I get up every morning(or noon...), stay conscious, eat a few meals, go to sleep, repeat. I'd love to tell you a whole bunch of stories about all the mysterious adventures I've gone on and super-human beings I've met, but sadly I haven't. Doesn't life suck? No...I'm just kidding. Actually, I'm rather fond of my run-of-the-mill life. I kinda like it here, even for all the time I spend in other worlds:) (Letalis)
------ My life is easy. Stressful, but easy. I have an older sister who is constantly screwing up, which makes my life easier. But I also have goals and desires that my parents are pushing me towards. There's pressure on both sides (my sister to act out, my parents to do better than they did). Right now, I'm dealing with the added stress of the death of one of my close friends. I'm just a small town girl begging to be free. (crity2re)
------- Peachy. Just peachy. (Cathelm)
------ Life? I don't have a life. I eat, sleep, read, write, occassionally watch TV, and go to college. My social life consists of the family members who still live at home and a few acquaintances I see once a week at church. If my life was written in a book, nobody with an ounce of sanity would want to read it. - Burenda
------- I hang out with my friends a lot, going to the movies, sleepovers. I love acting, singing, dancing, stuff like that. I watch TV and play on the computer a lot. I play in the highest band at my school and we play professional music. I own four horses one being only a couple months old. I go riding all the time... As you can see, my life is busy, but never too busy for my friends! (*evenstar*)
------ My life? Ug. My bagel cooker caught fire today. Burned my hand. Fought with my sister. Fought with my brother. Got told off by my mother. Had to get up at 5:30 am to walk an hour to work, spent 8 hours dealing with idiot customers and overbearing bosses, just to walk home (another hour), and see the ff.net banned me! Damn them! My dog is dead. My hamsters ate their own mother. I have no life, and no time for one. Quite frankly, I hate my life. Cripes. What I wouldn't give for a little good luck. (Maikafuiniel)
------ I love it now. It was crap when I was at school because I was a Hermione (I still am). People labeled me a geek and I was always... not exactly being bullied, just picked at. I went through a lot of crap with so called 'friends' who spent all their time whispering about me and pushing me out, as if that wasn't enough, they tried to break up me and any other friends I had. I don't even know why they did it. One of my 'friends' outside of school is really awful and just pulls my self esteem through the mud all the time. Great! I thought I'd put all this behind me!
Anyway, I'm happier now (I think) because I live on my computer, even if my sister obviously thinks I'm a geek for it... (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
------- I have a psycho step mother who I have not seen since Christmas. Need I say more? (Jessi Black)
(10) Should this Slam Book be allowed on fanficiton.net? Why or why not?
------- Of course! Fanfiction.net has too strict of rules, and this is a really good, insightful thing! If they take this down I'll be firing off a very nasty letter! (LadyWillow)
------ Sure, why not? I don't think it should be posted in the section with all the normal fanfics, because I would be inclined to roll my eyes and restrain my hand from typing a flame to the person who had it in the wrong category, but as long as it doesn't interfere with people who don't want to read it, then sure, it should be allowed. What's it hurting? (Letalis)
------- Sorry, but I think it's great! First off, for less popular authors (like me), if anyone reads this, people might check out their stories! And it's just fun to learn about different people! (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------- No. It can't exactly be considered FanFiction, now can it? In all reality, this Slam Book belongs somewhere like FictionPress.com. BUT! (and this is a big but,) It should be made a column. All writers need to know what and how other people are thinking. It keeps the story fresh. (crity2re)
------- As much as I love this Slam Book, I'd have to say "no", it should not be allowed on ff.net. Fanfiction.net is a web site for people to post their stories and poetry. As this does not fall into either of those categories, it should not be on this site. In fact, one could argue that this Slam Book is a List, which is most definitely on ff.net's list of prohibited entries. - Burenda
------- I'd love for this to be on the net, this really got me thinking , these are some really good and deep questions!!! Excellent!!!!!!! Love it!!!!! (*evenstar*)
------ I'm not sure. It's one of a kind, that's for sure. And I know people will read this, but sometimes, different is bad. Why ruin a good thing? (Maikafuiniel)
------ Personally, I think it should because it is interesting and it might even help people, like if they found out from this section that someone else was going through what they are. It's also good for the people who slam, confession is good for the soul.
I can see why they might be banned though, it'd be so boring if everyone did them. I reckon they ban them to stop people doing slambooks and nothing else when it's supposed to be about fic. I reckon they know people do / will do them, and (here's hoping) they secretly love us for it!!! Mr fic security dude, are you reading this? You're proud of us rebels, right? (if not, I bet it's given you a few laughs). They shouldn't be 'allowed' in the rules, but they shouldn't kick peeps off for doing them! (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
------ I think it's ok... this part of the site was meant to be for fanfiction, but since we are doing fanfiction-writing related things I don't think anyone'll mind. (Cathelm) No, because people are entitled to what they want to think, and sometimes they don't want answers to their questions...they just want to go on dreaming and wishing what they want, and believing what they want, and to be totally innocent...is that a good enough argument for you? Lol (Burp)
END AUTHOR'S NOTE: So? Am I losing my touch or is this just as smashing as the previous three? Personally, I kind of like the second set, but this one isn't that bad, at all. I AM IN SEARCH OF TWO THINGS: New slammers (people to answer my next set of questions), and . . . people to WRITE my new slam questions. Yes, set five will be all requests! Send as many as you want, and I'll see what I want to ask! (Please, if you're doing this, hit the slammers hard . . . heh, heh, heh).
PROPS:
*My slammers! You guys are my heroes!
*Everyone whose computer made my life easier by not adding in random "returns"
*Hermione 'DB' Granger! Thanks for answering the questions and I'm glad I let you!
*All my Wisconsin homies and
*Everyone who proved to me that my insane friend is not the only person who is obsessed with Frodo Baggins.
This section is titled "The Author and the Reader." It focuses on questions relating directly to J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling, and also really basic questions about the slammers that have nothing to do with fan fiction. It's good, at least I like it.
Oh, and one thing. In this chapter I ran into a lot of sensory issues, because my slammers were very . . . um . . . colorful. Just as I usually rake the responses to change 'gods' to 'goshes,' I went through this and changed the inappropriate language to more subtle, less severe terminology. However, to preserve the fact that the word was not one that the slammer chose, I put an astrix (*) by words that I altered. Thanks! And the slammers are . . .
Monique4
LadyWillow
T.W.
Letalis
A Happy Little Bumble-bee
crity2re
Burenda
*evenstar*
Maikafuiniel
angelskates12
Burp
Cathelm
Jessi Black
And, back by popular demand . . . Hermione 'DB' Granger!!!!
Question Set #4: The Author and the Reader
(1) Who are you? (I mean anything you want to tell me. Age, weight, love life, interests, anything about you that you feel like saying when you answer the question)
----- I am LadyWillow on fanfiction.net, but in real life Jessica. I'm 16 years old, and I live in Wisconsin, as far as love life... *twitch* it's there...I guess... *looks around* Yup, I think so. I gots me a man. *nod nod* (LadyWillow)
----- I'm a typical nineteen year old girl who's just trying to find her place in the world. (T.W.)
------ My life isn't particularly interesting, but if you wanted a point of reference to differentiate me from others, you could say I play lacrosse, have a great interest in foreign languages, and I like to draw anime when I can. (Letalis)
------ I'm a thirteen year old girl obsessed with Draco Malfoy, Shonen Ai, and Anime, plus this boy I like at school! (Sorry, can't say the name!) I'm short, only five-foot, and a total fluff-lover. That's all I write 'cause I can't stand sad stuff. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------ Who am I? I'm a 20 year old college student who's 20 pounds underweight, two shades too pale from lack of sunlight, and prone to fits of obsession with various books and anime series. Love life? Life? What's that? My life consists of books, anime, and fanfiction. (Burenda)
------ My name is Heather, I'm 17, and my turn ons are whips and chains. I'm a writer who reads some of the NC-17 stuff and loves it majorly. I live in a small city in Northern Canada. In snows 9 of 12 months. I have a dead dog. I have hamsters who are cannibals (yep. They ate their mama). I have a crappy job. ...and people wonder why I read fanfiction... (Maikafuiniel)
------ Name is Jenn, my love life sucks and writing is something I picked up from a friend of mine. I am 5'4, but when I went for a physical yesterday the nurse told me I was 5'2 (which is VERY untrue). Right now my arm is sore because of the tetanus shot they gave me, but otherwise it's just another rainy summer day (in other words it sucks). (angelskates12)
------ My real name is Jessica and I live in Tawas, Michigan. My interests are reading (Harry Potter, Vampire Chronicles, Stephen King, Sailor Moon, ect) drawing, mainly manga, and playing around on my computer. I'm single, but I might have some one who likes me. My favorite bands are Disturbed, Ozzy Osbourne, and 3 Doors Down. My favorite show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, duh. I have a slight case of insanity, but I don't mind. (Jessi Black)
------ I'm Burp. I'm 15 yrs. old, I'm tall, dark, I have really long brown hair, and I love animals. (Burp)
(2) Do you think that people who write fan fiction have more or less self- esteem than people who don't? Why?
------ Of course not! People who write fanfiction may be more talented at the arts, basically writing, than other people, but self-esteem has nothing to do with writing, honestly. Plus, just because you write it, doesn't mean you have it posted about. (LadyWillow)
------ I don't really think self-esteem has a place with fan fiction. I really think fan fiction is just an expression of how well people can expand their minds with the credit of another author. (T.W.)
------ Honestly, I think that some fanfiction writers may not have much of a life, seeing as they have enough time to write the stories, and get them out there, but most fanfiction writers that I know of don't tell anybody who actually knows them personally about their writing. Frankly, ff writers probably have less self-esteem then the average person. Always trying to get reviews... (Maikafuiniel)
------ I for one have quite a bit of self-esteem, but I don't necessarily think one is dependant on the other. I think self-esteem helps if you're looking for other people to read your writings, but isn't usually a factor in the quality of writing, or even inspiration for writing (Letalis)
------ Actually writing fanfiction has little to do with self-esteem. Sure, it takes some guts to post your work where people can see it and comment on it, and the way that readers respond to it can have either a positive or negative impact on your self-esteem, but you don't need self-esteem in order to write. Heaven knows I've seen plenty of authors with poor self- esteem. However, I find that people with better self-esteem tend to be better writers, probably because they have confidence in their work and aren't always second guessing themselves. - Burenda
------ It really depends on what you write, though, to me it seems that you would have more self esteem is you did write anything other than schoolwork, letters, etc. So yes, I do believe so. (*evenstar*)
------ In my opinion, writing helps build self-esteem. Who cares how it's done? Fanfiction just makes it easier to have fun while writing, since the characters and places are already there. (Cathelm)
------ I think they have more self-esteem than those who don't, because they have to have the nerve to post them and not care what the people think of it. (Burp)
(3) Why are you answering this survey?
------ Because...well first off because I think this is a very interesting idea, and secondly because I think this is a good way to gain a bit of insight to myself, and get what I think and feel and believe out to others. (LadyWillow)
------ I got this e-mail, and since I'm totally new to the whole slam thing, I thought I'd try it out. (Cathelm)
------ Because I'm opinionated and will jump at the chance to have my opinion heard. (T.W.)
------ Honestly? Because I'm bored, it's 11:00 PM, and I have no life-yay!! But also because I'm interested to see where this information is going and if other people are at all interested in what I have to say. I think this is rather creative (Letalis)
------ I enjoy peeking into the thoughts of other authors, and I imagine that other people feel the same way. I think it'd be neat for MY thoughts to be some of the thoughts people get to peek into. =) - Burenda
----- 1) nothing better to do until I get my license 2) I'm always happy to help out people who ask for it 3) I like going against the rules sometimes. 4) I love to tell people what I'm thinking about. (crity2re)
------ Because I like knowing that people out there will see my name, and read something by me. :) Like I said, less esteem. Fanfiction writers are people who are obsessed with others finding out there ideas. Yes we have imagination, but most people are able to get it out there where others can say, "Good for you." A lot of us writers are too freaked out about showing this stuff to people we actually know. (Maikafuiniel)
------ Because you sent it to me! I like the Qs, they make me see things in myself I didn't realize were there. They give me an excuse to talk about stuff that wouldn't come up in 'ordinary' conversation ('ordinary' because most of my conversations are quite bizarre). (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
----- I have WAY too much free time. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
(4) If you could pick as many characters from either Harry Potter or LOTR to be members of your family, friends of yours, or significant others, who, and who would they be in your life?
------ Well, I think I'd have to pick Sirius Black from Harry Potter and Remus Lupin from Harry Potter to be my parents. *giggle* I think I'd want them to be my parents because they honestly would be great at raising a kid. Remus would have the more strict, 'clean your bedroom do your homework' attitude, and Sirius would be the one to play and the one Remus would consider just another child of his. It would really fit! (LadyWillow)
------ From Harry Potter, it would definitely be Tom Riddle as my personal slave, just for fun. (T.W.)
------ Actually, given the choice, I'm not quite sure I would, but hypothetically, say I was feeling spontaneous that day, I'd most defiantly pick Hermione for a buddy, and probably Harry and Ron to keep her company. Maybe Draco and Seamus and Dean and Oliver and Alicia and...all them, too. Also, I think Tonks would make a great friend. Knowing me, I'd probably take Snape for a teacher just to make life more interesting. Or even Voldemort-how many people can say they have an evil dark overlord as a teacher? I'd probably take Mrs. Weasley as a second parent though, and most definitely Lupin and Sirius, although I don't exactly know where I'd put them in my life. I'd just like to have them around, and perhaps I could switch between them as boyfriends? Yeah...that'd be pretty cool to say I was dating one of them...haha. I don't really think I'd take anyone from LOTR because they wouldn't make my life as interesting, although I might take Legolas and Faramir just for fun, and perhaps Gandalf as a grandfather if I felt lonley. Oh, there are probably loads more. I know I'd take all the extras and people they only mention once in the books just for the heck of it if I could. I'm just strange like that. (Letalis)
------ I would have Draco Malfoy as my husband, Sirius as my Uncle, Harry Legolas, Lupin, Aragorn, Pippin, Merry, Sam, Frodo, Ron, Fred, George, and Gimli as my bestest friends. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------ Well, I definately would have to choose the Weasly's for my immediate family. They are so down to earth, yet completely out of this galaxy. They aren't afraid to go against the grain, nor are they afraid to stand for what they believe in. But I would also want to have Arwen for a sister. She's so loving and brave! And, finally, I would definately want Legolas as a "significant other." Who can resist the rugged outdoors type? (crity2re)
------ I would have to pick Aragorn. I would want him to be my older brother, so that he could protect me and love me and care about me. I would also have to pick Elrond. I would want him to be my father. (Burp)
------ From LOTR, I'd have to say Legolas, and he would just be a friend. Why him? He's cute! From Harry Potter, I'd pick Sirius Black, and likewise he would be a friend. Sirius is a very dynamic character, and I would love to know him personally. No romance with either, because, frankly, I'm not interested in romance right now. - Burenda
------- Hermione- a friend, Frodo & Legolas- boyfriends or very close friends, Aragorn- brother, Eowyn-sister, Pip & Merry- cousins, Sam- Chef, Gandalf-friend that I could talk to about anything. Sort of like a father, Galadriel- mother, Elrond- Father (*evenstar*)
------ Hmmm... Legolas. Probably as a best friend. He's cool, very nice, willing to help, and he'll fight through thick and thin for you. (Or as a lover - he's HOT!!). I might choose Neville from Harry Potter as a team mate type of thing, because he's the sweet sensitive soul who, when properly motivated, can do damn near anything. Draco would be cool, because there is so much twisted emotion in there. It would suck to be friends with him, cause then you would have to help him through stuff. But it would be interesting nonetheless... (Maikafuiniel)
------- I would have Frodo be my husband (yeah, I know, predictable), and Draco Malfoy be my evil-brother-in-law, I dislike people who are know-it- alls (because I'm one myself) so NO Hermione, Legalos be my cousin because he's real trusting and he has a good shot with that bow of his, strider would be my body-guard because he's cool (and he has a sword), and I think I would want Eowyn as my big sis because she's knows a lot about love and all that mushy junk (and she just seems like an all-round cool person). Oh I forgot Ron Weasley, as my friend, just because we could snack on things that make your teeth rot together. (angelskates12)
------ I would like to have Strider as an uncle, and Elrond to be my grandfather, 'cause then I could live in the woods when I wanted to, or live in a palace when I didn't. (Cathelm)
------ Sirius Black-Boyfriend Remus Lupin-Friend James Potter-Friend Lily Evans/Potter-Friend Hehe, Marauders rule!!!!! (Jessi Black)
(5) First person, second person, and third person: which is a writer's privilege, which is a writer's right, and which is a writer's duty?
------ Honestly, I'm not all too sure there's much of a difference to me. Granted, each P.O.V. tells its own story, but most of the time, it depends on how you want to get across a character's emotions. (T.W.)
------- Hmmm... hard one. I think every writer's duty is to write in 1st person because you see things so differently when you're in the person's shoes. 2nd person is personally harder to write, but I think it's a privilege because some people just totally screw up this kind of writing. Last but not least, 3rd is every writer's right because it is the basic and easiest way of writing. (angelskates12)
------ I think all writing is a privilege. I try not to take the characters for granted any time I write, because I know they're not mine and out of respect to the author, I hope I'm not doing a horrible job of botching their personalities. I think that it's a writer's duty to *think* in 3rd person as he or she writes, because really, we're all observers in these tangled little worlds we get to look into, so that should be the style in which at least 90% of a writer's thinking takes place, unless of course it's your original piece, in which case you should think in all points of view at every possible opportunity. (Letalis)
------ First person is a writer's right, second person is a writer's privilege and third person is a writer's duty. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------ It is a writer's right to write (tongue twister) in the first person. Telling your point of view is the most natural form of writing. It is a writer's privilege to tell a story from someone else's POV. Telling someone else's story is almost a form of gossip. (But I guess when you talk about fiction, it's more a duty to write in the third person...you can be the ominous author...all knowing) (crity2re)
------- 1-writer's duty, 2- writer's privilege, 3- writer's right (*evenstar*)
------ Okay then, privilege. The writer gets to fit the character to his needs. The whole point of a story is to fix things to work with the story line. As long as there is evidence for WHY he made the characters how he did, he can do whatever he wants with it. Right? The writer has the right to write whatever he wants. The writer has the right to put his ideas, and thoughts out into the world. Nobody who doesn't want to read it has to. There's nothing forcing the reader, so really, why can't the writer say whatever the hell she wants? Duty? Easy. To do a good job. The point of fanfiction is to get those ideas out there, and even to touch on issues. What some people don't realize is that, say in a suicide fic, people who have tried to will read it. They will expect a good story, with good details, and as close to the truth as possible. To mess with this can seriously change a person's perception of the original story, or even life. It is the duty of the writer to do as good a job as possible. (Maikafuiniel)
(6) What would piss off Tolkien or Rowling the most on this fan fiction site? What would they think of your work?
------ Probably finding a fanfictioner who got what was really going to happen; I would have no idea, but I'd like to find out. (Monique4)
------ Piss them off the most? Well, I read this one fic where one of the elves (I think it was Legolas) became a vampire, and went back to Lothlorien and made the rest of the elves vampires and there were no more real elves... that pissed me off, and I'm sure it would have pissed Tolkien off too. *nod* (LadyWillow)
------ I can imagine how changing either of their characters for the worse would make them feel. I know that would completely anger me. I don't know what they would think of my work, but if they had a problem with it, I would appreciate some form of contact, even a rude letter or email, just so I would know to stop. (T.W.)
------ I think they might be pissed about the pairings some people write. I haven't written stuff for LoTR, but my Harry Potter story may make Rowling a bit angry, since Draco loves Harry. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------- I think it would most definitely piss off any writer (not just them) the way that people leave out specific details. On fanfiction, writers will come right out and say that it doesn't matter what is in the original publication. It's almost an insult, telling someone that it doesn't matter what they do for a living. (crity2re)
------- I'm sure there are plenty of things on this site that both authors would find offensive. Just making a guess at what would be the most offensive to them, I'd suspect homosexual relationships between their characters. Authors can be very possessive of their characters' love lives, regardless of their views on homosexuality. I honestly don't know what they'd think of my work, because I haven't written anything LOTR or HP related. - Burenda
------- Honestly, I don't know what they would think of my work. For Tolkien, I think he would be pleased. I try to show the friendships, and dealing with emotional issues. :) Rowling would kick my butt.* I like to make Harry get tortured and stuff, and really dark. I have this one where he goes on a murderous rampage after finally getting out of Azkaban... (Maikafuiniel)
------ I think Rowling would die of a heart attack if she saw all the Hermione 'over the summer she just turned into a slut' ones. (angelskates12)
------ OVER CHARACTERIZATION! Or shall I say, mischaracterization. I mean, I like some of the parodies and all, but, Lord of the Rings especially, these books were meant to be works of art, or at least decent entertainment! They shouldn't be screwed with (at least not to a great extent), especially by slashing. (Cathelm)
------ Probably the slash. I love Rowling's work, except when she killed off ______. (Jessi Black)
------- I think that if they read some of the stuff people write that isn't true and the things about the girls all wanting to marry Legolas and crap like that, I think J.R.R. would get really pissed, because that's not how he meant everything to be. (Burp)
------ I happen to think very highly of Mrs. Rowling and Mr. Tolkien, although I don't know half as much about him as I do her. Therefore, I'm pretty sure they'd both be understanding to the kind of fics posted on ff.net, and not a lot would "piss off" either of them. If it were me, though, I'd have a problem with the fics that purposefully deform the characters' personalities, those that are poorly written (i.e. spelling "you" "u", "with" "w/", and etcetera), and those that show blatant disrespect for the works they were based off of. A lot of people don't remember all the thought these authors have put into their works and that although they're here for our amusement, they are due a lot of respect. I mean, seriously, let's see some of these pre-teens who don't know how to spell come up with a literary classic! (Letalis)
(7) How much control should the author of a published book have over things like media, sales, movies and fan fiction related to their work?
------- I think they should have complete and total control over ALL of the above EXCEPT fanfiction. Why do I think this? Because it's their characters, their literary work, their sweat and tears that went into that book, and they alone should be able to decide how they're portrayed in movies. However, fanfiction is a different story, because the fanfiction author is doing the same thing the original author is doing, which is pouring themselves into the work. They're almost making each thing they write a tribute to the original work. I know when Anne Rice stated that she didn't want any fanfiction written about her books I was offended. I took it as a personal insult that she didn't feel we, her fans, could do her work justice. Just my opinion. (LadyWillow)
------- One hundred and ten percent. It was their original creation and they should have the say as to whether or not someone else can base their ideas on that. (T.W.)
------- A whole heck of a lot of control. I don't think fanfiction is so much of an issue, but the rest of it should definitely be kept well-guarded by the author. Fanfiction belongs in a different category than the others though, as it wouldn't usually be bought and sold for a proffit that the author would loose. Same thing for fan art and the like. (Letalis)
------- Well, an author should have the majority of control, which in reality is the ability to say YES or NO. That gives them all the freedom that they choose. Rowling chose to have the actors in the Harry Potter movies be Brittish (at least when concerning the main characters). An author's wishes should always be respected. It is, after all, their property. (crity2re)
------- They should just give advice for the movies and music stuff, they shouldn't have a say about the fan fiction (it's a free country) And the sales they should have the final answer, it's their work. (*evenstar*)
------- The author has cash rights, yes, but she/he shouldn't be able to control fiction. Hell, it's us telling you we like your stuff enough that we actually THINK about it for more then ten minutes. Once they put it out there, what right do they have to stop us from talking about it, and using ideas? It's our RIGHT. (Maikafuiniel)
------- A lot. I mean this is their baby, their book, and letting people like me ruin them is kind of heartbreaking. Some authors just sell the rights and watch the big executives turn their story into moneymaking stuff, usually full of explicit stuff and gore. (angelskates12)
(8) What pisses you off the most about how the movies of these two books have mutated the original work? (cast, missing scenes, OOC, etc.)
------- I'd have to say how the Harry Potter movies messed up the big scene with the basilisk in The Chamber of Secrets. That's not how it worked in the book, and it REALLY pissed me off. And in LoTR, when they had Arwen say lines that were not hers. Argh. *shakes head* (LadyWillow)
------- Mostly the fact that a lot of scenes were deleted, but if you think about it, if every scene of the Harry Potter books had to be incorporated into film, the first two films would be over four hours long each. (T.W.)
------- I don't know a lot about making movies, and I'm sure there are a lot of time restraints that don't allow the directors all the scenes they'd like. I know I was very happy with the casting of Harry Potter, except there's this one line in the second movie that sounds so absolutely fake to me...but that's beside the point. Harry Potter I was very happy with. I'd read the books 7 times each before any of the movies came out and I can tell you that the directors clearly did their homework. True, it's not perfect. But neither is my memory. (Letalis)
------- I have to admit, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Movie, they totally butchered the scenes on the way to Quirrel. And In the second Lord of the Rings, Aragorn doesn't go off a cliff. The casting was good, but I hate Emma Watson with a passion. (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------- Nothing really pisses me off too much about how these productions are turning out. Some of the little things make me mad (like Peeves not being a more notable character) but films have budgets, time limits, scripts. It would be impossible to include it all. As long as the story isn't changed, I'm happy. (crity2re)
------- I would be willing to sit through a 4 hour movie as long as it was good, but both of them seem very good and nothing really bad about them. (*evenstar*)
------- Harry Potter: Dud's not as fat as he should be. His father doesn't look ANYTHING like him. Dumbledore doesn't "radiate goodness" or whatever the hell he's supposed to do. In fact, he seems rather board through out the entire thing, and has an incredibly dry voice. (I did love how Snape looks in the second movie, during the fighting Lockhart scene though.) (Maikafuiniel)
------ Probably missing scenes. Like in the 1st HP, they left out a lot of good stuff (like when Harry gets his broom and Malfoy tries to tell on him {that was a classic moment}), or like in LOTR, they put stuff from the 2nd into the 1st and left a lot out of the 2nd. That makes me mad, because I really look forward to some of these scenes and they just get taken out. (angelskates12)
------ Oh gosh,* now you're now in for such a rant..... I FRICKING* HATE THE HP MOVIES!!!!! Hypercritically I love the LOTR ones (ducks from things die hard LOTR bookies are throwing). I got into LOTR thanks to the films, but I loved HP before hand. Even so, I think Peter Jackson has done Tolkien's work more justice than Warner Bros have done HP, because he genuinely cared about preserving the book. They've aimed the hp movies at kids who are too young and it's SO over merchandised!!!! I hate Emma Watson more than any of the rest of the mismatched cast as she has slaughtered Hermione (my fav character). They gave Hagrid a stone hut for goodness* sake - this makes one of the best lines completely redundant ('But Hagrid, you live in a wooden house' - Hermione on Norbert). And they cut Peeves! PEEVES! He's fantastic! And what do they put in instead?! Crap that isn't in the book and isn't even acurate, like Hermione taking Harry to see a plaque and telling him he'll be a great seeker because it's in his blood!!!! ARRRGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
------- Everyone who hasn't read the books is misinterpreting the characters; Now Boromir is a fool, Legolas is insanely sexy, and Frodo is 20 years old. Which they're NOT!!! Not that it's a bad thing, but it's just not the way they are. (Cathelm)
------- Missing scenes, defiantly. (Jessi Black)
-------- Well, I haven't read Harry Potter, but I have read LotR. I think that they should have put Tom Bombadil in there, and they shouldn't have made Boromir die in the first movie, because he didn't die in the first book...he died in the first chapter of the second book. And I also think that they shouldn't have had the Elves come and help with the Battle of Helm's Deep, because it didn't happen in the book, and Haldir didn't/doesn't die! Oh! And I think they shouldn't have made Aragorn look like a two-timer. That whole Aragorn Arwen : Aragorn Eowyn thing NEVER happened. Aragorn and Arwen love each other and get married...not Aragorn and Eowyn. They're making it look like he's going to marry her instead of Arwen...curse Peter Jackson for doing this! (Burp)
(9) What is your life like?
------ My life? You ask about my life? Well, my life is like this: Throughout the school year I kind of drift, going from place to place. I've learned to sort of ignore the people around me, most of which like to say some not-too-nice things to me. (Living in a small town in Wisconsin and being a Wiccan lesbian has those problems). I have minor schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, so things are a bit difficult for me, but I manage just fine. *nod* erm...I balance homework with psychiatrist appointments, which isn't easy but it's worth it, 'cause Ann is really cool... during the summer I basically stay up until around 3:00 am, go to sleep and sleep until about 3:00pm... and I'm online until I go to bed again. *nod* That's pretty much my life. In a nutshell. (LadyWillow)
------ Work, pay bills, plan to be a published author myself one of these days. (T.W.)
------- My life? Relatively boring. I'm not a particularly interesting person. I get up every morning(or noon...), stay conscious, eat a few meals, go to sleep, repeat. I'd love to tell you a whole bunch of stories about all the mysterious adventures I've gone on and super-human beings I've met, but sadly I haven't. Doesn't life suck? No...I'm just kidding. Actually, I'm rather fond of my run-of-the-mill life. I kinda like it here, even for all the time I spend in other worlds:) (Letalis)
------ My life is easy. Stressful, but easy. I have an older sister who is constantly screwing up, which makes my life easier. But I also have goals and desires that my parents are pushing me towards. There's pressure on both sides (my sister to act out, my parents to do better than they did). Right now, I'm dealing with the added stress of the death of one of my close friends. I'm just a small town girl begging to be free. (crity2re)
------- Peachy. Just peachy. (Cathelm)
------ Life? I don't have a life. I eat, sleep, read, write, occassionally watch TV, and go to college. My social life consists of the family members who still live at home and a few acquaintances I see once a week at church. If my life was written in a book, nobody with an ounce of sanity would want to read it. - Burenda
------- I hang out with my friends a lot, going to the movies, sleepovers. I love acting, singing, dancing, stuff like that. I watch TV and play on the computer a lot. I play in the highest band at my school and we play professional music. I own four horses one being only a couple months old. I go riding all the time... As you can see, my life is busy, but never too busy for my friends! (*evenstar*)
------ My life? Ug. My bagel cooker caught fire today. Burned my hand. Fought with my sister. Fought with my brother. Got told off by my mother. Had to get up at 5:30 am to walk an hour to work, spent 8 hours dealing with idiot customers and overbearing bosses, just to walk home (another hour), and see the ff.net banned me! Damn them! My dog is dead. My hamsters ate their own mother. I have no life, and no time for one. Quite frankly, I hate my life. Cripes. What I wouldn't give for a little good luck. (Maikafuiniel)
------ I love it now. It was crap when I was at school because I was a Hermione (I still am). People labeled me a geek and I was always... not exactly being bullied, just picked at. I went through a lot of crap with so called 'friends' who spent all their time whispering about me and pushing me out, as if that wasn't enough, they tried to break up me and any other friends I had. I don't even know why they did it. One of my 'friends' outside of school is really awful and just pulls my self esteem through the mud all the time. Great! I thought I'd put all this behind me!
Anyway, I'm happier now (I think) because I live on my computer, even if my sister obviously thinks I'm a geek for it... (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
------- I have a psycho step mother who I have not seen since Christmas. Need I say more? (Jessi Black)
(10) Should this Slam Book be allowed on fanficiton.net? Why or why not?
------- Of course! Fanfiction.net has too strict of rules, and this is a really good, insightful thing! If they take this down I'll be firing off a very nasty letter! (LadyWillow)
------ Sure, why not? I don't think it should be posted in the section with all the normal fanfics, because I would be inclined to roll my eyes and restrain my hand from typing a flame to the person who had it in the wrong category, but as long as it doesn't interfere with people who don't want to read it, then sure, it should be allowed. What's it hurting? (Letalis)
------- Sorry, but I think it's great! First off, for less popular authors (like me), if anyone reads this, people might check out their stories! And it's just fun to learn about different people! (A Happy Little Bumble-bee)
------- No. It can't exactly be considered FanFiction, now can it? In all reality, this Slam Book belongs somewhere like FictionPress.com. BUT! (and this is a big but,) It should be made a column. All writers need to know what and how other people are thinking. It keeps the story fresh. (crity2re)
------- As much as I love this Slam Book, I'd have to say "no", it should not be allowed on ff.net. Fanfiction.net is a web site for people to post their stories and poetry. As this does not fall into either of those categories, it should not be on this site. In fact, one could argue that this Slam Book is a List, which is most definitely on ff.net's list of prohibited entries. - Burenda
------- I'd love for this to be on the net, this really got me thinking , these are some really good and deep questions!!! Excellent!!!!!!! Love it!!!!! (*evenstar*)
------ I'm not sure. It's one of a kind, that's for sure. And I know people will read this, but sometimes, different is bad. Why ruin a good thing? (Maikafuiniel)
------ Personally, I think it should because it is interesting and it might even help people, like if they found out from this section that someone else was going through what they are. It's also good for the people who slam, confession is good for the soul.
I can see why they might be banned though, it'd be so boring if everyone did them. I reckon they ban them to stop people doing slambooks and nothing else when it's supposed to be about fic. I reckon they know people do / will do them, and (here's hoping) they secretly love us for it!!! Mr fic security dude, are you reading this? You're proud of us rebels, right? (if not, I bet it's given you a few laughs). They shouldn't be 'allowed' in the rules, but they shouldn't kick peeps off for doing them! (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
------ I think it's ok... this part of the site was meant to be for fanfiction, but since we are doing fanfiction-writing related things I don't think anyone'll mind. (Cathelm) No, because people are entitled to what they want to think, and sometimes they don't want answers to their questions...they just want to go on dreaming and wishing what they want, and believing what they want, and to be totally innocent...is that a good enough argument for you? Lol (Burp)
END AUTHOR'S NOTE: So? Am I losing my touch or is this just as smashing as the previous three? Personally, I kind of like the second set, but this one isn't that bad, at all. I AM IN SEARCH OF TWO THINGS: New slammers (people to answer my next set of questions), and . . . people to WRITE my new slam questions. Yes, set five will be all requests! Send as many as you want, and I'll see what I want to ask! (Please, if you're doing this, hit the slammers hard . . . heh, heh, heh).
PROPS:
*My slammers! You guys are my heroes!
*Everyone whose computer made my life easier by not adding in random "returns"
*Hermione 'DB' Granger! Thanks for answering the questions and I'm glad I let you!
*All my Wisconsin homies and
*Everyone who proved to me that my insane friend is not the only person who is obsessed with Frodo Baggins.