a day much occupied by nothing in particular

[incandescens]

Gah. Alchemy in Scales, or at least, the rules dealing with same, are horrendously fiddly and involve far too many dice rolls. I hope that's one area which can be simplified.

On another note, I dislike writing climaxes. I'm never quite satisfied by them. There always seems to be something which could have been done better, or wasn't done enough, and in the end I just have to kick it out and be done with it. And probably find bits afterwards that I mutter about, and think, perhaps I should have fixed that, but will never be quite sure about.

My father has gone off to Leeds for a conference. Apparently he is staying in one of the university halls of residence, which would not in itself be bad, but it seems that their hot water supply is unreliable, resulting in cool shower and tepid shave. I made sympathetic noises via my mother, who was on the phone to him.

I will be at work tomorrow. Those celebrating Labor Day will not. You probably do not want to hear my thoughts on the subject. :)

---

"And so," said Piro, who had been closely following this reasoning, "if one finds oneself using dishonorable methods to achieve a goal, it would follow that the goal, itself, is dishonorable? Or if not dishonorable, in some other way flawed?"

The Lord Of Castle Black, Steven Brust

Comments

[kickinpants.livejournal.com]

Climaxes are really difficult, and sometimes what's most difficult is being able to write out in a satisfying way the ending that's floating around in the head. To me personally, it's one of the worst stumbling blocks to get over, and sometimes I don't always get over it (thus abandoning the project due to being too unsatisfied with the climax, ending, etc.) But then those times getting over it is satisfying beyond words. (Trying to say in too many words= "I feel your pain.")

[(Anonymous)]

Funny, climaxes almost never give me trouble. Largely because the climax is usually where the idea for the story came from in the first place. Getting there is more likely to be the problem, and tidying up afterwards.
-mjj

[kickinpants.livejournal.com]

I see what you're saying and I agree. A lot of times that ending point will be the impetus for all that comes before it. Personally though, sometimes even with the ending point in mind, I can't tie up everything before that to reach that totally satisfying "climax" point. (Perhaps my technique needs improving. ^_^)

[incandescens]

I see what you mean about the climax being where the idea for the story comes from in the first place, but I don't always have it that way. Sometimes, for me, it's more a case of "what if X happened this way, what would come then and how would it end?" Even in the Gaiden, we know they're going to die, but we're waiting to see how it will happen and how Minekura will draw it. In Bad Wisdom, I had the idea for what was going on, but am still not quite sure about the climax.

I suppose it's a combination of what the actual event is, and how well it's described. The first may be already settled in the original conception, but the second is down to the writer/artist and takes work.

[(Anonymous)]

Or if Minekura will draw it. The infinitely postponed ending episodes of the Gaiden. But even there, the image of how it might happen has sparked more fics than I can count.

The reason I never post works in progress is precisely because a very interesting settei may well turn out to have no climax or denouement, or not one I'm interested enough to write. Occupational hazard.
-mjj

[incandescens]

Whereas my attitude is more in keeping, I suppose, with wanting to prove that something can be done directly on being told that it can't. "Oh well, I'll jump into it and hope that I have more of an idea about a possible ending by the time I get there . . ."

Hope the weather's better your end, btw?

[(Anonymous)]

Cool and muggy and grey and autumnal, with a crop of ragweed unseen in these parts since 1977 or so. TO is full of antihistamined zombies, and God/ I know/ I'm one.
-mjj

[incandescens]

Mm. Ick. It's turned grey and dubious here, and as predicted, people are already complaining about how it's all nasty and cold. My officemate was coughing all morning and went home ill after her early afternoon meeting. I'm just crossing my fingers, and trying to boost my immune system with caffeine and doujinshi.

[multiplexer.livejournal.com]

I dunno if you'll see this because it's a slightly older post, but if you need help balancing alchemy rules so they're more of a game and less than an exercize in suffering, let me know.

[incandescens]

I appreciate that; thanks. However, I still have large chunks that need translating, and I'm not sure what changes may be going to be made to the other rules yet.

(And no, Em, you can't play a Hydra. :))