Welcome the the Ficship Competitions! Have you visited the Competition Layout and Rules page? If not, make sure to do that soon- because the competition is on and your favorites are waiting to be nominated! In the meantime, why don't you introduce yourselves? This chat is open to discussions about Tamora Pierce books, the characters, your favorite fanfictions, the competition- or anything else the posts lead to. So lead away!

I am Opal.

Usually I go by the username BlackOpal, taken from, of course, the Immortals series. :)

My favourite books are...

Eh, that's kind of hard.

My favourite characters are Briar and George.

Ooh, I'm a bad feminist, aren't I?

George is my ultimate fictional character crush. I have yet to find any book character who can even come close to the amazingness of him. Except mayhaps Briar...

I think that I'm the only Briar/Evy shipper on here too, haha.

Pierce sure can write the badboys, can't she. XD. I love George and Briar too. But I also love Daine, Aly and Tris, so I'm balanced out. Lmao.

My favorite books... In the Tamora Pierce series its Emperor Mage, Lady Knight, Tricksters Choice&Queen, Tris's Book, Briar's Book, Street Magic, Shatterglass and WotE. So, alot of them, haha.

You're not the only B/E 'shipper! I think we've had this convo before, lol. I like them too... I think I'd prefer Briar with an OC, though, just because of the relationships he has with the girls closest to him. They seem so much like his family that making them sexual creeps me right out.

(PS- Thanks for posting. I won't go crazy anymore, lmao)

Haha, I never thought of Briar and Evy's relationship as family.

I think that pairing him with any of his sisters is weird!

I love Tris too, actually. I think that she's the most well-rounded character there is. She's very... real!

I also love Alanna. She's why I originally got into the books. She drew me in.

At times I also adore Daja. :)

I think I love all of the characters when i'm reading their books, lol. Its only after that I can pick a favorite. No, Evvy is less like family than any of the others, so thats one pairing I'd be OK with in canon.

Hello! I've sent all the nominations out! For both Emelan and Tortallan universes... sigh, finally. I'm dead tonight...

Yay! XD. I have to go and volunteer from 1030-3am for this walk-safe program on campus. :( I don't wanna go out in the cold! brrrr.

I'm glad I won't be the only one with nominations in the Emelan section. That was awkward. XD. I don't think Sarah's online, but she'll prolly be on later or tomorrow and get the new nominations posted.

Good. have fun... walk-safe on campus? University campus I'm supposing?

Yea. We walk and drive people home so they're not alone. Our campus is one of the smallest in the country, but matches the largest of them for the number of assaults on students. We're just that awesome. So, we have crazy people who volunteer to spend 4 hours in the bitter cold, walking sidewalks that are never shovelled or salted, and trying to make conversation with perfect starngers.

Something about hanging out with people at 2am, when everyone is slap-happy and delirious makes for the best conversations and the closest friends, though. XD. I have no groceries because I'm going home for Christmas break on Friday, so I have to go now to buy dinner. Talk to you guys tomorrow. XD

Nice...what does a campus loo like? Well, that's generic, what does your campus look like? Never been to one...

Lol. Yes, all campuses are very very different. Mine is small- its only a block with a few buildings outside of that. Its hard to describe because the buildings are all connected to each other. We have a main set of buildings that includes classes for the 'arts', the business classes and study areas, the music department and its auditorium, the dining hall and the food court, plus all the offices. Then most of the rest of campus is dorms and the field. Theres another large building that has the science building and another building for classes in languages and social sciences. It really small and we have a small student population, but its definately part of why I love it, because it means you can't be on campus without running into someone. And you always know a person from more than one thing. It means that gossip runs rampant, though- because everyone knows everyone else. I'm exagerating a bit, of course. We do have about 20000 students.

I meant without running into someone you know, not just *someone*. My campus is a G.h.O.s.T T.o.W.n!! XD

I'm going to go out on a limb and say my favorite Tortall Characters are actually Kitten (Skysong) and Tkaa. If I had to choose a human, probably Kel? Not sure. Anyway, it makes me sad that the Immortals often get short shrift in fanfic. They tend to have more ambiguous motivations and characters so, really, people should *want* to write about them.

As for Emelan, I'll prove my fringe character tendencies by saying Crane, but also Rosethorn and Tris. And of course Berenene as TP's most complex villain.

I also really liked Crane, especially in how he deals with Briar and Rosethorn. i thought their relationships with him were really interesting.

You're right about the Immortals, though. Why *don't* they ever get written about? Actually, one of the nominated stories, The Beauty with the Beast by Merrybeans is in Rikash's (the Stormwing, not the kid) POV. It was really well done. I think it would be difficult to write in the POVs of the Immortals because they aren't human. That seems uber-obvious, lmao, but I mean they can't think and feel like we do, so you'd have to make up an entire set of motivations and views to see the world through. It would be so interesting to do, of course.

Ok, I should totally be grading, but I had to respond to this!

I've read the Beauty and the Beast fic and from what I remember, left a rather babbly and incoherent review because that fic stemmed off an idea for a fic (which I also never got around to writing either...). The only other one I know of is the drabble Of Magic and Bathtubs by Rainstorm Amaya Arianrhod which is a drabble I got to request from the author. It's nearly a 1000 words long though, so maybe I can nominate it for the contest.

"they can't think and feel like we do, so you'd have to make up an entire set of motivations and views to see the world through."

I'm not so sure--I mean, fanfic writers imagine how humans from vastly disparate backgrounds in a fantasy world might respond to given situations. I don't think an Immortal pov (especially some like Tkaa, who really seems almost like a scholar/academic taken to the extreme) can be *that* much harder.

But the Stormwings... If you try to make them human you either have to make them evil or else you must have them lose part of their identity. They are *not* human, they don't have the same values or even the same basic needs as any human has. I think they would be very difficult to write. I do agree that some of them, like Tkaa, are driven by basically human wants, though.

Haha, this makes me want to write the Stormwing fic (or at least pursue the inkling of an idea I got) I had after reading Beauty and the Beast.

Dooooo iiiiiiit!

Hello...

The name I go by is Heather... I felt the need to post something so I would not feel like a stalker anymore.

Haha good to see you here! I think a good portion of my fandom activities would fall into the "stalker" category if that is defined as lurking in virtual places.

Kris, you are a *terrible* influence on me. Well, maybe I can use it as a carrot. If I finish all my work before tomorrow morning, I will allow myself an hour or so of writing...

that sounds appropraite...

By the way, I don´t know if you looked at what I sent you, but I made some changes and sent the entire thing to you again.

...Don´t hate me. I reread the Cold Feet fic and felt the need to make some changes so it would fit in with the plot better.

I could say the same thing about your influence, Luna, *glares*

Muahahahaha! I'm allowed to be a terrible influence because I survived the first semester of my second year on university. Now I'm sitting around my empty apartment trying to find something to do that doesn't invovle going outside and losing a number of body parts to the cold. This wouldn't be nearly as much fun if I were on here talking to myself and reading my own fics. XD I'm glad to see you on here Heather. XDXD!

Ah, well all in a good cause... *looks sheepish*

I haven't read your chapter yet, so I won't hate you. I think I've seen Cold Feet--is that the fic about Roald and Shinko's wedding?

Hahaha, I put writing before all else, but then again, I guess my work (school work) is less complicated than yours...I would have to say I don't really have influential people with my writing. My writing is influenced by my mood. I guess. And my reviewers. ^.^

yess Cold Feet is the fic about Roald and Shinko's wedding.

My part is completely different from the style of anythingatall and sarcastic rabbit, etc, so I don't know how well it will fit in... but hey, who doesn't enjoy some guilt tripping and war!Tortall-bashing?

Tunstall Chick, I used to have a similar carefree approach, and then I got a beta who was even more deeply involved in my story than I was (it is a long sprawling fic which I lose interest in at times). The detailed input and attention made me feel bad for being such a slacker as a writer that now I'm almost churning out chapters semi-regularly.

Fanfiction definitely my "guilty pleasure"-- a place to escape from RL stress/work.

I envy you for being in University already. I'm eyeing the papers I have to fill out to get into an undergrad that will get me into medicine, and seriously considering screwing my future, taking Arts, and writing for my food.

Happy to be guilt-tripped, Kris. (Can I call you Kris without appearing to be a creeper?)

Aah, I wouldn't say carefree. My beta though is very supportive, mayhap a little too much so. I do wish she would give me some constructive criticism. Hmm...I might start running some chapters by other people, I wouldn't know who though... hhmm, most people I know on this site I beta for...

(tunstall chick): I envy you. Enjoy your time writing while it lasts. Sunday I wrote and posted a chapter for the first time in 8 months. It sort of depressed me.

((TC)) I would be happy to take a look at your work, if you really wanted some c.c.

Call me Claudia, or Claudes, all this xxTunstall Chickxx stuff is so 'proper'... thank you, I might send you something small, but your comment made me feel as though you're a very busy person... 8 months? I would go into a depression. I write all the time, even at school. I write everything by hand then type it up....writing frees me...

Heehee... I'm not busy anymore. I just needed to make sure that I got stellar marks for my predicted grades to get into University & worked enough to pay for some of my uni tuition.

But I know feeling. Writing is a very wonderful thing.

So send away. Go send.

"writing for my food."

As a grad student myself, I would advise against this. I am sure the writing you have in mind is not of hte academic variety, but I still feel I would advise against it. But the end of the work at the end of the semester usually puts me in a cranky mood.

(Luna) I would never actually leave writing as my only trade -- I've wanted to be a doctor since I can remember.

What are you studying?

I've always wanted to be a marine biologist. Though writing is my life off to the side from science. Though I am still too young too choose anything....

English lit. Currently am TA-ing for a poetry class. Grading makes me want to stab my eyes out. Often, the only thoughts in my mind are "WTF" and "Really, kids? Really?"

((Luna)) As much fun as teaching must be, the prospect of grading the way you described it makes me wince. I'm sending you a virtual hug.

I hate this topic. I'm in my second year of university with no idea what i want to do. :( I'm assured often that its not that uncommon, actually. I would like to go into the humanities... like social work or social planning or something. XD. My program is pretty vast, so I'm good for a bit still. I definately write *everywhere*. I carry my notebook around so that in the middle of class I'm often writing in that rather than my actual school notebook.

If you want someone to read something over, I'm good for that. XD But I beta for my betas, you know. I don't find it has to be a one-way relationship.

Okay, topic is closed. No more discussions about life and other things.

(but...humanities does sound fascinating)

Lmao! You don't have to stop talking about it for *me*! XD. That's a convo killer. :(

Oh, to respond to an earlier comment, 'Kris' is fine, Heather. You don't seem like a creeper for it. XD

Haha... in truth it is depressing me as well.

How's the writing coming on? Don't make me start pulling more faces :P

My writing? Going to read over the next chapter of Clear Skies so its ready for tomorrows post. Then I have to write a scene that Luna (I think it was you, Luna) suggested be in the conclusion and I'm done! I might work some more on the Tortall one I want to start posting soonest.

And please no faces! That glaring puppy-dog one is all I can take for the day. :D

yesss! No more faces for today XD

Ok guys, I had to *literally* tear myself away from the computer to get any work done. 27 papers left.

So, to distract myself while I go grade the next set, if you had to choose one Immortal to write about, which species or particular immortal would it be and why.

I would write about a Tauros or a Stormwing. Probably a stormwing, because writing through the point of view of a rapist doesn´t seem like my cup of tea. Unless he blacks out all the time... err.. no.

I tend to go for characters that have a sort of three-dimensional bit to them. Characters that aren´t glorified, aren´t interesting, and are just human in every flawed way possible. In addition, stormwings: stink, have no friends, and muck around dead people all day.

What more could an agnsty-ish writer like me ask for?

Wow, Tauros would totally *not* have ocurred to me! Writing from that pov would be unnerving and not something I'd want to do.

But after you response, I really tried to think what other options there are--and really it has to be one of the Immortals that are more like humans than animals, I mean how could you have an animal POV story? But then, I guess I would be interested in perhaps a Cloud POV since TP makes her as fully a character as she does someone like Onua.

Anyway, other than Stormwings, all I got was Tkaa, Kitten, various dragons met in The Realm of the Gods, possibly the Kraken from Wildmagic and that was about it really. Are there any I'm really obviously missing?

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