What are you writing about now?

[david_wendelken]

Well, darn. I just realized a chapter I wrote a few months ago has a major POV shift in the middle of it. 3rd person omniscient to 1st person.

And I like both halves! Arrrgh!

 

[Ent]

I think it's supposed to sound like golodhrim, for example. Maybe it means people?

Ending a word with "im" to make it plural is from the Greek.
Like "Elohim" used for God. It is 'plural', indicating, some say, the 'Triune nature of God' or 'Trinity.' (Others have a different theory as to why it's ended in the plural.)

Another is the "Nephalim", plural translated generally as 'giants' (errantly i might add.)
Seraphim is another. There are numerous "ims" in Greek.

Tolkien would have been well aware of this construction, and did choose to employ it in various places and ways.

 

[david_wendelken]

Well, darn. I just realized a chapter I wrote a few months ago has a major POV shift in the middle of it. 3rd person omniscient to 1st person.

And I like both halves! Arrrgh!

Ok, just figured out what to do. The chapter starts with a messenger from the border wardens of Lorien to the main character in Caras Galadhon. It's in 3rd person (limited). Next section is first person from the point of view of the person coming to visit Lorien. The messenger (at this point, anyway!!) is just in this chapter as a messenger, so no one knows who he is.

I'm going to change the starting point of the chapter. It will now include the visitor's journey up the Anduin to Lorien, have them deliver their request to meet the main character, That will be in first person. Then I'll rewrite the current first part to make it 1st person from the messenger's point of view. (That should be easy.) The last part of the chapter can remain as is (1st person from the visitor.)

The new material will be fun and add some useful "colour" to the story as it will describe how people travel up and down the Anduin with the Falls of Rauros in the way and give some background info on Gondorian border patrol customs. Should take 4 to 10 pages.

Whew!

 

[david_wendelken]

I just went through Volume I of my series using ProWritingAid. I did a grammar and spelling check. It took awhile, but I went through its list of issues and corrected the ones I agreed with.

Now I'm running Grammarly on the edited text. It thinks I have 1162 "correctness" issues. The two products aren't completely comparable as the Grammarly correctness checks include "awkward phrasing". Since I try to include archaic words and shadows of archaic phrasing, it finds a numbrer of issues I've intentionally chosen to write that way.

Plus, none of the grammar checkers completely agree with one another. When my two products disagree and I'm still unsure as well, I've been popping the problematic sentence into a few online grammar checkers.

 

[WatcherWraith]

I wish these checking products had setting to help make the work easier. Sometimes archaic words are the best!

 

[Ent]

Indeed, always keep in mind writing is about your voice - not anyone or any product else's.
They are but a 'took' - a 'guide'. An "are you sure."

"Yes, I AM sure you blinking idiotic programmed beast" is a perfectily appropriate and reasonable response.

 

[WatcherWraith]

A took, @Ent ? Are there hobbits in our computer programs? If so, surely it would be that adventurous family!

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

"Yes, I AM sure you blinking idiodic programmed beast" is a perfectily appropriate and reasonable response.

*Me ignoring errors of slight grammar issues because it makes for more natural dialogue, or intentionally going with less concise wording because the character is pompous and pretentious and absolutely would talk like that.*

Also, adding a slew of Elvish names to the dictionary.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

A took, @Ent ? Are there hobbits in our computer programs? If so, surely it would be that adventurous family!

Belladonna Took is checking our grammar??!!

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

I don't know about you, but I have the Non-native speaker right passage to making grammar errors here and there. 🤷🏻‍♀️

 

[ZehnWaters]

Currently working on headecanon for Dragon Age. I've got the outline done and am now working on individual scenes.

Wrapped this up, shifted to Star Wars RPG campaign outlines, and have now shifted back to my Tolkien RPG outlines. Specifically my "What if...?" campaigns as they require the most imagination & writing.

 

[david_wendelken]

I wish these checking products had setting to help make the work easier. Sometimes archaic words are the best!

I routinely get a message that tells me it's an archaic word that most readers won't know and asking if I still want to use it.

"You bet I do! It's a great word, it's time they learn it!" is my attitude.

 

[david_wendelken]

*Me ignoring errors of slight grammar issues because it makes for more natural dialogue, or intentionally going with less concise wording because the character is pompous and pretentious and absolutely would talk like that.*

Also, adding a slew of Elvish names to the dictionary.

I agree with you completely! I do the same! Plus, some of my chapters are ostensibly translations of bardic epic tales, so I tend to use more poetic wording in those.

 

[Ent]

A took, @Ent ? Are there hobbits in our computer programs? If so, surely it would be that adventurous family!

Apparently we had hobbits yes. I've banished them in favor of the better producing "tools" now however... they wanted too many meal, drink and smoke breaks..!

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

I spent my sick day form school thinking about my novel a bit. I think I managed to fill one of the plot holes and decided the fate of a couple of my characters, though it might change at any point.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

I also drew a female character of mine, and I gave her features common between Iranian girls, some which our ladies are often self-conscious about. I don't possess that one myself, but I still think it's beautiful and it speaks of millennia of heritage. I'm hoping my little princess might encourage more of our young girls to embrace all parts of themselves without feeling ashamed of it.

 

[Kiredor]

OK so enough of the Ent-work.
Who else is doing what else at present?

As you probably know, I am slowly grinding through many ideas and several projects. My major pastime historical novel 'The Kings of Kaltis' is nearing completion and should be ready for sending to a professional editor by Spring 2025.
My TF 4th Age fanfic 'Elrond & the Blue Wizards (EatBW)' has been intermittent with some of my short story endeavours. To date on EatBW, I have completed the prologue & chapters 1-3, with 4 being edited now. Prepped 5-7 and laid out the framework for 8-12. I have written several other short stories (all different genres) which gather hard drive dust in one of my story folders, probably never to see the light of day - but good for reference.

Navaer, Edan meldo. I andúnë naira mára lyë, ar nai i silmë tanna caurelyenna. Navaer, tenna enta lúmë...

(Farewell, mortal brother. May the sunset guide your path and the stars shine upon your journey. Farewell, until then...)

 

[Ent]

historical novel 'The Kings of Kaltis' is nearing completion

hhmmmm... I was unaware of this one. Sounds intriguing.

4th Age fanfic 'Elrond & the Blue Wizards

Familiar with the beginning of this one. As you know, has my interest (in the 'for what it's worth' department.)

Good to know you're progressing on all fronts..!!

 

[WatcherWraith]

Navaer, Edan meldo. I andúnë naira mára lyë, ar nai i silmë tanna caurelyenna. Navaer, tenna enta lúmë...

(Farewell, mortal brother. May the sunset guide your path and the stars shine upon your journey. Farewell, until then...)

If I may, I'm interested where you got your translation of these phrases :] I want to know how I can translate my own Quenya lines more accurately.
I noticed you used the polite "you", unless this is Sindarin, which I'm much less familiar with(since I've been mainly working with Quenya these past few months). The word "edan" implies Sindarin to me, but I'm not sure....

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Meldo also means Beloved, from what I know. I think Edan is supposed to be Adan because it's been translated as mortal. In which I think Atan is a more suitable choice.