Writers' Ideas

[Omnia sunt Communia]

If you're sending an full piece for publishing (i.e. a novel, or long piece of prose) is it wise to send the entire thing, or send just a snippet of it? Like if you were sending off a novel would it make sense to send a few chapters or the whole thing?

 

(This is exactly the sort of thing we should of been talking about in Writer's Discussion thread way back when. )

[Rhoda]

Hm, there's an irony there for sure Kaden. But yeah, I don't know what they would ask for. I'm sure they would ask specifically when you contact a publisher with your work; after all, if they're interested enough in what you have to offer they won't ask for everything up front, will they? Typhus, where are you when we need you?

[Eminence]

It truly depends on the publisher. Yes, there's the basic approach of find as many publishers/agents as you can and send, send send! but you still need to go into more detail than that. You'd need to send it to the right person - that might mean initiating some form of contact to figure out where exactly to send it. And then they might request a few sample chapters, the first half, the latter half, a mix of all the above, or the complete thing. It'd be different for every publisher, and you'd be stupid to send the same thing to everyone - if they only request sample chapters, for example, you'd look a bit silly to send the full thing, and they might reject you immediately based on the idea that you can't follow basic instructions.

[Rhoda]

It's quite the test for publishers that as well; if you can't listen to their basic, sensible instructions, why should they entrust you with rights like that when there are going to be far more complex conditions to write under if they give you a job or you get something published? It's quite right of them. I imagine many fail by simply not listening to their instructions, though I'd probably get so excited at being contacted back I'd do the same!

[VCRules86]

VCRules86:

 

I'm not so sure on this. Have you played IV? I'd say playing IV is a necessity, and even the new DLC is required if you're going to write a story on a biker gang in Liberty City. Some of the ideas you have don't seem to match with the storyline. For instance, Niko doesn't strike me as a drug-dealing character. He seems to only be out to find that "special someone". I'm not sure if you have played GTA IV, so I won't give too many spoilers.

I have played and completed IV. I will be taking some minor creative liberties with the storyline and don't forget this is set 9 months after IV and a lot can change in that amount of time, maybe Niko's adjusted to life in LC and Roman has softened him up a bit? I'm trying to remain tur to the storyline but I don't think it vital to follow every little detail, thx for feedback though

[Omnia sunt Communia]

And by minor creative liberties, you mean changing the story upside down; on it's head?

• Ray Boccino is dead! You kill him, as Niko, on orders from Jimmy Pegorino. Bringing a character back from the dead is not a "minor creative liberty."
• I find it quite hard to believe that Niko would turn to drug dealing, especially full-time. At the end of GTA IV he seems quite contempt with having achieved nothing, and being free from the criminal underworld of Liberty City.
• What about all the existing AOD members? Where have they gone during the nine-months since GTA IV? You may want to check the LCPD database and incorporate some of them into your story.

[Chunk]

VCRules86, you don't need to make it a fan-fic. Create your own world, then you won't have any problems with continuity.

[Eminence]

VCRules86, you don't need to make it a fan-fic. Create your own world, then you won't have any problems with continuity.

I think that's the best thing to do. I've got nothing against fan-fics, per se, but I prefer (this is actually what I did when I started writing with fan-fics of my own) to simply use the locales from the game (Liberty/Vice, and the like) and simply set my pieces there, without reference to pre-constructed characters and storylines. I think it's a bit cheap to simply use a character already created by the game - one that, in all honesty, you then probably wouldn't flesh out at all or even perhaps remain consistent with.

 

Create your own characters and situations, and then simply place them in the locale of the game - Liberty City. It makes for a good starting point, it allows it to remain a piece of fan fiction, but it ultimately gives you the freedom to explore your own imagination.

[VCRules86]

And by minor creative liberties, you mean changing the story upside down; on it's head?

• Ray Boccino is dead! You kill him, as Niko, on orders from Jimmy Pegorino. Bringing a character back from the dead is not a "minor creative liberty."
• I find it quite hard to believe that Niko would turn to drug dealing, especially full-time. At the end of GTA IV he seems quite contempt with having achieved nothing, and being free from the criminal underworld of Liberty City.
• What about all the existing AOD members? Where have they gone during the nine-months since GTA IV? You may want to check the LCPD database and incorporate some of them into your story.

No need to be a d-bag dude.

 

People have survived mob hits before, it's not impossible.

 

also Bellic is just a minor character, he has a small cameo and a few mentions and then he's no more.

 

As for the existing AOD members none of them make an appearence in IV so I don't think it be that important to use them rather than creating my new characters, that is what I meant by not following every little detail , there is a reason they call it fan-fiction.

 

I don't see what the huge problem is.

[Don Garcia aka NjNakedSnake]

Damn, I've started writing an entry for SSOTM, but I fear I won't finish in time. And that even if I do, it'll be too late to catch enough eyes.

 

BAH/

[The Unvirginiser]

Relax Don, plenty of time left mate.

 

Vc, I'm gonna' have to agree with everybody here - we're not shooting you down, we're just trying to give you the best chance in making your piece. With SAS, I created my own set of characters, that were mentioned in SA but never seen, but tied them in with exsisting characters.

I don't know what to suggest, you're probably best making up some characters of your own. And the Ray Boccino thing, sure, why not? A car ridden with bullets is survivable I suppose - it's your story.

 

PM me a chapter and I'll give it a glance before you post.

[Omnia sunt Communia]

 

@VCRules86: I'm not trying to be a douche bag, sorry if I came off that way. As Unvirginiser said; I'm only trying to help you make your story seem as feasible as possible. You've got to understand that this is an Grand Theft Auto forum, and therefore you're going to find some of the most hardcore GTA fans on here. If your story doesn't follow the continuity that well, then you can expect people to say something about it.

[Rhoda]

As said previously in this topic, set your story aside from others and state explicitly that your story is an alternative time-line story. That way, you can alter events all you wish and not worry about the consequences as this is your take on the story. Don't worry about it, we're only trying to help you matey.

[Struff Bunstridge]

Better still: I haven't played IV, so I don't know how divergent from the existing stuff your story is, but if it's so different, why not take the plunge and make it entirely original by ditching the GTA setting? Y'know, create your own characters, rather than relying on existing ones to do your work for you.

[Rhoda]

Better still: I haven't played IV, so I don't know how divergent from the existing stuff your story is, but if it's so different, why not take the plunge and make it entirely original by ditching the GTA setting? Y'know, create your own characters, rather than relying on existing ones to do your work for you.

That is a good point; you could create entirely new characters in homage to the existing ones. That way, you aren't restricted to the existing personalities of the characters in IV. You can craft the story the way you want. You can anyway, there's no restriction to you. This is Writers' Discussion and we're not a democracy. Do what makes you feel good.

[Eminence]

I think it's a bit cheap to simply use a character already created by the game - one that, in all honesty, you then probably wouldn't flesh out at all or even perhaps remain consistent with.

 

Create your own characters and situations, and then simply place them in the locale of the game - Liberty City. It makes for a good starting point, it allows it to remain a piece of fan fiction, but it ultimately gives you the freedom to explore your own imagination.

[Rhoda]

Ooops! Sorry Phil, just goes to show much I listen...

[Don Garcia aka NjNakedSnake]

Well, I've decided to take my short-story entry for the month and make it a complete story. It won't be very long, but it'll exceed what can be called a "short" story. I'm already 809 words in and I've yet to even set up the main plot focus. Hopefully it'll become a three chapter tale.

[Eminence]

Well, I've decided to take my short-story entry for the month and make it a complete story. It won't be very long, but it'll exceed what can be called a "short" story. I'm already 809 words in and I've yet to even set up the main plot focus. Hopefully it'll become a three chapter tale.

Every piece that's ever been on this forum is a 'short' story, fyi, so don't have any worries over length.

[Lochie_old]

I think it's a bit cheap to simply use a character already created by the game - one that, in all honesty, you then probably wouldn't flesh out at all or even perhaps remain consistent with.

 

Create your own characters and situations, and then simply place them in the locale of the game - Liberty City. It makes for a good starting point, it allows it to remain a piece of fan fiction, but it ultimately gives you the freedom to explore your own imagination.

1 wurd post repo0rtad

 

Haven't written in awhile, might sit down and do something tomorrow.

[VCRules86]

Okay here's the final basis for the story:

 

My main char. (Jeffrey) will be juggling a war with both the McReary family and the Lost. While trying to fight the AOD's rivals for control of the streets he is being forced in being a hitman for an unfeeling and decieving LCPD detective named Robert Carter who threatens him with death if he refuses to work for him.

 

Ray Boccino will stay as a central part of the storyline, i refuse to change that bit

 

I do not feel the need to change Niko seeing he is only a minor character with just one appearence in the entire story.

 

I WILL be including the actual AOD members from the LCPD database but I don't wanna have to ditch my characters so they'll be part of the Alderney Chapter rather than the LC one so both of them can fit into the storyline.

 

It's already up to 16 pages with more to come.

[Oxidizer]

Motherf*cking opening scenes. Why do you defy me!

[VCRules86]

I have a question, I sent my story to virgy and he said it was decent enough to post in the WD, now I've gotten in trouble for having two stories at the same time and with UA and this I was wondering if it is okay to add my next story(the biker one) to the WD seeing how I have several chapters for each on microsoft word and all I would need to do is cut and paste the chapters onto a post.

[Chunk]

 

I have a question, I sent my story to virgy and he said it was decent enough to post in the WD, now I've gotten in trouble for having two stories at the same time and with UA and this I was wondering if it is okay to add my next story(the biker one) to the WD seeing how I have several chapters for each on microsoft word and all I would need to do is cut and paste the chapters onto a post.

Well, you just got to think, which story would you finish? If you think you would abandon any of the two, you might as well focus on the one you will finish. Just my thoughts.

[The Unvirginiser]

Post away!

[VCRules86]

I like Virgy's idea LOL

 

I think I can manage because I have a good 15 chapters to UA that I can cut and paste on WD, same with my GTA ff. I love writing both pieces and have time to work on them and I will have even more seeing how I already have chapters written and ready to post.

 

So prepare for another mediocre and forum panned story form VCRules86,

 

Grand Theft Auto:

Unforgiving Angels

[Ziggy455]

My plan:

 

Finish GTA Vice City: Undead

 

Start GTA Vice City: Undead Chronicles.

 

This will be a "pulp fiction" style story revolving around certain characters. Before,around and after the events of GTA Vice City: Undead.

 

Finish GTA Vice City: Undead Chronicles.

 

Start a new zombie story (This will be affiliated with the GTA VC: Undead Universe).

 

I'm hoping of writing an entire collection of stories and such for this

Edited February 22, 2009 by Ziggy455

[The Unvirginiser]

Good luck to everybody up for best writer or who have a piece in the best story vote.

[Typhus]

And congratulations to Masterkraft.

Now voted the best writer on the forums.

Always nice to see true talent recognised. And you've even got a nice shiny forum medal too

Good on ya'

[Rhoda]

Thanks, but let's not forget about about our own Unvirginiser, who won the best story in Writers' Discussion. Well done Will, I owe you a pint. Come out Thursday?