Katie

To everybody who's ever written a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fanfic (and anybody else who could spread the word):

( Comments - spoilers for Buffy seasons 1-6 included )

I have to post about this. I've just read one too many fanfics.

Why is it that every fanfic I read uses "loose" when they mean "lose," and "lose" when they mean "loss?"

If it were just one instance of these words being used incorrectly, I would consider it a typo. If it were just one fanfic, I would pin it down to a person who doesn't know basic English vocabulary, who didn't have a good beta.

But EVERY SINGLE FANFIC I've ever read does this! Every one! All 9,000 of them! Harry Potter fanfics, Stargate fanfics, Daredevil and Spiderman fanfics, you name it.

Is there an epidemic of 2nd grade English teachers who teach these words incorrectly or something?

I'd really like to know.

---

From dictionary.com:

loose:
adj. loos·er, loos·est

1. Not fastened, restrained, or contained: loose bricks.
   
2. Not taut, fixed, or rigid: a loose anchor line; a loose chair
   leg.
   
3. Free from confinement or imprisonment; unfettered: criminals loose in
   the neighborhood; dogs that are loose on the streets.
   
4. Not tight-fitting or tightly fitted: loose shoes.
   
5. Not bound, bundled, stapled, or gathered together: loose
   papers.
   
6. Not compact or dense in arrangement or structure: loose gravel.
   
   
7. Lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility; idle: loose
   talk.
   
8. Not formal; relaxed: a loose atmosphere at the club.
   
9. Lacking conventional moral restraint in sexual behavior.
   
10. Not literal or exact: a loose translation.
    
11. Characterized by a free movement of fluids in the body: a loose cough;
    loose bowels.

adv.

In a loose manner.

v. loosed, loos·ing,
loos·es
v. tr.

1. To let loose; release: loosed the dogs.
   
2. To make loose; undo: loosed his belt.
   
3. To cast loose; detach: hikers loosing their packs at camp.
   
4. To let fly; discharge: loosed an arrow.
   
5. To release pressure or obligation from; absolve: loosed her from the
   responsibility.
   
6. To make less strict; relax: a leader's strong authority that was
   loosed by easy times.

v. intr.

1. To become loose.
   
2. To discharge a missile; fire.

lose:
v. lost, (lôst, lst) los·ing, los·es
v. tr.

1. To be unsuccessful in retaining possession of; mislay: He's always
   losing his car keys.
   
2. 
   
   
   
   1. To be deprived of (something one has had): lost her art
      collection in the fire; lost her job.
      
   2. To be left alone or desolate because of the death of: lost his
      wife.
      
   3. To be unable to keep alive: a doctor who has lost very few
      patients.
   
   
3. To be unable to keep control or allegiance of: lost his temper at the
   meeting; is losing supporters by changing his mind.
   
4. To fail to win; fail in: lost the game; lost the court case.
   
5. To fail to use or take advantage of: Don't lose a chance to improve
   your position.
   
6. To fail to hear, see, or understand: We lost the plane in the fog. I
   lost her when she started speaking about thermodynamics.
   
7. 
   
   
   
   1. To let (oneself) become unable to find the way.
      
   2. To remove (oneself), as from everyday reality into a fantasy world.
      
   
   
8. To rid oneself of: lost five pounds.
   
9. To consume aimlessly; waste: lost a week in idle occupations.
   
10. To wander from or become ignorant of: lose one's way.
    
11. 
    
    
    
    1. To elude or outdistance: lost their pursuers.
       
    2. To be outdistanced by: chased the thieves but lost them.
       
    
    
12. To become slow by (a specified amount of time). Used of a timepiece.
    
13. To cause or result in the loss of: Failure to reply to the
    advertisement lost her the job.
    
14. To cause to be destroyed. Usually used in the passive: Both planes
    were lost in the crash.
    
15. To cause to be damned.

v. intr.

1. To suffer loss.
   
2. To be defeated.
   
3. To operate or run slow. Used of a timepiece.

Phrasal
Verb:
lose out

To fail to achieve or receive an expected gain.

loss:
n.

1. The act or an instance of losing: nine losses during the football
   season.
   
2. 
   
   
   
   1. One that is lost: wrote their flooded house off as a
      loss.
      
   2. The condition of being deprived or bereaved of something or someone:
      mourning their loss.
      
   3. The amount of something lost: selling at a 50 percent
      loss.
   
   
3. The harm or suffering caused by losing or being lost.
   
4. losses People lost in wartime; casualties.
   
5. Destruction: The war caused incalculable loss.
   
6. Electricity. The power decrease caused by resistance in a
   circuit, circuit element, or device.
   
7. The amount of a claim on an insurer by an insured.

For those of you who still care, I wrote a draft of Chapter 8 of Valley today. It is now on the poordraco.com homepage.

I do apologize for taking so incredibly long, and I thank everybody for all of your patience and wonderful reviews. Hopefully now that this chapter is almost out of the way, it will get a little easier.

Feel free to take a look. It's a first draft, so it's far from final (I just wanted to get it up as soon as possible so that I can go eat without feeling like I'm leaving it), and I'll treat reviews as beta reads. I'm particularly interested in whether the characterizations match the way you think they'd behave. If you want to review the draft, please leave the review here in my livejournal. Thanks again :)

Also, FYI, I'm simply ignoring OotP, except for some spells that are referenced that we learned about in that book. I may reference some revelations from that book later in the story, but for the most part, the story is now completely AU.

Again, thank you all for sticking by and waiting for the chapter. And I am sorry for all of you who have been waiting...

Guess what I'm doing right now?

I am writing Chapter 8 of "Valley."

And it's only a year late. Hooray for me.

No promises, but at least to my tired mind, it's looking promising. At least this draft is not striking me as horribly contrived, which puts it a considerable step above all previous drafts. Just don't start holding your breath yet - even if this is as good a draft as it seems at the moment, I still need to refresh my memory, both on the characters and on the story thus far, before checking the draft, which means rereading books 1-4. So it won't be for a while yet.

But there's progress. And that's something.

Again, my apologies to those I've been keeping waiting. And waiting. And waiting. There is an end in sight.

I really haven't updated in a while, have I?

Well, let's see. What's been going on in my life?

I guess I should mention that I am now 30. As of a couple weeks ago. I hear that's supposed to be a momentous occasion. Actually, I don't feel a day over 29.

Most of you are probably wondering whether I'm ever going to finish "Valley." To tell the truth, I haven't written a word since my last update, and at this point, I've half-forgotten the HP characters. Which is not to say that it's been abandoned. It's just on hold. Indefinitely. Or at least until I get back into the swing of writing. I feel like I've forgotten how. And I owe it to you that when I do post the next chapter, it will not be from somebody who's out of practice when it comes to writing.

Which brings me to this next thing. As you can see from my earlier entries, I've been on a comic-book craze for some time. Specifically, I've been reading Marvel comics, "Daredevil," "The Amazing Spider-Man," and "Ultimate Spider-Man." All three of which I recommend - the latter two are both surprisingly deep and predictably entertaining. In fact, I recommend anything written by J. Michael Straczynski (especially "Midnight Nation" and the "Rising Stars" books) or Brian Michael Bendis.

Anyway, I picked up "Daredevil" at Borders last night (right after applying for a second job there - my web/database programming job is part-time, and pays just enough to pay the bills. Also, I think it would be fun to work at Borders), and read it, and woke up with this story going through my mind. It started out as a natural continuation of the canon story-arc up to the latest issue, and ended up being a PSA. Sorry about that - I'm not actually sure where the PSA comes from - it's not as if I do any of the things that are recommended here. I probably should, though. I guess this is just what ends up happening when you channel somebody like Daredevil.

I don't even know if the PSA is right, and I personally don't agree with some of it (especially not the distinguishing of "innocent" people - I don't think innocent people have a monopoly on the right not to be hurt) - but I think it's something Daredevil would say. And I do try to be true to my characters. :) If you want my beliefs, David's character comes a little closer to expressing them. In fact, towards the end, David is speaking for me.

Mostly, I'm writing this because after going over the story in my head for a couple hours, I decided it was time to get back into the swing of actually writing the stories that come into my head.

Note: contains some Daredevil spoilers. A few of them are pretty big. If you haven't read at least through the "Hardcore" story arc (that would be the one first published earlier last year, and ends with the issue where he fights Bullseye before doing something rather major), and if you actually care about DD spoilers, I wouldn't recommend reading.

( Daredevil Story )

See? What did I tell you? A PSA. And now, it's time for me to get off somebody else's soapbox.

To the person who just left me a review in the "Summer Before the War" (ch. 3) forum...

I'm not entirely certain how to interpret your questions. But I'll do my best:

1. No, it's not real - it's a fanfic.

2. It's from the Harry Potter universe.

Hope that answers your questions...


I've been very bad about updating this journal. So just a couple quick updates on things that might be of interest:
1. Still haven't written anything good for "Valley." Have done some thinking about it, but nothing got written down. Still planning to do ch. 8, but I don't know when. My apologies.

2. "Daredevil" has now evolved into a full-blown obsession. Along with "Spider-Man."

Apologies if this entry doesn't make much sense. I'm half asleep.

I really, really need to stop reading old comic books. As always happens when I immerse myself in something, I start to think along the same lines as the thing I've immersed myself in. My internal thought processes are starting to go, "Oh no! My cat is ILL! He threw up yesterday! In the kitchen!!! It can't be!!!"

Need to start weaning myself away from this. Or, at the very least, stop reading the really old comics with the really, really, strange dialogue.

At the moment, this serves as yet another reason to procrastinate in writing chapter 8 of Valley. Because, trust me - you would not want to read the results if I were to write chapter 8 right now.

Nothing else going on. When not reading comics, I've been mudding. Except earlier this week, when I was ill. Haven't even been on FAP much lately. Odd that I would tire of HP after OotP came out. I credit this to the fact that the book was painful to read. I still have only read it once, and can't bring myself to pick it up to reread it. Every time I'm halfway tempted to do so, I remember Umbridge.

This has been bothering me off and on for the last several weeks.

In various contexts, the following phrase keeps coming to mind:
"There to form a seething cloud that hangs for 30 days."

I can hear a voice saying it in my mind. Which means I heard it somewhere. A lot. The problem is, I don't recognize the voice, and the phrase is entirely without context - I don't remember what comes before or after it. What is this phrase from? LotR, maybe? Or Princess Bride? Or Into the Woods? Those seem like the most likely possibilities...

TIA :)

(ETA (next morning): Another likely possibility is BtVS. In fact, I think it may be Xander who's saying it...)

Re: ( Read more... ):
"Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things"

A little late, but, oh well. Didn't see it until now.

That's all. Nothing is happening here. Spent the last few hours at the library, waiting for at least a couple of the 8 holds that were in transit to come through, but the librarians were swamped and didn't get to it. I did, however, get to reread Princess in the Spotlight (sequel to The Princess Diaries), which is absolutely hilarious, and remarkably good for a YA novel.

Oh, and I almost forgot. Took the Original IQ Test at Emode. Quite good - I got about the same numeric result (135 - no idea where that rates compared to other people) that I got when I was a kid. Was rather surprised, though, to find that I am a "Visual Mathematician," rather than the expected, "Logician." It says I am gifted in spotting patterns. Which... I suppose...

I was rather surprised to find that the IQ test consisted just of those four areas of intelligence (mathematical, visual-spatial, linguistic and logical). There are so many more areas of intelligence than that. For example, there is the whole area where a person is able to grasp large aspects of reality at once - something I can't do, and therefore notice when somebody else can.

I've been checking out various comic books at the library. Most recently, I've checked out the Essential Fantastic Four and the Essential AMAZING Spider-Man. The Essential series of books is a reprinting of some of the very first issues ever made. I've also checked out Spider-Man - Revelations, which was written in 2001. There is a noticable difference in the writing style.

The book written in 2001 is written in recognizable English. That is, the dialogue and thought processes kind of fit the natural thought and speech patterns of normal human beings.

The books written in the 60's, on the other hand...

I'm going to pick a couple of random pages from the Essential Spider-man. I would do Fantastic Four, because, if anything, the Fantastic Four book is even more ridiculous (actual quote, from memory: "Father wants to destroy the Fantastic Four! Oh no!! That can't be!! Not them!!! He mustn't!! They're too good!! -- Why do I call him that?? It's not like he was ever a father to me! He never cared for me, or for Mother!" - I'm strongly reminded of Fanon!Draco...), but I returned it to the library today. So, Spider-man it is.

Punctuation and italics are exactly as written. Different frames are separated by "---" Spider-Man is, of course, the property of Marvel, as is the book I am quoting.

Begin random page (and yes, this is truly random. All the pages are like this).

Spiderman (to Dr. Doom): Mister, from what I've read about you, you haven't got any friends... impetuous or otherwise!
Dr. Doom: Friendship is for weaklings! What I offer you is power! Together, we could rule the world!

--- [Was that a cliche speech in the 60's, too?]

Dr. Doom: You're an outcast, the same as I! You dare not reveal your true identity! And yet, right under your nose, the Fantastic Four basks in the limelight, while you are shunned and hunted! *thinks* I'll appeal to his sense of envy... of pride! Then, once he has served his purpose, I'll destroy him without a second thought!

--- [Starting to notice an excess of exclamation points?! It gets better!]

Spiderman: Me team up with you, huh? Man, wouldn't that be a gasser? Jonah Jameson would really have something to howl about then!
Dr. Doom: Ah, so you will do it! Speak!! Give me your word!

--- [Did people actually talk like this in the 60's?]

Spiderman: Not so fast, tin-head! Sure, it's an amusin' thought to kick around, but just between us, I need you like I need another nose! The answer is no, buster!
Dr. Doom: I warn you... if you are not with me, then we are deadly foes!

--- [If you are not with me, then... we are deadly foes? I'll excuse Dr. Doom on the grounds that English is not his native language. Spidey, OTOH, has no such excuse. The answer is no, buster!]

Spiderman: Doc, you're scarin' me plumb out of my wits! Here, chew on this hunk of web for a while!

--- [Yes, that's what he said. And what's with the 'g' getting cut off words? "Amusin'" "Scarin'" Daredevil does this too, later in the book. I wasn't aware that New Yorkers talked like that. Especially not those with advanced law degrees from Harvard or Yale.]

Spiderman: That'll keep you under wraps while I figure out what to do with you! Say, how come you're so quiet... so still? Cat got your tongue?
Dr. Doom's voice (coming from the doorway, not from Dr. Doom): You brazen fool! Haven't you guessed yet?

---

Spiderman: It wasn't you at all! Just a robot... a dummy made up to resemble the real Doctor Doom! [Thank you for clearing that up, Spidey! I'm sure Dr. Doom would have had no idea what he had done, without you to explain it to him.]
Dr. Doom: Naturally! You are not fighting one of your usual insipid antagonists now, Spider-Man! DOCTOR DOOM cannot be trapped so easily!

End Random Page

And now for a different one:

Begin Random Page:

Daredevil: I RELEASE YOU FROM YOUR TRANCE! I RELEASE YOU FROM YOUR TRANCE! I RELEASE YOU FROM YOUR TRANCE!

--- [This is actually kind of painful for us DD fans.]

Daredevil: *thinks* I hear his pulse rate changing! His heartbeat has become normal! He's snapping out of it!!
Spiderman: My head... fog... mists swirling about... beginning to clear... I can think again!

--- [Yes, Spidey actually said that aloud. About the "mists swirling about." Because somebody dizzily coming out of a hypnotic trance in which he is unable to think for himself, is always able to wax poetically about what he is experiencing. And why exactly is Daredevil constantly thinking about his supersensitivity? You'd think he'd think about something else after, oh, the first decade...]

Narrator: Once free of the hypnotic spell, the brilliant brain of the masked teen-ager grasps the whole situation in one split second!
Spiderman: Much obliged, Daredevil! No telling what harm I might have caused if you hadn't broken the Ringmaster's hold over me!
Daredevil: Chalk it up to self-preservation on my part, Fella! I'd rather have a gent like you with me than agin' me!!

--- [As dialogue goes, this wasn't so bad. Except for the "Fella" and the "gent" and the "agin'." *sigh* I want the DD I fell for back.]

Spiderman: Thanks for the compliment, but I owe you a favor, and a Spider-Man never forgets!
Daredevil: Better save the hearts and flowers for later, Spidey! I hear a mighty angry Ringmaster getting ready to attack us again! *thinks* Whoops! I almost let the cat out of the bag about my Super-Hearing!

--- ["A Spider-Man." Interesting phrasing, Spidey. And... *sigh* DD... Do you really think of yourself as having "Super-Hearing?" Yes, I know that compared to everybody else, it is extraordinary, but... isn't it kind of ordinary to you by now?]

Ringmaster (to his henchmen): Don't just stand there, you useless fools! We outnumber those two masked meddlers! We're highly-trained, also! Let's get them... unless you want to do the rest of your act in jail!!
Henchman #1: The Ringmaster's right! It's only two of them against all of us! Let's GO!!
Henchman #2: The rest of the audience is still hypnotized! If we can polish off Spider-Man and Daredevil in time, we'll still get away with our plan!

End Random Page

My super Katerine abilities to keep cool are failing me!!! Must... control... urge... to... laugh!!!!