katiefoolery: (Your life or your freedom)
[personal profile] katiefoolery
This shall be a week of LorF.  Thus I have decreed and thus it shall be.  This may, in some small degree, be inspired by spending the last two days with LorFers and by reading over the last few episodes I wrote for said project.

Monday, I said last night, you and I are going to sort out some priorities in my life.  Shortly after saying this, I realised I'd be needing focus to join the party at some point, as I'd probably be needing to direct towards some of said priorities in the near future.  And yet, LorF's already a priority, even before I've reached the pivotal point of actually listing some.  Or any.  Why?

Because it's writing.

Because I'm doing this whole GYWO thing and it would be kinda nice if my word count moved to five digits soon.

Because it's awesomely fun.

Because it's a project shared with likewise awesomely fun people.

Because, because, because.

In aid of that, this week's fivedotnerds video will be dedicated to LorF.  But before that, I shall be inflicting upon you some of my favourite recent passages and lines from my own LorF with you here.

For those of you who have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT THE HELL THIS LORF THING IS, here's a precis of sorts: it's a collaborative writing project, shared by over twenty writers (although based around a core of seven).  We asked the question: if your country was invaded and taken over by a powerful, foreign force, would you choose to live under their rule or to fight for your freedom?  Essentially, life or freedom?  Or, for the sake of laziness, LorF.  We choose a character and write their story.  Sometimes, they cross over.  There's so much information and history and characters and events and locations that we need a wiki to hold it all together.

We have fun.  We blow things up.  We write cliffhangers.  We create irritating mysteries around our characters.  It's incredibly fun.

Unfortunately, things like study and full-time work like to get in the way of it, so it's fallen off a bit lately.  I intend to pick my bit up again.

In aid of this, I read over some of my recent entries last night and just wanted to share some of my favourite pieces with you all.

First we have what I guess I'll the one-liners:
The air was hot; full of smoke and yet empty at the same time.  Oxygen was busily writing notes to the postman and preparing to be absent for a little while.

I find a friend in darkness, says my mind, which is just great. Darkness, I feel like saying. It’s been so long.  What have you been up to?

But I don’t, because I can see how some people might construe that as the early signs of madness.

I love my brain.  I don't know what I'd do if I found out it was lying to me.

“I just suck at lighting fires,” I mutter.

Rowan says nothing to this.  After all, proof of this is sitting behind us, not burning brightly.


So, you're fleeing from a bushfire and you go to someone's aid... you're going to stall by irritating the guy nominally in charge, right?
Rowan’s coughs died to strangled splutters as we reached the body.  It was a man, his clothing covered in a fine dusting of ash.

“Roll him over,” Rowan said.

“What if his back’s broken?” I asked.  “Or his neck?  Shouldn’t we...”

“Shouldn’t we what?” Rowan demanded.  “Call triple 0?  Get the flying doctors in?  Do you think they’d reach us before the front does?”

“Gods you’re tetchy today.”

“Tetchy?  Who are you calling tetchy?”

“And now you’re just stalling for time.”

I shouldn’t do this, but I just can’t help it.  It’s so funny to prod at him this way.  One day he’s going to explode and I’ll either be laughing ’til my sides ache or regretting it dearly.

“Ryn.”

“Yes?”

“Please...  Let’s just roll him over before he dies of frustration.”

And sometimes, you drop massive, great big, neon-arrow-pointing-here hints that are subsequently overlooked completely:
“Why don’t you go to your parents’ place?  I thought you said AIRO told you it was still legally theirs.”

“They did.”  After several months or so, at least.  Never do anything quickly when you can drag it out as long as possible: that’s the AIRO motto.

“So?  I’m sure your parents would appreciate someone looking after it for them.”

“That’s why I came home in the first place,” I said.  The idea of my parents’ home, that they’d worked so hard on, being left vulnerable and open to those grasping bastards... How could I not go back for that?

Wait, that’s not quite right.  For a minute or so, I feel as though I’m sitting right next to a skittish memory that will startle and vanish if I move too quickly.  If I just turn slowly, like this...


I think my favourite episode to date is Don't You Know I Hate Him?.  I pretty much love all of it, but I'm just going to share the intro:
I really hate him.  I hate him more than sleeping in a tent.  I hate him more than eating the icky gristly bits of meat.  I hate him more than anything and the worst bit is that I know exactly why.

Because he reminds me of how lazy I am; how cowardly I can be about stupid things like spiders crawling over me at night or having to find the loo in the pitch-dark; how pampered my life really was before, although I never truly appreciated it.

And he has no right to do that, with his pointy black hair and his good aim with a rifle.  Curse him.

So he can drive the ute really quickly along ridiculously dangerous roads without killing anyone.  So what?  So he can keep his head when everything else is falling apart.  Well, what’s so great about that, Rowan bloody Connell?

“Hey.”

So he can sneak up on me and scare the living daylights out of me.  Is that anything to be proud of?  “Argh!”

“What are you doing out here, Ryn?”

“Sulking.”

“Oh good.  For a minute there, I was worried you were doing something un-productive.”

The re-reading was very handy, because it reminded me of three interesting things:
  1. Rowan plays the piano.  Who knew?  Well, apparently I used to.

  2. I have a red herring and I like it.

  3. It's only when Ryn cries "I can't!" that Andy recognises her voice.  I have no idea why this is the case, but I think I'd like to work it out.

Of course, there are one or two other things planned for the week, but provided there is LorF in it, it shall be good.

If you're not a LorF reader and you'd like to be, please talk to us about it.  We need to make sure you're real before we subject you to our horrendous intiation ceremony.  You know the saying: What happens in LorF club...

on 2009-04-06 06:23 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] penchaft.livejournal.com
my world is now full of Swedish Chefs

on 2009-04-06 08:03 am (UTC)

on 2009-04-06 07:23 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] everydayjoy.livejournal.com
Those snippets are delicious.

MAAAAAAAAAAAN. Why is my writing so BAD?

on 2009-04-06 08:04 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
Why, thank-you. :) I found myself pleased by the fact that they still hold up OK. Actually, they were better than I thought they'd be. Now to write some more...

And your writing is far from bad. Your writing is splendid and you should share some more of it with us. :D

on 2009-04-06 08:11 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] everydayjoy.livejournal.com
It's a lovely treat to find that stories and characters and words are still strong after a break of time away from them. I hope you get lots more done with these characters; they sound intriguing and awesome!

Ha! Thanks for your nice words. I find I'm a little discouraged lately, comparing my words with those of the other GYWO participants. My writing just seems so... shallow by comparison. My stories and characters lack depth and the tales seem to be narrations of history rather than detailed studies of the events that shape the characters. But I'll keep working!

on 2009-04-06 11:03 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
I think our own writing always suffers by comparison purely because we're so used to it. We know how we write and what sort of characters we create, so anything different automatically seems better. But really, it's just different.

And then there's the way our mood or attitude influences what we write or how we look back on it. Anything to do with creativity is fickle.

on 2009-04-06 08:42 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] crazedturkey.livejournal.com
LOOOOORRRFFFF


As soon as I find my Melanie voice I'll get back to it. I've just forgotton what she sounds like.

that's a hint? I don't get it..:(

on 2009-04-06 11:05 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
She sounds angsty! Maybe if I start posting stuff and Kayt keeps up with her things then that'll inspire people to get involved again. Also, Aimee has a half-written episode for a new character, so we should be prodding her to finish that off and post it.

It's a huge hint! I think it's hilarious that I drop all of these things that are practically give-aways but no-one ever seems to spot them. It's brilliant.

on 2009-04-06 09:46 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] saltedpin.livejournal.com
Ooooo, interesting project! I like the snippets :)

on 2009-04-06 11:05 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
Thanks! It really is great fun. :)

on 2009-04-06 11:05 am (UTC)
theemdash: (Default)
Posted by [personal profile] theemdash
That really sounds interesting. I'd like to read it except for the fact that I have no time to read anything. ;)

on 2009-04-06 11:07 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
It's a very complex project by now. As more of us began writing it and becoming involved in creating the world and its rules, it inevitably grew more sophisticated and multi-layered. And you really would need about a year to catch up on all of it - there's just that much written.

There was a website planned a while back... we really should get onto that at some point.

You know, when all of us miraculously find the time.

on 2009-04-06 11:19 am (UTC)
theemdash: (Default)
Posted by [personal profile] theemdash
That's the only problem with massively complex and interesting worlds: they require so much real-time.

on 2009-04-06 12:01 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
Oh wow, does it ever. Plus, I was the principal archivist for a while there, which often meant I was putting things in their proper places, but it took so much time that I didn't actually have time to read them.

And then I started writing as well.

Time-consuming, but worth it.

on 2009-04-06 11:31 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] amyty.livejournal.com
That sounds like a nifty writing project! Nifty I say!

And if I didn't have more writing projects than I know what to do with I'd barge on in. >_>

on 2009-04-06 12:04 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
It really is. :)

If you ever feel like reading, just let me know and I'll add you to the list. I know it sounds a bit exclusive or something, but we're just trying to limit our audience in case we ever decide to do something else with the material. I don't think we have anyone writing Tasmania, either. Actually, now that I think of it, I don't know that we even worked out what happened with Tassie. Interesting.

on 2009-04-06 12:16 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] amyty.livejournal.com
Haven / staging ground for the resistance? Or, more likely, broke off to become New Zealand's third island. :D

on 2009-04-06 12:40 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] the-kaytinator.livejournal.com
Tasmania is broken off from the rest of the country and thus operates under slightly different circumstances. The Regional Governor of Tasmania is a little less COMPLETELY ROUND THE BEND than his psychotic colleagues in Perth, Melbourne and beyond. Life is a little better there for the Aussie.

The resistance force there is called Tasmanian Freedom. I'm assuming they have contact with Free Melbourne, but their primary relationship is with the ALA. That power hungry Madame Fernando has her iron fist hovering above Tassie and she could take it any time she felt like it. But she allows Tassie Freedom to do their own thing and retain their own name on condition that they don't do anything wrong. They are allies of the ALA in name, but subordinates in reality.

Cate has mentioned them, so that part is concrete. They took part in Red Tuesday and does anyone remember the talk Cate and Cass had about the meaning of Alliance? Something about "Tassie Freedom are my allies and that means they do what I say and in return I let them pretend to be independent." She also mentions her alliance with the US and FM and the FM/NZ alliance, musing on the different meanings "Alliance" can have. Because she's telling Cass off. Again.

The Enemy aren't particularly interested in Tassie, to be honest. It doesn't have much to offer them. They'd probably relinquish it if they really had to. They're just keeping it for the look of the thing. They use the land for farming and, just for shock value, lets throw in some deforestation on a massive scale.

I imagine it might be a good place to send any Enemy citizen they might not want on the mainland. Certain people that might have questionable loyalties, perhaps, though no proof can be found of actual treason.

I had that in my head already. If you're willing to bear with me, I could just go on and on, making this shit up.

on 2009-04-06 12:53 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
We know, we know. Just... try not to scare potential new readers, OK? :P

Is this stuff in the wiki? Gods, I hope it's in the wiki. If it isn't: PUT IT IN THE WIKI.

on 2009-04-06 04:19 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] flippyfrog.livejournal.com
Love the LorF live the LorF and be jealous of the LorFers getting together without me.

*stamps foot* Damnit, I want attention Now!

...by the way, that whole wiki thing? Think you could send me the address and password... I left it on my other computer which is relaxing still in Australia... :D

on 2009-04-06 04:20 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] flippyfrog.livejournal.com
And dude, your vlog better have crunchies in it. Otherwise, what's the point?

on 2009-04-07 03:41 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
Damn straight! I still have the half-eaten crunchie bunny Aimee gave us... although it may be completely eaten by the time I come to shoot the vlog.

It wasn't half-eaten when she gave it to me - I just thought I should point that out.

on 2009-04-07 03:39 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
I just sent you all of these details. If I become magically un-lazy, I may attempt to add Kayt's Hobart/Tassie details to the city list. And then we'll just need someone to go there.

July! JULY! Then we'll have a full set.

on 2009-04-07 06:59 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] the-kaytinator.livejournal.com
Andy has a jetpack he can lend out to someone if they want to go to Tassie,

on 2009-04-07 12:42 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
Actually, Gillian and I worked out the truth of Andy's miraculous country-crossing skills... and it's not a jet-pack. It's an underground railway traversing the entire country.

on 2009-04-07 02:50 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] flippyfrog.livejournal.com
But there is no underground in Adelaide, so how did he get there?

on 2009-04-07 02:50 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] flippyfrog.livejournal.com
You make us sound like collectibles... Do I come with my own set of left shoes?

on 2009-04-08 07:31 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
Of course you do. And chickens.

And a little sign saying "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!".

on 2009-04-06 09:54 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] starlingthefool.livejournal.com
You know, I was thinking about LorF the other day. I was kind of sad because few people seem to be writing in it anymore, and how I still have a big huge plot stuck in my head.
Maybe I'll stop whining and just write it down. After I find where I saved it on my hard drive.

on 2009-04-07 12:35 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] crazedturkey.livejournal.com
Oh my gosh me too.

I have the whole damn story worked out. I know exactly how its going to end and I can't write the blinking thing!

Anyway you MUST write. Now. I insist on it!

on 2009-04-07 03:43 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
Plus, it's totally our turn to blow something up.

on 2009-04-07 04:50 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] starlingthefool.livejournal.com
True that.

on 2009-04-07 03:43 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
And I was just thinking about yours and wondering if you were thinking of continuing it. If more of us start writing again, it might inspire others to join in and it would be a LorF revolution! Or something.

on 2009-04-07 04:54 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] starlingthefool.livejournal.com
REVOLUTION! YAY!
Ok. I am convinced to start writing again. And maybe rewriting and editing and all that fun stuff too.
I have completely given up on the idea of getting any sleep tonight. I have too many things to write and it is too nice and warm outside to want to sleep anyway.
HUZZAH!

on 2009-04-07 05:48 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
This news makes me happy!

on 2009-04-07 01:20 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] etherealdeva.livejournal.com
Yay! LorF week!

on 2009-04-07 03:38 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
It shall be splendid! With explosions!

on 2009-04-07 02:02 pm (UTC)
ext_1836: (Default)
Posted by [identity profile] rigel-7.livejournal.com
SUPERGLUED PUPPIES!

wait...

on 2009-04-07 02:15 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] katiefoolery.livejournal.com
No, you're right: you can't have the landmines without the superglued puppies. They balance each other out.

on 2009-04-07 02:51 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] flippyfrog.livejournal.com
Yes.... with explosion and flying fur

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