@Poshi
Yeah, same, I read her Vampire Chronicles as well. It just got weirder and weirder, but then there are certain parts that are really exciting or written very beautifully. I stopped after the Body Thief, I think. Once she really started getting into demons and related lore, I just kinda jumped ship.
Aha, well, someone's gotta start using it for it to become a thing. I sometimes throw in words like "camaraderie" and "loquacious" into a written convo and think nothing of it, but earlier this week, I was describing a house to my friend (using the word "dilapidated") and ended up confusing us both because I didn't realize that she didn't know the word. She asked me back, "dilapitated" and that just threw me off and made me doubt myself. Never would've happened online though, but I'm spoiled by my easy access to a thesaurus and auto-correct. XD
We seem to have a lot of word-related convos, oddly enough. The week before that, we were musing over the difference between "cobwebs" and "spiderwebs". (Both mean the same thing, since "cob" used to refer to spiders. However, in modern terminology, cobwebs usually refer to the abandoned spiderwebs.)
Oh, another thing is, I don't have pronunciation problems when I write (obviously), but it does occur when I talk. I can't for the life of me remember which way is the correct way to say plaid (is it p-lad or is it p-layed?), and I've mispronounced "subtle" by pronouncing the "b" before because I was corrected.
I guess both apply to me for the term "family". Family is both the of blood and of bonding; I don't want to have to pick one over the other. Not all friends are family, but all my family (with one exception) is family to me.
@Julianne1122
I'm at 126. but I did spend some donuts for a friend and for a swap.
Oh! Dude, we could've just put our convos under a cut! XD
Spoiler
There we go.
Aha, those books I listed are all among my favorites (meaning that they've been read at least twice, if not multiple times, every few years). I don't even know how many times I've read Watership Down. I first picked up that book on a whim in middle school and never stopped reading it.
Good grief, I can appreciate a book on so many levels.
As a writer, I appreciate authors who can world-build, not only in terms of geography, but those who can create their own cultures (even better if their are multiple cultures that are distinctly different form our own). I like when there are details added that show their care (like creating currency that have their own names and not just preexisting names, or creating their own flora, or cultural practices, etc.). Extra points for consistency as well.
I like when there are characters who are well-rounded and characters you can appreciate as a reader (even if you don't like who they are as a person). I get hooked when the protagonist is a character who has strengths and flaws, but is still written in a way that a reader can come out saying that he's likable because of his redeeming qualities and strengths.
(This isn't a book character, but Mihashi from Oofuri is a great example of this. In the anime, he's portrayed as a character who seems weak-willed and lacks confidence --the type of character you seen in so many shounen anime. However, what sets him apart is how realistically he's portrayed; that his strengths don't just magically appear in pressing times because of some deep inner willpower or "potential" that he has. He's shown to be passionate about what he loves and is willing to work hard for it, even when he thinks he's no good, and even when his own teammates looked down on him. And the strength that he gained from that hard work is further given life by the support he receives from his friends. This isn't just some cheap, "You can do it!" cheers from the sidelines in a one-on-one battle --this is team sports at its finest, where everyone is growing together, helping each other by compensating for each other's weaknesses and improving together. Ugh, I'm just frickin' sentimental about my favorite anime. Mihashi isn't even my favorite character. *facehands* Second favorite, maybe, but I could write essays about why I think so and so character is so awesome in this series. It's so moving that I get teary-eyed watching it, though it does take a couple episodes to get hooked.)
Uhhh, got side-tracked in sentiment, there.
But essentially, a well-written character. I don't care if they are awesome and have fifty billion talents or if they're barely scraping by on skills --as long as they're likable and written to be believable as a person, it's all good to me. I've long since discarded the idea that having too much power makes a character a Mary Sue. If the author has the skill to write it well, they can pretty much go nuts on making a character. It's not like all characters are meant to be written as equals anyways. One Punch Man has proven that.
This applies to fics more than books (because I read fics when I crave something with romance as a key element), but I also like mature relationships that have depth. I gave you my definition of "mature" before, but basically, if people are going to just bicker and sulk in a relationship because they can't communicate properly or because they don't get their way, I'm out. If the relationship is based on shallow traits or because someone happens to be hot, I'm also out.
I like to explore relationships that are formed by two well-developed characters, be it friendship, or rivalry, or a sense of brotherhood, or romance, or whatever else; even antagonistic relationships. The characters need to have depth and need to be able to connect to each other as individuals, though, through decisions, preferably, and not just circumstance. (The reason I have problems with romance in RPs is because so often, it's formed purely around physical attraction and circumstance. Too many characters don't even have individual goals outside of hooking up with someone. Ugh, but I'm getting sidetracked again).
A good relationship is formed as you get to know a person, whether there is chemistry off the bat, or whether it's developed over time.
Um, anyways... another appeal is the author's writing style. I've read books outside of my usual genre before because I like the writer's style that much. 'Nough said; some people are just freakishly talented.
And then lastly, I can get drawn by a good story.
So basically, tl;dr: 01) world-building. 02) complex characters. 03) legit relationships with actual connection/chemistry that isn't solely driven by lust. 04) a good writing style. 05) a good story.
I'm sorry I ranted so much; I just get kinda crazy with what I like. XD; Also, I have a lot of opinions.
Is there a particular myth that you like?
Aha, I kinda feel you on that. I'm intimidated by some talented folks I've met on Gaia.
Oh, I talk to Stereo (the RPer) on Facebook, and I'm sure I can pick up the RP because she's just crazy-chill like that. Lately, I've been wanting to write for different characters, though. One is still a work in progress, and the other has been with me for two years, but we've been unable to snag a perfect match for writing a good pairing. He's got a bunch of friends from platonic RPs though, and it's been a blast writing those.