Thanks!

[kaasirpent]

Wow! Thanks to everyone who voted in my poll. I don't think I've ever had that many people respond. :)

What I learned is this:

1. Pretty much everyone knew what "wards" meant, but the context the first time it's used must make it crystal clear what one is or confusion will result. I thought I did that, but...judging from the comments I received on the printouts from Tuesday, at least two or three of the 13 people had no clue what I was talking about. One of them was the one who said she thought it meant "a small room" or "a hospital wing." Another person assumed I meant armed guards. So...yeah. I smell an edit. And I promise it will not be an "As you know, Bob." :)


2. Although it looks like most everyone was okay with "incinerate spell," a statistically significant number of you suggested that that is very AD&D-sounding terminology, and that in standard English, I'd be better off saying "incineration spell" or "incinerate spell" or "Incinerate spell." The last one implies too much structure for what I'm going for. So I'll end up either using italics to denote a special status for the word or will change it to a more standard adjective form to avoid any confusion. Come to think of it, I'd never say "confuse spell"; I'd say "confusion spell." So, yeah.

Several of the writers group commented that they really liked the way I treat magic as being ho-hum and every-day, making no attempt to call attention to it. Just like people who actually lived in a world where magic had always worked would. We don't go around every day saying, "Oh my God! A small room with magic buttons that opens onto different floors of the building! It's a miracle!" :)

As soon as I think it's ready for prime time, I'll put what I have up here and garner comments from my "fiction" filter (if you're in it, you should be able to see "Killing Time, Part 1"; if not, you have but to ask, but read the caveats on my Fiction Filter entry first.).

Comments

[feuervogel]

*poke* add me to the filter!

[kaasirpent]

Done.

And keep in mind that if you do read "Killing Time, Part 1," disregard it entirely. I rewrote it after that, so none of the text is the same. :)

[oxlahun.livejournal.com]

And when are you going to post the rewrite? :)

[kaasirpent]

I have to rewrite the rewrite, first. That story is old, though, and my brain rebels at any thought of revisiting it. :)

[territan.livejournal.com]

Well, regarding spell names... practitioners who understand subtle variations between spells might use "incineration" or "confusion" to refer to classes of spells which have similar effects but different side-effects.

Specific spells might have proper names to differentiate them, like "Bigby's Quivering Fist," "Lectaro's Cacophony of Embarrassing Noises," "Sisquipadandalos's Sheepdog of Suggestion," or the most powerful yet simply named carpet-cleaning cantrip out there, "Bad Kitty."

[citabean.livejournal.com]

I'd like to be able to read it! :)

[kaasirpent]

Done.

[ladywhy.livejournal.com]

Any chance we'll get to read parts 2-4? If not, any chance you'll give us a summary of how it ended? Inquiring minds and all that.

[kaasirpent]

I've transferred the files to my new Shiny! computer and so they're here for me to work on as I can. No promises, yet. :)