Job Openings and Changes at Paragon Studios
By
BigFish,
Posted on: 2010-02-06 24:00 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
Quote:
You're on. The week will start tomorrow, and I will post it next Saturday (if not sooner). 20 pages (or more), 12 pt Times New Roman font, 1" margins, 6pt above/below for spacing. I'll put it up on my server so folks can download it. |
Originally Posted by BigFish
Well said Sam
Please, all of you who think writing is 'easy', write a 20 page short story that involves the Freedom Phalanx yet has NOTHING to do with any toon you've ever created Do it in one week, and let us read it (if you wouldn't die of embarrassment) If you can do it, by all means pursue writing as a career. If not, stop calling it 'easy' |
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
Dark_Respite's Farewell Video: "One Last Day"
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
Writing is an easy hobby. Writing is a very hard job.
One of the reasons everyone assumes writing is an easy job is because everyone can write things, and everyone has written things. It's something everyone assumes their own skill sets includes, in that way people have of assuming that they can do anything they've never specifically tried to before. That's not the problem. The problem is that while it is easy to see that you are just not competent at a complex proficiency-required job like programming, legal work, or accounting, and that your work is well below par with professional artists in creative fields like visual arts or music writing, it's not the case for writing. The less writing skill you have, the less obvious that lack of skill is. A little human optimism fills the gap, and hey presto, most people won't even notice that they aren't really any good at it, even if they try their hand at it. A similar sort of thing applies to singing, acting, and some forms of playing music. The first thing I noticed when I started doing a bit more writing for my own stuff was that I was actually pretty terrible at it when I was honest with myself.
That's just writing well at all, it's not even really professional writing. Professional writing requires that at professionalism which is a whole different ball of fun.
If you're a professional writer, it's not always about you any more. While you might have managed to keep full authorial control, at the end of they day you're going to need to write a piece that someone will pay money for so you can enjoy such luxuries as eating. When I'm puttering about at home and go 'hey, that's interesting' I can go off and write something about it, and I don't have to wonder whether it'll get in the way of meeting the contract for X pages by Y or whatever it was or if it's a bit outre and will get shuttled back and forth between publishers for a decade until I give up. I don't have to feel guilty because I haven't written enough, and I don't have to force myself to produce. I loathe the feeling of staring at a blank screen, knowing that I have to put something there by a deadline and make it good, and knowing that I just don't want to. I have respect for most professional writers, because to be a professional writer takes a degree of creative discipline that I don't have.
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Been there, done that.|
Originally Posted by BigFish
Well said Sam
Please, all of you who think writing is 'easy', write a 20 page short story that involves the Freedom Phalanx yet has NOTHING to do with any toon you've ever created Do it in one week, and let us read it (if you wouldn't die of embarrassment) If you can do it, by all means pursue writing as a career. If not, stop calling it 'easy' |
Although it was more like sixty pages, and took about three days.
And embarrassment is for those with shame...
Troy Hickman - So proud to have contributed to and played in this wonderful CoH universe
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And pants?
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Originally Posted by TroyHickman
And embarrassment is for those with shame...
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@Golden Girl
City of Heroes comics and artwork
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I'm just shy and punish myself a lot. I beat myself up pretty much in a non-physical way.
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Originally Posted by TroyHickman
Been there, done that.
Although it was more like sixty pages, and took about three days. And embarrassment is for those with shame... |
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you know, it is funny, over at the tes forums, people tend to let them get away with bugs and weak animations, but you should see what they do to the developers who forget some obscure bit of the lore that hasnt been mentioned since redguard. I like writing little comedy/sci-fi stuff, but I suspect being creative professionally is a bit like being really good in bed professionally, everyone thinks they can be, but only a few can bring the quality to make real money in it when it is time to deliver |
Originally Posted by EU_Damz
Out of all the positions in this game, thats got to be the easiest one surely. Know its difficult to think of a good storyline, but compared to all that code and mission impossible hanging from the ceiling stuff the other devs do, it must be easy!
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Pretty much 95 percent of all the fan fiction I've posted for this game hasn't involved any of my characters, but I have to admit that I probably haven't done any of it in one week. 
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links
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Brilliant analogy.|
Originally Posted by rian_frostdrake
I suspect being creative professionally is a bit like being really good in bed professionally, everyone thinks they can be, but only a few can bring the quality to make real money in it when it is time to deliver
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Sadly, most professional writers don't have a fluffer on hand...
Troy Hickman - So proud to have contributed to and played in this wonderful CoH universe
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********. No brownie points for you. I was roughly quoting someone far more famous than I am.
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Originally Posted by TonyV
You did, a little over two hours ago.
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OK Michelle|
Originally Posted by Dark_Respite
You're on. The week will start tomorrow, and I will post it next Saturday (if not sooner). 20 pages (or more), 12 pt Times New Roman font, 1" margins, 6pt above/below for spacing. I'll put it up on my server so folks can download it.
Michelle aka Samuraiko/Dark_Respite |
but you weren't exactly my intended target, as I already support Nerd Flirting
You have no need to prove your writing skills. U HAZ DEM!!!!!111!!
There is no such thing as an "innocent bystander"
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It's FarmVille. And it's not evil.
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Originally Posted by Zombie Man
Also, alas, poor Horatio is no longer working for CoH. Bruce Harlick has moved to Zynga, the company that makes those evil time-sink social games for Facebook (e.g., Farmsville).
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Why are professional writers taking umbrage at what I wrote?|
Originally Posted by TroyHickman
Been there, done that.
Although it was more like sixty pages, and took about three days. And embarrassment is for those with shame... |
Me? Yeah, I've been published in some amateur journals. Never had anyone pay me, not claiming to be any great shakes, not currently pursuing writing as a career
just done it enough to know it ain't easy
There is no such thing as an "innocent bystander"
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Originally Posted by rian_frostdrake
you know, it is funny, over at the tes forums, people tend to let them get away with bugs and weak animations, but you should see what they do to the developers who forget some obscure bit of the lore that hasnt been mentioned since redguard. I like writing little comedy/sci-fi stuff, but I suspect being creative professionally is a bit like being really good in bed professionally, everyone thinks they can be, but only a few can bring the quality to make real money in it when it is time to deliver
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Let me get this right, everyone so far here admits that anybody can write a story but not everybody can do one that is of the highest quality correct?
So in that regard, shouldnt it be easier than the others since not everybody can do the code needed for the other positions? Its all down to pure quality correct?
I know that really good stories are hard to come across with, but on a timescale basis alone, isnt it classed as "easier" than say . . . . implementing the invention system? Or testing out all the powers? Or changing the colours of a powerset?
That is what i mean by easier
[though i kind of think im alone in this regard in thinking that [
@Damz Find me on the global channel Union Chat. One of the best "chat channels" ingame!
Code crunching is a matter of knowing the programming language and formulation, then going back to find logic errors and GIGO
There is no set program for writing. You can get ideas and outlines from a book, but everyone has to work out the final how-to's and wherefores by their lonesome. Or get sued for plagiarism. Some people can sit down and pound out 30,000 words before lunch, then go for a walk and get hit by a van. Others? Not so much
There is no such thing as an "innocent bystander"
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Your analogies don't actually work, since "writing a story" is really only the very crust of what writing actually is. Anyone can write a story, and I dare say anyone with a good grasp of the English language can write a decent story, but being a professional writer largely involves writing OTHER people's stories at times and on topics where you simply lack the spark of inspiration. It involves keeping to specific time lines, creating stories on demand, rather than when you think of something cool, and keeping a large continuity in check. If you look at the job of a writer as someone who writes things for the game as a hobby the way we create Architect arcs when inspiration strikes, then yes, it very much is an easy job. It's also not a job you're likely to get paid for.|
Originally Posted by EU_Damz
Let me get this right, everyone so far here admits that anybody can write a story but not everybody can do one that is of the highest quality correct?
So in that regard, shouldnt it be easier than the others since not everybody can do the code needed for the other positions? Its all down to pure quality correct? I know that really good stories are hard to come across with, but on a timescale basis alone, isnt it classed as "easier" than say . . . . implementing the invention system? Or testing out all the powers? Or changing the colours of a powerset? That is what i mean by easier [though i kind of think im alone in this regard in thinking that [ |
Implementing the inventions system isn't really comparable to small-scale writing. It's more akin to creating the entire Praetorian storyline lore, locations, characters, backstories and such, and then integrating them within City of Heroes without outright contradicting or ret-conning existing stories. Furthermore, it's doing that while still leaving enough room for future reveals, plot twists, surprises and general expansion. And you need to do all that in such a way that it accounts for the actions of player characters, gives them a choice in their decisions and possibly even alters based on what players do. That is by no means a simple or easy job to do.
There's one thing I can guarantee - most people are going to crack if they are burdened with the task of writing something professionally, and they will either devolve into poor, rushed material or shut down completely. And unlike a lot of other professions, in writing this is a danger than never goes away.
*note*
I don't want to sound like I'm some kind of big expert writer, but I like to think I have some experience with it and at least some overview of the difficulties involved. Writing really isn't something you can speak about unless you've had some experience with it, as it looks a lot more glamorous from the outside looking in than it does once you actually start trying to do it. Everyone seems to think it's an easy, cushy job that should be fun to do, and once you start trying to put together a meaningful, longer, consistent story you inevitably hit a point where you hate your life.
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Originally Posted by Arcanaville
Samuel_Tow is the only poster that makes me want to punch him in the head more often when I'm agreeing with him than when I'm disagreeing with him.
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I'll simplify it.
Any screaming fan-tard can write the most god-awful fan-slash fiction to do with anything. It's technically writing. It's, technically, a story.
It's also abaout as palatable as a jumbo turd burger washed down with cesspit juice.
And then you have people like Tolkien, Garth Nix, Rowling...gods damn its too early to be thinking...
And that is far removed from the 'writing' of the fan-fic masses as gold is from rusted tin.
There are ninety nine tricks in life. You can teach all of them. But even a master of the ninety nine tricks will be beaten by the novice who has the hundredth trick. And that trick cannot be taught.
That trick is talent.
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Originally Posted by Zwillinger
GG, I would tell you that "I am killing you with my mind", but I couldn't find an emoticon to properly express my sentiment.
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Originally Posted by Captain_Photon
NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.
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Pardon me for saying this, but thank God! Horatio seemed like a nice enough guy, but he was a mediocre mission writer and had no background knowledge of this game. Feargas' arcs were far better than the Daedalus and Sister Airlia arcs. And he did those as a player, for free, with the limited tools available to players.|
Originally Posted by Zombie Man
Also, alas, poor Horatio is no longer working for CoH. Bruce Harlick has moved to Zynga, the company that makes those evil time-sink social games for Facebook (e.g., Farmsville). That's probably why they hired Sean "Dr. Aeon" McCann (formerly Fearghas).
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I voted for TV over Aeon, but I would vote more than a Chicago cemetery for Aeon over Horatio!
50s: Inv/SS PB Emp/Dark Grav/FF DM/Regen TA/A Sonic/Elec MA/Regen Fire/Kin Sonic/Rad Ice/Kin Crab Fire/Cold NW Merc/Dark Emp/Sonic Rad/Psy Emp/Ice WP/DB FA/SM
Overlord of Dream Team and Nightmare Squad
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It's as evil as pet rocks, glow sticks, and super bowl parties.
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Originally Posted by Moiread
It's FarmVille. And it's not evil.
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Speeding Through New DA Repeatables || Spreadsheet o' Enhancements || Zombie Skins: better skins for these forums || Guide to Guides
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Oh! |
Originally Posted by BigFish
OK Michelle
but you weren't exactly my intended target, as I already support Nerd Flirting You have no need to prove your writing skills. U HAZ DEM!!!!!111!! |
Well, you did lay down the challenge to do it without using original characters, and God knows that TCoSR has original characters all over it.Quote:
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Originally Posted by BigFish
Why are professional writers taking umbrage at what I wrote?
Me? Yeah, I've been published in some amateur journals. Never had anyone pay me, not claiming to be any great shakes, not currently pursuing writing as a career just done it enough to know it ain't easy |
For me, it's more about the challenge. When someone says, "Oh yeah? Well try and do THIS!", and I think it's in the realm of possibility for me, I try. Even if what I end up writing for this thing blows whales, it's a 20-page story and writing practice for me.
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Originally Posted by Samuel_Tow
Your analogies don't actually work, since "writing a story" is really only the very crust of what writing actually is. Anyone can write a story, and I dare say anyone with a good grasp of the English language can write a decent story, but being a professional writer largely involves writing OTHER people's stories at times and on topics where you simply lack the spark of inspiration. It involves keeping to specific time lines, creating stories on demand, rather than when you think of something cool, and keeping a large continuity in check. If you look at the job of a writer as someone who writes things for the game as a hobby the way we create Architect arcs when inspiration strikes, then yes, it very much is an easy job. It's also not a job you're likely to get paid for.
Implementing the inventions system isn't really comparable to small-scale writing. It's more akin to creating the entire Praetorian storyline lore, locations, characters, backstories and such, and then integrating them within City of Heroes without outright contradicting or ret-conning existing stories. Furthermore, it's doing that while still leaving enough room for future reveals, plot twists, surprises and general expansion. And you need to do all that in such a way that it accounts for the actions of player characters, gives them a choice in their decisions and possibly even alters based on what players do. That is by no means a simple or easy job to do. There's one thing I can guarantee - most people are going to crack if they are burdened with the task of writing something professionally, and they will either devolve into poor, rushed material or shut down completely. And unlike a lot of other professions, in writing this is a danger than never goes away. *note* I don't want to sound like I'm some kind of big expert writer, but I like to think I have some experience with it and at least some overview of the difficulties involved. Writing really isn't something you can speak about unless you've had some experience with it, as it looks a lot more glamorous from the outside looking in than it does once you actually start trying to do it. Everyone seems to think it's an easy, cushy job that should be fun to do, and once you start trying to put together a meaningful, longer, consistent story you inevitably hit a point where you hate your life. |
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Originally Posted by Techbot Alpha
I'll simplify it.
Any screaming fan-tard can write the most god-awful fan-slash fiction to do with anything. It's technically writing. It's, technically, a story. It's also abaout as palatable as a jumbo turd burger washed down with cesspit juice. And then you have people like Tolkien, Garth Nix, Rowling...gods damn its too early to be thinking... And that is far removed from the 'writing' of the fan-fic masses as gold is from rusted tin. There are ninety nine tricks in life. You can teach all of them. But even a master of the ninety nine tricks will be beaten by the novice who has the hundredth trick. And that trick cannot be taught. That trick is talent. |
Skill will only get you so far. Talent will only get you so far. Skill + Talent = the sky's the limit.
I don't know if I have talent... ego says I do, self-esteem issues say I don't. But if I don't keep practicing, and trying, even just to hone language and grammar and other skills... I'll never get anywhere.
Hence, to go back to BigFish's question, why I'm trying my hand at his 'challenge.'
*digs out her list of writing prompts and her gaming dice to see which prompt she ends up with*Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
Dark_Respite's Farewell Video: "One Last Day"
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)
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Yes, it is. And so is MafiaWars. On my Facebook page, I have blocked all applications because I hate those stupid posts. I don't care one iota if you just adopted a sad cow or got a new grenade.
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Originally Posted by Moiread
It's FarmVille. And it's not evil.
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We've been saving Paragon City for eight and a half years. It's time to do it one more time.
(If you love this game as much as I do, please read that post.)
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If umbrage = "joking," you are correct, sir or madam! |
Originally Posted by BigFish
Why are professional writers taking umbrage at what I wrote?
Me? Yeah, I've been published in some amateur journals. Never had anyone pay me, not claiming to be any great shakes, not currently pursuing writing as a career just done it enough to know it ain't easy |
Troy Hickman - So proud to have contributed to and played in this wonderful CoH universe
Splitting the atom is easy if you know how to do it and have the right tools.
So is building pyramids, writing code, rigging elections, running drug cartels, alpaca farming, reading peoples fortunes and sending probes crashing into the moon...
Frankly everything is easy with the right knowledge, skill set and talent. Lack any of those and it becomes very uneasy.
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Somehow I just KNOW Batman and "has enough time to prepare" are going to enter this paradigm... |
Originally Posted by Caemgen
Splitting the atom is easy if you know how to do it and have the right tools.
So is building pyramids, writing code, rigging elections, running drug cartels, alpaca farming, reading peoples fortunes and sending probes crashing into the moon... Frankly everything is easy with the right knowledge, skill set and talent. Lack any of those and it becomes very uneasy. |
Troy Hickman - So proud to have contributed to and played in this wonderful CoH universe
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Give Batman all the time to prepare he wants, I don't think he can best Shakespear in sonnets |
Originally Posted by TroyHickman
Somehow I just KNOW Batman and "has enough time to prepare" are going to enter this paradigm...
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(I might give Bats an edge what with Shakes being dead and all... but then I recalled Bats being all fictional and stuff!)
And while City of Heroes has often made me question whether an actual EDITOR ever looked at the game's stories, let alone a professional writer, I do know they had and have writers on stuff for just this exact reason. One only hopes they're too busy working on Going Rogue to bother with City of Heroes and City of Villains at this time.
Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite
THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE CONTINUES!
Book I: A Tale of Nerd Flirting! ~*~ Book II: Courtship and Crime Fighting - Chap Nine live!
MA Arcs - 3430: Hell Hath No Fury / 3515: Positron Gets Some / 6600: Dyne of the Times / 351572: For All the Wrong Reasons
378944: Too Clever by Half / 459581: Kill or Cure / 551680: Clerical Errors (NEW!)