This topic's overall focus has been hard to pinpoint, but I think I'll just address some random things that I saw thrown around; if I seem to be rambling on, please don't insult me too critically for it— I tend to go off-topic on these varied discussions.
Firstly, let me remind everyone here that there are only two viable methods of getting changes, new ideas, and retiring ideas recognized in Felarya: visual art and literature. In addition, though this forum may exemplify the exact opposite in regards to activity, Felarya has countless facets of change pouring into it at real-time speed. It's been declared by some that this forum is frequented by the same group of people, and I won't disagree with that claim— people do pop up and vanish into nothing, and there are those who seem to fade away before they even appear.
Of your two methods, visual art will attract more eyes, but literature will educate those who seek to learn about Felarya. Art is an easy approach for those who are gifted in it, because you can:
#1) Gather support and attention without deep explanation,
#2) Draw and upload freely without worry of clashing into others' work/suggestions, and
#3) Easily edit in or out your art's relation to Felarya without the threat of confusing your audience.
I'm going to go into a little depth about #2, because it's a serious problem careful writers experience (unless I'm alone). Remember that I mentioned Felarya has a constant flow of change and alteration due to the countless facets pouring into it (by facets, I mean contributers).
Before I explain, here's my example. When I began writing my story, I neglected to stray my setting off of the only concrete piece of cartography drawn by Karbo. Unfortunately, the piece is outdated and relatively small in regards to scale due to Felarya's popularity at the time. However, I didn't want to be cliche, and I didn't want to have to deal with, "Your characters wandered that way and yet I see <character>'s icon over there! Also, I wrote a story about my character over there so you had to see him/her, too!" So, I simply set my story off of the map. Relatively, the story started in Torix Forest — a region I created — east of Frost Peak. Furthermore, I created a tributary and waterfall breaking from Jewel River called the Glorious Stream, as well as a dryad-common forest by the name of Byotim Grove east of said stream and bordering the Topazial Sea. If you haven't read my material, then how in the blue Hell would you know that? In fact, I'm quite sure a majority of people haven't even read a single word of my literary pieces and that a good portion of those don't even know I've written anything.
I'm just
one writer. There are many, many more out there, some of which I'm sure are undiscovered as of right now. It's
impossible to record every change that occurs, because there's just too many things to look over. No one is going to sit on the computer, track and read each story written no matter the writer's ability, and update the Wiki according to each story. With so many people eager to create their own stories with their own unique properties, characters, and locations, a framed Felarya will
never exist.
As for introducing new creatures, remember your primary audience. It's cool to go with a new approach by making your main character from the planet Merclon 9 Trillion-Billion, and he has nine heads which are really plasma-cannons, he can see through his transparent skin made of an organic glass and lost souls, and can fly with his seven wings representing each color of the rainbow— do you see where I'm going, here? Unique is one thing, but over-analysis is another. When your audience looks at your work and sees a half-human and a human in some sort of act (whatever it may be, you decide), they can easily relate to the scene. I mean, if you
really wanted Felarya to be cut-off from Earthly influences, we'd be trying to conjure a language for each community. It's always interesting to see some out-of-the-ordinary things, but it can be quite confusing and unbelievable if you try too hard to make something new. The audience will only give into the fiction for so far— most people
need a tie to reality to keep them holding on. People choose to read fiction to get a
taste of something unreal, not an overdose. I'm all for new creatures, but I don't want to see people shunning each other in the future because they used a naga, a dridder, or a human in their story in a suddenly cliche manner.
Lastly, let me just confront the whole active-people thing. Look at how long I've been roaming these forums and how many posts I have; I was one of the first here, but I've only got a few posts in comparison to some other people who can manage 200 posts in a week. I don't post frequently because, quite frankly, there's very little that I want to reply to. I read many posts but decide to decline myself from posting, because I feel I have nothing necessary to say. Trust me, it may look it on this forum and in IRC at times, but Felarya is hardly anywhere near stagnant.
- Quote :
- We need poeple to get active. Don't let anything hold you back.
IF YOU LOVE FELARYA, YOU WILL TRY YOUR ASS OFF TO KEEP IT GOING.
Have I mentioned that I'm trying to get a novel published and put on public bookshelves, and it's based wholly on Felarya? I know I have, but I'm sure not many know or even care to know about it. I've learned that charisma is a big factor in regards to support and attention on any online community, and Felarya/DA is no exception. So why should I bother posting a topic on the forums? As stated once before, a lot of topics just tend to go unnoticed unless you're just
that person. Felarya isn't stagnant; it's just hard to see the growth and potential behind all the clutter, and the clutter is incredibly thick.
Subject: Re: Changes and New Stuff 
Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:18 pm
Breaking into the publishing field is rough, and sometimes it's more a matter of opportunity and who you know than your talent. 
. I know the publishing field is pretty harsh, but I know how to hunker down quite well against rejection. Practice makes perfect, and dedication is always a good thing. I might even tally up how many declinations I get just for the Hell of it. Big numbers always impress me.
