random ponderings

[The Beta Queen]

Whatever the physical damage is, and no matter what memory loss is sustained, the fact is that his retrometabolism isn't going to reapir any mental trauma. Accepted that Scarlet is a strong character and a top soldier, but it must be uncomfortable. And what if Scarlet does suffer a horrible death like being frozen to death, what if his retrometabolism kicks in to maintain cerebal activity or maintain blood flow or something along those lines?

Yes, what if? Intensity, I don’t understand what your “what if” posts are trying to achieve. Are you asking for our input? Are you asking for our permission or approval for stories? If so, you don’t need it. Formulate as many ideas as you want, as wild as you want. As long as they don’t violate canon, or fly in the face of known science, go for it.

Retrometabolism is not a ‘known science’. I know that, elsewhere on this forum, people more learned in the life sciences than I am have posted about DNA caps, limits on regeneration and so on, but I am coming from a purely fictional point of view: we have no idea how retrometabolism works. “The Mysterons have powers we cannot hope to understand” – so perhaps they’ve found a way to overcome DNA capping, cellular damage due to freezing, being distributed amongst the digestive tracts of a whole shoal [or insert correct collective noun here] of sharks, etc., etc.

We can discuss our fan fiction, either here on the forum or on IM/PM with our beta readers, but please don’t keep asking for approval, or asking ‘what if… what if…’. Just write it!

[chrisbishop]

There's a good point here, actually. Although people might want to discuss ideas, plot bunnies or theories for stories they wish to write, it would indeed be a good idea for a writer not to show all of his or her cards! For many reasons, in fact.

First: you probably wish to come up with an original idea, which would surprise the reader. If a writer tells every little details of his plot on a forum, there will be little surprise left when will come the time to read the story!

Secondly: there's the high risks of seeing your idea inspiring someone else. I'm not saying that an idea should be yours alone, and it's quite possible that theories or plots that you mentioned here, already have been considered by another writer. After all, we're all writing about the same characters, and using the same background, so similar ideas are bound to come across. God knows that reading the many posts in the Fan Fiction section, I did see ideas similar to some of mine appear! The difference will then be in the way the idea is used into a plot for a story.

It's normal to wonder about details, and to sometimes ask questions, and most of the times, it can be helpful. But other times, the opinion of others, expecially in the development of an idea might become secondary. You have to built your own plot, mostly based on your ideas, and helped in that with comments by others.

I'm still not saying no-one should discuss plots, ideas or theories here - to the contrary, this forum exists for that reason! But if you have something in mind you'd like to develop yourself into a story, use it instead, and explain yourself in that story. Submit the text, and SEE what your beta-reader or publisher (here, that would be me... ) will think about it. It'll be easier that way to see what it's all about, and you'll receive honest and constructive comments, whether it works well, or what could be wrong with it and, if there is a way, how to make it work.

This was a message to all fanfic writers from your friendly neibhourhood webmaster. We now return to our previously scheduled program...

[Marion]

Personally, I am more than happy to discuss the plots and aspects of fiction I have already written - and to seek advice and guidance when I need to do some research - and I am very grateful for the kind input I've received on such occasions - I do discuss plots with my friendly neighbourhood webmaster and my long-suffering beta-reader and a few friends... but expose my baby plot bunnies to the public glare? Never!
That's mostly because plot bunnies are wayward creatures, too much exposure too soon causes them to run away and hide.
Others may feel differently, but my plot bunnies are MY business
Besides, I have on occasions shelved a story I had an idea for because it became apparant in discussion that it was close to someone else's idea for a story. If I hadn't discussed it, I could have written it in good faith and submitted it without feeling I had cramped another author's style.

[Intensity Angel]

Just to clarify, my 'what if' questions are actually rhetorical questions, things that make you wonder, that have no real answer so to say. They can be answered but are left open ended. Hopefully that's cleared something up.

[chrisbishop]

Yes, that makes it clear. I, too, was under the impression you were trying to seek if not approval, perhaps vindication for an upcoming project or two.

Playing the host can be a little tricky (believe me, I know...) It might be better, then, if you would participate to the debate yourself, by exposing your own theories. And don't be shy to expose them - there is no right or wrong questions about retrometabolism, as there is no exact science to it, as it was said earlier. Anything can be exposed, as far as anyone is concerned, within canon, at least!

Unless, of course, you want to keep some stuff to write about in an upcoming story... In that case, be careful not to reveal too much of the surprise!

[Intensity Angel]

This isn't anything I'm planning to use in a hurry as I'm busy trying to explore NCS Scarlet a bit more. But i think that when it comes to death, OS Scarlet never really dies. I think that cerebal activity is constantly maintained, but at too lower level to be picked by medical equipment. This lower level I think might be what retrometabolism works out, a sub level.