Edwards Exploit?
Edwards exploit?
Man, what is there to say about this one that hasn’t already been said?
I mean, one day some jamoke is gonna make a video saying that they don’t actually like this episode and that it’s lame, and a big user is going to foolishly give it exposure via bitching about it on Twitter, and the fandom will go up in flames (like, more so than the usual blowup). But me? Nah, even I’m not that contrarian.
Besides, I love it. It makes me happy, though perhaps for odd little bits that aren’t meant in any way to be the focus of the episode. Stuff like
Duck and BoCo’s angry faces
the shot of Edward with Bill and Ben
the shot right before the storm breaks out where Edward goes under the bridge—the curvature of the track there is absurd, but screw realism, it makes the train look so sinuous and pleasing
the sheer blackness of the night in the final scene or two with the brilliant white lights
Also the shot of the train on its way again during the “and he listened happily to Edward’s steady beat, as he forged slowly but surely ahead” line, it’s just such a thoroughly pleasing little bit—I keep meaning to make a good gif of it some day because visually those two seconds are definitely among some of the most comforting in film history. Why must Edward be so friend-shaped. I’m asking really.
Caption 1: seriously, this one bit of track curves right-left-right-left three times, WHY
Caption 2: "Okay, David, catch me at my good angle! 😇"
Yes, everyone who’s been in the fandom for six months probably already knows the “inaccuracies” in the adaptation, but I’m not too hung up on them. Like it’s very cool that we have so many Trainz adaptations and Exploit!models where people literally destroy their overpriced 2Ps for the accuracy?? and I’m grateful and I’m satisfied with this fan content supplementing the episode. Besides, when I was a kid we only had select episodes from S1-3 on VHS, and man, stuff like Thomas’s bent front and Edward’s siderods taken off—that was honestly pretty metal for us. The Flying Kipper crash was obviously more serious, but as far as, like, “special effects” went? It was these two episodes that brought the macabre fascination, due to the visible damage. I can remember parents commenting on those two details too, in fact I think they brought it to our attention. Like wtf, they broke the toys! Wild! (Then we got into some Season 4 stuff and were spoiled for these more innocent days, lol. Peter Sam’s and Thomas’s head-on collisions took the damage portrayed on screen to a whole new level.)
Also, as I’ve mentioned before, while there are several sentences in the original text that I wish the adaptation retained (Edward being so thrilled when he gets the train moving that his wheels start to slip all over again, omg—my boy!), there are also a couple of cuts I agree with actually. I prefer the happy quietude of some of the moments in the end of the adaptation to the “cheers to the echo” of RWS.
Bertie’s little bit at the beginning is pleasant enough but also unnecessary, especially when you consider that this obligatory-cameo-to-meet-a-quota-of-Bertie-appearances-this-season replaces this immortal RWS opener:
Edward scolded the twins severely, but told Gordon it served him right. Gordon was furious.
Like, I am in no way excusing Gordon, but I do think this exchange is interesting context for the following scene. As in I don’t think Gordon really believes what he’s saying; when he’s piqued he sees everything in the most negative light; when he’s in a good mood all the sudden it’s “my dear Edward” and all that. Gordon said it himself to Sir Handel—he has a lot of feeeeeeeelings. Nobody understands that. ;)
Another small detail in this notorious scene that I think gets overlooked is Duck saying “You’re all jealous!” For one thing, I think he means they’re jealous that Edward got this job; the comment implies one of those standard tiresome arguments in the preceding week about who would get the enthusiasts’ train and then who should get the enthusiasts’ train. And I dunno, the thought amuses me. Perhaps because a few hours later in the storm Edward is audibly thinking that the whole gig was entirely overrated. (I feel like next time this sort of thing came up Edward would’ve been all like, “BoCo, do you want it? We don’t want a repeat of last time.” And BoCo’s all *affectionate eyeroll* “No one goes to the island of Sodor for a diesel-hauled railtour, Edward.”)
Now, for all I’ve overanalyzed the effect of the opening “station scene” and how the changes affect how people read the character dynamics, I must still give the TV adaptation major props—their changes make this scene far more interesting and just generally watchable. I mean, though I do enjoy the realistic sidings of the RWS illustration, the TVS blocking of the "action" here is iconic:
Plus omg, the drama of it all, I think the dynamic there of everyone talking about Edward while he’s just struggling to get that train started is a fascinating hook. (Certainly the writers of the show never got over this dynamic!) And, I have to admit, although it changes the characterizations a little, it’s not any huge stretch to have Gordon, Henry, and James be that shameless. It doesn’t distort the reality of RWS canon the way that Season 5 and beyond… *waves hand helplessly in the general direction of the mess*
However, and I wondered this even as a kid before I’d read any RWS, but in that scene why doesn’t Duck give the train a push to start? He’s Thomas and Percy’s successor at this point, so isn’t it part of his job? Always bugged me a bit, but then again these days I am amused to rationalize this and to imagine that Duck considers preventing the big three from bullying others to be among his duties, and in fact sometimes he gets so into it that he forgets some of the more bread-and-butter things. Yes, his old mates on the Great Western might be appalled at his new priorities, but then they didn’t have Gordon Henry and James to deal with, now did they??
Right, so like half of this post is now about the station scene... but honestly that’s fair. It’s worth saying again: The adaptation did a really good job with that. They take some pretty below-average obligatory set-the-stage RWS dialogue and somehow turn it into quite a memorable little scene. *tips hat respectfully*
More Posts from Honorary-twat and Others
but now Kips gave me the mental image of the engines pulling the “ANDY’S COMING!!!” shit when the Drivers and Fireman come around and when they do they turn into regular faceless engines
How I learned to write smarter, not harder
(aka, how to write when you're hella ADHD lol)
A reader commented on my current long fic asking how I write so well. I replied with an essay of my honestly pretty non-standard writing advice (that they probably didn't actually want lol) Now I'm gonna share it with you guys and hopefully there's a few of you out there who will benefit from my past mistakes and find some useful advice in here. XD Since I started doing this stuff, which are all pretty easy changes to absorb into your process if you want to try them, I now almost never get writer's block.
The text of the original reply is indented, and I've added some additional commentary to expand upon and clarify some of the concepts.
As for writing well, I usually attribute it to the fact that I spent roughly four years in my late teens/early 20s writing text roleplay with a friend for hours every single day. Aside from the constant practice that provided, having a live audience immediately reacting to everything I wrote made me think a lot about how to make as many sentences as possible have maximum impact so that I could get that kind of fun reaction. (Which is another reason why comments like yours are so valuable to fanfic writers! <3) The other factors that have improved my writing are thus: 1. Writing nonlinearly. I used to write a whole story in order, from the first sentence onward. If there was a part I was excited to write, I slogged through everything to get there, thinking that it would be my reward once I finished everything that led up to that. It never worked. XD It was miserable. By the time I got to the part I wanted to write, I had beaten the scene to death in my head imagining all the ways I could write it, and it a) no longer interested me and b) could not live up to my expectations because I couldn't remember all my ideas I'd had for writing it. The scene came out mediocre and so did everything leading up to it. Since then, I learned through working on VN writing (I co-own a game studio and we have some visual novels that I write for) that I don't have to write linearly. If I'm inspired to write a scene, I just write it immediately. It usually comes out pretty good even in a first draft! But then I also have it for if I get more ideas for that scene later, and I can just edit them in. The scenes come out MUCH stronger because of this. And you know what else I discovered? Those scenes I slogged through before weren't scenes I had no inspiration for, I just didn't have any inspiration for them in that moment! I can't tell you how many times there was a scene I had no interest in writing, and then a week later I'd get struck by the perfect inspiration for it! Those are scenes I would have done a very mediocre job on, and now they can be some of the most powerful scenes because I gave them time to marinate. Inspiration isn't always linear, so writing doesn't have to be either!
Some people are the type that joyfully write linearly. I have a friend like this--she picks up the characters and just continues playing out the next scene. Her story progresses through the entire day-by-day lives of the characters; it never timeskips more than a few hours. She started writing and posting just eight months ago, she's about an eighth of the way through her planned fic timeline, and the content she has so far posted to AO3 for it is already 450,000 words long. But most of us are normal humans. We're not, for the most part, wired to create linearly. We consume linearly, we experience linearly, so we assume we must also create linearly. But actually, a lot of us really suffer from trying to force ourselves to create this way, and we might not even realize it. If you're the kind of person who thinks you need to carrot-on-a-stick yourself into writing by saving the fun part for when you finally write everything that happens before it: Stop. You're probably not a linear writer. You're making yourself suffer for no reason and your writing is probably suffering for it. At least give nonlinear writing a try before you assume you can't write if you're not baiting or forcing yourself into it!! Remember: Writing is fun. You do this because it's fun, because it's your hobby. If you're miserable 80% of the time you're doing it, you're probably doing it wrong!
2. Rereading my own work. I used to hate reading my own work. I wouldn't even edit it usually. I would write it and slap it online and try not to look at it again. XD Writing nonlinearly forced me to start rereading because I needed to make sure scenes connected together naturally and it also made it easier to get into the headspace of the story to keep writing and fill in the blanks and get new inspiration. Doing this built the editing process into my writing process--I would read a scene to get back in the headspace, dislike what I had written, and just clean it up on the fly. I still never ever sit down to 'edit' my work. I just reread it to prep for writing and it ends up editing itself. Many many scenes in this fic I have read probably a dozen times or more! (And now, I can actually reread my own work for enjoyment!) Another thing I found from doing this that it became easy to see patterns and themes in my work and strengthen them. Foreshadowing became easy. Setting up for jokes or plot points became easy. I didn't have to plan out my story in advance or write an outline, because the scenes themselves because a sort of living outline on their own. (Yes, despite all the foreshadowing and recurring thematic elements and secret hidden meanings sprinkled throughout this story, it actually never had an outline or a plan for any of that. It's all a natural byproduct of writing nonlinearly and rereading.)
Unpopular writing opinion time: You don't need to make a detailed outline.
Some people thrive on having an outline and planning out every detail before they sit down to write. But I know for a lot of us, we don't know how to write an outline or how to use it once we've written it. The idea of making one is daunting, and the advice that it's the only way to write or beat writer's block is demoralizing. So let me explain how I approach "outlining" which isn't really outlining at all.
I write in a Notion table, where every scene is a separate table entry and the scene is written in the page inside that entry. I do this because it makes writing nonlinearly VASTLY more intuitive and straightforward than writing in a single document. (If you're familiar with Notion, this probably makes perfect sense to you. If you're not, imagine something a little like a more contained Google Sheets, but every row has a title cell that opens into a unique Google Doc when you click on it. And it's not as slow and clunky as the Google suite lol) (Edit from the future: I answered an ask with more explanation on how I use Notion for non-linear writing here.) When I sit down to begin a new fic idea, I make a quick entry in the table for every scene I already know I'll want or need, with the entries titled with a couple words or a sentence that describes what will be in that scene so I'll remember it later. Basically, it's the most absolute bare-bones skeleton of what I vaguely know will probably happen in the story.
Then I start writing, wherever I want in the list. As I write, ideas for new scenes and new connections and themes will emerge over time, and I'll just slot them in between the original entries wherever they naturally fit, rearranging as necessary, so that I won't forget about them later when I'm ready to write them. As an example, my current long fic started with a list of roughly 35 scenes that I knew I wanted or needed, for a fic that will probably be around 100k words (which I didn't know at the time haha). As of this writing, it has expanded to 129 scenes. And since I write them directly in the page entries for the table, the fic is actually its own outline, without any additional effort on my part. As I said in the comment reply--a living outline!
This also made it easier to let go of the notion that I had to write something exactly right the first time. (People always say you should do this, but how many of us do? It's harder than it sounds! I didn't want to commit to editing later! I didn't want to reread my work! XD) I know I'm going to edit it naturally anyway, so I can feel okay giving myself permission to just write it approximately right and I can fix it later. And what I found from that was that sometimes what I believed was kind of meh when I wrote it was actually totally fine when I read it later! Sometimes the internal critic is actually wrong. 3. Marinating in the headspace of the story. For the first two months I worked on [fic], I did not consume any media other than [fandom the fic is in]. I didn't watch, read, or play anything else. Not even mobile games. (And there wasn't really much fan content for [fandom] to consume either. Still isn't, really. XD) This basically forced me to treat writing my story as my only source of entertainment, and kept me from getting distracted or inspired to write other ideas and abandon this one.
As an aside, I don't think this is a necessary step for writing, but if you really want to be productive in a short burst, I do highly recommend going on a media consumption hiatus. Not forever, obviously! Consuming media is a valuable tool for new inspiration, and reading other's work (both good and bad, as long as you think critically to identify the differences!) is an invaluable resource for improving your writing.
When I write, I usually lay down, close my eyes, and play the scene I'm interested in writing in my head. I even take a ten-minute nap now and then during this process. (I find being in a state of partial drowsiness, but not outright sleepiness, makes writing easier and better. Sleep helps the brain process and make connections!) Then I roll over to the laptop next to me and type up whatever I felt like worked for the scene. This may mean I write half a sentence at a time between intervals of closed-eye-time XD
People always say if you're stuck, you need to outline.
What they actually mean by that (whether they realize it or not) is that if you're stuck, you need to brainstorm. You need to marinate. You don't need to plan what you're doing, you just need to give yourself time to think about it!
What's another framing for brainstorming for your fic? Fantasizing about it! Planning is work, but fantasizing isn't.
You're already fantasizing about it, right? That's why you're writing it. Just direct that effort toward the scenes you're trying to write next! Close your eyes, lay back, and fantasize what the characters do and how they react.
And then quickly note down your inspirations so you don't forget, haha.
And if a scene is so boring to you that even fantasizing about it sucks--it's probably a bad scene.
If it's boring to write, it's going to be boring to read. Ask yourself why you wanted that scene. Is it even necessary? Can you cut it? Can you replace it with a different scene that serves the same purpose but approaches the problem from a different angle? If you can't remove the troublesome scene, what can you change about it that would make it interesting or exciting for you to write?
And I can't write sitting up to save my damn life. It's like my brain just stops working if I have to sit in a chair and stare at a computer screen. I need to be able to lie down, even if I don't use it! Talking walks and swinging in a hammock are also fantastic places to get scene ideas worked out, because the rhythmic motion also helps our brain process. It's just a little harder to work on a laptop in those scenarios. XD
In conclusion: Writing nonlinearly is an amazing tool for kicking writer's block to the curb. There's almost always some scene you'll want to write. If there isn't, you need to re-read or marinate.
Or you need to use the bathroom, eat something, or sleep. XD Seriously, if you're that stuck, assess your current physical condition. You might just be unable to focus because you're uncomfortable and you haven't realized it yet.
Anyway! I hope that was helpful, or at least interesting! XD Sorry again for the text wall. (I think this is the longest comment reply I've ever written!)
And same to you guys on tumblr--I hope this was helpful or at least interesting. XD Reblogs appreciated if so! (Maybe it'll help someone else!)
Honestly what makes Stein a good execution of the mentally unwell mad scientist trope is that unlike your Rick Sanchez types who would scoff and debunk a cheerful character's optimistic worldview as cringe and naive he actually enjoys their presence and values that quality in other people
like he's realistic and acts as a voice of reason but doesnt revel in dashing anyone's hopes and dreams (unless it's spirit but that's just what they do to each other, and even then it's mostly taking the piss and not too serious)
it's so weird to me that everyone on this website is a human person outside of their weird internet niche so rb this with a random bit of your lore
thank you.
Back by popular demand. English Willy part 3
(Idk if I'll do another bc I feel like its run its course and unlike Scott Cawthon I would like to end my series on a high note! But to everyone who sent in asks or showed support or generally took part I love all of you and had so much fun with this. I might do more in future but I don't want part 4 to hang over me as something I HAVE to do)
Made a new poster! :)
Is also like to mention, AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!
FUCK-AAHHHHHHHH!!!!!
what they don’t tell you about writing is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!! AAAAAAAAAAHH!!!
roy mustang NEEDS to win the fma biggest loser poll or else life will have no meaning
reblog to give the person you reblogged this from a fucking break
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God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players [i.e. everybody], to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time. Credit to Teaableu for my icon!!!!!!!
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