In general, prose is a way for  writer to achieve richer storytelling.   
 As writers, prose gives us the opportunity to build complete pictures in   
our readers' minds, telling them what our characters are thinking, the   
expressions on their faces, the temperature of the scene, the smells in   
the air, the texture of the ground, etc.  It's also - for me - a lot more   
exhausting to write!

The script format is deliberately sketchy, allowing a director, a   
producer, and occasionally an actor :D to add their own interpretations   
to the writer's outline.  There's not supposed to be a lot of visual   
direction in a script; that's supposed to be addressed according to the   
director's preferences, though you can add short hints like "ext. night,   
fog". I've been grumbled at for making script-format stories too much   
like prose!

If we could draw fan-manga, well, I'd be in heaven.

It still comes down to story and the strength of our characters, doesn't   
it?  Those should transcend any format preference, since good writing is   
independent of its presentation.  So, personally, I believe neither   
format is superior for storytelling.

 --the scarlet manuka
aka keisuke
 ----------
From:  fanfic-request[SMTP:fanfic-request@fanfic.com]
Sent:  Thursday, December 19, 1996 2:11 PM
To:  Fanfic Mailing List
Subject:  Re: [FFML] Script vs Prose


On Tue, 17 Dec 1996, Eric den Biesen wrote:

: Well, here are my thoughts on the debate. While I prefer prose for both
: reading and writing, this does not mean that prose is better. I just
: like getting into the character's head when I read. Some people on the   
ML
: are implying that because they like a format, it is therefore "better"   
than
: the other. This is NOT the case. I prefer prose BUT have read script   
fanfics
: written so well that I kinda sat back and thought, "huh?" Neither   
format is
: better, just different. Certain stories will work better in script,   
others
in
: prose. There's my 2 cents (canadian).

<sniff>  Finally!

Finally someone who knows the difference between "I like it
better" and "It *is* better".  I don't prefer either format, and I
absolutely hate it when people think their own preferences are an
indication of objective quality.  The reason they give is always
"This format is better for doing <this'n'that>", where
<this'n'that> just *happens* to be what they like to read and
write.  Hmmmm.

Sorry, if someone else also showed Eric's sane tendencies - he was
just the first I saw.  :)


Sebastian
 --
          http://enterprise.mathematik.uni-essen.de/~bastian/
                           Comics reviewed.
 --
Did you hear about the guy who was into flagellation, bestiality and
necrophilia?  He gave it up.  It was flogging a dead horse.


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