wiseheart: (Tosh_flowers)
[personal profile] wiseheart
I've started Chapter 6 of "Atonement", with a closer look at this alternate version of Jeannie McKay. Some part of it are very depressing, but I'm still quite content how it turned out. I'm just not sure about the grammar. In fact, I'm never really sure when I absolutely have to use Past Perfect and when can I get away with using Simple Past. It's so much more confusing in English than it's in German. It's the easiest in Hungarian, of course, since we only have one past tense in our language, but that's another matter entirely.

So, if anyone would be willing to take a look at these 2.5 pages and tell me if I could leave it as it is - which would be my preference, as it rings true for my ears, but I can't be sure, of course - I'd be eternally grateful.

Anyway, excerpt:

The depressions were still there like a constant, dull ache, they never really left and flared up unexpectedly at the slightest, most ridiculous stimuli. By the changing layout of a familiar website, for example, that made her feel like a complete failure again, until she figured out how to use the re-organized features… and lasted long afterwards.

***********************
Aside from "Atonement", I was suddenly attacked by a particularly vicious plotbunny about an alternate universe in which Sherlock - or a rather alternate version of him - is actually the 13th Doctor. Don't ask, I've got no clue where that came from. The title is supposed to be "Ginger At Last! (But Still Rude). I think it's funny. And I've got even more fun with figuring out how certain other Sherlock characters would fit in the Whoniverse.

Fortunately, I've established a notebook titled "Plotbunny Nest", where I write down the basic ideas for future use. That way, I avoid being sidetracked while working on something else. I've promised myself not to start any new story before one of the WIPs are finished.

In this particular case that not only means "Atonement" and the Elfhelm story, but Book One of "Arthur's Quest" as well, since the latter two are the stories I actually know how they'll end. Eventually. If I ever get far enough with them.

(no subject)

Date: 2012-08-17 12:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lindahoyland.livejournal.com
If it's just 2 and a half pages I could take a look as a native English speaker. Tenses sometimes even have us confused!

(no subject)

Date: 2012-08-17 12:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! I'll PM it to you - hopefully, it won't exceed the allowed number of characters.

I'm not worried about the rest of the story so much, but this is a part where persent and past (as Jeannie sees them) intersect a bit, and it's really hard to figure out grammatically.

(no subject)

Date: 2012-08-17 01:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] illereyn.livejournal.com
Definitely a good plotbunny!

(no subject)

Date: 2012-08-17 04:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
Yeah, and if I had another lifetime to my disposal, I could even make an entire series of it. With Mycroft as a stranded Time Lord without a TARDIS, Mrs Hudson as an ex-companion putting up the Doctor out of loyalty and John supremely as himself. ;))

It's all Benedict Cumberbatch's fault, you know. I saw a photo of him as a curly redhead, remembered how the Doctor always wante to be ginger, and BAMF, I was besieged by deceivingly innocent-looking plotbunnies with razor-sharp fangs. *shakes head*

I MUST RESIST!!!

(no subject)

Date: 2012-08-17 03:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] espresso-addict.livejournal.com
Usually you can get away with using simple past after one or two establishing pluperfects. You might need to keep re-establishing every paragraph, depending how clear the timeframe is. I don't think there's a particular rule.

(no subject)

Date: 2012-08-17 04:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
Thanks. Guh, it's so insanely confusing! And I haven't even started talking about prepositions yet...

(no subject)

Date: 2012-08-17 05:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] espresso-addict.livejournal.com
I think English grammar is more slippery than most...

(no subject)

Date: 2012-08-18 09:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
The blatant absence of anything even vaguely resembling of logic might be one of the reasons. But again, few living languages are truly logical.

(no subject)

Date: 2012-08-18 07:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com
Grammar is very confusing. Interesting plot bunny.

Poor Jeanne!

(no subject)

Date: 2012-08-18 09:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wiseheart.livejournal.com
Some aspects are more than a little autobiographic, but she's a character of her own nonetheless.
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