Having checked with mods this is ok, I am starting a Drabble discussion thread here. The idea is to see if we can get back some of the story discussion that used to happen on the drabble threads. The reviews are good, (and please keep reviewing, it really helps it be worth carrying on with a story !) but it isn't always as interactive between readers, and a lot of people have commented that there is something missing compared to before. The main discussion forums are not suitable for drabble discussions obviously, since not all of the people who read CBB read drabbles and vice versa.
Basically the thought was to have this thread, and start discussions on here, much as we do when discussing the original books, but discussing the storylines / characters / ideas in the drabbles.
Hope that makes sense ! If you are a reader or author and have missed the chatter, be nice to see you here, even if it is only saying hello and adding your thoughts every now and again.
To avoid problems, some guidelines to bear in mind :-
A simplification of the guidelines below is -> if you would have been happy saying something on the old drabble threads, it's probably ok here !
It should go without saying that people need to be respectful and remember that in this case we are dealing with something that someone is actively working on now, so be a little thoughtful about what you write. However drabble authors also need to come to this with the right attitude - seeing other people's views of your characters can be very useful, even if they disagree with your interpretation. If it upsets you seeing people discussing them, or if it distracts you from your drabbling then you may be better not to read the thread.
Don't spoil things for others - if a drabble is being reposted on the SDL but is already in the archive, don't give away the plot if you can help it, some people chose to read as they go along rather than go to the archives, so let them discover what happens just as you might a new drabble if you have previous knowledge of the storyline.
Don't come on here to be actively nasty - disagreeing with / querying someone's take on a character is one thing, using this as a forum to put people down is neither necessary or interesting to others. While personally find it helpful if people can tell me they have found a spelling / grammatical mistake in my drabbles, not everyone will be confident enough (or in my case resigned to the scattered-ness of my brain and typing) to cope with too much picking to pieces for the sake of it in a public space. A nicely worded review or a gentle direct message to an author might be a better way to head if there are lots of spelling problems etc.
Please try not to add too many things that are too irrelevant to drabbles / stimulating drabble ideas, such as discussion about your day's activities etc. The Procrastination Party and Playpen and the Rose Garden are the places for that.
This isn't really a drabble advertising space, try if possible not to come and discuss only to promote your own drabbles - people will see that and be bored, so you are more likely to have the opposite effect. Coming on and saying, 'I'm stuck, any ideas?', or 'What do people think my characters might do in this / the other situation' occasionally would probably be ok, or maybe in the case of multiple drabblers, asking if anyone has a preference for which one to update next.
If you aren't a drabble reader / don't like the SDL / don't like change / prefer the drabbles in the archives / don't like people in general etc, this is not the space to express that. Though obviously discussion about drabbles in the archives is fine, just make it clear perhaps where the drabble you are discussing is located if possible.
Examples of the type of things that used to be discussed, and that might be suitable :-
What is going to happen with Charles and Elizabeth or Monty and Naomi. What is Mike up to ? (Stepping out if the Shadows)
Will Tristan and Susie get together, or Susie and Jack, Susie and Nell again etc (or my personal preference, Tristan and Matty..). What is the story behind little Evelyn?? - Tea & Militancy
Who is Mie ?? (12 days of Christmas) - though obviously we have the answer now ! But it's an example of the type of thing that used to be fun speculating about.
What will Audrey do to hurt Len and what on earth happened to with Jack Maynard's death ? (Rachel tests the Chalet School) - again one that has been answered now, and some people already know as it is an archive repost (Don't tell me, I'm enjoying finding out as I go along !) But that is still good as an example.
Should Nancy/Kathy or Nell/Hilda, Nell/Con etc be together / not together / more discrete ? (Various drabbles, the answer to the discretion question usually being yes, but it wouldn't be so funny most of the time if they were sensible.)
Other possibilities for topics are more general :-
There are various drabble situations with gay students / teachers at the moment, what might be the expected reaction in reality at that time, or even now?
How would something like TB be treated in those days, what were Jack and Jem researching, and how might it affect people having those treatments. (eg Jo's Biggest Challenge)
Overage students/ young teacher relationships (eg The Summer Holiday)
Should Hilda / Nell / Matey let Kathy and Nancy know if they know about them, and would a headmistress have a duty to investigate. Or would the staff's right to privacy outweigh the risk of students and parents finding out? (e.g What Matey Knows)
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_________________ 'An adventure was one thing. But an adventure without something to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all' Enid Blyton, The Valley of Adventure
Last edited by beecharmer on 17 Feb 2014, 11:42, edited 4 times in total.
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