writing rambles

[bunn]

I am trying to finish off my first Tolkien reverse summer bang story, which is about a slight AU Idril and Tuor.  I hadn't written Idril before (have written Tuor before, but he was a sealion skinchanger then, so arguably not very canon either!)

I like the idea, and I'm over the minimum word-count, but somehow the story hasn't quite taken wing.

I

Comments

[heartofoshun]

I do like a competent character, but a character with weaknesses is perhaps easier to relate to.

I know exactly what you mean. I always find that difficult. I probably end up being too soft on the canon good guys. Probably, why I prefer to seek out the problematic ones. I am sure you will find ways to humanize them. It is just more work!

[bunn]

I was just thinking, Maglor and Feanor are so much easier to write than these two :-D

[hhimring]

So you don't think that Tuor gave up on persuading the elves to leave Gondolin a bit too easily?
I mean, I am not at all saying you should, if that is not how you see it, but I have certainly seen that interpretation.
Or that the sea longing can also be seen a kind of weakness (although I wouldn't say it is only a weakness)?
Just him being a Man who only has really lived among elves except for slavery among the Easterlings creates some background tension, even if it isn't exactly a weakness.

The only real weakness I have seen attributed to Idril is mishandling her early treatment of Maeglin, which is very tricky territory.

Anyway, good luck with your TRSB fic!
I look forward to reading it.

[bunn]

No, that seems very unfair! Poor Tuor only has any authority at all in that he's Ulmo's messenger, if they didn't listen to him when he arrived with his credentials, I can't see they would be likely to be persuadable. Tuor's position in Gondolin seems to be entirely dependent on royal favour and personal likability. If he persisted with the awkward warnings, he could end up in a very sticky situation and gain nothing, either for Gondolin or himself (and I really don't think he owes Gondolin anything)

Yes, the request specifies no focus on Maeglin, and I don't think I'd want to go there anyway. Plus, this is a post-canon kind of story during their journey into the West, so Maeglin has been dead for years.