Sim Storytellers Interview

[strangetomato]

Well, it seems my name has come up for the Storytellers Spotlight at simstorytellers this week. For those who aren't members of the SST community, you can check out the past interviews here. I will be answering the 30 standard interview questions, and I'll also be opening the floor to questions from readers of my story, as others have before me. If you're curious about something relating to my story or the telling of it, you can leave your questions in the comments here, or in the announcement post. Fire away at me with your burning questions (but not your burning bags of dog poo, please).

So... yeah. *deep breath* Let's do this. It'll be fun.

Comments

[madame-ugly.livejournal.com]

(not a interview related question)

So you drew your own name or are you the end of the list? I hope it was a draw. The thought of being at the end of the list is kind of sad.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

No, I drew my name. I've been on the list since that post where we decided to add the mods.

There are about 5-6 others left, I think, but it is time to look for other volunteers. I know there are a number of other active storytellers that are not on the list, so I'm probably going to start recruiting them soon. I wish the newer storytellers were less reluctant to do it.

[xel-squirgle-ox.livejournal.com]

It's not that I'm reluctant... Hell, I'd love to write an interview. It's just that I don't feel like I have anything to show, story-wise. I've seen all these experienced storytellers being featured and I feel so inferior to them. Besides, I never have any idea when I will finish an update. :/

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I don't know what you're talking about. I have you on the list. :P

I totally understand what you're saying. I'm not really very experienced either. I haven't even been doing this for a whole year yet, though I do have a decent amount of chapters out there, since I was really cranking them out for a while (sadly, those days seem to be over... but I might get my groove back, eventually).

Anyway, my point is that you don't need to be that experienced to talk about your sim storytelling. It's just your opinions on how you like to work and all that. You just need to have done something, and you have.

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

Can we nominate people to be in the storyteller spotlight? I have a few story writers in mind! :D

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Of course! I'll add them to my list of people to contact about it.

[hviw.livejournal.com]

Does this mean you'll have to postpone the chapter?
Well I'll look forward to it whenever it comes.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

It won't interfere with the chapter. I'm almost ready to post that, so you can expect to see it either today or tommorrow. Then I'll turn my attention to the interview.

[xel-squirgle-ox.livejournal.com]

Have you ever thought about donating part of your brain to somebody? ...Like uh, me? XD

No, I don't have any intelligent questions at this moment, since I know I could always ask you in a comment to an entry. I'd love to learn more about you though!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Are you sure you really want my brain, and all the possible ill mental health that could come with it? :P Think carefully before you answer...

It's true that you could easily ask any questions you have in the comments to an entry, but I guess the difference is that it's more general? *shrugs* More overall? The 30 questions cover just about everything I would think to ask anyway.

About me? That's the part I find the most daunting, you know. I'm not really very comfortable with talking about myself in great detail.

[ricamarcella.livejournal.com]

Hey, congrats on the interview. I looked over some of the questions and I think the one thing I wish were in the game, but isn't... is deceit.

It's surprising how so many SimStories are about deceit and secrets between people (esp. characters hiding how they truly feel about others) when, come to think of it, a Sim is programmed so that whatever is in her relationship panel reflects how she interacts with another Sim. They have absolutely no capacity for deceit. And yet that's where the Storyteller's imagination comes in...

Sometimes they act so brainless when you play them. It's like it's up to writers to turn them into sentient beings.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

That's very true. Sim's have a set of wants and fears, but that's the only thing that makes them have any sort of will in the game. Those desires can conflict with each other in interesting ways, but they don't really add up to much of a story on their own. It's all in taking those interesting little details, and the facts and figures, and spinning it into a story.

That's if you want to use the game engine as a starting point at all. Some people use it as a canvas for something entirely separate from the game, and that's very interesting too.

I think it's this ability to use the game for something that goes beyond the gameplay is what makes it so successful. It's much more than just a game for storytellers, isn't it? It's a type of creative medium.

[leskuh.livejournal.com]

Umm....I might add to this if I think of more, but here's the ones I've thought of so far. It's hard to think of things to ask, because you're pretty open about your process.

1. What would you say your average number of words per chapter/update is?

2. I've always been fond of how your story is neither too text heavy nor too image heavy. You get a good balance. Is this something you strive to do or just something that comes sort of naturally?

3. Who's your favorite character in your story? I can make a good guess, but I could be wrong.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweet... I have some questions. :) Thanks for these. I'll add them to the list.

[hviw.livejournal.com]

How much if at all do you change things about pre-made sims? Do you try to keep their behavior in line with their aspirations and/or personalities? Do you try to keep their age differences the same?

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the question. I'll add it to my list.