It's not just memory, I'd say - it's also the ability to craft a coherent storyline in your head and stick to it over the course of different fics. Me, I'm flailing in all directions at once, not even knowing which story I want to tell. (Well, if I let myself dream, what I'd want is to re-write the story of Legions of Fire *g*. But that will probably stay a dream, knowing that PD himself wasn't even up to the task, and he was getting paid for it ;) ). So I end up doing unlinked ficlets depending on the mood of the moment. For coherence I'd say one needs either discipline or some distance from the subject matter, and I have neither at this point. You, it seems, have both. :)
Criticism and the online world: gah, the web is a fragile medium, I guess, whichever way you look at it. On one hand there's the freedom of anonymity, or at least the illusion of it (the impact of what you say and do is less visible than in RL); on the other hand it's much harder to give and gain trust because there's only the words on the screen. Whatever you do, there will always be people who are ruder or touchier than others; so yes, better to err on the side of caution, as you say. But on the other hand, if everyone keeps treading on eggs, how do we know what's real, and what's just politeness? And how do we learn?
I'm still quite unsure about it, to be honest. For example: what do you do if you read a fic you have some issues with, but you still want to drop the writer a comment for whatever reason (because the person asked, or you know the person, or the fic was written for you, etc)? Do you tell them you like it, even though that's a bit of a lie (even if only by omission)? Or do you just keep silent? Or do you try to mix the criticism in with the praise? I haven't worked that one out. (As for sending feedback via email: that's not something I'd easily do with a person I don't know.) Also, my reflex to criticize is strongest with the fics I really like, which makes it doubly hard to keep silent.
Londo/G'Kar and h/c: one reason I didn't mention was indeed that Londo is the easier choice. But all your arguments for reversing the roles are absolutely true. Plus, an embarrassed G'Kar would have been quite a novelty - he's a man of many emotions, but not that one. Still, before doing it the hard way, I first wanted to know if I was capable of writing h/c without making a big pile of mush out of it. *g*
Which is why I'd have gone for it and made Londo prove how good a diplomat he can be if he really tries. *veg*
no subject
Criticism and the online world: gah, the web is a fragile medium, I guess, whichever way you look at it. On one hand there's the freedom of anonymity, or at least the illusion of it (the impact of what you say and do is less visible than in RL); on the other hand it's much harder to give and gain trust because there's only the words on the screen. Whatever you do, there will always be people who are ruder or touchier than others; so yes, better to err on the side of caution, as you say. But on the other hand, if everyone keeps treading on eggs, how do we know what's real, and what's just politeness? And how do we learn?
I'm still quite unsure about it, to be honest. For example: what do you do if you read a fic you have some issues with, but you still want to drop the writer a comment for whatever reason (because the person asked, or you know the person, or the fic was written for you, etc)? Do you tell them you like it, even though that's a bit of a lie (even if only by omission)? Or do you just keep silent? Or do you try to mix the criticism in with the praise? I haven't worked that one out. (As for sending feedback via email: that's not something I'd easily do with a person I don't know.) Also, my reflex to criticize is strongest with the fics I really like, which makes it doubly hard to keep silent.
Londo/G'Kar and h/c: one reason I didn't mention was indeed that Londo is the easier choice. But all your arguments for reversing the roles are absolutely true. Plus, an embarrassed G'Kar would have been quite a novelty - he's a man of many emotions, but not that one. Still, before doing it the hard way, I first wanted to know if I was capable of writing h/c without making a big pile of mush out of it. *g*
Which is why I'd have gone for it and made Londo prove how good a diplomat he can be if he really tries. *veg*
Is that an offer, or a challenge? *matches veg*