Status and Support

[Thot]

I would suspect that not too many in here are German speakers, or are they.

Here's a native German speaker.

I was always unsure of wether there is an audience...

For the most part, the German readers switch to the English versions and areas, if there isn't a German section in the first place.
Therefore, I doubt that you would get the attention of many new readers but the ones, who are already active in the English section.

... and writing a good original story in German is very tricky,

Oh yes. English is much less "demanding" at the quality of words to create a proper atmosphere than German. Just look at the lyrics of many English pop songs: if you translate them into German, you realize, that they are worse than the most lyrics of the sob stuff/tearjerker/"Schlager" songs here in Germany.
Well, how to explain "Schlager" to people form the US or England?
My best guess would be something like Roger Whittaker, Julio Iglesias or Barry Manilow: embarrassing, kitschy, your grandmother loves it; fond of fuzzy-effect lighting and spotlights to give the effect of sunshone even when it is raining; glow in the dark teeth; clapping people around them, who are either older or very simple minded/unpretentious.
Something like crooners, but while crooners still have huge influences from jazz or country music, while Schlager has more the influences from the much more soppy "Volkslied".
Schlager is probably a mere German phenomenon.
If you are fearless, you can listen to some of it under this link (just click the 'Player starten' icon) - it's a Schlager radio station in Germany and something of the worst nightmare of everybody in Germany, who's under 40 years old and doesn't want to be regarded as completely uncool.

I'm hoping not to offend anybody in his or choice of music.

I could translate a short one of yours for you to see how it turns out, if you like

So, if you need a "beta" for the translation... just write me a PM.

[Distracted]

Well, shoot. I was hoping Kotik had a German language site we could post our translated stories on and get MORE COMMENTS! (That I couldn't read without help, but still...they would be comments. )

[Navigator]

Well, how to explain "Schlager" to people form the US or England?

I gathered up the courage and listened for a while. It's "elevator music" - or a close relative. Sometimes called "doctor's office music" - sorry Distracted. My daughter is minoring in German in college. Has been listening to German "heavy metal" or at least what I call heavy metal (Oomph!). I will give her this link as a treat - then hide.

[Alelou]

I can't speak to Schlager but Muzak is what a lot of elevator music is -- it's actually various mixes of music that the Muzak company claims will increase people's willingness to buy, or their happines and cooperativeness, or whatever. It's still in business and here's their web site:
http://www.muzak.com/

One of the strangest evenings of my life was spent with a Danish-Italian immigrant family in Manchester, England who had a great fondness for the used Muzak system they had somehow acquired. (The apple-stuffed chicken made up for it, though. )

[honeybee]

A fabulous article on Muzak:

The Soundtrack of Your Life

[panyasan]

According to another post I should PM Jt to blow off some steam and I like to blow off some!
I don't know what it is lately, but this week I lost for the second time in a short period a fic I was working on. I finally got the tone, but then I decided that the scene worked better in chapter 3. So I cut (and was ready to paste) when I was interupted by RL. Back I started quickly with chapter 2, renamed it and not until I saved the new chapter two I realized I forgot to paste the old scene on a new page.
I was actually very proud of the scene which is now lost (where is a crying smilie when you need one?).
Only relief: chapter two is slowly growing into shape. Back to the mines.

[Alelou]

Did you try pasting it into a new document? It might still be there if your computer hasn't restarted.

[panyasan]

Did you try pasting it into a new document? It might still be there if your computer hasn't restarted.

Now you're telling me! I already restarted my computer. (I am too distracted these days... that's my problem.)

[Distracted]

Welcome to my world.

It's called trying to do ten things at once that take 36 hours to do, but only having a 24 hour day to do them in. Joy.

[Transwarp]

Just uploaded chapter 3 of 'Convicted'

>whew<

It was a long time coming, but I hope it was worth the wait.

In my defense, It was 12600 words long, which if you divide by the 75 days since my last chapter was uploaded is a whopping... uh... umm... 168 words per day?

Huh. It sure SEEMED like more than that...

Anyway, I hope you like it, and I'll try to get chapter 4 out quicker.

[WarpGirl]

OMG I actually got a SHORT story written. Less than seven pages. I just sent it in. It's actually about V'Lar. So it should go to the Library of P'Jem. I was inspired by the "Arranged marriages" thread. Seem's to me a lot of new light could be shed on the subject if a story was written about a woman having blood fever being rejected by a groom. And since some people have suggested that the rejector shouldn't have to fight it out, or have a champion do it, or anything at all but say no, I had to explore it. There was also the idea to have a Priestess, or in this case a priest on hand to take over... I got to thinking about Spock and how by the time T'Pring said no it was too late, his mind and body couldn't accept anyone else. So I explored, how that could happen, why in certain circumstances it would happen, and what was the answer. Hope it at least makes people think, if not like it.

[Distracted]

Sounds interesting.

[WarpGirl]

My chapter 5 of May We Together is in its final beta, so soon... I'm thinking of revising *Rights* and there will be a pt2 for T'Lan to have her say. I wonder how many people would freak (in any way they want good or bad) if it ends up in 7 years Sev wins her over????

[Kotik]

I've taken on a rather colossal (or tremediously stupid, depends on how one looks at it) project. Well that and I'm gonna keep boring the hell outta y'all with new chapters for "Words" as soon as the new word prompt challenge is out (*hint*hint* ) A new follow-up for "Christening" is on the way, too (My muse must be on 'roids)

[honeybee]

I've got a couple of stories in the works - the Family Secrets prequel is going to have to sit for a bit since my intended beta is going to Vegas and will be rubbing shoulders with various cast members.