The Freezer Bunny Club - A Reading Circle
The Freezer Bunny Club: A Reading Circle https://i.imgur.com/qBYoZ55.png Welcome to The Freezer Bunny Club! This reading circle is an open space for the members to share our stories and discuss...
Forum Discussion
@Skeilah I'm finally all caught up! I wanted to make sure I had nothing else going so I could focus on this. I'm into it!
(Also, sorry about all the comments on your website, I binged and commented on eeeeeevery post, haha :flushed:)
About the Brant/Brent thing: I really don't ever take the pre-made Sims' established backstories into account when writing my own story. I can only think of two pre-made Sims that appear in my story (Mitchell Kalani and Bella Goth) and only Bella has 'canon' details, but that's because she's a veeeery minor character with no bearing on the main story. My Mitchell, for example, has nothing in common with the pre-made Mitchell. So, I say, write the characters in any way you want! EA might have created them, but you're fleshing them out and making them your own.
(Also, sorry about all the comments on your website, I binged and commented on eeeeeevery post, haha :flushed:)
Spoiler
1. What were your first impressions on Liz?
I like Liz! I was happy to read about how you created her randomly, I think one thing I spend TOO much time on with my stories is taking aaaaages to create just one character in CAS. Your approach of randomizing Liz was simple and I like that, and in this case, I think the randomizer made a beautiful character! I like her personality, from what I've seen from her, she's pretty good at getting ahead in her career and doesn't let her gloomy trait get in her way, which is great. I like her!
2. What do you think about the concept of my Legacy Challenge? It's not a normal Legacy Challenge but one related to the MySims Trophies.
Oooh boy, legacy challenges and I have a complicated history, mainly because I just can't seem to complete them... haha. I read all the rules and I like this challenge! The fact that you incorporate an element of collection (not just the MySims trophies, but also collections related to each generation, like the Experimental Food Prints collection and the City Living recipes for Liz's generation) makes this instantly more interesting to me because I love collecting things and there's nothing like completing a collection. I like this challenge a lot because of its twist, and your writing about it makes it so much fun to follow.
3. What do you think about the way I write my chapters?
I like the simplicity. The way you've structured the chapters with screenshots really makes your challenge easy and fun to read. I like that you slowly added more dialogue in to mix it up from simple narration. One thing I like about your writing is that you, as the narrator, seem to interact with Liz directly. Like, she knows you're there watching and that's an interesting and clever way of framing the story. This also adds some nice humor, like when Brent also knows you're following and immediately tells you to stop. I chuckled.
4. My Chapters are classified in Sim days. Do you (dis)like that?
Personally, I think this is a good choice. It allows you to really focus the action in one specific time frame and the story flows well like that. In my story, for example, I have to write things like "and then they all went to bed and this conversation happens the next day" (not exactly like that, but you get it, haha), to explain why characters change settings and clothes, etc. The way you've structured your legacy to have each chapter coincide with a day in the life of Liz (and later the heirs) is relaxing, it's a nice slice of life kind of structure. I like it.
Chapters
2. Which parts in the available chapters did you (dis)like? Why is that?
If I had to choose specific parts, I would have to say that I like the sections of dialogue here and there. I enjoy the way you "communicate" with the characters, and that spices the whole thing up. I think, since you're mainly narrating what's happening and not writing underlying storylines for the whole plot, these sections of dialogue do a good job at cutting up the narration with bits of tongue-in-cheek humor. It's my favorite part of your chapters so far.
3. How do you like Ninja and Brent joining the Ridley family? What are your thoughts on these characters?
OK, first of all! Ninja is ADORABLE. I really love that little pupper, and your screenshots of him (her?) are so cute. When he aged up I was almost disappointed because I just wanted him to stay tiny like that forever (story of my life with my own doggy :cry: ), but big and chonky Ninja is also adorable. I like Brent joining the story, as well. I've never played with his Sim but I like him. The way you write your interactions with him show a sassy side to him that makes me giggle, and he's a nice breath of fresh air. Since he's not really the focus, his parts are nice breaks from Liz's development in the challenge. Side note: I always find it so hilarious that Sims meet, begin dating, get married, and have babies in just a matter of days. Can you imagine if this was the case for people in real life? Haha!
4. Does everything in the story make sense for you?
I think it does! I read all the rules of the challenge first, so I was pretty clear on them and understood the goals. I occasionally take a peek at the goals or the rules if I feel like I've forgotten. The story itself is pretty straightforward.
5. Is the story easy to follow? Do you need more information or less?
I think you have a good, simple way of writing that makes the story easy to follow. Having screenshots of everything including the popups is a great way of really making me feel like I'm somehow also playing the challenge, and they add details to the story that flesh out Liz and Brent. Your lists on the side of the website also help, I like that we know exactly what goals are yet to be completed. In terms of wanting more information, well, I don't think your legacy really lends itself to writing a lot more about the screenshots since it's mainly based on the action happening and the challenge goals rather than being plot-driven. I think the information you give is sufficient for the genre of story you're telling, and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything so far.
6. What are you expecting for next episodes? (they are already played and written but not yet published but I like to see your thoughts about this)
I'm expecting to see more trying for babies :wink: since we have to get a male heir! I'm sure that Brent and Liz are going to continue trying until a boy comes along. In the meantime, I'm excited to see what Alison is like as she grows up. I'm sure Liz and Brent are going to be good parents.
7. Any questions for me?
I can't think of any at the moment, but if any come up, I'll definitely ask!
1. What were your first impressions on Liz?
I like Liz! I was happy to read about how you created her randomly, I think one thing I spend TOO much time on with my stories is taking aaaaages to create just one character in CAS. Your approach of randomizing Liz was simple and I like that, and in this case, I think the randomizer made a beautiful character! I like her personality, from what I've seen from her, she's pretty good at getting ahead in her career and doesn't let her gloomy trait get in her way, which is great. I like her!
2. What do you think about the concept of my Legacy Challenge? It's not a normal Legacy Challenge but one related to the MySims Trophies.
Oooh boy, legacy challenges and I have a complicated history, mainly because I just can't seem to complete them... haha. I read all the rules and I like this challenge! The fact that you incorporate an element of collection (not just the MySims trophies, but also collections related to each generation, like the Experimental Food Prints collection and the City Living recipes for Liz's generation) makes this instantly more interesting to me because I love collecting things and there's nothing like completing a collection. I like this challenge a lot because of its twist, and your writing about it makes it so much fun to follow.
3. What do you think about the way I write my chapters?
I like the simplicity. The way you've structured the chapters with screenshots really makes your challenge easy and fun to read. I like that you slowly added more dialogue in to mix it up from simple narration. One thing I like about your writing is that you, as the narrator, seem to interact with Liz directly. Like, she knows you're there watching and that's an interesting and clever way of framing the story. This also adds some nice humor, like when Brent also knows you're following and immediately tells you to stop. I chuckled.
4. My Chapters are classified in Sim days. Do you (dis)like that?
Personally, I think this is a good choice. It allows you to really focus the action in one specific time frame and the story flows well like that. In my story, for example, I have to write things like "and then they all went to bed and this conversation happens the next day" (not exactly like that, but you get it, haha), to explain why characters change settings and clothes, etc. The way you've structured your legacy to have each chapter coincide with a day in the life of Liz (and later the heirs) is relaxing, it's a nice slice of life kind of structure. I like it.
Chapters
2. Which parts in the available chapters did you (dis)like? Why is that?
If I had to choose specific parts, I would have to say that I like the sections of dialogue here and there. I enjoy the way you "communicate" with the characters, and that spices the whole thing up. I think, since you're mainly narrating what's happening and not writing underlying storylines for the whole plot, these sections of dialogue do a good job at cutting up the narration with bits of tongue-in-cheek humor. It's my favorite part of your chapters so far.
3. How do you like Ninja and Brent joining the Ridley family? What are your thoughts on these characters?
OK, first of all! Ninja is ADORABLE. I really love that little pupper, and your screenshots of him (her?) are so cute. When he aged up I was almost disappointed because I just wanted him to stay tiny like that forever (story of my life with my own doggy :cry: ), but big and chonky Ninja is also adorable. I like Brent joining the story, as well. I've never played with his Sim but I like him. The way you write your interactions with him show a sassy side to him that makes me giggle, and he's a nice breath of fresh air. Since he's not really the focus, his parts are nice breaks from Liz's development in the challenge. Side note: I always find it so hilarious that Sims meet, begin dating, get married, and have babies in just a matter of days. Can you imagine if this was the case for people in real life? Haha!
4. Does everything in the story make sense for you?
I think it does! I read all the rules of the challenge first, so I was pretty clear on them and understood the goals. I occasionally take a peek at the goals or the rules if I feel like I've forgotten. The story itself is pretty straightforward.
5. Is the story easy to follow? Do you need more information or less?
I think you have a good, simple way of writing that makes the story easy to follow. Having screenshots of everything including the popups is a great way of really making me feel like I'm somehow also playing the challenge, and they add details to the story that flesh out Liz and Brent. Your lists on the side of the website also help, I like that we know exactly what goals are yet to be completed. In terms of wanting more information, well, I don't think your legacy really lends itself to writing a lot more about the screenshots since it's mainly based on the action happening and the challenge goals rather than being plot-driven. I think the information you give is sufficient for the genre of story you're telling, and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything so far.
6. What are you expecting for next episodes? (they are already played and written but not yet published but I like to see your thoughts about this)
I'm expecting to see more trying for babies :wink: since we have to get a male heir! I'm sure that Brent and Liz are going to continue trying until a boy comes along. In the meantime, I'm excited to see what Alison is like as she grows up. I'm sure Liz and Brent are going to be good parents.
7. Any questions for me?
I can't think of any at the moment, but if any come up, I'll definitely ask!
About the Brant/Brent thing: I really don't ever take the pre-made Sims' established backstories into account when writing my own story. I can only think of two pre-made Sims that appear in my story (Mitchell Kalani and Bella Goth) and only Bella has 'canon' details, but that's because she's a veeeery minor character with no bearing on the main story. My Mitchell, for example, has nothing in common with the pre-made Mitchell. So, I say, write the characters in any way you want! EA might have created them, but you're fleshing them out and making them your own.
