Madam Pomfrey’s One-Shot Triathlon 2012 Questions

[Eleanor Lupin]

Another question ...

I know you have to see at least one parent in the fic outside of flashbacks. But does the POV character have to know that the parent is their parent? In my story, my character has a conversation with her father, but she doesn't actually know that she was talking to her father until the end of the fic. She knows who her father is and all, but she hasn't seen him in a number of years so she doesn't recognize him. I hope this was decipherable, ha ha, it's late at night here.

[welshdevondragon]

Eleanor Lupin-that sounds fine.

Alex

[Gmariam]

Alex, what about stories we've written for something like LJ but have not published on MNFF? If it fits the prompt with some tweaking, can we submit it for the challenge?

Also - haha, I'm so annoying about this - my story is about both the minor characters involved AND their major character parents. Is that acceptable? Especially if the POV is one of the major character parents watching their minor character children?

I'm so difficult, I know, lol.
Thanks!

[welshdevondragon]

If it hasn't been on MNFF, then you can submit it. I'm not sure what other competition rules have been on this, but given I probably wouldn't have known if you hadn't said, I think that's fine.

And yes, I think that's acceptable, as characterising a parent can also help in characterising the child, and assuming this is for the Parent Prompt, the relationship between parent and child is part of it. So yes.

Alex

[Gmariam]

I am so bloody obnoxious, I know. I apologize for not being able to follow a simple prompt. So what about a concert of music playing throughout the fic? There are three pieces on the concert as my minor characters have a conversation.
Thank youuuuuu!
~Gina

[welshdevondragon]

Haha the prospect of live music didn't occur to me. As long as they are pieces which could be heard in a concert together. If you are inventing them, than this isn't a problem but if, say, it's a song by Laura Marling in the same concert as a song by Justin Bieber (I'm guessing yours will be classical but I am woefully ignorant in that department and so didn't want to attempt two contrasting pieces), then that doesn't work. i.e it has to be realistic that they would be heard over the same evening.

I hope that makes sense.

Alex

[Lost_Robin]

If we have a flashback in the Music prompt, does the song have to be playing? Or can we have a different song playing?

[GinnyPotter]

Would Hermione's unnamed parents count as minor characters?

[Eleanor Lupin]

I'm sorry I can't make anything simple ...

Does it count as a song playing if it's a lullaby or something in that vein? Because I know you wouldn't say it's playing if it's just one person singing it to a baby/small child and that's it, but it's a song so in theory it should count ... I don't know.

ALSO, and I WILL TRY TO BE COHERENT, I SWEAR...

What if it were a fic in which my minor character were dying, and they were having flashbacks as they died in which the aforementioned song was being sung? Would it still count? And if it doesn't count, would it count if the character either a) sang a verse or two of it at the end, or b) was sort of singing it the whole time along with the flashback voice in their head?

And also also, (I am very sorry for being annoying...)

Can the song be in a different language?

Thank you ever so, you're very patient with me and my constant questions!

[ToBeOrNotToBeAGryffindor]

If we have a flashback in the Music prompt, does the song have to be playing? Or can we have a different song playing?

Well, if a flashback occurs, I'll go ahead and say that it should be triggered by the song. However, the 'throughout the story' is still in effect. If the same song is playing in the flashback, the flashback can be an extended flashback. If it's not or a different song is playing, the flashback probably can't be allowed to last for too long. Alternately, if you are running two parallel timestreams, through which the chosen song is playing in both, you can bounce back and forth between them as you please. Please do bear in mind the stricture of knowing how the character knows the song.

Would Hermione's unnamed parents count as minor characters?

Absolutely, they do. They appeared in the books in CoS, so even though they aren't named, they are eligible.

Does it count as a song playing if it's a lullaby or something in that vein? Because I know you wouldn't say it's playing if it's just one person singing it to a baby/small child and that's it, but it's a song so in theory it should count ... I don't know.

Yes, a lullaby can count.

What if it were a fic in which my minor character were dying, and they were having flashbacks as they died in which the aforementioned song was being sung? Would it still count? And if it doesn't count, would it count if the character either a) sang a verse or two of it at the end, or b) was sort of singing it the whole time along with the flashback voice in their head?

Interesting question. My ruling is: if the character is hearing it in their head, someone is singing it to them,or they are singing it to themselves as they die, then I'll allow it. However, bear in mind that the song should be prevalent in all the flashbacks, as well.

Can the song be in a different language?

Yes, but please provide a translation of the lyrics in your author notes or story notes so the song has some meaning to the reader. Most MNFF readers will probably not speak the language in question.



Sorry about the wait, ladies. I completely spaced that I was supposed to do this. >.<