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I seem to have a knack for placing (sometimes not-so) subtle tributes in my stories especially my latest work, Battle for Earth. I have several characters named after actors/characters from The Simpons, Stargate SG-1, and Star Trek along with a not so subtle reference to Dirty Harry, and much more illusive one to Star Wars. For any of you that have read my story Incompatible there's a pretty sizable dream sequence (for lack of a better word) which is a tribute to the movie die hard.
Does anyone else do this? I get a kick out of leaving those sort of things in the story and seeing if any one picks up on them. I don't know that anyone will be able to pick up on the star wars one from B4E, but the rest aren't too hard to find.
And now it's time for the obligatory story update which I told myself I'd post once I'd made it to 100,000 words on my science-fiction trilogy of short novels Battle fore Earth. I'm actually a little ways past 100k, at about 100,400 words. Part one is at roughly 47,600 words (I made at to it a bit so that number may change) and part two is currently at about 52,200 words and I've written a brief interlude which is about 600 words and takes place between parts 2 and three. Part two is nearing completion, but I've reworked things a bit from the original plan so part 2 will actually be longer than I initially expected. It will likely be the longest of the trilogy, but don't quote me on that I've been wrong before.
All word counts are without chapter headings, author's notes etc and are just the text of the story. In addition I've written and have been periodically adding too a glossary of terms and characters which will be posted along side the stories.
Comments
Depends...
It depends on the story and when and where it's taking place. Usually my milieu is something of an almost-Earth so yes, with slight alteration, and also references to current events may be present in either a "this will happen someday" prediction way or as a reference to something from the distant past, depending on when.
Abigail Drew.
To be fair
To be fair most of the time when I make a reference it's some that's embedded into the story itself and isn't something that's dependent upon the social environment. I often times put them in there for the simple fact because it amuses me to no end. ^_^ For instance having three minor female characters named Marjorie, Patricia and Selma which are the names of the Bouvier sisters from the simpsons (ie Marge Simpson and her sisters Patty and Selma)
Have delightfully devious day,
References
I've done a few sideways tributes to things like an old TV show but not in obvious ways. If you don't know the shows it won't change the meaning one bit.
I'm more into working friends (and enemies) in somewhere. I'd say three-quarters of the names I use are people I know. And the names of my protagonists are carefully chosen from people I cherish. Back when I submitted my first story I received a nastygram from another member of BC. All though I had an explanation in the story of the name, it wasn't the real story. Anyway this person really did a song and dance on the name and it really got to me. I was not very polite in my reply. So you might want to be careful in your name usage.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
names
I very rarely use names of people I know. I have used a couple surnames, but generally names are selected because it feels like a good fit for the character. If they happen to share the same name as a person I know it's nothing more than a coincidence.
When I use a character's name it's either just the first name or else a mash-up of the actor's name and the name of the character he/she portrays.
As far as nastygrams (I like that term btw) go I have a pretty tough skin when it comes to nasty messages. If I feel that the message is somehow warranted I will do my best to rectify the situation otherwise... Well let's just say I'll have a few choice words for them. ;)
Have delightfully devious day,
Concerns
I've seen a lot of stories where the pop culture reference is such an integral part of the story that in 20-30 years the story will essentially be unreadable because nobody will know the references anymore. OTOH, giving a nod to people I've known and loved makes me happy. I know they'll never see it but I still feel like I'm making a tribute in their memory.
One example: Sarah from the hair salon. She was my stylist, and she didn't use that name ordinarily, she used her middle name. She was a loving,caring women who's life was cut short by a drunk driver.
And notice I seldom use last names, except for Robyn's. That's the one thing her parents couldn't take away from me after she died, my memories. They've tried so hard to recast her as faithful Bible-toting het Mormon; I'm tempted to put these stories (when done) into an email and send it to them with a "some things are greater than blood" message.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
references dating a story.
I try to avoid making the references dating the story. Usually they're only the sort of thing that a sharp eyes reader would pick up on. In short the story stands on its own. I've read stories and watch movies with references that I didn't understand and I fond it frustrating not knowing what the heck the characters were talking about.
It's unfortunate that Robyn's parents can't see the truth. Perhaps some day they'll see the light.
Have delightfully devious day,
Hidden references
I've deliberately embedded hidden references in one of my stories. I was struggling to write one of the later episodes of 'Spirited Emergence', so to motivate myself I deliberately hid the titles of Madonna songs in the text. I can't remember the exact number, but I think it was getting on for forty song titles. Most of them where easy to hide, and you wouldn't spot them easily. Others, like 'Pappa don't preach' were a bit more challenging to fit in. I must have hid them well, as nobody has ever commented on it.
When I normally throw references in, I tend to use ones that a number of my audience will know, such as Monty Python and Blackadder.
Madonna
lol! I may have to embed some song titles into my stories. I could think of a few Metallica titles that would work quite well as dialogue. ^_^
Have delightfully devious day,
Cultural references guides
Two of the Steven Spielberg Presents: cartoon series, Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs!, were so notoriously filled with inside jokes and obscure references that, when the series were in production, fans published cultural references guides on the Internet so that the rest of us could “get it.” I’ve seen a few TG stories that made me wish for such a companion guide…
I grew up watching both Tiny
I grew up watching both Tiny Toons and Animaniacs... I had no idea the cultural references were so plentiful.
Have delightfully devious day,
Something for everyone
Though TTA and A! were targeted at (older) children, there was plenty of adult (and young adult) content, as well. It is no accident that both shows attracted huge and diverse fan bases; people know the good stuff when they see it. :) In addition to the cultural reference guides, fan art and fiction proliferated (I still have some of the art saved on a CD somewhere).
It is possible that the guides are being archived somewhere, and still available for download. TTA and A! were released on DVD (I wouldn’t be surprised if they are still available), and many episodes have been posted on streaming video sites. There is still considerable interest in them as classics of traditional cel animation, so the guides may still be available, too.
While I’m at it, a bit of TTA trivia for you. Remember Buster and Babs Go Hawaiian? As mentioned in the episode, it was in fact produced from a fan script written by three high school (?) girls. IIRC, the girls sent it to their local television station, which then forwarded it to Amblin’. Apparently, contractual arrangements permitted production of scripts submitted from affiliate stations. By the time the production staff at Amblin’ discovered that it was a fan script, production had already begun, and it was too late to back out. I’m sure the lawyers had a time of it, negotiating things with the various unions and guilds…and the three girls.
At the end of each TTA episode, there was a joke hidden amongst the credits. At the end of Buster and Babs Go Hawaiian, it was, “Please Submit Your Unsolicited Manuscripts Along With A Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope To—Some Other Show!” And, in a rare appearance, Steven Spielberg was voiced in the episode by himself.
Oh yeah, and do you remember Buster as a southern belle in Two-Tone Town? What a classic, Chuck Jones would’ve been proud. :)