How else do I say...? - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Mouse · 27th May 2012, 08:23 PM

This is bugging the b'Jesus out of me. And I've Googled and all sorts.

This isn't a very big question, by the way, so if anybody else has similar problems and doesn't know how else to say something, please do use this thread.

Right, I've got a cage fight scene in my WiP. I've got random amateurs from the audience getting up to have a go. (It's not a legal fight). Now, how the flaming heck do I describe this? My PoV character is asking what's going on. I'm about to write the reply... but I don't have one.

So, how do I say 'any old randomer can come and have a go?'

I feel like I need a "This is the <blank> round" and then insert suitable explanation after. I have no word for the blank.

springs · 27th May 2012, 08:25 PM

Open? It's an open round, anyone can have a go?

Mouse · 27th May 2012, 08:26 PM

Open! God, now I feel stupid. I hate it when you just can't think of the right flaming word! Thanks, springs.

Gary Compton · 27th May 2012, 08:32 PM

All-comers welcome.

TheDustyZebra · 27th May 2012, 09:56 PM

Open sounds good, or alternatively you could say "pickup round" -- like a pickup (pick-up?) game of basketball.

Glitch · 27th May 2012, 11:11 PM

Open or amateur sound good to me.

Ursa major · 27th May 2012, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDustyZebra

Open sounds good, or alternatively you could say "pickup round" -- like a pickup (pick-up?) game of basketball.

I'm not sure that many on this side of the Pond would have any truck with a pickup round....

TheDustyZebra · 27th May 2012, 11:56 PM

Ahh, better not, then! Open is better, anyway.

Esfires · 28th May 2012, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ursa major

I'm not sure that many on this side of the Pond would have any truck with a pickup round....

Five minutes after reading this, I finally laughed.

hopewrites · 28th May 2012, 01:32 AM

Is "narcissistic transcendence of existentialism" a better way to say "I got over thinking the world existed for me by realizing it existed in me" or have I got something backward in there?

TheDustyZebra · 28th May 2012, 02:47 AM

Err...I'm not sure that I would read "narcissistic transcendence of existentialism" as "I got over thinking the world existed for me by realizing it existed in me" without that explanation -- that said, I can see that is indeed what it means, and it's quite intriguing. Is there any way you can leave them both in the same sentence or conversation?

I have a question myself, so I'm glad of this thread. I have a pyramid that has risen out of the ground, and a girl who is at the bottom of it. It's not rising anymore. The sentence that keeps driving me crazy is:

“Tristan!” Taylor shrieked again, starting to clamber up the stairs on the side nearest to her, which rose at a 45-degree angle.

To me, this sounds like the pyramid is still rising as she tries to climb it. I just can't think how else to say it.

springs · 28th May 2012, 06:13 AM

Had lifted to a...?
I think you need a had to give past tense.

Hope, what tdz said!

Esfires · 28th May 2012, 06:22 AM

Use "had risen."

Relax, man. It's just a tense problem.

HareBrain · 28th May 2012, 07:26 AM

TDZ, you don't need "rose" at all for the stairs, since you've already said she's climbing them. Maybe an adjective instead:

starting to clamber up the [forty-five degree]/[bleedin' steep] stairs?

Esfires · 28th May 2012, 08:07 AM

Do we even need to know that the stairs are at a forty-five degree angle? Is that important?

27th May 2012, 08:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Mouse <3D~ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset Posts: 6,233 Blog Entries: 20	How else do I say...? This is bugging the b'Jesus out of me. And I've Googled and all sorts. This isn't a very big question, by the way, so if anybody else has similar problems and doesn't know how else to say something, please do use this thread. Right, I've got a cage fight scene in my WiP. I've got random amateurs from the audience getting up to have a go. (It's not a legal fight). Now, how the flaming heck do I describe this? My PoV character is asking what's going on. I'm about to write the reply... but I don't have one. So, how do I say 'any old randomer can come and have a go?' I feel like I need a "This is the <blank> round" and then insert suitable explanation after. I have no word for the blank.

27th May 2012, 08:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
springs Dramatically tremendous Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Antrim Posts: 4,713 Blog Entries: 84	Re: How else do I say...? Open? It's an open round, anyone can have a go?

27th May 2012, 08:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mouse <3D~ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somerset Posts: 6,233 Blog Entries: 20	Re: How else do I say...? Open! God, now I feel stupid. I hate it when you just can't think of the right flaming word! Thanks, springs.

27th May 2012, 08:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gary Compton Tails of the Unexpected Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Northumberland Posts: 1,669 Blog Entries: 88	Re: How else do I say...? All-comers welcome.

27th May 2012, 09:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheDustyZebra Just keep writing... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,939	Re: How else do I say...? Open sounds good, or alternatively you could say "pickup round" -- like a pickup (pick-up?) game of basketball.

27th May 2012, 11:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Glitch #452 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cardiff Posts: 914	Re: How else do I say...? Open or amateur sound good to me.

27th May 2012, 11:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
TheDustyZebra Just keep writing... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,939	Re: How else do I say...? Ahh, better not, then! Open is better, anyway.

28th May 2012, 01:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
hopewrites Laundress Extraordinaire Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 1,467 Blog Entries: 37	Re: How else do I say...? Is "narcissistic transcendence of existentialism" a better way to say "I got over thinking the world existed for me by realizing it existed in me" or have I got something backward in there?

28th May 2012, 02:47 AM	#11 (permalink)
TheDustyZebra Just keep writing... Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,939	Re: How else do I say...? Err...I'm not sure that I would read "narcissistic transcendence of existentialism" as "I got over thinking the world existed for me by realizing it existed in me" without that explanation -- that said, I can see that is indeed what it means, and it's quite intriguing. Is there any way you can leave them both in the same sentence or conversation? I have a question myself, so I'm glad of this thread. I have a pyramid that has risen out of the ground, and a girl who is at the bottom of it. It's not rising anymore. The sentence that keeps driving me crazy is: “Tristan!” Taylor shrieked again, starting to clamber up the stairs on the side nearest to her, which rose at a 45-degree angle. To me, this sounds like the pyramid is still rising as she tries to climb it. I just can't think how else to say it.

28th May 2012, 06:13 AM	#12 (permalink)
springs Dramatically tremendous Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Antrim Posts: 4,713 Blog Entries: 84	Re: How else do I say...? Had lifted to a...? I think you need a had to give past tense. Hope, what tdz said!

28th May 2012, 06:22 AM	#13 (permalink)
Esfires Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 205	Re: How else do I say...? Use "had risen." Relax, man. It's just a tense problem.

28th May 2012, 07:26 AM	#14 (permalink)
HareBrain Lagomorphing Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West Sussex Posts: 4,415 Blog Entries: 8	Re: How else do I say...? TDZ, you don't need "rose" at all for the stairs, since you've already said she's climbing them. Maybe an adjective instead: starting to clamber up the [forty-five degree]/[bleedin' steep] stairs?

28th May 2012, 08:07 AM	#15 (permalink)
Esfires Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Indiana Posts: 205	Re: How else do I say...? Do we even need to know that the stairs are at a forty-five degree angle? Is that important?

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