Yes, I know, much with the spamming. Sorry.

[heidi]

Q: How old are Charlie and Bill Weasley in relation to their other siblings?

A: Oh dear, maths. Let me think. Bill is two years older than Charlie, who is two years older than Percy.

I think ALL of fandom, regardless of SHIP preference, regardless of who you're friends with and who you find annoying, regardless of when you entered fandom, whether you're on LJ or not, whether you write NC17 or G-rated stuff, is in FULL agreement when we say...

Wha?

And I think we all agree that she should hire sjbranford to walk two paces behind her at all times, and do her maths for her. Think of what she'd save in tips per year!

Comments

[ex-mahoney365.livejournal.com]

Is it really bad that she can't remember the exact ages of a couple of minor characters, who are in fact just two out of lots and lots and lots of other minor characters? I don't know if she does or doesn't have it figured out, but I don't see why she absolutely has to, or why she should even come close to the right answer in a chat.

Someone said in Heidi's first thread about this chat that Rowling doesn't seem to put so much thought into every tiny element of the story, whereas the fans are trying to suss out Mrs. Norris's past. That's a funnily apt distinction - I think we fans put a lot of thought into the bric-a-brac because we sit and stare at the walls, whereas Rowling is still building the rest of the house.

Which is not a judgement on whether or not that's a bad thing; it's just an attempt to explain why I'm on the other side of the issue, and don't get irritated about this sort of thing... :D

[wordplay.livejournal.com]

Someone said in Heidi's first thread about this chat that Rowling doesn't seem to put so much thought into every tiny element of the story, whereas the fans are trying to suss out Mrs. Norris's past.

Yeah, that was me. :)

As I said, I'm pretty sure she doesn't have an answer figured out here - I don't think she has really paid much attention to this. The problem, of course, is that she can't just SAY that, so she makes stuff up. Often that may be inspired, but this is an area in which making stuff up in not a strength. I don't see anything wrong with wishing she would either have notes on this stuff or not talk about it.

Does it distract from the enjoyment of the work to have this inconsistent? No, I don't think so. Does it make things more complicated from a fandom POV? Yeah, it does. Not only for me personally (b/c I like to write Weasley family dynamics, and now I don't know how seriously to take this very off-the-cuff answer - is this what she's intended all along, or was this just being sloppy?) but on a larger scale. What's AU now - the books or the chat? Who knows?

And I see all of the Weasleys, Malfoys, Hogwarts faculty & MWPP folks as significant enough characters to at least have their own consistent timelines. It really doesn't take that long to sketch them out, particularly if she's going to reference events in their lives. We expect fic authors to do it. I don't know why she hasn't done this, if she hasn't.

Not the end of the world. Still not cool.

[ex-mahoney365.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was me. :)

LOL. I actually thought it might have been you, but did not double-check, as it was the sentiment I was focusing on rather than the originator. But that's handy, because you know what I meant, then.

And I see all of the Weasleys, Malfoys, Hogwarts faculty & MWPP folks as significant enough characters to at least have their own consistent timelines. It really doesn't take that long to sketch them out, particularly if she's going to reference events in their lives. We expect fic authors to do it. I don't know why she hasn't done this, if she hasn't.

Not the end of the world. Still not cool.

Eh, I disagree, I disagree with all of the above except the thing about it not being the end of the world. :P Specifically, I *don't* expect fic writers to do it. I don't think that having every tiny detail for every single character specified is necessary, for any writer, unless that's how that writer writes (so to speak); I also thing Rowling does a bang up job on her stories without being excruciatingly meticulous.

I think it's a difference in worldview, yours and mine. :)

[longstrider.livejournal.com]

I do however expect them to come up with internally consistent works and any commentary on the works should be consistant as well.

Keep in mind I regularly readd many authors who have extensive setting bibles (1000+ pages) and are much more deeply burried in their right brain than JKR.

[ex-mahoney365.livejournal.com]

Right, and I read and analyze works on theme, symbolism, overall characterization, etc. rather than on consistency of nitpicky details (whether within the work or as expressed by the author in informal interviews or chats).

And I've never given half a thought to the existence of story bibles, though I've heard of them and am sure they're very handy for those who want to use them.

Like I said, different worldview. :)