Lightning Letters: Ult. Flash Discussion Thread

[C_Miller]

Okay, folks, I didn't get the first issue up last night and I'm not going to make promises about it being up tonight since my friend is having a birthday/end of finals/graduation party. But I can promise that it will be up before Friday.

I did make up some secret files to whet your appetite for now. I'll post an obligatory spolier warning, but there's nothing too bad. But if you are worried about spoilers, you're taking my work much more seriously than I am.

Well, go take a look and the first issue will be up before you know it.

[C_Miller]

First issue up. Kind of on the long-ish side, but I'm happy with it. But that's what needs to be done so I can get to the main action of the series sooner rather than later.

[jross]

Nice use of timey-wimey, there. I'm guessing that we'll be seeing what it would have been like had Steven Moffatt written Lost?

I am glad to see a build up of mystery and menace.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in general, I believe that the US Marshall Service always has jurisdiction. My understanding is that the USMS is to the other federal agencies what the FBI is to local police departments. This would especially be the case on an unknown desert island, as the FBI has no power on foreign soil. That's just a minor issue, though.

[darthphere]

Good first issue. Looking forward to see where you take all this. You may want to proofread it a few more times as there were spelling mistakes, for example you called her Irish West in one sentence which made me chuckle, but it was all minor. We're all bound to make mistakes (my grammar is not where I'd like it to be). On the story front, really does have a Lost feeling, hopefully it has a better ending. I loved the time jump element. I'm assuming that's a possible future we saw? Either way, interesting stuff being set up here.

[C_Miller]

Haha. I was actually really worried about being Lost derivative, but that's not where I came to the idea. I originally had Barry's car get hit by lightning and him being sucked into the Speed Force. While that had it's merits, I wanted to go further from his true origins. So I thought about what would be worse than getting your car struck by lightning? Obviously, your plane. The rest just kind of filled in from there. The island will not be the setting for the whole story.

I'm glad you guys liked the story though. The time stuff will generally keep up. With our friend the Psycho Pirate popping in and out from time to time to screw everything up. Let me tell you, that means more than the island does.

And jross, I have no clue about FBI and Marshall jurisdiction. I kind of just threw that in there. One of my failings as a writer is that I tend to do that...

Well, part two will be up soonish. I want to bring this to 2011 before I start JSA. Just so I can be writing in the same time period.

[jross]

I only happen to know that because when I was in fire fighter training I took a class called EM 101, which is for future fire fighters, cops, EMTs and 911 dispatchers. We had a couple US Marshall deputies come and speak. Fun fact: there is only one "US Marshall," all other guys who work for him and have guns and badges are US Marshall deputies.

[C_Miller]

Very cool. I don't picture myself using the marshals at all over this, so I'll probably keep it for the sake of continuity within the story.

[superecwfan1]

I enjoyed it. I thought the time travel part and Barry's mind bein screwed up with it was good. Pretty good start and setting Thawne in the present. Always start off BIG as they say. Good 1st issue.

[C_Miller]

Thank you very much. I can honestly say that there is a point to everything. I actually sat down and plotted out the whole series before writing this issue.

[Kefka's Laughter]

Other than it being Barry this was great. Massive potential.

[C_Miller]

Jun 19, 2011 0:43:14 GMT -5 Kefka's Laughter said:

Other than it being Barry this was great. Massive potential.

Not going to give to much away, but I will tell you to stick around.

[The Wonderful Wachter]

I second the proofreading. Another Iris West mistake has you calling her a "Reported." You also didn't keep track of the number of Federal Marshals.

Must admit, I'm suitably confused and fascinated by the direction you're going with the Flash.

[C_Miller]

I'm really guilty of relying on spell check to do my proof reading for me. I'm always nervous something a bit more embarrassing will go through... As for the number of Marshalls, there were three. The lead guy, Hayden and another random guy. I'll read through again and fix that, but not before issue 2 is up tomorrow.

[The Wonderful Wachter]

At one point you say two marshals (when Iris first confronts Barry I think) while at all others you have three.

[Kefka's Laughter]

To quote one of my favorite professors "Great copy editors make ****y writers, but the opposite is just as true."

Honestly don't feel bad on the proofreading. Best tip I have for you (and all of us as the sit grows) is to pick a proofreading buddy. It's so much easier to proof someone elses story. For me, at least.

[Stardrifter]

I liked it. It's interesting that there seems to be a mystical side to the Flash. And the flash forward was a nice tease.

[buck]

Yes I really dug the flash forward a very nice bit of twist there. Also, I see a lot of Lost inspiration in the writers in general here not just you.

[C_Miller]

I'm not going to lie. While I didn't get the main idea from Lost, the show certainly made me run with it. The whole title will not always be like this, but it will recall these events and the spiritual angle will continue.

[C_Miller]

Second Issue is up. I'm not as pleased with this one. It's a lot of moving around and doesn't really answer too many questions, but I had to split it up because there's too much left for the conclusion.

[buck]

I really enjoyed the issue a lot of set up still, but definitely presented in an interesting way.