Concrit the crap out of me

[galadriel1010]

So recently I've been spending a lot of time over on fanficrants (it's fun, I like it there) and I've been seeing stuff being commented on that I know I do, but I don't know if I'm doing it right or wrong. You've probably noticed that I've really got into a writing rhythm, and this is partly thanks to some wonderful people who have told me that they like my writing and that they think I'm good at it; it's reawakened my desire to pursue it professionally, after a long enough break from the idea that I actually have some workeable plots and, you know, talent (I hope).

So, I'm turning to you. You who has ever read anything I've written and thought 'she's doing that wrong' or 'she needs to improve on that', or even 'this is what she's good at'. Particularly if I've offended you with something I've written, or I've done a portrayal of a certain group or trope badly, because I don't want to make the same mistake twice and offend you again.

I've turned on anonymous commenting (I think), but I've turned on reCaptcha because of the Snape commentor going around, and I've turned on comment screening, so you can say if you're happy for me to make it public or if you want it to stay between us.

I don't know if anyone's going to read this, but if you've got this far, thank you, even if you don't comment.

*Feels like a total primadonna...* Another cry for help, I'm looking for advice on what I'm doing wrong in my writing, or even what I'm doing right so that I can improve it, make more people happy, make fewer people cross and generally be less fail.

Comments

[teleens-journal.livejournal.com]

I can't reply directly to the comment you sent me, heh, so I'll just say - be careful of your language there. I actually got into a serious disagreement over the word 'pussy' while I was there, so... It can be a LOT of fun, though, no question. Hope you enjoy it, :).

[fiwen1010.livejournal.com]

It was a wordplay thing that involved an icon of two bouncing bluetits and this icon. It made me lol. It's certainly fun, and I'm trying to learn to accept that I'm wrong sometimes and to be wrong less often, and it's certainly teaching me that.

[beesandbrews.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I'd use fanficrants as a gague of the "rightness" or "wrongness" of anything. You've got people over there who as entertaining as it might be at times, like to pick at lint because they've got nothing better to do.

Generally, if you feel something is kind of skeevy, then it probably is. What you have to ask yourself is the skeevyness appropriate for the character or is it your own bias coming through? If it's the former then leave it be. If it's the later then you should re approach the work.

If you've got specific examples that you want looked at, you can shoot me a link via livejournal messenger and I'd be happy give you concrit.

[fiwen1010.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd noticed lol. It's more a barometer of 'this is an area which can have shades of grey', often in areas which I never think about.

My main worry at the moment is the fact that I write very, very fluffy gay relationships, and I don't want to take it down the route of putting them into distinct gender roles by accident. And the fact that I want to start a Discworld fic about genderqueer characters, and I know that I'm going to mess up at least once.

Generally, I think I'm doing okay, but just because I don't think I'm doing it wrong doesn't mean I'm not, if you know what I mean.

[teachwriteslash.livejournal.com]

Hi! First of all, I read your schmooop series last week and was remiss in commenting. I enjoyed the progression and they made me smile.

One thing I would say is that your write what you write for your genre. If the genre is schmoop, I don't expect a lot of angst. If the genre is drama, I expect less schmoop. Don't worry quite so much about what others think is 'appropriate' for a story in a certain fandom.

A suggestion I would make is to slow down a little. Take time to tell the story. For instance, in the schmoop series Gwen sort of vanished for a bit until she reappeared in the sofa scene. I also wanted to know more about the decision to adopt Andrew and maybe even a bit of his history.

Overall, writing takes practice.

ETA: Universal Truth - LJ will eat the last three sentences of my post when I've been profound in my own mind.

What I was trying to say is writing takes practice. Being willing to practice the craft, take risks by doing things you have not, and at least listening to concrit (even if you don't agree with it) will make you a better writer because you will be defining your style.

Teach

[fiwen1010.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That's really helpful to know. I definitely intend to keep practising :)

[keldaryth.livejournal.com]

Might I suggest writing something original and posting it for critique? The problem with fanfiction is that you're dealing with established characters in an established world and established mannerisms with a bunch of 'canon' knowledge you can typically assume your audience knows.

You don't always get that in original fiction. I saw your post on original fiction ideas, but that was about it (granted I'm joining the game fairly late). From what little of your stuff I read I've gone "Nice drabble, okay dialogue, not a whole lot of action and the dialogue can sometimes seem forced to fit characters that my perception says wouldn't speak that way' - none of which have any bearing on you as a writer, your writing style or any 'right' or 'wrong'. I guess you could say I want to see a world you create, its characters their interactions and their stories. Once I see how you describe and bring us into something completely new I'll be better able to comment on your writing, because at that point pace, information overload, exposition and all that crap become relevant.

Oh and you can public this at the risk of having your Yorkshire/fandom friends tear strips off me :)

[fiwen1010.livejournal.com]

Thank you :D I'm really excited now for NaNo, as it'll be the first time in a long while that I've tried original seriously. We'll see what happens then

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Hey there! I am happy to add you back. I had heard you were floating around here somewhere.

There is always a place for the fluffier writer--what I've always loved about you as a writer is your unbridled joy and sense of fun. You love to write and it shows. That is super important. I don't' read fluffy stuff generally (lj user="cruentum">'s darker style of writing is what I lean toward, lol, and not just because he is my b/f), don't write fanfic generally, but I do write for an epublisher, and have a small press book out there still (more or less--it is about dead lol). Doesn't make me an expert, but I've been through the gristmill with editors and esp. the small press learned TONS.

I think it is awesome you want to improve. It's those who think they are awesome with no room for that getting better nonsense are the ones I run screaming from. LOL. I've been working all weekend, studying the process and craft of two people--Jim Butcher and Alexandra Sokoloff, both of whom have really awesome, helpful, insightful blogs about writing. Butcher's is old and here on lj, jimbutcher, and Alexandra Sokoloff, who writes the scary stuff (not horror, though) is at http://thedarksalon.blogspot.com/2008/10/story-structure-101-index-card-method.html. You can get to her first post on writing craft from there.

I love fanfiction and using that to hone craft because of the immediate response and help if you ask for it...but you just have to be careful to weed out the not-so-good stuff. Reading work like you want to write is important too--I'd highly suggest doing that, grabbing some books where you'd like to be and go from there. If it is m/m fiction, then ebooks are right at your fingertips. Go on Goodreads and search out the m/m reading forum (tee hee they are reviewing my Red right now in the book club, but I am NOT looking...lol) and find books reviewed there that you would like to see your story next to.

You can do it! You are not a primadonna! I think it is awesome.

[fiwen1010.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *Hugs* I've been farting around in the shallows for too long, decided it was time to jump in properly

And thank you for the advice, the encouragement and the links. It is all awesome and wonderful, as are you
Rxxx