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

[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