On writing

[wiseheart]

My latest foray into the Andromeda fandom made me clear what might be the difference between me and the majority of hobbywriters... and what makes it hard for the average reader to really enjoy my work.


Your average hobbywriter - especially a male one - wants nothing more than tell a story and get to the point. Which makes the writing style... well, not primitive, it would be unjust to say that, as these people usually put great effort in their work, but still over-simplified, to a certain extent. I've mused about the phenomenon earlier, so I'm repeating myself, but the fact is, that for me, these stories lack descriptive detail. Interestingly enough, some (female) slash writers, while the plotline itself is barely existent, as the only goal is to get Tab A into Slot B as often as humanly possible (or non-humanly, in case aliens are involved), have a much more elaborate style. Yes, I know, sliding into purple prosa is a great peril in this area, but still.

I guess I'm in danger to slide into purple prosa myself. As impatient as I sometimes can get to finish a story (so that I can start five new ones), I actually enjoy the writing process itself very much. Creating a background, creating connections between new stories and already existing ones, placing subtle hints, rewriting the same page for the umpteenth time, until it sound perfect to my own ears - it's great fun.

At least for me. Not necessary for a casual reader who just wants to read a story with their favourite character in the focus. They might find it too complicated, as to get all the hints, they would need to know the rest of my personal corner in the universe in question. And since few are willing to read a dozen stories just for that purpose, they might find it boring.

Also, I tend to be very descriptive. I know, that's something that gets heavily frowned upon on certain forums *coughgaffcough* as a sign of bad writing. I happen to disagree. Personally, I enjoy the worst, canon-breaking slash story (unless it's Tolkienfic, where I use different measures) when the style is the one I prefer. Am I a hypocrite because of this? Perhaps. Not that I really care...

During the recent 4 or 5 years, since I've had access to the Internet, I've made the experience that all the restrictive rules that most great archives set up, plus the kind of criticism that seems to get the overhand in most of my fandoms, has been crippling my creativity considerably. I'm a person with great respect for canon. Those who are familiar with my work, no matter in which fandom, know that. I also do a great deal of research. But I don't see why I shouldn't be allowed some creative licence to make a good story work. Especially if the original is just a TV show. But even with Tolkien, I don't believe that we should blindly accept everything that is published in one of the HoME books or every side remark in his letters.

I'm so fed up with purist narrow-mindedness. With certain peope, regardless of the fandom, who can't enjoy a story because it is against their interpretation of canon. Of people who reject a good story on the basis of "Eeek, slash!" or "Mpreg? Are you insane? That's biologically impossible!" or "Character XY/Tolkien's Elves/Nietzscheans/Minbari/Vulcans would never do that", or "I hate this genre, so everyone who writes it is a moron". Not to mention those who cry plagiarism every time an author borrows an idea or a few lines from the original (or another author), while stating clearly that it is borrowed and giving due credit to the original creator.

I'm sick and tired of the nitpickers, of the people who only read a story to find mistakes in it, who only review to tell the author why they disagree with what they have read. And no, I'm not only talking about my own work. Too many good stories and good authors are getting taken apart by self-righteous readers who seem to enjoy to make them lose the joy in their work.

I'm glad that my new sister site will be working in the not-too-far future. A site for my sci-fi and horror stuff, where I can put up everything I want, without getting nervous what might get me reported and thrown up, just because some malevolent reader dislikes what I've written. That would mean no reviews, of course, but I can live with that. I mean, I like it when people like my stuff and tell that on a public forum where others can see it and might get interested in my work, but let's face it, how often does that happen in these days? Every fandom has its celebrities who get read and their feet kissed, and the others... well, we all know how it works.

All right, this entry turned out differently than I originally intended, but I got a bit worked up. Happens every time I think about those things. Doesn't matter. My journal, my rant.

Comments

[talullahred.livejournal.com]

I saw this while going through my 'friends of friends'. I hope you don't mind if I comment.

This was very interesting for me because in my corner of the Tolkien fandom the problem with the lack of quality feedback is the opposite: no one dares saying something that could remotely be understood as negative, because they are afraid of being called flamers. BNF made it that way, to protect themselves and their accolites. While I don't find the mindless nitpicking that goes on at GAFF interesting, I'm sure a less sugary view would be interesting now and then. But then again you wouldn't be allowed to say, 'Thank for reading and sharing your thoughts, but I disagree'. See we're under such a gag order that this would be seen as Teh Rude and the beggining of another war. People are funny. *le sigh* I really don't know what to think anymore about fandom.

[gone2thedogs.livejournal.com]

Ahh for the good old days when you might get an honest critique of your work. I have enjoyed the mental interaction of a reviewer who likes your writing style but respectfully disagrees with perhaps the premise, or a particular part of "canon" upon which you've chosen to expound. The key word is "respectfully", something sadly lacking in the dictionary of many reviewers. The rudeness that comes with anonymity has really reached a nauseating level and it has caused the tongue-tied backlash you describe Talullah, where others are afraid to even give constructive criticism for fear of being labeled flamers, or receiving retaliatory remarks on their own work. It's a very sad, sad situation, exacerbated by sites such a ff.net, where there are no real watchdogs (persons who investigate abuses of site rules), but rather alarmists who jump at every perceived wrong and make the situation worse by not checking out the reports before retaliating on the author.

I don't know what can be done about the problem, because it does sap the joy out of writing, other than individual writers making their own sites, as in Soledad's case. As she says though, part of the pay off of posting to large sites is the feedback.

[talullahred.livejournal.com]

I've had so little of that. I've been in fandom (and fanfic in general) for only a year and a half. When I came the climate of 'shut up or squee' was well on its implementation, so up to this date with a dozen of so fics I only got one piece of concrit to the day. Not that I dislike people telling me they liked my stories, but too much sugar can cause diabetes. I posted a fic recently to ff.net to see what would happen. So far only The Big Silence. *shruggs* Anyway, better that than to be flamed as I was once at GAFF, or terribly disapointed as when I submited one piece to HASA in search of those critiques that would help me improve my writing and all I got was something that any kid with proper sex education would already know to be untrue.

Maybe we are doomed to be trapped in our extremes of too much of too little, but in any case always lame criticism. (Gosh, I hate being a pessimist! *g*)

Anyway, nowadays the little I write gets posted to a list, sometimes not even that, just an flocked post (because of the feeds business, nothing else)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Welcome to my journal, Tallulah! Sure, drop by every time you like. If I didn't want other people to read and/or comment this entry, I'd have friends-locked it.

It's interesting what you say about your corner of the Ardaverse. I've got a very thin hide as a writer, also I'm very careful how to phrase my feedback - if I don't find anything I really like, I rather don't review at all.

Erm... what is BNF?

[talullahred.livejournal.com]

Hi and thanks for the welcoming. :)

BNF = Big Name Fans. The name says it all. :P

I feel the same about fb for two reasons: one is that although I prefer concrit, I realize not everyone wants that and I don't want to hurt the feelings of someone who is really here just to have a bit of fun. The other could be equated with cowardice. I've seen people who ask for constructive criticism reacting to mild observations as if they were personal insults. The definition of flame apparently changes a lot depending on the person shouting the allarm, as gone2thedogs pointed. Unlike FF.net we do have regulation here, under the vast blanket of forced silence.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Actually, I don't mind constructive criticism. At all. I just prefer it in private email. Perhaps it's a consequence of a well-meant concrit that plucked my entire story to shreds in a two-page analysis when I was very, very new to the Tolkien fandom. Perhaps the delusional fear that when others read the reviews first (as I do sometimes) they won't want to read the story anymore. Stupid, I know.

But actually, I do like it when people point out mistakes privately, so that I can correct them and repost the story in all its shiny perfection. *g* I often ask the opinions of the Edhellond crowd to a new story before it gets posted or even written. Even if I happen to disagree, those thoughts are extremely helpful.