As soon as I can get my head back on straight. Do you want me to force it and when you read it, it sounds like shit? Cuz I can do that for you if you want. All shit all the time. Shit. Shit. Shit. For free.
Well, it depends on how you address your readers through your author’s note. If people are hating on your Edward, you should re-read their reviews to figure out why—if you care to know. If they state no reason, then perhaps you can address that in your AN. Ask for constructive comments, not useless negativity.
If it makes you feel any better, I get reviews/PMs with people telling me that they don’t like my Edward. I’ve even had my characters called disgusting and unrealistic. I take it into minimal consideration because one or two or even three comments like that can be overlooked, anything over that (like five or more?) than and I find myself asking my Beta WTF I’m doing to make them think like that.
I tend to stray away from “defending” my characters in my stories. The only thing I bitch about is when I feel disrespected personally. Three major things to remember about writing fanfiction:
- Your posting it online, the second you hit “post” you open yourself up to public scrutiny. You’re asking for people to say something just by putting your story out there. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have posted in the first place. Therefore, you have to expect the good and the bad.
- In today’s society, people hide behind their computers and gain a sense of false confidence because 8/10 times they would never say this kind of shit to your face. So try to remember that when you get an extra nasty comment. Also try to remember that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. (NOTE: I was once linked to a FB group where all kinds of people talked shit about my story and I was pissed—NOT because of what they were saying, because as much as it stung they’re entitled to their own opinion, but I was upset because I don’t understand why someone would purposely link me so that I would see it.) So don’t worry, EVERYONE gets nasty things said about their stories. It’s not just you.
- Never allow your readers to dictate what happens in your story. It is YOUR story. I cannot stress this enough to anyone who asks me for writing advice. It is perfectly normal and even expected that no one care for your characters as much in the beginning as they do in the end. That’s called character growth and that is half of the plot—any plot! You put your characters through a bunch of life changing shit that makes them grow and learn and become stronger in the end. If you lose that focus it will start to show in your writing. I know this all too well.
- Bonus advice: I thank my creative writing professor and my Beta for this piece of knowledge and I am still learning from it. Something doesn’t always have to HAPPEN in every scene. Go back and take out all the unnecessary things you wrote that don’t serve to push your plot forward. Do you REALLY need that scene of your character crossing the street and watching the clouds go by? Do you REALLY need to have that 500 word count of back and forth banter between characters? Do you REALLY need to write that much detail for something?
Cutting stuff from your own story is one of the hardest things to do. I sometimes save it in a separate document and maybe someday I will need it? You never know. So if you want to explain why your character is the way they are instead of just having the readers continue your story as find out for themselves, then write that AN. Just don’t be so defensive, because then your readers will automatically go into offense mode. Lord, look at me writing sports analogies I need to get back to work my lunch ended 20 minutes ago! haha!
Well let’s see….
EXPECTATION: Finish writing the chapter by Friday, turn into beta and get back by Wednesday (maybe?) and then post by next Friday.
REALITY:
They flounced after the “scandal” happened. I just feel like if they were such diehard RK fans… they sure as hell took off really fast. IDK the whole story. I just don’t like when people dump shit like a hot potato. That goes for anyone IMO, don’t call yourself a fan if you flounce at the first sign of trouble. That’s not a fan, a fan is a supporter no matter what. Unless K went and killed someone, I don’t see why she is being treated like she did.
First of all, I have to say that how YOU feel about YOUR story is what REALLY matters. If you feel like you’re giving enough info then that’s that. If by the time the story is over and no one understand wtf happened, THEN you can worry. Until then, people will have to remember that stories progress, and do not reveal all at the beginning! lol
You seem really insecure about your writing, that makes me sad. Writing should be about expressing what’s inside your head for YOUR enjoyment. Having other’s read it is a privilege. If your are writing for other people and not yourself then you are never going to feel confident about your writing. Because everyone is never going to like the same thing.
I get insecure, too—ESPECIALLY when I first started writing. But as I got older I realized that this is for me, I’m writing a story that I like and I’m sharing it with others. If they don’t like it, then that is their prerogative. I’m still going to write what I write, even when people tell me they don’t like it.
I don’t mean to sound preachy, but I just feel very strongly about the “writing for yourself” aspect of writing.
obsidian-gaze replied to your post: I hope you don’t mind but in response to that last anon you got, I am going to say this: 1. I am 27, so I’m older than Rob and Kristen. 2. I’ve been cheated on. 3. I forgave him because it was a lapse in judgement ONE lapse. 4. Why is there such a freaking double standard?! If Rob had cheated on Kristen people would urge her to forgive him but because she did it to Rob she’s “trash” and he shouldn’t forgive her?! WTF? 5. As a woman, I’m going to support Kristen because guys have it too easy.
I know! I’m not denying she made a mistake but for crying out loud she’s a human being not a “Queen” or perfect. I still adore her, I feel bad for her and I get mad that people shit all over her for something that happened in her PERSONAL life!
When they say its not descriptive enough they could possibly mean that they don’t feel “in the moment.” For example, when I write my chapters, I like the reader to feel like they are right there with Bella experiencing what she is. I want them to (in their minds) see what she sees, feel what she feels. It’s not really about what’s happening in the story sometimes, it’s the set-up of the scene.
If you have any other questions, I’m right here. :)
Currently I’m reading Olympic Rain & Novocain by AddicCakes and I’m really liking it. I also think Finding My Thunder by Counselor is pure genius. Practice to Deceive by Livie79 was really good and well written.
Work in Progress Fics I’m currently reading:
- http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7771737/1/High-Fidelity
- http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6307582/1/En-Pointe
- http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6942309/1/The-Demons-in-My-Dreams
- http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8225698/1/The-Heir-and-the-Spare
- http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8149343/1/Always-on-my-Mind
- http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8317731/1/Caged
LMAO!!!!!!!!!
IDGAF I still luv her.
I live in California and I’m very Americanized. I do not speak fluent Spanish I am embarrassed to say. I don’t really speak to my father’s side of the family, or my father for that matter—and they are the ones who are full Mexican. My mom’s side is Mexican, but we’re all Americanized. lol
