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Conflicting Impulses

TNTOS

Entry posted by TNTOS

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As the title suggests, I have two conflicting impulses regarding my fanfiction that just won't settle their differences and become friends:

 

On one hand, whenever I post a new fanfic I almost always crave reviews. Good reviews, bad reviews, constructive criticism . . . whatever anyone has to offer. So I advertize it in my sig, in my blog, doing whatever I can to make sure that everyone and their dog knows about it. Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I do expect people to read my stuff and reply, though I never ask or force anyone to make any reviews unless they state in their sig that they take requests.

 

Yet on the other hand, I am frightend of what other people will say about my work. While I am reasonably confident that my fics are fairly well-written, I can't say for sure unless someone tell me so, and I'm probably not a very good judge of my own quality as a writer is often blinded by his own biased eye and will therefore be unable to find much problems with his work unless he's editing/revising.

 

Sure, most of the replies that I do get are usually quite positive, but I still get this paranoia going on and my mind starts to ask questions like, "What if this character is too bland or annoying or underdeveloped?" Or "What if I wrote something that will offend people?" And "What if the plot doesn't make sense?" Among the many many other things that also frighten me, though those tend to be the most prominant. Generally these fears and worries are unfounded and most people tend to like what I've wrote with few complaints or questions regarding the plot, characters, etc, but I still worry that someone, some day may just write me a review ripping my works apart. What do I do if that happens?

 

Well, as it so turns out, I have also thought of what to do if that were to happen. I'll do as I always do: Just reply as best as I can to the reviewer's points, complaints, and criticisms. That's really all I can do, and I don't think I can do any better.

 

I'm sure many writers have these conflicting impulses whenever they decide to show their work to others for the first time, even if they have been doing it for years. But I suppose my desire to become a better writer and get a lot of replies (not that I am saying that the two are always interconnected, but I feel that I could become better with a few more constructive reviews) outweighs my fear of getting critized harshly, which also seems to be the case of most writers that I've read about. And anyway, if I plan to get published someday I will need to learn to take rejection and criticism, although I think that I take it reasonably well, as I rarely ever shout or yell at harsh reviews.

 

But I suppose my fear of harsh criticsm isn't an entirely bad thing. After all, it usually encourages me to write even better so they won't have anything to critize. Not sure how many times that actually works, though.

 

-TNTOS-

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Ziko

I'm not the only one!

I feel that way too.

I never feel comfortable letting anyone read anything I write.

I do want to improve though, so...

It's confusing.

 

zikosignoff.png

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Lady Kopaka

You won't know if you don't post it. If you are really undecided if you did something right, the best thing for you is to get critique. Most people who see a flaw will point it out nicely--whether long or short; anyone that will say anything in a rude manner about your story should be ignored.

 

I got this fear all the time doing original works, and I wasn't even going to show any of them. It's just that inner fear within you, afraid if you can really do it. You're not sure if it is even worth your time or if you have the chops for it.

 

You do, of course--and the only way to overcome this fear is to just do it. I'm getting over my fear of doing original works by stepping over my fear and just writing, little by little; my confidence grows some every time.

 

Harsh criticism is sometimes the best for you, trust me. It cuts to the chase and really helps you see what you're doing wrong. When I first get it, I'm offended and not sure what to think. Sometimes I reject it, and months later I realize that person is right. Don't do that. Let your ego down and really be honest with yourself. Now though, as I said before, if someone is being plain rude, ignore or even report it. Don't waste your time on that stuff.

 

But the wonderful thing about BZP is that people (even if you don't get many reviews) are extremely helpful. I've been to plenty other sites, but no where is it as friendly or helpful as BZP. That's why I still do Bionicle fanfiction, because it's a wonderful way to test things out and get usually good feedback.

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TNTOS
You won't know if you don't post it. If you are really undecided if you did something right, the best thing for you is to get critique. Most people who see a flaw will point it out nicely--whether long or short; anyone that will say anything in a rude manner about your story should be ignored.

 

Well, I don't have a beta reader or editor, though that's a good suggestion just the same. May have to get one some day, maybe in the future when I start posting AUA.

 

Harsh criticism is sometimes the best for you, trust me. It cuts to the chase and really helps you see what you're doing wrong. When I first get it, I'm offended and not sure what to think. Sometimes I reject it, and months later I realize that person is right. Don't do that. Let your ego down and really be honest with yourself. Now though, as I said before, if someone is being plain rude, ignore or even report it. Don't waste your time on that stuff.

 

I most definitely agree that harsh criticism is sometimes best. Sometimes I do need to know what I'm doing wrong and that really does help.

 

But the wonderful thing about BZP is that people (even if you don't get many reviews) are extremely helpful. I've been to plenty other sites, but no where is it as friendly or helpful as BZP. That's why I still do Bionicle fanfiction, because it's a wonderful way to test things out and get usually good feedback.

 

I agree. I've been in the fanfiction areas of a few other websites myself and they don't usually seem to be nearly as helpful as on BZP. And I agree that it is good to be able to test out new styles or new types of characters or whatever without having to worry about everyone immediately hating it, even if it is good. Although I admit, I sometimes think some people are a little too positive in their reviews here, but that's none of my business, I guess, since I can't control what people say (or, in some cases, don't say).

 

-TNTOS-

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Lady Kopaka

Most people will be too positive. Most are not very good critics so they don't know how to point things out, or even see the flaws. Personally if you find the right people to check out your stuff, you'll get a good balance of just encouraging comments, and critique.

 

If you need a proofreader, PM me sometime. I'm no expert when it comes to editing, but if you're ever shy about posting something, feel free to bug me.

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Janus

I'd rather have your problem.

 

I just have conflicting impulses about bothering to post anything at all. Because I rarely get comments.

 

-Janus

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