next_to_normal | Stuff I found on the interwebz

As an illustration of why you shouldn't ask professional writers to read your stuff, this is really only halfway relevant to fanfic, but there are just so many bits that I want to quote and say "Word!" Plus, it's just an interesting post: "I Will Not Read Your F**king Script." Relevant excerpts under the cut.

It rarely takes more than a page to recognize that you're in the presence of someone who can write, but it only takes a sentence to know you're dealing with someone who can't.

This I have found to be very true.

And the truth is, saying something positive about this thing would be the nastiest, meanest and most dishonest thing I could do.

I cringe every time I see truly awful fics get great reviews, for just this reason - it's completely misleading. Oh, maybe the person leaving the review honestly thinks it's great, but they're probably no more knowledgeable about writing than the author. It makes authors think they're better than they are, and makes them even more resistant to well-deserved criticism. And it just perpetuates the cycle of crap, because bad writers encourage each other to write more bad fic, instead of it being pointed out to them (gently) that they suck and are in painful need of a writing class. Of course, when you try to give them honest advice...

He was frustrated by the responses he'd gotten from friends, because he felt they were going easy on him, and he wanted real criticism. They never do, of course. What they want is a few tough notes to give the illusion of honesty, and then some pats on the head. What they want--always--is encouragement, even when they shouldn't get any.

And that right there is why constructive criticism is poorly received 90% of the time. It's also probably why my betaing style pisses off so many new writers. ;)

The main point I made was that he'd fallen prey to a fallacy that nails a lot of first timers. He was way more interested in telling his one story than in being a writer. It was like buying all the parts to a car and starting to build it before learning the basics of auto mechanics. You'll learn a lot along the way, I said, but you'll never have a car that runs.

If this doesn't describe at least half the beginning writers in fandom, I don't know what does.

Threaded | Flat

What a cool post.

(I have a couple of RL friends who have handed me stories and asked me to look over them. I responded with "Alright, but be warned - I'm going to be harsh, I'm going to be honest, and there's a fair chance I'll tell you it's total crap. Do you still want me to read it?" One did, one didn't.)

What is your betaing style, anyway?

He was way more interested in telling his one story than in being a writer.

YES! I've found that to be true so often. Where people just want to know enough to write one story without actually learning the art of writing. And it's frustrating because learning how to write must come first.

It's important if you want to tell one particular story to wait. Write some other stories first. Get some practice. Learn the ins and outs. Hone your skills. Then see about doing that One Story you want to write. Because if you just try to write that One Story without that valuable background of experience, it's gonna suck.

This is another favorite part of mine:

Because here's the thing: not only is it cruel to encourage the hopeless, but you cannot discourage a writer. If someone can talk you out of being a writer, you're not a writer. If I can talk you out of being a writer, I've done you a favor, because now you'll be free to pursue your real talent, whatever that may be.

I think there's a learning curve with writing. You don't just start and suddenly you're awesome. And there's also a learning curve with understanding the process of writing. And this means understanding concrit and using it to your advantage. My first concrit from another writer was hard to take at first. But that honesty is important. Saying that, my experience with "evil reviewer" a few days ago - I think it was

enigmaticblues who said she hoped that it didn't discourage me from writing. Oddly enough, while I was a bit stalled on working on TYSK (this problem existed before the reviewer "attacked"), I went on to write a Spuffy birthday fic and a short oneshot that night.

For me, the more I write the more I realize the more I need to learn.

What you/he said!

That was a great article. Thanks for linking!

My problem has always been in finding betas willing to savage my stuff! My favorite critique I've ever gotten has to have been from my boyfriend, who circled one paragraph and wrote, "Did you get this dialogue from a villager in a bad RPG?"

As a beta in turn, I hope to be as honest, if not necessarily as pithy.

I love getting stomped on in reviews because I firmly believe I suck at writing and I really do want to be at least halfway decent.

Great link!

I will not fix your motherfucking database, set up your motherfucking library for a 'good cause' or research something you can find on motherfucking google.

That felt GOOD.

Funny, that article was just quoted on a lit agent's blog today.

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