(no subject)
Tl;dr: Breezy is tired and is rambling about whatever the heck she wants. Why? 'Cause she can, dammit.
I smell like bacon. =)
Here's another Brumrha thread. He's an intriguing one. He really needs the solid and concrete in order to function (the "how long do I need to write?" thread comes to mind), and it's just anarchy (I'm not exaggerating) if there isn't. I do want to believe he's just utterly confused. At the same time ... well ... come on, honey. >_>
I'm very into pet names, btw. I'm not sure why. I don't even like honey as a pet name.
God I feel like rambling. Someone open a thread in which I can spew my thought onto, yes? I did, however, want to respond to this thread with "Have you tried using words yet?" and leave it at that, but I'd probably get slapped for it. XP
I think the journey of a fanfiction writer is an interesting one. Yes, I know that was a very awkward transition. Everyone has a different experience, but at the same time, I think we all can be generalized into groups and subgroups. I'ma try that actually ...
1) The newbie - the newbie's attitude toward fanfiction is an innocent one: he just wants to write to write! It doesn't matter if it's good or not; it's the fact that he's writing is what's important! Sure, there's some worry about how people are going to respond to his story, but he knows that everyone is going to like/adore it. He hopes so, anyway.
2) The "I got a few reviews!" newbie - Here is where the paths diverge. It can either be:
2A) The "Everyone loves me!" newbie (ELM) - this is a kid who only got positive, though probably not helpful, reviews. There may be a bad review here or there, but the positive ones contrast it, and the negative review is seen as flaming. The ego ... it grows.
2B) The "Why you hatin'?" newbie (WYH) - one or more reviewers negatively concrit the story, and the newbie either puts up a hissy fits and/or leaves the story.
3) The "I've been on the forums for four fucking months. I know what the hell I'm doing" author -- probably one of the more annoying stages (because, hell, as a newbie, you're kind of charming and cute in that moron kind of way) simply because you act like you know what you're doing when, hell, you probably don't. Or you don't know everything. Whatever.
3A) ELM Newb is the most likely to turn into the above because his positive reviews reaffirm that whatever he's doing is being done right. He's the one that gives you examples from his story when there's a thread asking about writing advice that really has nothing to do with the question. From here, the author can go down several more paths when they get the dreaded bad review:
3AI) "Bittccchh, you don't know what the hell you talkin' 'bout" -- these are the ones that have freaking heart attacks if you respond negatively to their story, no matter how constructive it is. By this time, ELM Newb has probably built up a fangroup who will jump on your ass as well.
3AII) "I'm sorry. I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am" -- these are the ones that may understand what you're saying but don't listen/apply it to their story because they obviously know better than you. The arguments for them not taking your advice is usually lame. Something like "I'm already so far in!" or "While I appreciate your advice, it sounds like you're trying to write my story for me."
3B) WYH Newb can possibly turn into Bitter Old Man author. This is the author that begrudgingly mentions other, more popular stories, as examples, often making a snide remark about how crappy they are while at the same time glorifying it as they do want to fit in and get reviews. These authors tend to be the whiny ones that complain about not getting reviews for what is obviously great work.
* note: sometimes authors grow out of this stage and enter some other subgroup that I don't know what to name as, because, that seems to be the point. They blend into the crowd and don't really bring attention to themselves.
4) The "experienced" author - as perceived by most people below. Experience varies, though, sometimes in time spent on the site/forum, or just general quality of the work. Mostly how long the person has been on the forums, though. Come on. Who do you think you are, with your judging people by their work and not how long they've been a member? Freak. Now this group is scary. You don't mess with them (not unless you're a "I've been on the forums for four fucking months" as they know better than this group apparently) because they will eat you. They use this shit called canon in ALL their arguments, even grammar ones. I don't know why.
4A) By now, this group usually mellows out, realizing that their stories could still use work. If you're lucky, anyway.
4AI) The people that formerly had heart attacks over constructive criticism and had their rabid fanboys attack you sometimes evolve into this after finally caving into the criticism and accepting it. They then go on to bitch about how "I've been on the forums for four fucking months" doesn't listen to them.
4AII) Same as the above, really.
4B) Bitter Old Man is now Bitter Older Man who is still unappreciated, but because he's been on the forums for so long, he still has more say than the people below him. His advice is, generally, bitter (no one reads MY work, so you better not complain about you not getting reviews).
Yessss. Stereotypes. <3 I'm sure I missed a group. I'll work on it later.
And yay for rambles!
I smell like bacon. =)
Here's another Brumrha thread. He's an intriguing one. He really needs the solid and concrete in order to function (the "how long do I need to write?" thread comes to mind), and it's just anarchy (I'm not exaggerating) if there isn't. I do want to believe he's just utterly confused. At the same time ... well ... come on, honey. >_>
I'm very into pet names, btw. I'm not sure why. I don't even like honey as a pet name.
God I feel like rambling. Someone open a thread in which I can spew my thought onto, yes? I did, however, want to respond to this thread with "Have you tried using words yet?" and leave it at that, but I'd probably get slapped for it. XP
I think the journey of a fanfiction writer is an interesting one. Yes, I know that was a very awkward transition. Everyone has a different experience, but at the same time, I think we all can be generalized into groups and subgroups. I'ma try that actually ...
1) The newbie - the newbie's attitude toward fanfiction is an innocent one: he just wants to write to write! It doesn't matter if it's good or not; it's the fact that he's writing is what's important! Sure, there's some worry about how people are going to respond to his story, but he knows that everyone is going to like/adore it. He hopes so, anyway.
2) The "I got a few reviews!" newbie - Here is where the paths diverge. It can either be:
2A) The "Everyone loves me!" newbie (ELM) - this is a kid who only got positive, though probably not helpful, reviews. There may be a bad review here or there, but the positive ones contrast it, and the negative review is seen as flaming. The ego ... it grows.
2B) The "Why you hatin'?" newbie (WYH) - one or more reviewers negatively concrit the story, and the newbie either puts up a hissy fits and/or leaves the story.
3) The "I've been on the forums for four fucking months. I know what the hell I'm doing" author -- probably one of the more annoying stages (because, hell, as a newbie, you're kind of charming and cute in that moron kind of way) simply because you act like you know what you're doing when, hell, you probably don't. Or you don't know everything. Whatever.
3A) ELM Newb is the most likely to turn into the above because his positive reviews reaffirm that whatever he's doing is being done right. He's the one that gives you examples from his story when there's a thread asking about writing advice that really has nothing to do with the question. From here, the author can go down several more paths when they get the dreaded bad review:
3AI) "Bittccchh, you don't know what the hell you talkin' 'bout" -- these are the ones that have freaking heart attacks if you respond negatively to their story, no matter how constructive it is. By this time, ELM Newb has probably built up a fangroup who will jump on your ass as well.
3AII) "I'm sorry. I can't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am" -- these are the ones that may understand what you're saying but don't listen/apply it to their story because they obviously know better than you. The arguments for them not taking your advice is usually lame. Something like "I'm already so far in!" or "While I appreciate your advice, it sounds like you're trying to write my story for me."
3B) WYH Newb can possibly turn into Bitter Old Man author. This is the author that begrudgingly mentions other, more popular stories, as examples, often making a snide remark about how crappy they are while at the same time glorifying it as they do want to fit in and get reviews. These authors tend to be the whiny ones that complain about not getting reviews for what is obviously great work.
* note: sometimes authors grow out of this stage and enter some other subgroup that I don't know what to name as, because, that seems to be the point. They blend into the crowd and don't really bring attention to themselves.
4) The "experienced" author - as perceived by most people below. Experience varies, though, sometimes in time spent on the site/forum, or just general quality of the work. Mostly how long the person has been on the forums, though. Come on. Who do you think you are, with your judging people by their work and not how long they've been a member? Freak. Now this group is scary. You don't mess with them (not unless you're a "I've been on the forums for four fucking months" as they know better than this group apparently) because they will eat you. They use this shit called canon in ALL their arguments, even grammar ones. I don't know why.
4A) By now, this group usually mellows out, realizing that their stories could still use work. If you're lucky, anyway.
4AI) The people that formerly had heart attacks over constructive criticism and had their rabid fanboys attack you sometimes evolve into this after finally caving into the criticism and accepting it. They then go on to bitch about how "I've been on the forums for four fucking months" doesn't listen to them.
4AII) Same as the above, really.
4B) Bitter Old Man is now Bitter Older Man who is still unappreciated, but because he's been on the forums for so long, he still has more say than the people below him. His advice is, generally, bitter (no one reads MY work, so you better not complain about you not getting reviews).
Yessss. Stereotypes. <3 I'm sure I missed a group. I'll work on it later.
And yay for rambles!