Poll time.

[limyaael]

I can't think of many clever comments anymore, so here is the poll.

Poll Ooh, it's rant season again

Comments

[evilprodigy]

Damn it, this is definitely a set where I want to read all of them. :P I'm especially interested in - well, I'm especially interested in them all, but the army and navy and single combat both sound like really interesting rants.

By the way, I'm curious - do you ever critique the profiles posted on oc_analysis? To be honest I'm curious about what you'd think about a few of my characters, although I'm sure you get plenty of those requests all the time.

[limyaael]

I've critiqued them in the past, but I largely stopped after one too many "But MY character has a reason to have violet eyes and a tragic past and the most powerful magic in the world!" kerfluffles. I can watch out for yours, though, if you'd like; I'm still a member of the community.

[evilprodigy]

That would be fantastic - I just posted one. <3

[world_wanderer]

I missed that one somehow. It's one I'd like to see to. I wonder if it would apply to writing battle and combat scenes in general.

[gehayi]

As usual, a set where I want to read all of them.

[clannoire]

I selected all of them, heheh. ;D

Though I may not necessarily comment on your rants, I most definitely read them. ;)

[dnwq]

Authors are inclined to be lenient when nitpicking their own stories, though... the "but!..." response would be a common one.

[limyaael]

I know. That's why that rant will start with caveats: that I'm speaking as an editor and a critical reader, not a writer; that writers who are inclined to say "But!" to every suggestion have some learning to do; and that developing the skills to be your own nitpicker is second only to learning how to spell and use grammar correctly in the arsenal of writing skills. Therefore, people whose only argument is "But there could always be another explanation!" will likely go away.

[blunder_buss]

Another villain rant! Yaaaaay!

Other than that, I clicked on how to make characters likeable and giving them motivations. I've been working on the former, but I'd love to see some tips.