A WILD UPDATE APPEARS IN THE TALL GRASS.

[thenakedcat]

Classes have started up again. I somehow manage to make it through lectures and discussions without doing ANY readings whatsoever and still not make a fool of myself in the classroom. I did this all of last semester and STILL had an A- average. Maybe I'm more of an adrenaline junkie than I'd thought

Comments

[thenakedcat]

So, would you say that the improvement in your writing skills has also lead you to be able to appreciate other people's writing more? Because I know that's been the case for me. If you know how hard good dialogue is to do, for example, a scene that scans well in a story is that much more enjoyable.

Also, do you think maybe the difference in original vs. fanfic is possibly the audience you have in mind when you write it?

[thenakedcat]

Makes sense!

[cyanglow]

YES, Canada needs hugs. We have Obama and they don't. ;P

[thenakedcat]

They only have Stephen Harper, poor things. But then. Socialized health care. So we know we won't catch anything by hugging them.

There's someone on my f-list who actually writes storyguides and novelizations for role-playing games for a living--and she writes well! I think her work probably stacks up favorably against most fantasy-genre stuff, even work that isn't commissioned.

[cyanglow]

Oh yeah, no doubt there are non-commissioned writers who are loads and loads better than best-sellers. Plus a lot of supposedly "original" stuff out there? Isn't always that original. (Uh, Stephanie Meyer, anyone?)

[thenakedcat]

Have you ever read TV Tropes? They use the term Protection from Editors to talk about what happens when a crappy writer like Meyer (or a decent-but-flawed writer like JK Rowling, even) for some reason sells enough books that they can overrule their own copy editors.

[laurabryannan]

I had never written fiction before I started writing fanfiction, nor have I ever aspired to be An Author so, for me, writing was all about marking my territory. I loved Champloo, but hated the characterizations of the guys I found much of the time and felt moved to share how I saw them. Weepyuke!Jin and Psychorapist!Mugen just wasn't my style. The support I received was heady and I was off and running. It was fun! That's what I remember most about that time. I miss being so creative.

[thenakedcat]

Mmmmm. As long as I see people getting fired up about writing fanfic and feeling good about themselves because they're doing something creative, I will defend it to the last of my breath.

[kasumi_blue]

I like to think that fanfic is a great way to practice one's writing. You already have an established canon and characters to work with, so it makes the task of writing a fictional story somewhat easier. Of course, there's also the challenges of staying in character and filling in any holes whether they be plot or in the world you're working with in general.

Yet in reality I find that it's incredibly hard for me to write anything, let alone fanfiction because I always get stuck around 5-10 pages in. Man, I haven't been inspired enough to write a real, actual fic since I was obsessed with Tales of the Abyss.

I really envy you writers who can produce things on a regular basis. I wonder if some people just can't write at all *sighs*

[thenakedcat]

I've had horrible writer's block for a long time now as well. My suspicion is that I'm mildly depressed because school and life suck. Still hoping to get the mojo back.

[kasumi_blue]

Ah, depression and life being less than satisfactory would explain it. Heh.

[kisarazumama]

For all of you who are involved in the fic scene in one way or another, what do you think the purpose of writing fanfic is? How seriously do you think it can be taken? Is it only valid as a stepping-stone to original writing, or as a crutch for poor writing?(Oh, did you see that long piece about DIY publishing in TIME magazine this week too? I was tickled pink