SSHG Prompt Fest

[tychesong]

Okay. So I can't give out a whole lot of information for obvious reasons, but I'm pretty apprehensive about it. This is my first prompt fest on LJ, and I really would like to do a good job for my promptee. I'm a little uncertain about the direction it's currently going--Severus feels out of character to me, but every time I try to make him more "in

Comments

[shiv5468]

The best thing to do is to tell yourself that you're very definitely not going to write something tomorrow.

nothing like that to make the story turn up nagging and whinging and wanting to be writte.

[tychesong]

Haha! Very good advice--and absolutely true. As soon as I had decided that I was clearly in no state of mind to write and gave up, Severus scowled inside my brain and informed me very coldly that he wasn't finished yet, and how very rude it was to walk away while he was talking. *Sniggers*

[teddyradiator]

I can only give you the same advice that's been given to me over and over by much more experienced writers than me. I am the most insecure, uncertain writer you will ever meet, and my friends here often give me copious hugs, mainly because they are getting a good read on where to plant the boot on my backside. Here's the thing:

We write these things because it's fun. Since this is not an exchange, per se, the person who submitted the prompts isn't looking exactly for a tailor made gift. The most important thing to remember is that you cannot please everyone. Stop writing to please a nebulous unknown.

What if no one but your friends like it? Then give the world a high five - people like it! Write to please yourself, your Muse, and your characters. If you do that, your readers cannot help but enjoy it. The day we start trying to guess what our readers want is the day we fail, because you can't do it. Do it because it's fun. The rest will honestly take care of itself.

[tychesong]

Oh, I realise. I give the same advice out on a regular basis. It still ends up biting me, though--haha! Thank you for reminding me of it! It's always good to feel that kick in the bum--means people care, and usually does work to galvanize me into action! ;-)