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Ius
Seeker
Sweden
63 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Mar 2004 : 13:46:01
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| And on a further note I have never minded constructive critics of stories. But your opening statements on this thread can not be viewed as constructive unless in a very vague and indirect manner. |
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Alexander Heppe
Seeker
Germany
62 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2004 : 14:34:47
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Winterfox wrote:quote:
I'm an amatuer writer myself, have posted my stories on the 'Net for a few years
Well, now I am intrigued. You couldnīt possibly post a link where we fellow scribes may read your stories? Did you ever write FR-FanFic? |
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Winterfox
Senior Scribe
895 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2004 : 14:35:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Ius
And on a further note I have never minded constructive critics of stories. But your opening statements on this thread can not be viewed as constructive unless in a very vague and indirect manner.
Did you read the review I sent the author?
Venting about the fic elsewhere, and the actual feedback I give the author -- two very different things. |
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Ius
Seeker
Sweden
63 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2004 : 15:17:24
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My comments were, as you will find, concerning the tone of this thread. In these comments I gave an example directed at Bookwyrm just to bring to light the irony of writing down a form of litterature and its representative and doing this in a forum that concerns a type of litterature(fantasy) that by many people is seen as little more than pulp.
I found your review at the site quite balanced, and my comments in general are more for the tone of this thread, than your review.
I take it from your comment that you do not think that there is a chance of this girl reading what people have said about her story here?
What I am trying to say is that taking down people who write these stories is like shouting insults at a little league game because all the players suck. It comes with the territory that these stories are "unpolished", it goes without saying. |
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Ius
Seeker
Sweden
63 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2004 : 15:27:37
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| On the subject I just want to say that Winterfox`s and Bookwyrms reviews were all good, Bookwyrms a little more polite, to use his own words, and straightforward constructive. I just dont like this thread... |
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ElaineCunningham
Forgotten Realms Author
2396 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2004 : 16:08:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Winterfox
quote:
Originally posted by Ius
And on a further note I have never minded constructive critics of stories. But your opening statements on this thread can not be viewed as constructive unless in a very vague and indirect manner.
Did you read the review I sent the author?
Venting about the fic elsewhere, and the actual feedback I give the author -- two very different things.
I'm curious, Winterfox: how would you react upon learning that one of your critics or beta readers was "venting" about your work in another public forum? This is a rhetorical question -- answer or not as you prefer.
I'd have a hard time trusting a critic who publicly mocked my work, or invited others to follow a link to see how incredibly bad something was. The spirit of the critique is nearly as important as the content, and so is the trustworthiness of the critic. A former neighbor of mine delighted in criticising other people's wardrobes, hairstyles, and fitness levels. While her advice to me was often right on the money, I knew she would savage me in the same gleeful manner when I was no longer in the room. Frankly, who needs that?
Bringing this back to writing, I'm not implying that I only value the opinions of die-hard fanboys. In fact, quite some time ago I asked a gentleman who posted regularly on the WotC forums to email me, as I had a matter I wished to discuss with him off-board. He wrote at once, rather apprehensive that I was going to take him to task over some of his more nit-picky comments. My response was, "Scold you? Hell, no: I want to hire you." (In case anyone's wondering, the project in question did not pan out, and I'm not currently in the market for a rules lawyer.  )
I will admit, Winterfox, that I've never understood your delight in snarkish reviews and commentary, but I do agree with you on one point: The importance of trusted readers, knowledgable critics, and good editors cannot be overemphasized. These people are worth their weight in fresh-ground Starbucks Decaf Sumatra.
Writers need to learn to be their own best critics, but knowledgable feedback can be very helpful. Some writers have trusted readers who will give input during the writing phase. I know writers who hire a copyeditor or proofreader to go over their manuscripts before they submit them to the publisher. I recently hired my teenaged son to help research, fact-check, and market-test a new project that will be based in another shared world (and thus, is not a subject for discussion in these hallowed cyber-halls.) He knows and loves that world, and I value his opinion. I'll be looking for new FR readers starting with the page proofs for my Realms of the Dragon short story. (Oddly enough, I'd love to have Winterfox's view of my story, which focuses on the machinations of evil, scheming drow.) 
Trusted critics have made a huge difference over the years. My novel Evermeet was read at several stages by two of the most knowledgable, consciencious, Realms-loving game designers in the business: Steven Schend and Eric Boyd. Jim Lowder is, hands down, the best editor with whom I've been priviledged to work. Jim knows his stuff, and he's not one to call a spade an entrenching tool. In fact, one Christmas the folks at TRS gave him a Fischer Price toy chainsaw as a gag gift. This is overstating matters, but Jim is definitely not an editor for the faint of heart or thin of skin.
As Winterfox maintains, critics are important, and so is the ability to listen to critiques with an open mind and a desire to learn and improve. I suppose that there is considerable room to differ on what constitutes a helpful and appropriate critique. A long time ago, I spent nearly a week (yep, took a whole week off work) to edit a friend's manuscript, with the goal in mind of helping her bring her story up to publication standards. She had a long way to go, but I didn't see it as an impossible journey. Unfortunately, she was so overwhelmed by the work ahead that she stopped writing altogether. I thought it was a helpful critique; apparently it was not.
In summary, who the hell knows? Perhaps fanfic writers profit from threads such as this one. But since I neither read nor write fanfic, and since Alaundo has graciously set my mind at ease regarding the handling of fanfic on the Candlekeep website, I'm going to wander back to my designated thread on the FR Novels forum. Anyone wishing to continue any aspect of this conversation can find me there.
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5695 Posts |
Posted - 11 Mar 2004 : 23:17:56
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Well met
Well I believe we can wrap this scroll up now that everyone has had a chance to air their views  Lets leave the fan fiction discussions and move on to more juicy Realms talk 
One last note, anyone having any Realms-specific fan fiction they wish to submit for consideration to include their work in the Campaign Logs section, should contact me instead of penning such works here. Thank ye |
Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Edited by - Alaundo on 11 Mar 2004 23:18:46 |
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FR fanfic: features Drizzt, Qilue, etc. Awful.
Topic Locked
