[Scribe]

Well said everyone.

As OSA's owner, all I can say is that from day dot, our policy has been one of offering a support system for writers new and old. Those of you who know me knows just how ferocious I can be to flamers, particularly of young authors. While I agree that constructive criticism is useful, there is a way to phrase things that does not humiliate but rather educate. The difficulties comes of course in attempting to word a bit of constructive criticism that incites the author to think about what has been said rather than rail against the comment. Not an easy proposition in any shape of form. I've been fortunate in being able to find writing easy so I'm not very eager to judge those whom it is difficult. Like Ellisk put it, the 30 year old fan fic writer is going to take criticism a lot better than a fifteen year old novice who posts for the first time. While it CC is a way of honing one's craft, as much thought needs to go into offering it as the story being written.

As for your friend, tell her that flamers will flame no matter what. Many of you think that Easterling is a great story, well I had a flame once that called me some kind of marriage promoting freak to me trying to force Legolas onto such a self serving whore like Melia - so you can see why I didnt' take it seriously. I think there are people who just get off on it, whether or not the story is good or bad. Tell her to post here, where we can offer her real indication of her abilities as a writer and if possible offer assistance to improve.

[Forest]

Thanks to everyone who has offered their opinions and help on this situation. I will talk to my friend at some point today when I see her and hopefully what you have said will convince her to "get back in the saddle"

Thanks a lot, guys

~Forest

[inglor]

Forest,
At the very least point her to this thread. There are some heavy hitters who have responded to it and showed concern for her situation. That in itself might encourage her.

Inglor

[Moralanqua]

[sindohte]

You are not big boned. You are LUSCIOUS!!!

[Forest]

To Inglor: Yes, I showed her this thread this afternoon and she was very encourage by it. She seemed pleased to know that there are friendly and warm fan fic writers out in the Net, and it isn't all doom and gloom. From what she said, I think she is soon going to take up fan fic writing again.

I cannot thank you guys enough. *hugs*

~Forest

[DarkElfChilde]

Your welcome, Forest.


The helpful elf,

Dark Elf Childe

[Andreth]

[Moralanqua]

How do we know he was calling just me fat? I hear you got a spare tyre of 3 too!

[SamwiseTheStrong]

Hello,
I just wanted to add something while ya'all were still on the subject. I myself hhave never had a flame, I've hhad some moderatly harsh critisism, but now that I think of it, I did deserve it. I have never had a flam, but I know some people who have, and I must say that it is unpleasent and unjustified and should not be, or have to be, tolerated. They hurt, and for most writes like myself who are just starting out, it is very depressing, and doesn't do much for our already fragile self-esteem. I am glad that there are archives like OSA that will not tolerate such cruellty. Lol :}!!
Luv,
Ur SamwiseTS

[Andreth]

[Rous]

Forrest, sorry about your friend. Been there. Not really flamed, but I had what I considered a very harsh crit. I quit writing for weeks. But, then I took another look a the story. Although I loved it (my first, you know), I could see from where the reviewer's erroneous conclusions came. They had not read enough of the story to see where it was going. But I started reworking it. I am much happier with it now. And I did get a beta, even though I did not think I needed one. (And I could not find one on my own; she found me.) And I only post to ff.net after posting here and four other sites. My things are more polished before heading over there. And it is a good thing that I am not a big review whore, because most of the reviews at ff.net are not worth the time to write them, or read them. The good reveiwers I encourage to e-mail me with questions or comments. I do not post my address, so no one can just send me an e-mail.

Am I paranoid? Maybe, but, insulation is a good idea. And I have developed a thick layer of it. Now I just take crits as they come, try to fix the mistakes, and ignore the rest. And, by the way, I am not 15 years old. I am older and have written poetry for over thirty years, allbeit dark, emotional, suicidal poetry. I have only been writing fanfic since Christmas. So, in that regard, I am a novice. And as several here can attest, I do not hesitate to reach out and ask for help when I have questions. (Poor Andreth) I have yet to have anyone refuse. And even if some do not have answers, they have opinions and encouragement. BTW, writing the fanfic has cut down on the darker stuff, so the Dude should be happy I am not in therapy. This is cheaper.

And writing is like anything else. It is a matter of practice. Going over your project over and over and over until you are satisfied. I managed to get through twelve years of music lessons because I sight read and play by ear. But did I learn from it? No. It was not until I decided to actually read the music and work on it that I reached the point of satisfaction. Now playing is enjoyable and relaxing. It is the same way with writing. You have to learn the craft, then it becomes enjoyable. I have seen a vast improvement in my own writing since I decided to try and understand more of what goes into it. And I practice. Rarely do I just whip out something and post it. (Okay, I did one poem that way, and it ended up being six pages long. I will have to rethink the whipping out thingy.) I read out loud. If it does not sound good to me, it will not sound good to the reader.

And knowing how it feels, I try not to leave a harsh review. I joined a poetry site. And so far, I think I have found ten different ways to say "That is interesting", because I could find nothing more positive to say. BTW, if you read any reviews here that I have made that sound harsh, it is probably because I know the writer. And sometimes my humor gets out of hand.
But tell your friend, heads up, keep writing, get a beta, learn the craft and most importantly, keep writing.

The internet has given access to every Tom, Dick and Harry with the idea that they can write. And while it gives a forum to people who should probably not even have access to paper and pen, it is also a way to learn.

I apologize for the long post (sorry, marcia for apologizing, yet again). Just my opinion and experience.
Rous

[SpaceWeavil]

It's good to hear that your friend is going to give it another go, Forest. I know the gaggle of harpies who had a go at me when I first started posting fanfic on the internet managed to put several other people off writing for good with their comments (and took delight in the fact that they had done so, saying 'bad writers had no place writing anyway ). I survived people like that simply by the fact that I am a compulsive writer. I feel odd if I don't have something I can sit and scribble at when I get a spare moment, but I was tempted for a while to give up. I had to learn to filter out the worthless comments made simply to make the 'reviewer' feel self important and the comments that tried to help and offered genuine, constructive criticism.

As for reviews on FF.Net, I'm like Rous - I only post stuff there that has been posted elsewhere before, with the exception of my Matrix story, as I couldn't find anywhere else to post it. Anything generally that I put on there has already been reviewed and been tweaked and beta'd. So far I've only had one really strange, supposedly criticising review for 'Underworld', but the reviewer's spelling was atrocious, the stuff she pointed out as errors just showed that she had obviously never read the books, and what was left was just odd. I'm getting fed up of people (on HASA amongst other places ) pointing out British spellings as spelling errors as well. But that is getting to the humorous stage now.

Like Rous said, it's a matter of practice with writing as much as any other art. I learned that really when I studied English lit at uni last year. I found it really enjoyable to look at the 'tricks' fiction writers employed and to think of ways I could work the same concepts into my own work. I'malways on the lookout to improve and tighten up my work, not for any real reason other than I want to produce the best stuff I can. I'd never properly worked with a beta before coming to this site as I had terrible problems the first couple of betas I worked with elsewhere, just bad luck really, but I've worked with several really good people here.

[Moralanqua]

Hey! At least most of the time when you see a flame you can sey "Cheeky A$$hat!" and ignore it, you should see the so called helpful review I once got!

Had my in un-Moraesque hysterics for a disgustingly long time and made me question myself and what I could do. It happens to us all and it just a bump in the road.

I consider it an initiation now! You aint a real writer until you've been panned at least once!

[Rous]