[NancyBrooke]

(If this becomes a whiney thread I apologize in advance).


Everytime I go over my story list checking for new reviews I become somewhat consternated that what I think is my best work gets little attention. Pooh!

So, don't be shy: what's the best thing you've written and why? What would you like to see get more attention as representative of your work?


I would like to proffer two; one long, one short:

"Leaves on the Wind (Signalling Storm)": http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=269
Letters from Faramir to Boromir before the last defense of Osgiliath.

I just think it's right, it works and sounds just the way I wanted it to. I wrote it while trying to work through my writer's block with another story and this just flowed through me. Maybe it's just the most satisfying ...

"Taur Ingem" (a drabble):
http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=633
Boromir's thoughts upon seeing aged Theoden at Edoras.

Again, it just works for me; it feels just right like I really caught the moment as I saw it. That doesn't always happen and it's nice when it does.

Boy, that sounds lame.

[SpaceWeavil]

[VanatheEverYoung]

[SpaceWeavil]

[krazykataave]

I

[KhazarKhum]

You are going to continue this, aren't you? You've left it in the middle of an awkward spot.

I did add some concrit for you to consider. I'm afraid that the single biggest issue is that the story raises many more questions than it answers!

[ghettoelleth]

Hey Vana, I already put your story in the other promo a friend link. You're being paranoid honey but if you want concrit, your shoes don't match your lipstick.

[DarkElfChilde]

I think the best one so far I've written is...ugh, it's hard to choose. Erm, Watchful Friend comes first:

http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=1453

Followed by Into Darkness My Moriquendi (I wonder if my beta for this is still alive?:

http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=1213

Then A Little Bit of Happiness:

http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=1486


I feel my writer's block leaving... -knocks on wood-

- DEC

[SpaceWeavil]

I think my best one is ‘Alliance’. Or at least that’s the one I’ve enjoyed most so far and that I think turned out okay etc. Like I said though, that one has a fair amount of reviews, so I’m not saying I think it needs more attention. Just out of the ones I have, I think that is the best,

http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=1181

One I am working on now, which I would be interested in feedback for (though I know a few people already have reviewed, and I am really grateful to those who have ), and I would say is my second one I am most proud of (so far anyway) is ‘And in the Darkness Bind Them’, which is very slow-moving I’m afraid, and will be very long, but it’s the story of the Witch King and Ringwraiths (eventually, once I get to that part) and who they all were and how they ended up as Sauron’s servants. That’s at

http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=1436

The one I am completely unsure about is actually my first LOTR fanfic. It is on this site but has never really attracted much attention, (and hasn’t on FF.net either), but at the time I was quite pleased with the style of writing, if not its canon content. There are a few things that might be a bit canon-suspicious, because I wrote this prior to reading the letters and HoME etc, but I thought technically it was okay. Also it was kind of experimental, so I was interested to see if the different writing techniques I tried actually worked, but haven’t had much in the way of feedback on it. It’s also the only thing I have that has never been rated at all. It’s a sort of spooky mystery type thing with Legolas called ‘Old Shadows’, at

http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=954

Basically I’d be interested to see what people thought, as if it really is awful or totally annoying because of some of the more canon-iffy things, or, as Viv said somewhere else, it would be better off maybe as an original fantasy or something, then I’d be better to delete it off the site, I think.

[SilverMoonLady]

First off, you gals are quite good, and I think the good stuff just gets buried, along with everything else as the new stories come in on top.

But I have to say I share the same complaint as anyone

If I had to pick my best...

Moving Mountains is both close to my heart and, imho, my best when it comes to a narrative that carries through. It is, however, angst, not (directly) about well-known characters, and about hobbits. Result: buried. http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=1185

Cool Waters broke my heart. What else is there to say? I think it works quite well but would love to know what others think. http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=864

Moonlight On Summer Leaves is my poetic best; I like the pictures I painted and I certainly wonder if they carried through...
http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=850

Begging done

*adds several more checks to the list of fics she has promised to read*

[NancyBrooke]

Good! Glad to see some people ponying up here. Of course, now I've got way more reading to do than I can handle

And, as for you, Spacey:

[Alassante]

I am not going to suggest any of my stories but I wanted to make a comment. (OR a very long post full of comments )I think part of the problem is 90% of the people that use the forum are writers. Therefore, rather than have tons of time to read, we write. If you look at your reviews most of them are the same people from the forum boards. Which makes me feel that those people have seen something I have written in the forum boards either about my story or just in general and have decided - Hey, this person seems pretty cool: let me check out her stories. Plus I have over 300 hits on one story yet I only have 3 reviews. Once again, the readers of the stories probably are members who just read and do not write so they have time to read. They also do not know enough about us being review ho's so they don't bother reviewing.

I was so frustrated about a week ago by no reviews and slow hit count, I almost said 'What the hell! I am not posting anymore stories since no one is even reading the ones I post." After I pulled my head out of my a**, I said "What the hell, I will write it and if they like it great, if they don't, there is nothing I can do about it." I wrote it because I enjoyed it not because I wanted to get a certain hit count. Then between one of my beta's and myself, I rewrote two chapters of a story I had written for another lesser site. My other beta read it and was in awe of how much I had improved from the story she is beta'ing to that one that we started working on 3-4 weeks ago. So my writing is getting better. Once I feel like I have it down, I will probably re-write my first three stories here. Not because I think people will read them again or even at all but because I would rather have my readers see my best and I would feel better knowing my best was out there. One of these days I will have one out there that blows everyone away. When that happens they will click my name to see what else I have written so they will read the others stories as well. Plus if you review things - please read your stories. That is how I read your stories Nancy. You reviewed my first one, I said let me check what she has written. The rest is history as they say! Maybe you could revise your description so it is more catchy. I think that is part of the problem with mine.

So to get off my soapbox - do not discouraged. Eventually people will read your stories and if not, that doesn't mean they are bad.

[Yavanie]

Speaking only for myself, I frequently read only a chapter or two at a time and may not review until I've read all the chapters posted. Additionally, if I am really moved by a story I will read it twice before reviewing. So, if you are getting hits, it is being read. Please keep writing and yes seeing other writers reccommend stories does encourage me to check out what they suggest. Please keep this thread going.

[SpaceWeavil]

I try to review everything I read, but quite often I like to go off and have a think so I can leave something useful in a review. Even if the story really strikes me, I quite often go off and have a think, then come back and read it again. So I might knock up the hit counter that way. I also try to split my time between reading and writing on this site. I get frequent 'fed up' moments when either I just can't get the right mood to do a story justice or, like yesterday, I get into the mood of 'I am going to burn everything I've ever written and never put finger to keyboard again', and when that happens I leave my stuff alone and go off and read. Doesn't matter to me if the author's someone I know from the forum or not when I read a story.

I always feel a bit awkward on these threads, because personally I don't think my stuff is fit to be promoted anywhere, (but I have been told I am my worst critic by a friend) but I do want / need constructive comments on it to see what I'm doing wrong etc. That's why I'm such a review-freak.

[ghettoelleth]

Nancy, I don't think asking folk to read your fics is whiney, honey. I just think its natural if you enjoy something so much yourself, to want others to enjoy it as well. Frankly, I'm having the time of my life just in the writing of my fic. My betas are a blast and the people that I've bounced ideas around with and gotten advice from are the best. And yet, I've become a big review hoe just like everyone else. I really like knowing whether others are enjoying it or not. Well, I'm starting to feel like Kilroy was here but once again, pleeease read my lil first fic.
http://www.openscrolls.net/fanfic/story.php?no=1493

And, I have never read any of Nancys' work so I'm going to go do that right now. Spreadin' the love!