[Ania]

I don't know how many people have read my really short vignette The Radiance of a Dream but it's basically a tiny little snippet that came into my head a couple of years ago. I never write Legolas, and I never have apart from a Mary Sue years ago, but apparently, a girl on ff.net has decided that this fic deserves to be among the 41 stories in her forum: The Worst of the Worst LotR Fanfiction.

I really didn't think that it would upset me but it actually has. Stuff like this is not constructive, it just hurts those who are added. Ok, the story that was added is a Legomance, but it is only 300 words and it may not be my best piece of writing, in fact, it's not really a Legolas piece, it could be any generic elf, but the fact that this girl added it to this forum is pretty upsetting for a person who lacks confidence anyway as an author.

Sorry if this sounds like moaning, but I just wanted to say that if there are any sporkers on here, please think before you call someone's piece of writing 'The Worst of the Worst LotR Fanfiction' because they have put themselves on the line publishing this stuff and to be honest, it doesn't help.

[Alassante]

About FF.net in general - not about your story, I think that's what is so bad about FF.net. They encourage flaming in their forums. I've read some flames towards some writers that made me livid. Some 15 yr old writing a self insert legolmance isn't hurting anyone by posting it. If you don't like it - don't read it. Granted there is some stuff in the fanfiction world that is just crap. Heck I even wrote some of it. But how does a new writer go from being crappy to being great - not by flaming or sporking! No way. Thats one thing I love about OSA. The admin really stand by the no-flaming rules. And our forums are supportive and friendly - we're not setting out to rip each other apart over what we have deemed as their canon-offenses. Everyone I know that has had problems with flames or sporking or just generally bad treatment normally got it at FF.net.

As for that list, I wouldn't worry too much about it because I'm pretty sure I saw that list had a few really good writers on there with great reviews. I know how hurtful it must be to see that you were included but you really should consider the source. You get good feedback about your writing around here and I'd trust these people more than I would anyone on FF.net

[Viv]

Not all of fandom is safe, but OSA is about as good as it gets. You can hunker down here and lick your wounds.

[LuthienTinuviel]

*hug*

[NeumeIndil]

Forgive my language here, but stuff like this really does tick me off.

F*%# her. She probably has the same confidence problems most other writers do, but is so crippled by them she hides in the chaos of ff.net to try to make herself feel better. It takes stones to plunk something up on a public forum for others to read and like, or not. It doesn't take any courage at all to resort to being a bully.

Remember that challenge we just did. Remember how good it felt to finish something like that in a pressured situation (working to a deadline, knowing that others would be reading it, doing something completely new to you) and succeed. Then piss on the bint. Ultimately, opinions are like arseholes: everyone has one, but most of the time, nobody wants to hear it.

[vladazhael]

That kind of thing makes me glad that this is the first LOTR fanfic site I really got into; with the attitudes I've heard of at some (thought to be fair, not all) of the other places, I might never have even bothered writing anything of my own if I had landed elsewhere. Applause to the admins and all of you who make OSA a welcoming home.

[NancyBrooke]

pbllllttt.

I'm looking at the fic you've posted here, Ania, and there isn't one rated lower than four stars.

Who you gonna listen to? That's right, your friends at OSA.

[eiranae]

Don't let jerks like that bother you. She obviously has nothing better to do with her life. We know the truth. You're an awesome writer. I echo what Nancy said. Stick with your friends on OSA. The people here are awesome, supportive, and most of all mature!

[Alassante]

[Viv]

I think she means old.

[RobinKa]

Well, the very idea of having a forum "The worst of the worst LotR Fanfiction" is idiotic. I mean, it takes little to nothing to set up such a forum and start bullying people -- do they even read the stories they label 'the worst'? Kind of doubt that.

But it takes a lot of courage to start posting anything in public, and thank Eru there are such places as OSA where people are friendly, helpful and supportive. I can tell you that people who beta'ed my stuff, especially at the very beginnig of my fanfiction adventure, had to put a lot of work to make my stories readable. But no one ever told me, "It's crap, don't bother to write in English." Thanks to them, I'm still here.

Please, don't get discouraged. and

[Ania]

Um wow... all I can say is to ALL of you. Thanks so much, Open Scrolls really is the best place to be involved in the LOTR scene and warning mushy moment coming up...

You are all awesome

Ok over now, but on a more sensible note, this place really does encourage you and help you to achieve your full potential as a writer. I know who I'm gonna listen to and where I'm gonna stay

[Alassante]

Ania - when I first started posting here I considered going to FF.net and everyone warned me away from there due to flaming being allowed. It wasn't until I had been around for 2 yrs or so and felt more confident about my writing that I decided to try it but I went into it knowing I could get flamed. I also submit stuff to HASA for review which is pretty harsh at times even if its not flaming. Its hard to take concrit at times but every bit of it helps. Flaming does not help at all. The flamers on FF all have separate accts to flame with or block people from their forums who don't agree with them. So they are perfectly willing to dish it out even if they cannot take it themselves. They are cowards. Period.

The LOTR-Fanfiction site just made a big change that they no longer allowed MSTs or Parodies of people's stories (it was actually an enforcement of an existing rule they had against flaming). The writers of those fictions have flipped out about it. They think if someone doesn't 'fix' their writing then they (the flamers) have a right to spork it. Well - news flash here people - if you don't like someone's writing and tell them things they should change, they have every right not to listen. You on the other hand don't have the right to make that person's life hell or copy their story in order to MST/Parody it. Its sad that adults would do that to a 15 or 17 yr old. There are alot of young girls and teenagers on FF.net that are just that - kids. They like LOTR the movie or the books because Legolas is hot or because Frodo is. There is nothing wrong with their little girly fantasies being turned into fictions and posted without someone ripping them up for it. A lot of us have written self insert, Mary Sue fictions even if we have stashed them on our harddrive now that we're older But these people don't get it. They're just MEAN. Reminds me of Mean Girls or Heathers. But they probably get picked on in school or real life so they take it out on people online.

I would still suck if it weren't for OSA writers like Viv, Haleth, Nancy, etc and I continue to work to be even better in a writers group and with betas. These people all do it for free because thats what the fandom SHOULD be about - LOTR fanatics helping LOTR fanatics with our addiction.

Binka - you're a classic case of a good writer being nutured. You struggled with the language at first but within a few months you were excelling! Now you can write in two languages and we can only write in one! lol

So just ignore the girl that said it was the worst ff because we like you and she's just sofa king wee tod did to say that.

[dolarabee]

We try. We've had a few clashes in the past with sporkers trying to bring their sport here but luckily we were able to deal with them rather quickly.

Still, sometimes a few may slip under the radar. That's why you can report reviews that are expressly mean and unhelpful.

Some people say we're mollycoddling our authors here; we say negative reviews are all well and good IF they are concrit as well.

Our core members here, luckily, all agree and put it in practice, making this place what it is.

Cheers to you all.

do.

[eiranae]