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For the story and the complicated plot and that character's fate.

I've actually finished the first one: Entitled 'Shiver'. I'm looking for a pre reader for it... It starts just after the seventh gym battle...
 
You asked me to pre-read it. Do you mean you want me to check for grammar and etc. mistakes? ANd should I have read your first fic if I do it?
 
I did? Forgot...

Eh, first fic, nah...

Grammar mistakes, I don't think there are any... But whatever rocks your boat.
 
Backpedaling to a response to my earlier post because I had classes all day. (Blast you, Mondays! *fistshake*)

Alter Ego said:
Midsummer Knights is going to get updated again?
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Eventually. If my head doesn't implode. XD

And thank you for the compliment, Alter Ego. Personally, though, I find your comments to be satisfyingly in-depth themselves, although that may be because I'm so used to people offering only a few lines of comments. (I've only had you, Negrek, and Dragonfree really give me proper concrit, if I recall correctly. Maybe a couple of other people.)

I think we can all agree that these aren't really useful reviews by any stretch of imagination. I mean, number scales...sure, if you actually have some kind of criteria for the different ratings and motivate each number with properly detailed feedback, but I've seen a number of people give nothing but a number and possibly a few generic comments like in the first quote. Maybe emphasize that just a number isn't really a review? Okay, that's sort of covered in the shortie, but still...
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Hmm. I can definitely make an addition, either as its own section right after the shortie or within the shortie itself. I agree with you in saying that it should be noted that just a number really isn't anywhere near a satisfactory review, particularly because a number, when you get right down to it, really says nothing about what a person has read. It's true that a six, for example, could mean "I could just barely read this," "it was okay but not stellar," or "lol I like sixes," depending on the reviewer himself, and even then, clarifying a scale sometimes can be harsh on the same level as what I've mentioned in the section for the right way to review. That is, depending on the reviewer, the rating scale can be imbalanced one way or the other or simply bear connotations that you think the writer sucks and that the writer will have to work especially hard to get even above an average.

So, yeah, I get what you're saying, and I'll see to forming a proper section/subsection for it.

And, aptly enough, I recently saw a perfect example of this in the Revision Bin, so now I'm really kinda tempted to insert it in the guide. XD

Also to go back and answer Skii's question about spin-offs, no, not a lot of them do. They usually occur when an author feels the need to tell a side story but can't during the normal course of the fanfiction. These are usually outside of the story arc, using either the main characters in an external story or side characters. The only story I know of that actually pulled this off, by the way, would probably be Pokemon Rebirth, with Ultimatum being the main arc and stories like Altered Paths taking place in the same universe but not within the same arc, if I recall correctly.

Now, sequels and prequels, yes, that's fairly common. It depends on the writer and how they feel about their main story, really. Some authors feel that, after they finish one story, it isn't complete on its own, so they either write prequels to explain how things in the main arc came to be (think Star Wars) or sequels to either continue writing about the characters from the first story or to tie up loose ends that weren't quite tied at the end of its predecessor. (The Ring 2 would be an example of the latter.)

While it's okay if you start to think about possible extensions from your plot, remember that your main focus should be on your first story. As in, get that finished or mostly finished first and then start thinking about going off on different paths. That way, you won't cause yourself to wander away from where you were going with the first story.
 
Alter Ego said:
Midsummer Knights is going to get updated again?

Wheeee! ^0^ *Runs into a wall*

...

I'm okay, honest. Seriously, that fic is the most under-appreciated one in this section. Well, with the possible exception of TurtleKing's anyway. Besides, I think it could use a review from someone who is capable of maintaining a more should I say professional approach to it? I can't put my finger on any particular reason, but reading that fic just awakens the fanboy inside me, which makes making proper in-depth comments a challenge. x3

It's not nearly as long a read as it looks like either.

Anyways, yeah, plagiarism bites. T_T Hanako is already on the case, though, I see. ^^

And...I enjoyed (re-)reading the reviewing guide. One thing, though: about the 'rating' reviews. I've seen a fair bit of cases where all the 'reviewer' says is something like:



or



I think we can all agree that these aren't really useful reviews by any stretch of imagination. I mean, number scales...sure, if you actually have some kind of criteria for the different ratings and motivate each number with properly detailed feedback, but I've seen a number of people give nothing but a number and possibly a few generic comments like in the first quote. Maybe emphasize that just a number isn't really a review? Okay, that's sort of covered in the shortie, but still...

That's the only thing I was missing there, really. :3
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Hurray for underappreciation.

I'm acutally one of those people who like getting more views, but still I'd like SOME reviews now and then. Even some down right rude crit.
 
I just think its silly writing it again if your supposed to write for fun.
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Oh yes, this excuse again.

Sure, you're just writing for fun, but there are certain rules that you should keep in mind if you release the story to the public and you want the story to be enjoyed by the majority. Namely, the rules of the poor murdered English language, but there are other rules that need to be employed when writing fanfiction.

Okay, let's use an example. I write for fun, I'll admit it right now. I don't want to be a published author. I just write because it's something I like to do. Yet, my Pokemon fanfic is now in its ninth edition, rewritten again. Why do I keep on improving the story and writing style? Because I don't just want the "lol when is misty going to be with ash" reviewers to like it. I want everyone possible to like it. And this means that I have to improve my story from the Sue-ish self-insert to a semi-good story. I'm not improving to get published in mainstream fanfiction. I'm improving because I want to, and because the audience I want doesn't accept Sue-ish self-inserts that save the world for no real reason other than they are that special self-insert.

And guess what? I'm still having fun. But then again, I find my history class fun.

Besides, what I learned from reading, reviewing, and writing fanfiction has helped me in school, even in college. My grammar is better than other students, my teachers appreciate the fact that I can look deeper into the reading material. And really, I wouldn't know this stuff as well as I do without fanfiction.

So yeah, you could keep writing the way that you do and keep positing it. I don't see the point in that, because most people don't want to slog through a mistake-riddled chapter just to find the story beneath it. If you want more people to read your story, you should at least pay attention to the reviewers that you get, since they are helping you improve enough to reach a wider audience.

That all said, I wouldn't rewrite anything until you get some advice on how to improve. Because you still really haven't learned anything from the reviews given. (Though DP479 gave you an overview of grammar.) Wait for more reviews to come before you start writing or rewriting anything.

The main thing I can tell you now is that you really need to hit the Enter bar more often than you are now. The way your chapters are now, it's very difficult to read because of spacing.

While you are waiting for reviews, read the stickied advice topics in the Writer's Lounge. They can help you improve.

Yeah, but they were four terrible chapters.
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Way to shoot down anyone's confidence there, Lord94. You don't just tell someone that their story sucks and walk away with that. You should actually, you know, help the person and tell them how they can improve.

I also don't think that you should write any spin-offs about the first story without completing that one first. Only because the characters might change, or the plot, or even just the writing skill of the author. I have sequels planned for my fics, but even though I'm itching to write them, I'm still slogging through the first fic to know the characters better and to see how they grow. And also to give my writing time to improve.

You know, I have no idea what to do with Jax's topic. It's some good advice, so I don't want to lose it. Oi.
 
hey everyone my new chapter is up. ehhh that's about it
 
Way to shoot down anyone's confidence there, Lord94. You don't just tell someone that their story sucks and walk away with that. You should actually, you know, help the person and tell them how they can improve.
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Yeah, but me and him both know I meant it as a joke. And I offered to give him help multiple times after that and that I was only a 'PM away'.
 
Lord94 said:
Yeah, but me and him both know I meant it as a joke. And I offered to give him help multiple times after that and that I was only a 'PM away'.
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Are you certain he thought that initially?

I don't mean to sound like I'm flaming, Lord, but it sounds a lot like you're... I don't know... in the train of thought that you're one of the big carp in the pond, so to speak? There's really no way to put this politely, but from what I can tell, you:

A. Shoot people down, even if you mean it jokingly. A reviewer should never, ever shoot people down, even jokingly. The reason why is because the other person might not be as thick-skinned as you think they are, so if you tell them that their chapters suck, most likely, even if they don't seem like they're insulted, they probably are. That and it's rude anyway.

B. Give reviews that generally seem to lack in content (or end up being A) but tell people to PM you. I don't know what you tell them via PMs, but if you're going to review, you might as well do it all in one shot. There's no sense in getting people to PM you unless you're that desperate for people to talk to you via PMs. That and it's easier to tell if someone's getting the best advice. If not, another reviewer is free to step in and say, "Well, they have good points, but." Likewise, reviewers who don't give their entire review in one shot but do in a smaller (literally), more private medium are most likely indicating that they're a bit shy about their reviewing powers, which may or may not indicate some sort of inadequacy in the review itself.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you really want to be a good reviewer -- the sort of person who's there for the writer -- you need to take on a different mindset. Be more open and knock it off with the "you suck" line. It has a bad connotation, no matter which way you put it, and it makes you come off as an ignorant and crass reviewer. I'm not saying you exactly are as a person. I'm just saying just saying something like that makes you look like one.

Also, this is what the "you are not God" line in my guide is referring to anyway. The reason why you don't insult someone else's writing -- even jokingly -- is also because people who generally stoop to that level are or were guilty of that quality of writing themselves.

That and it's borderline flaming, depending on how the reviewer does it. Which, in itself, is really an activity a reviewer should never stoop to as well.
 
hm... That gave me something to think about...

Thank you Jax... But that was a total flame.

Now, allow me to go and defend myself of privliges for RP in some pathetic forum with 232 active members.
 
Jax Malcolm said:
Are you certain he thought that initially?

I don't mean to sound like I'm flaming, Lord, but it sounds a lot like you're... I don't know... in the train of thought that you're one of the big carp in the pond, so to speak? There's really no way to put this politely, but from what I can tell, you:

A. Shoot people down, even if you mean it jokingly. A reviewer should never, ever shoot people down, even jokingly. The reason why is because the other person might not be as thick-skinned as you think they are, so if you tell them that their chapters suck, most likely, even if they don't seem like they're insulted, they probably are. That and it's rude anyway.

B. Give reviews that generally seem to lack in content (or end up being A) but tell people to PM you. I don't know what you tell them via PMs, but if you're going to review, you might as well do it all in one shot. There's no sense in getting people to PM you unless you're that desperate for people to talk to you via PMs. That and it's easier to tell if someone's getting the best advice. If not, another reviewer is free to step in and say, "Well, they have good points, but." Likewise, reviewers who don't give their entire review in one shot but do in a smaller (literally), more private medium are most likely indicating that they're a bit shy about their reviewing powers, which may or may not indicate some sort of inadequacy in the review itself.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you really want to be a good reviewer -- the sort of person who's there for the writer -- you need to take on a different mindset. Be more open and knock it off with the "you suck" line. It has a bad connotation, no matter which way you put it, and it makes you come off as an ignorant and crass reviewer. I'm not saying you exactly are as a person. I'm just saying just saying something like that makes you look like one.

Also, this is what the "you are not God" line in my guide is referring to anyway. The reason why you don't insult someone else's writing -- even jokingly -- is also because people who generally stoop to that level are or were guilty of that quality of writing themselves.
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Couldn't have said it better myself.
 
Lord94 said:
Thank you Jax... But that was a total flame.
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But at least it's a longer flame than just a "but they were four terrible chapters." *thumbs up*

Now, allow me to go and defend myself of privliges for RP in some pathetic forum with 232 active members.
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Knock yourself out.

TurtleKing said:
Couldn't have said it better myself.
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Thank you. *bows*
 
Thank you Jax... But that was a total flame.
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I've seen Jax really get on someone so trust me, that was not flaming. He made some good points in that reply and it'd do you some good to listen.
 
Wow. Kudos Jax, didn't think I could possibly write it out any better than you did. Lord, stop making it worse on yourself by "defending yourself", Jax knows how it is so how bout we just drop this mmkay?
 
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