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Why is everyone forgetting one of the basic rules to being a good writer?

To be a good writer, you must read. Not just other fanfics, but published books. Thick ones, thin ones, modern ones, classics... Read them all. I learned a lot about writing by reading. Besides, reading/writing go hand-in-hand.

Practice and listening to the reviewers help. And you don't tell your reviewers to shut up when the review your fic. (I'm sure some SPPf members know what I'm talking about. XD )
 
XD Yes, I sure do...

Oh, how could I forget reading? *Hits self* XD I used to read all the time, but then I discovered the internet... I still love reading. I do try to read every day. And I am going to bed now. XD
 
That's okay Saffire Persian. I am kind of really going slow on IceKing's story "Whirl Quest Islands". I will probably be able to finish reading that story late this month. Don't worry about reviewing my story too fast. Everyone reviews at their own pace.

Yes, reading published goods will also be a good source to good writing. I used to read a lot until my teachers suddenly gave me a lot of homework! Sometimes if i am not sure of a sentence, I would go and read a few sentences from the book and see how it is written.

And yes Hanako, I know whom you are talking about. Sometimes writers can take the reviews the wrong way.
 
Hanako Tabris said:
Why is everyone forgetting one of the basic rules to being a good writer?

To be a good writer, you must read. Not just other fanfics, but published books. Thick ones, thin ones, modern ones, classics... Read them all. I learned a lot about writing by reading. Besides, reading/writing go hand-in-hand.

Practice and listening to the reviewers help. And you don't tell your reviewers to shut up when the review your fic. (I'm sure some SPPf members know what I'm talking about. XD )
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I read, and it does really help put more words into my mind in a way.

While I would never tell a reviewer to shut up I do think the author themself should have the final say about if they are going to edit their work or not. For some reviewers what they see as 'wrong' is mostly a matter of taste and how your style reads to them.

There comes a point where you can't be 'fixing' you fic to please everyone, as opinions often clash and you might be editing so often that your fic gets changed left and right all the time, leading, in the end, to the fic you worked so hard on never having an ending because you burned yourself out on it trying to please everyone but yourself. I've seen it happen to quite a few ficcers before, and not just in the pokemon fandom.
 
While it is true that the author has final say as to what goes into their fic, it isn't true that the author should tell someone to shut up because the reviewer said that they had multiple spelling/grammar/plot mistakes. If there are no spaces in between sentences, and the plot is very confusing, would you try to change that?

Though, this person also tried to use their age as an excuse. They were only ten, so why were we expecting perfection? The fic was finally closed due to the near flamewar...and because of bad grammar. XD

I have edited my own fic and came up with multiple versions, just to try and please everyone. I finally decided to stop re-writing and get on with just writing. And that explains why I have never posted a fic. ;; So once I finish this version, I'm just going to post it because I like it. Pooey on the rest of you if you don't.

Though this might explain why there has never been a set guide for writing fanfiction. Because everyone has different views.

It's very confusing trying to figure out what goes and what doesn't. You just have to follow your instincts.

At least we can all agree on one thing: Proof-reading. It's needed.
 
While it is true that the author has final say as to what goes into their fic, it isn't true that the author should tell someone to shut up because the reviewer said that they had multiple spelling/grammar/plot mistakes. If there are no spaces in between sentences, and the plot is very confusing, would you try to change that?
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Of course, I was talking about changes beyond those basic ones. The basics of spelling and writing so that the readers can understand you are the simple reviewers points that everyone should follow. But beyond that you come to the sticky issues of style, and your own voice when writing. Some are more liked than others, and I think the author has all rights to keep those elements if they feel that lack of them would ruin their vision or joy in the writing of the fic.
 
Orange_Flaaffy said:
Of course, I was talking about changes beyond those basic ones. The basics of spelling and writing so that the readers can understand you are the simple reviewers points that everyone should follow. But beyond that you come to the sticky issues of style, and your own voice when writing. Some are more liked than others, and I think the author has all rights to keep those elements if they feel that lack of them would ruin their vision or joy in the writing of the fic.
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It's just that Bay and a few others were told to "shut up" because they said the grammar and spelling were bad in one fic. But I'm just going to let it drop now, because someone finally reported the stupid thing and it finally got closed.

Yes, beyond that though, no one should tell you how to write.
 
To be a good writer, you must read. Not just other fanfics, but published books. Thick ones, thin ones, modern ones, classics... Read them all. I learned a lot about writing by reading. Besides, reading/writing go hand-in-hand.

Practice and listening to the reviewers help. And you don't tell your reviewers to shut up when the review your fic. (I'm sure some SPPf members know what I'm talking about. XD )
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Very true, everytime I read a book I always get the strong urge to write fanfiction. Right now the book I'm reading The Power and The Glory by Graham Greene gives me the strong urge to write action...

And only the n00b writers are like that in SPPf! If you want to see anything, go review Harry Potter fanfiction. *shudders* Those children are just....*shudders*


And Bay, don't bother reading Whirl Island Quest, it's on hiatus and will possibly be written again. Instead, I suggest A Very "Special" Pokemon, that's my favorite fic so far.
 
I tried writing Harry Potter fic once. Not only do most of their writers not take reveiws well, but most of their fandom reveiwers are very 'we take care of our own'-ish. I swear, I am so glad I don't have to worry about UK english vs. US English when it comes to the pokemon fandom. I even had an UK english teacher as my beta and they still said I sounded like I was from the US. *Sigh* Maybe that is becuase I am and do not feel the need to cast off my real writing voice just to make the fandom happy...

Again, I am so glad pokemon is not like that, it can be written in any style from any part of the world and still be 'right'.
 
Aw, but I am starting to like "Whirl Island Quest". Maybe I will still read it and then I will tell you what I think about it. Probably when the rewritten version comes, then I will do a review on the new version. Oh, and I will make sure to read "A Very Special Pokemon". I keep wanting myself to read that story, but I never get to it yet. Probably after I finish my entry for the Laughingstock Contest, then I might be able to read "A Very Special Pokemon".
 
*Le-gasp!* It is the orange flaffy, in her orange flesh! I did not expect to see you here.

I haven't seen any of these stories you guys are referencing. Where are they?
 
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Doh! >.< I have also been meaning to read it... Ah well, I have the other story sounds very interesting. :)

I really have to get my butt in gear to write the next chappy on Phoenix. It has been four months with no updates... o.o
 
Perhaps I should try out other forums...I'm afraid to post a story here because I am not very good at receiving criticism. I know it's to help me, but ..um .. sensitivity? Fear?

Not all reviewers are nice, I guess.
 
Remember - constructive criticism does not equal blatant flaming. Writers will never come across 'nice' reviewers all the time; while it's true common courtesy should come into play, not everyone will attempt to sugarcoat their reviews. :D
 
Still, many people have different veiws of what 'sugarcoating' is really. I don't think it is as far reaching as some seem to think.
As I said in my LJ once:
It's easy to give, if not easy to type, a review where you only say what is wrong with a fic. But saying what they did right is just as important. No, it is not petting egos, and no, one thing that they do right does not make a fic perfect. But it gives *hope*, that if one is doing one part right they can make that talent grow to other areas.

In short, I don't think being nice is always sugarcoating.
 
0_o, dang, I didn't know all those people wanted to read it....

Ok, you can read it then XD Writing discussion time: what do you guys do in those periods where you just think every word that comes onto your computer screen is complete and utter crap and feel like your the world's worst writer =( I'm currently in one of those modes and its preventing me from writing...

And I like a good mixture of nice sugarcoated reviews and mean-hearted reviews that leave you wanting to strangle the living hey-hey out of the reviewer (and also prove them wrong!).
 
IceKing said:
Writing discussion time: what do you guys do in those periods where you just think every word that comes onto your computer screen is complete and utter crap and feel like your the world's worst writer =( I'm currently in one of those modes and its preventing me from writing...
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I know it sounds silly, but I just sort of write though the pain when I feel like that and sooner or later my words start feeling okay again when I read them. I also read novels in times like that and start writing while I still have how the book made me feel fresh in my mind. Tihs works well if it is a book you really enjoy.
 
I hate to sound beggy, but can someone gimme a review of The Forgotten Son? I'd like at least one review before I put up chapter two here. If I had to ask for a specific person... orange_flaffy, I sort of kind of in a weird way barely know you, so you'd be my pick. But any reviewer will make me happy!

Puh-weeeeez? *Puppy dog eyes*
 
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