ok, i'm going to be honest with you here, because i often wish that people would tell me what they really think when they don't like something i've written, instead of just saying nothing. so i'm going to tell you what i really think.
i think you've got the technique of writing down, you're good at it. but the heart-bit is missing a bit, for me. i'm not saying your heart isn't in it, but... when i read your stories, i find myself thinking "this is really cleverly structured" and not... i'm not touched by it so much, usually. i wish i could be more helpful than that, but it's hard because i don't know what exactly it is that's missing. i just don't feel like i get under the skin of the characters, you know?
another problem i have with your fiction sometimes is the characterization. the orlando piece you did a while back? it's really good, the writings excellent, but i'm not buying the characterization (if you want me to explain why, i'd be happy to). and to me, that's more important. i guess that's one of the not-very-nice side affects of writing fanficition and not original fiction, people already have the characters in their head, and if the character you write don't match up with the one in the readers head, it's going to be a lot harder to get the reader on "your side" so to speak. if it was original fiction, you have a blank character to work with, which is both easier and harder in a way, i guess.
the only advice i can give you is to focus less on the structure & the mechanics of writing when you write and focus more on the story you're trying to tell. i don't know if that would help, i haven't written much so my experience is lacking at best, but that's the only thing i can think of.
and i hope you understand that i'm not saying this in a sort of "this is what you're doing wrong!"-way, i'm just trying to explain how i feel about your fic. you're more than welcome to say hey, that chick's on crack, and disregard this whole rant :)
& i know you said you didn't want reassurances, but i don't think i ever told you how much i loved your DIY series. so i'm taking the opportunity here. you should write more OB/EW. yes. :)
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Date: 2004-04-30 12:05 am (UTC)i think you've got the technique of writing down, you're good at it. but the heart-bit is missing a bit, for me. i'm not saying your heart isn't in it, but... when i read your stories, i find myself thinking "this is really cleverly structured" and not... i'm not touched by it so much, usually. i wish i could be more helpful than that, but it's hard because i don't know what exactly it is that's missing. i just don't feel like i get under the skin of the characters, you know?
another problem i have with your fiction sometimes is the characterization. the orlando piece you did a while back? it's really good, the writings excellent, but i'm not buying the characterization (if you want me to explain why, i'd be happy to). and to me, that's more important. i guess that's one of the not-very-nice side affects of writing fanficition and not original fiction, people already have the characters in their head, and if the character you write don't match up with the one in the readers head, it's going to be a lot harder to get the reader on "your side" so to speak. if it was original fiction, you have a blank character to work with, which is both easier and harder in a way, i guess.
the only advice i can give you is to focus less on the structure & the mechanics of writing when you write and focus more on the story you're trying to tell. i don't know if that would help, i haven't written much so my experience is lacking at best, but that's the only thing i can think of.
and i hope you understand that i'm not saying this in a sort of "this is what you're doing wrong!"-way, i'm just trying to explain how i feel about your fic. you're more than welcome to say hey, that chick's on crack, and disregard this whole rant :)
& i know you said you didn't want reassurances, but i don't think i ever told you how much i loved your DIY series. so i'm taking the opportunity here. you should write more OB/EW. yes. :)