Constructive criticism?

[and_chocolate]

(Crossposting this to my non-RPS journal as well, because I think it applies to all genres/subgenres of slash that I write.)

I love writing. A lot of what I love about writing is taking a story that starts out inside my brain and putting it into words to share with other people, so that it ends up in their brains and, I hope, hearts. Which means that it's important to me to understand what is and is not effective about my writing.

That's where y'all come in. *g*

I know that I've got a reasonably good grasp of the mechanics of writing; I can put together a sentence with correct spelling and punctuation, a paragraph that makes sense, and a story that gets from Point A to Point B with some semblance of a plot. That said, what I don't know is what my writing is missing. There are a lot of folks out there who write with no more technical skill than me, but whose stories are highly praised.

Why? What does [insert author of your choice here]'s fiction have that mine doesn't?

What I don't want: reassurances or praise.

What I do want: people to rip my fiction apart and give me strong constructive criticism on anything -- prose style, technical skill, subject matter, etc. -- that they find lacking. Please?

Comments

[myheadgames.livejournal.com]

...she thinks that I don't get into the characters' heads enough, don't pull the third-person focus tight enough. That seems to mesh with what you're saying, too.

yeah, see, this is why i normally don't say much. because yes, that would be a much smarter way of saying what i was trying to say but ended up ranting about instead. :)

I don't know exactly how I'm failing to engage people in the characters.

i wish i could be more helpful with this, but i don't really know, either. i just get a distant feeling sometimes, when i'm reading your stuff. i'm not in there with the boys. and the only advice i can give (and i know it kinda sucks because it's so much easier to say than to do) is to try not to construct so much and just tell instead.

do you ever write stream-of-conscious-like? just sit and let something come out in whatever way it wants? no planning or plotting? i do that a lot, and even thought the results aren't great, it's good as exercise. and sometimes it gives you something that you can add structure and to, build around so to speak?

i have to disclaim again though, i have absolutely no idea what i'm talking about :)

and um, the overthinking, i do that too, all the time. the last fic i posted was just a little over a 1000 words. that went through maybe three or four drafts, two betas and all in all took me over a month to write. and it's just a little fluffy smutlet with absolutely no point. so i can relate to that. a lot.

Really, this is what I wanted, so thank you very, very much. You've helped.

yay, i'm useful! & i'm glad you don't hate me now. that would make me sad.

completely random: i don't know if you remember, but a while back we bonded over the love of the porn & chocolate story, and i told you he's told it on conan back in dec, and you said "clips! i want clips!" and i didn't have any. but now, behold! i have (with um, some help) found it:
here (http://www.theargonath.cc/cast/wood/videos/videos.html) (third link from the top, elijah on conan dec 17, 2003)

(and you've probably already found it weeks ago, but i've been looking for it for so long it seemed silly not to mention it :D)

[and_chocolate]

do you ever write stream-of-conscious-like? just sit and let something come out in whatever way it wants? no planning or plotting?

Sort of. I mean, that's how I write my RPS stories, except that there's usually a basic plot/outline first. Even if it's just, "What if Elijah walked in on Orlando masturbating?" My FPS tends to get more plotted out.

i don't know if you remember, but a while back we bonded over the love of the porn & chocolate story

Yes, I remember! (You should ping me when you're on IM sometime, BTW....)

but now, behold! i have (with um, some help) found it ... (and you've probably already found it weeks ago, but i've been looking for it for so long it seemed silly not to mention it :D)

No! I had not found it. So yay, and thank you! I downloaded it and watched enough to see the porn & chocolate story; the rest will have to wait until I feel better. You were right, BTW. His delivery was better on Leno. Though I absolutely loved how Conan tried to derail him a little with the, "I'll bet your publicist loves this story," but Elijah will not be dissuaded from saying embarrassing things in public, no!

*loves Elijah lots*

[myheadgames.livejournal.com]

(You should ping me when you're on IM sometime, BTW....)

hrmm, yes, i should. & ditto! and um, the only reason i haven't done so before is because, well, i'm shy. and easily intimidated by smart people like yourself. but i'll try work up a bit of courage and say hi sometime :)

Though I absolutely loved how Conan tried to derail him a little with the, "I'll bet your publicist loves this story," but Elijah will not be dissuaded from saying embarrassing things in public, no!

hee! yes, i love that bit too. and the part where they're talking about people mistaking them for women on the phone. that displeased "nnnnhh"-sound elijah makes? cutest. thing. ever.

[and_chocolate]

that displeased "nnnnhh"-sound elijah makes? cutest. thing. ever.

Just finally got around to watching the rest of the Conan thing and Oh. My. God. You are so right! That is so cute!

*is seriously thinking of making that a notification sound on her computer*

Poor, frustrated weE!