What did I do wrong?

[TheEarl]

I've just written what I consider to be one of my best stories and apparently nobody likes it. Just one piece of feedback and my lowest ever voting score so far (Even lower than the embarrassment that is One Cup Of Coffee). Okay, it's fanfic, but it's good fanfic and I'm proud of this piece.

[/vent]

The underappreciated Earl

 

[MathGirl]

Awww, poor sweet baby........

Dear Earl,
I've never written or read fanfic. I'm not even sure what it is. Are the people who read it a tough bunch? Always give lousy scores? Maybe that's what it is. How does your score compare with others in the category?
MG
Ps. Maybe the fanfic readers are like Philly fans. They would boo a cancer cure.
Pps. There, there.
Ppps. Let a simile be your umbrella ........................


Nathan Leopold

 

[Quasimodem]

Keep it up for several years, Earl, and you might wrest my title away from me as: "Least Appreciated Writer on Lit!"

 

[gauchecritic]

Comparisons

With very little research (I hate Buffy) and reading almost halfway down the page of 2 other Buffy stories with higher scores this is what I found;

Americanisms, not very good construction, implicit sex from the first or second paragraph, an in-depth knowledge of the series, spelling mistakes, a mysticism about their boss, whatever his name is, simply because he's English and looking like a series plot idea.

By contrast your story had none of the above.

Gauche

 

[MathGirl]

Originally posted by Quasimodem "Least Appreciated Writer on Lit!"

Dear Quaz,
I, for one, appreciate both you and Earl. I don't read your stories, but that's beside the point. From the feedback I get, I think I'm the most overappreciated writer on lit.
Appreciatively,
MG

 

[TheEarl]

Re: Comparisons

Americanisms, not very good construction, implicit sex from the first or second paragraph, an in-depth knowledge of the series, spelling mistakes, a mysticism about their boss, whatever his name is, simply because he's English and looking like a series plot idea.

I saw this paragraph first and was about to swing for you for saying such nasty things about my story before I realised what you were actually saying. Thanks.

MG: The thing is that I've actually written another BtVS fanfic and that did reasonably well. IMHO this one's far better.

The Earl

 

[Guest]

Earl, dear: speaking of taking swings, and with all presumed respect, didn't you inadvertantly leave the H in IMHO?

You know I like your Buffy stories, and that I want more Spike sex. Keep writing.

Pear

 

[cahab]

I've just written what I consider to be one of my best stories and apparently nobody likes it. Just one piece of feedback and my lowest ever voting score so far (Even lower than the embarrassment that is One Cup Of Coffee). Okay, it's fanfic, but it's good fanfic and I'm proud of this piece.

[/vent]

The underappreciated Earl

Okay, possible explanations:

1) A phantom 1'er. I have posted a remarkably similar complaint. Okay, so I wasn't that proud of the piece I'd written, but I didn't, and don't, believe that it was the worst one I'd written, as the voting suggested. Hwever, two isn't a pattern.

2) I don't know how dedicated the Lit buffy fans are but maybe they are annoyed that your piece is out of date and inaccurate. At the time Tara was alive Dawn was far from eighteen, even excepting the fact that she's actually about one and a half.

3) You just seem to be getting somewhere when it stops. Talk about coitus interruptus. Maybe they're just hitting low scores in frustration.

All that said, as a dedicated Buffy fan myself I found the majority of it plausible and interesting. I await the next instaalment with eager anticip





















ation.

 

[cahab]

Re: Comparisons

I hate Buffy

Definitive proof that Gauche and I are not the same person.

 

[Guest]

Re: Re: Comparisons

Definitive proof that Gauche and I are not the same person.

Thank god; my anxiety is relieved.

Perdita

 

[MathGirl]

It's a bird............

Originally posted by cahab Definitive proof that Gauche and I are not the same person.

Well, that's certainly a load off my mind. Sort of like seeing Clark Kent and Superman at the same time.

The question is, though, who is Superman? To take that to its logical conclusion, who is Gauchie?
Enigmatically,
MG

 

[Guest]

Re: It's a bird............

To take that to its logical conclusion, who is Gauchie?

It's a bird? There you go again, MG. Yesterday it was a vulture. I see nothing avian about Gauche.

Perdita

 

[cahab]

Re: It's a bird............

Well, that's certainly a load off my mind. Sort of like seeing Clark Kent and Superman at the same time. The question is, though, who is Superman?

I'm guessing I look better in tights

 

[gauchecritic]

Re: Re: It's a bird............

I'm guessing I look better in tights

don't bet on it

Gauche

 

[Guest]

Men in tights

are sexy - especially black tights (maybe even silk stockings). I have to bet on the Yorkie who quotes me.

Purr

Cyd Charisse
Cyd Charisse

 

[Sabledrake]

Earl -- I love your writing, but I've never even watched an episode of Buffy in my life (I know, there goes my fangirl merit badge). Sorry!

Sabledrake

 

[English Lady]

Ok well i watch buffy(and my hubby is a BIG willow fan) So I read your story through Earl

this is what i thought might have caused it not to go down as well as you intended (oops excuse the pun)

First off,that paragraph in italics at the beginning sounds a bit like heavy self advertising, some people might not be impressed by that and be a bit miffed with it before they even start the story.


I like the willow looking into the orgasm enhancing stuff BUT it doesn't sound like something willow would do when people would be around,she's a shy retiring computer geek type, who'd most likely do it all when everyone else would be busy...but thats a minor thing...

oh and another little bit...theres a bit of HTML that doesn't work..and a word in italics doesn't come up in italics..it just has the around it. probably not something people would mark you down for though


the major thing i think is it is too choppy.


Now I love Pratchett and he does that choppy style really well,leaping from one scene with one set of charachters to another completely different scene without any warning.

The scenes are too short and too similar for this to work in my opinion,and I spent a good time back tracking to see who was doing what to who and when and I got a little mixed up.

I think you were trying to get over that they were all doing these sexy things at the same time. I think it just ends up confusing the issue.


The dawn masturbating bit seems a bit out on a limb too, the two couples getting it on seemed right but the Dawn on her own bit seemed to jar with the flow of the coupled sex,and didn't seem to add anything to the story.

well if it did I missed it and I apologise Earl but I was confused by all the swopping and changing anyway!


I think that this has the basis to be a really good story,the writing is sound and there are some really sexy bits and some bits that made me giggle. Al together though i think it needs putting together differently.


Hope this helps!

 

[Guest]

Some consolation, dear boy.

The secret of popular writing is never to put more on a given page than the common reader can lap off it with no strain WHASOEVER on his habitually slack attention.

- Ezra Pound

Pear

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Re: Men in tights

are sexy - especially black tights (maybe even silk stockings).

Ehmmm... not necessarily.

I once dated a guy from my theater group. Some couples travel together, some take walks in the forest together... With this guy, I helped him put on his make up, and then I had to endure seeing him in orange (!) tights - which he definitely didn't have the legs nor the ass to wear.

Oh, yeah, I definitely have to write my memoirs one day...

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Re: Men in tights

Oh, yeah, I definitely have to write my memoirs one day...

I'll be first in line to buy THAT, Swede.
MG

 

[Just-Legal]

*gets in the queue behind MG*

 

[Curtain]

Do you write for the praise of others, or do you write to please you? The whole point of creation is to experience something you desire, but isn't there. So you create it yourself!

If you consider it one of your best stories, then you're obviously comparing it to stories you've written in the months and years past. You see it as better than what you've done previously, so you've stepped up the ladder and risen higher as a writer. Isn't that what's important? No one else can (or will) keep track of your improvements better than you. You know best where you were as a writer in the past, and know where you are now. Victory is yours!

The best part is, you get to move higher again tomorrow, and have the same party all over again. It only ends when you've created all that you wish!

 

[TheEarl]

Do you write for the praise of others, or do you write to please you? The whole point of creation is to experience something you desire, but isn't there. So you create it yourself!

If you consider it one of your best stories, then you're obviously comparing it to stories you've written in the months and years past. You see it as better than what you've done previously, so you've stepped up the ladder and risen higher as a writer. Isn't that what's important? No one else can (or will) keep track of your improvements better than you. You know best where you were as a writer in the past, and know where you are now. Victory is yours!

The best part is, you get to move higher again tomorrow, and have the same party all over again. It only ends when you've created all that you wish!

Good call. I write for my own satisfaction, but a lot of that satisfaction comes from knowing what other people think of it. And frankly a 3.74 average isn't flattering.

The Earl

 

[Alex756]

As a fanfic writer myself ....

ONe major problem is people tend to have very pre-conceived notions of the characters. Anything and I mean anything that jars them from their happy little belief that they completely understand those characters is bound to make them turn into the evil star trek geek from that saturdaynight skit where they quote episode and scene some contradictory thing. Never mind nearly all TV seris contradict themselves.

The 'better' a fanfic is written when it includes major characters the more likely it is to just stroke someone wrong. Stroke a fan wrong and they vote accordingly. THIS is the main reason I don't fanfic with truly major characters. My one fan fic on here invovles cameos by 'the big names' and focuses on still a major character but one with alot less developement and alot less of a neurotic fanbase.

Just my opinion
Alex756

PS I really hope this makes sense

 

[cahab]

As a fanfic writer myself ....

ONe major problem is people tend to have very pre-conceived notions of the characters. Anything and I mean anything that jars them from their happy little belief that they completely understand those characters is bound to make them turn into the evil star trek geek from that saturdaynight skit where they quote episode and scene some contradictory thing. Never mind nearly all TV seris contradict themselves.

I have to contradict this, I'm contractually obliged.

Sure, people have pre-conceived notions of the characters, but that's because they do understand them. Real fans of a show become so because they identify strongly with the character that has been gradually and painstakingly built up, especially in the case of things like dawson's creek or star trek or buffy etc. which concern a very small cast, unlike soaps which have people going out and coming in all the time.

There are minor continuity problems from time to time, and they are heavily criticised by fans until they are repaired, because character is what these shows are about; understanding other people and other societies using empathy and understanding. They address moral issues which matter to the viewer/reader because they are empathising with the characters. That's the point.

Fan fiction is interesting because you have a ready established empathy with the characters, in the same way that you do with your own family and friends, so a lot of character building work is unnecessary. However if you get those characters wrong you blow the whole experience, burst the bubble, and make the reader too strongly aware of the presence of the narrator.

Without meaning to sound too patronising, if you have a problem with keeping to the established character traits in fanfic, then you shouldn't be writing it. Because that's the whole point.

As I said before, Earl, I didn't particularly feel that your characters were badly written or understood, so this little tirade wasn't directed against you.

Wow! Longest thing I've written in a week.