writing as a passion

[Guest]

Admittedly, I may have been quick tempered towards those who criticized my writing. I am learning to take into consideration the suggestions and how to improve my skills. I read through dictionaries and study well known works by authors. I even try to get inspiration from music, art, architecture, memories, etc.
I scribble notes and sketch ideas to help me build stories.
Writing dark fiction isn't hard but writing high quality erotica has become difficult. I pride myself in being original, even if it is bizarre. I would love to write as a career. Ok, enough ranting, I have 2 main questions-

when you get something critiqued, do you take the advice and does the source matter?

what are the best books for those who want to write for $?

 

[MLyons]

I can't answer the second question.

As to the first, I personally believe that if someone is really taking the time to read your story and give you thoughtful comments about it, then there is something to be learned from what they say, no matter who they are. If they just say, they hate these kinds of stories and leave it at that, there's not much useful there.

Given that though, the source is an important thing to consider. The person who critiques a story may have different ideas of what the story should be than you do, and that's something to take into consideration. However, it's always always good to keep an open mind, especially to people like that, because hidden inside their comments might be a valuable nugget of information that explains what's wrong with your story--something you'd have never considered on your own.

I find accepting honest and thoughtful critique a painful process at times, but it is the most singularly effective way to improve my writing.

 

[bloodsimple]

Scotzilla,

You sound like you're going along the right lines, and it's good to see that you take your writing seriously, in respect of trying to improve.

Erotica is hard to write, not least because it is more subjective than most subjects, and one person's turn-on is another's turn-off. I think we also live in fear of being said to write "bad sex" - it's somehow worse than being accused of writing a bad thriller, or horror that isn't scary.

I think the source of the critique is important. If someone writes that they don't like that type of story, well, that's useful in one way, but in another respect, they aren't your target audience anyway. Like a Mills & Boon addict saying your zombie story wasn't their idea of fun.

If someone's critique is clearly meant to be positive and constructive, look carefully at what they say. Read it several times, with intervals, before you decide whether to act on it or not. Lots of Lit authors are great at taking the time. You could ask a Lit member to help you edit before you submit - I think Lauren has posted up how you do that.

Finally, seek out some guidance from authors you admire - whatever it is about their style or approach you like, it's a fair bet that you'll take on board what they have to say.

Good luck.

Caution - some of the above may not make sense. The value of my response can go down as well as up, etc, etc.

 

[Black Tulip]

I'd like to add something to the above. Even if I do not particularly like the category a story belongs to, that doesn't mean I can't make a contribution.

The story may not be very exciting to me in that case, but I can certainly have a good look, maybe even better, at the way the characters behave, the way the story unfolds, and so on.

If you put your story up in here, you can be sure the people who have a look at it, do so with care. Just read through some of the threads to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

We can always use new blood. Have I been enticing enough yet?

 

[bloodsimple]

black tulip,

Sorry, I didn't mean to cause any confusion. Those who aren't especially thrilled with a particular category can indeed make important and useful comments. I was only referring to those people (and it seems to happen in Loving Wives for some reason), who provide feedback that seems to negate the point of them reading that kind of story altogether.

I also meant Laurel, not Lauren.

Nurse, it's time for my medication again.......

 

[Black Tulip]

Bloodsimple,

Since you and Scotzilla posted this in the Story Discussion Circle I assumed you meant critique from fellow writers. Such as you can get in here. That's why I invited you to take part. LOL

I was not referring to the normal feedback from readers. That can be from flattering to useful to asinine, no matter the category.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

This is a great topic, although I can’t help you with the “what books to read” part. Everyone seems to swear by “Writers’ Market” though.

I’m hard enough on myself that most of the negative criticism I get doesn’t catch me by surprise. Usually it’s something I’ve noticed myself. (I’m talking about criticism of style. Criticism of content is something entirely diferent.) Often the criticism is for something I deliberately tried to do—some stylistic trick, for example, and I’ll have made up my own mind whether it works or not.

When I do get criticism for something I hadn’t noticed, some legitimate weakness, I usually go through a kind of 3-step process. My first reaction is hurt. I just can’t seem to keep from taking it personally at first on some level, but that doesn’t last very long any more. I’m way past the point of taking criticism as a personal affront.

Step 2 is when I go back and examine the piece in question to see whether I feel the criticism was justified. Sometimes it is, sometimes I feel the fault cited isn’t really a problem. One thing’s for sure though: for a criticism to be useful, it has to point out something that you yourself can see, otherwise that flaw is invisible to you and you’ll keep on doing it. For instance, if someone tells you your stories meander all over the place but you don’t see it, then it’s unlikely you’re going to be able to change the way you write.

Step 3 happens when I admit that the critic was right, and I’ll watch out for it next time. Sometimes I’ll even get obsessive about it.

I think I’ve gotten to the point in my writing where I’m pretty good at telling when something’s wrong. Lots of times I don’t know how to fix it, but I’m still a much tougher critic on myself than anyone else has been.

---dr.M.

 

[carsonshepherd]

The best book on fiction writing I've ever read, and that I learned an incredible amount from, is "The Art of Fiction" by John Gardner.
This book isn't a style guide, but is subtitled "Notes on craft for young writers."

He offers a text not only on learning to write, but on what fiction should be. Some of his main points that I found most helpful are what he calls "the fictional dream", which is the magic of a story that allows you to get lost in it. The other is a chapter on "Interest and Truth," which helped me learn to create characters and story lines I care about.

This book isn't easy to find, but it's usually in libraries. Unfortunately I lost my copy in a nasty breakup. I miss it and I'm always on the lookout for another one!

 

[MLyons]

Thanks for the tip, carsonshepherd.

I had no problem finding it... at least in the US. Amazon.com has it. I just ordered a copy.

 

[carsonshepherd]

I can't believe I never even checked amazon. the book's out of print and I never thought I could get it. You probably got the last copy!

 

[Black Tulip]

I can't believe I never even checked amazon. the book's out of print and I never thought I could get it. You probably got the last copy!

Amazon has a second-hand section, same goes for Barnes&Noble. You'd be amazed at the books you can get in the out of print department.



I completed half of my American series, no longer for sale in my country. I loved those packages from overseas. Till they changed the shipping rates, that is.