Re: [Re: Essay: The Decline of B/W Fan Fiction]

[Mad Hamlet <Mad-Hamlet@xxxxxxx>]

Greetings,

*Please don't take this
*as a personal criticism, this is one of the BEST lists in the feedback *aspect, Elizalover responds faithfully, lol.  

Yeah, I guess part of me agrees with that 'Best List for Feedbac' aspect but actually, I think that's part of the problem.

It's good for feedback, oh yeah, great..hmmm..
And has absolute zero public C&C. 
This is a choice by the list and one I originally did not have much problemwith, cause..y'know hey, s'not my list!

But what with the increase in non betaed fics now I am going to stand up.
And I'm gonna use names, I'm going to lable, fics and authors simply because it's neccessary. Not an attack or a crusade, I've got nothing against them personally, but they are evident of not using BETA'S. And I think we've just about had as much of that as we can.

Think about it for a second. Beta reading, or being beta read is NOT a hassle, it's not something that's done to be 'cool'. It's done so a good work can be great, or a adequate work can be good, etc.

I cannot bear it when a really good story takes three or four powerful hitssimply because the author made an honest mistake of mispelling 'Lose' as 'loose' or 'Quiet' as 'Quite'. God knows I've done that enough.

But the real power of a beta reader, the true moment of truimph is when a Beta readers asks for aspects of the story to exagerated, or they don't understand something and it should be rewritten. Yes, of course that means morework. What did you expect? Hammer out a ten page story and the next thing you know...

'This years pulitzer for Fanfiction goes too....'

Yeah.
Right.
Natch.

Okay, so let's use an example...mm...okay so maybe it's favortism but..
Shyfox just posted On Occasions; Nine. 
Let's take a look at that. Quality good. Plot? Wow..is HAS a plot. Thought this was PWP, makes for a pleasent change. Descriptions: Mind numbingly good. Spelling errors? Slim to none. Grammar Errors? Ditto.

She spent a MONTH on this people. A DAMN MONTH!! 
Now look at it! Go on! Look at it!! Is it not, without a doubt, the best OnOccasions yet? Heck, I'm thinking it's the best B/W bit of erotica I've seen yet. 

And considering I'm MALE and thoroughly 'Y' Chromosomed I have seen LOTS!

Comparing a fic that has been carefuly, and lovingly crafted over a moth with someone who hammers out an eight page wonder, of course the month fic ..normally..would be far better. But it doesn't take a month. Heck a WEEK could do it.

One last thing bugs me. 
This fear we all have of 'Alienating' each other unless we all write, speak, think, and post with no more hostility and critical views than your average teletubby.

Who's idea was it to lace this place with Saccerine anyway?

We all know each other yes? Well, those of us who don't lurk anyway, we know who are the writers and who are the readers, yes? And we SHOULD all know and trust one another to say 'Yes, I want to you to tell me what you liked and, more imortanty, what you didn't like and Why! Because I respect you and trust you and want to better myself. I'm macho, I can take it!'

I would WELCOME with a smile on my face, hostile, open, rank, C&C, though you must realise that to do C&C you can't just say what you didn't like, youhave to say WHY. And offer suggestions or improvments. 
So would be flamers? Feh, not gonna work for you.

Let me wrap it up this way.
Yeah, it's another Forge motife analogy. Sad isn't it?

You can only be folded, shaped, sharpened and valued
Between the Anvil, The Fire and the Hammer.
Not in the arms of the Huggabunch.

I remain, as always,
Mad-Hamlet

There is only one thing that can damn me.
That can send me down in a swirling maelstrom of fire and pain.
And it is not the word of Man.
And it is not the lessons and rules of the Church, hypocrites every one.
And it is not the words of God, nor the judgements of Angels.
And it not a fair tribunal of my 'peers' that can find me guilty of crimes
immortal.
No. 
I can only be accused, judged and damned by my own Soul.
And I would never be so betrayed.

Mad-Hamlet