posted
I used to dabble a bit in fanfic. I never liked adding my own characters, or doing crazy stuff with them either. I wrote a few NCIS stories basically as episodes ("case files"), where it was more about the mystery and some character interactions than it was about the crazy crap that could hypothetically happen.
I wrote some LOTR parody stuff too, but it was kicked off fanfiction.net for being in script format.
I lost track of the idea really fast. It's far more fun to create your own characters than to basically character stalk someone else's work.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Has anyone managed to find Chapter 10 yet? I made the mistake of starting to read it, and now I'm dying to find out what happens!
Posts: 1547 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Every time I've read it, it's ended with chapter 9. Did the page you read it on have the game? Or are you looking for the "full coverage by daisygrrl"?
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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quote:Originally posted by breyerchic04: Lisa, it is your fault I wasted yesterday evening.
<grin> Isn't it great, though? Did you start with Interlude (the bridge between Buffy and Watchers)?
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
My favorite place to find Harry Potter fanfiction is here. It's a forum where people post requests for good stories of one type or another...
Posts: 2409 | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Chris Bridges: Then again, more than a few of the early published Trek novels were clearly Mary Sues...
Sadly too true. *cough*BlackFire*cough*
quote:Originally posted by blacwolve: I don't think of self-insertion as a Mary Sue. I think of a Mary Sue as a character that is too good to be true, loved by all, etc. Not so much a self-insertion, as wish-fulfillment.
Agreed.
quote:Originally posted by blacwolve: Every time I've read it, it's ended with chapter 9. Did the page you read it on have the game? Or are you looking for the "full coverage by daisygrrl"?
When I first read it, that full coverage existed. However, that was probably three years ago.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
rivka- I vaguely remember the full coverage. I think it was very badly written and I only read it the first time through. I didn't even try the link the other times I read it, so I don't know when it went down. I think the story ends perfectly well where Anya left it at the end of the Quidditch match.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Companion_in_Training: I'm not on this board much, I just happen to glance in on what's happening every so often. I much prefer livejournal, because a lot of the time, a large majority of the posters on here come off as self-righteous or outright snobby. I'm not trying to start a fight. I'm just saying that it sounds like most of you are adults reading Harry Potter fanfiction. The fandom is largely directed towards children, so it's understandable that there is such a vast selection of Mary Sues and other badly written material. But I think these people deserve the chance to write what they please in peace without being so cruelly bashed.
On livejournal, people comment on fanfiction with helpful, constructive criticisms. No one likes bad writing, but these people don't deserve such ridicule.
*blinks* You're involved in a totally different section of the Harry Potter livejournal community than I am. The one I participate in is most definately directed toward adults. The bashing I've seen there makes the criticisms made here seem nice in comparison.
I do agree with you, though, I don't why everyone seems to find the bad fanfiction out there so offensive. Why concentrate on the bad stuff when there's so much good stuff? It's not hurting you in any way, let the kids have fun.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
I will just chime in to "ditto" blackwolve.
Also, I think the criticism is harsher when the fanfic in question is directed at adults, which is probably as it should be.
There are plenty of communities for people to show their work, but if you want to improve your writing ability, workshops are going to be your best bet in the long run. The caveat being that you have to be savvy about criticism. You have to take it, and you have to be able to tell the difference between what is helpful and what is not helpful.
Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote: I much prefer livejournal, because a lot of the time, a large majority of the posters on here come off as self-righteous or outright snobby. I'm not trying to start a fight. I'm just saying that it sounds like most of you are adults reading Harry Potter fanfiction. The fandom is largely directed towards children, so it's understandable that there is such a vast selection of Mary Sues and other badly written material. But I think these people deserve the chance to write what they please in peace without being so cruelly bashed.
The thing about us is, we're equal-opportunity bashers. We just don't like bad writing around here, regardless of who wrote it. The fact that you're writing for children is no excuse for bad writing, especially since I happen to be one person who believes that those who write for children and young adults need to be as talented, if not MORE than those who write for adults.
If someone doesn't like harsh criticism, there is a simple solution - don't post stuff in a public forum. Olivet is right - if you want to improve your writing you have to be willing and able to take criticism of your work without taking it personally.
Last semester I was writing a term paper on Othello. My class was divided into peer groups that read and commented on each other's papers. We were to read and write our comments and then pass them around. One girl was positively brutal - she would write things like "Well, DUH! of course this idea is not new - it's been written about in Shakespeare!" and other similar comments. Most of the people in our group got upset by her manner, I was the only one who didn't because I'm used to criticism and did as Olivet suggested and knew when to take the worth of what she was saying and ignore the other. Some people ignored her comments altogether because they made them uncomfortable. Big mistake. She was the best critiquer in the group.
Everything she noticed were things that made my paper weaker. When I fixed them, the paper was much stronger. You know what else? That prof only gave out four A's on the final term papers, the harsh critiquer and I were two of them.
Now, the point of the story is this. As a writer, you have to be able to not take criticism personally and look for the helpful information and use it. If you understand that it's really about the work, and not you, you can see it as the reader does. I'm certain that her reaction to my comment that the subject matter of spousal homicide wasn't new was, in fact, "Duh!" It was an inane comment for me to make and when I removed it the paper was stronger for it. If I were so offended by the "Duh!" that I lost the message, that would have been my loss indeed.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
And I wanted to add...give me the harsh critiquer who will say "Duh! Belle, that's an idiotic statement" over the one who notices the same thing and says "Oh, I loved your paper I'm sure you'll get a good grade." I'd much rather the person willing to offend me than the one so afraid of hurting anyone's feeling he/she never says anything bad about anything.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
I'm confused. How is commenting in this thread about fanfic (good and bad, by the way) bashing or ridicule? If I'm a writer of derivative, badly-written Harry Potter fanfic, do I come to a Hatrack thread about fanfic for my critiques and responses?
(Edit for spelling!)
Posts: 834 | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Exactly. Some of the best critiques come from people who genuinely do not care if they give offense. Me, I try to soften the blows as much as possibe, but still be honest. I do not always adequately soften, but I'm always honest.
With Ty's permission, I once put a story we worked on together on a workshop for critique. I had to do it under my account, but I listed in bold on the author notes that it was a collaboration with Ty. (I had to ask the workshop people how to post collaborative efforts because their software did not support dual authorship lists.) He wrote the male character, and I wrote the part that concerned the female character.
Well, some guy saw that it was posted by an author with a very feminine name, and went off about how unrealistic the male character was, no real man would do X Y or Z. Also, he must have been skimming because he totally missed the part where somebody died.
In deciding what was helpful about that critique, I read a few others the fellow had written, and realized he had gone around telling authors that had not-obviously-male names that their male characters were pussies. He told one fellow (who happened to be a marine himself, but posted works under innitials only) that his marines were all wrong, real marines don't talk like that.
So, I decided that Ty's character was fine and the guy had an axe to grind. The fact that he had obviously skimmed the story turned out to be helpful, though. So, even though the guy was a clueless jerk, his impressions were still useful.
Fanfic is good for really throwing the hammer down and blowing the carbon out of your engine, but it isn't a great way to hone your craft. Some people may have found it so, but I say they are the exception, not the rule.
Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Companion_in_Training: Belle and Olivet, sorry but your rants and personal experiences bored the hell out of me so I just had to skip most of your posts.
quote:I have taken several writing courses. I know how to offer a helpful critique.
quote:Originally posted by Companion_in_Training: Belle and Olivet, sorry but your rants and personal experiences bored the hell out of me so I just had to skip most of your posts. It seems like a lot of you missed the points I was trying to make. Let me make it simple.
First of all, the Harry Potter fandom contains characters that are, in fact, children or teenagers. I know there are AUs and whatnot where the characters are older, but the fact is, the books are directed towards children. There shouldn't even be fanfiction for adults. Adult fanfiction is usually just an excuse for porn, which, hey, to each their own, but don't call it brilliant work.
I'm sorry, I thought you were trying to be a constructive member of the community. My mistake.
Posts: 4655 | Registered: Jan 2002
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posted
Supernatural? I think I know someone who writes in that fandom, though I think she mostly does spatter/gore stuff, or stories about how Dean comes to realize that Sam is teh only person he'll ever love (not THAT way, and shame on you for thinking so!)
*snort* People try to answer your post with thoughtful responses and you respond that you can't be arsed to read them? Though I confess I wasn't talking to you, so it's all good.
Firefox SOOO has a plug-in for that!
Also, if adults didn't read Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling would only be about a tenth as rich as she is. *shrug* I've only read a few HP fanfics that people with taste reccommended *waves at blackwolve* so I wouldn't know how badly most of sucks.
It's free to suck all it wants-- I'm not stopping it. I don't get what warrants this level of hissy-fit, though. I really don't.
But feel free to stamp your foot, or whatever. I don't care to stop you any more than I care to stop the legion of Mary Sues lining up to snog Draco Malfoy. *giggles*
Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Originally posted by blacwolve: I'm sorry, I thought you were trying to be a constructive member of the community. My mistake.
A response far better than the drivel which prompted it.
CIT, adults shouldn't write fanfic, and when they do it's all smut? *snort*
My child, you really should get out more. If you'd like, I can direct you to several online fanfic communities where the majority of the writers are over the age of 20, but most of the fic is rated PG or below.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:First of all, the Harry Potter fandom contains characters that are, in fact, children or teenagers. I know there are AUs and whatnot where the characters are older, but the fact is, the books are directed towards children. There shouldn't even be fanfiction for adults. Adult fanfiction is usually just an excuse for porn, which, hey, to each their own, but don't call it brilliant work.
And I agree with Olivet. If Harry Potter was for children readers because the main characters have yet to reach their 20s, then every book with a female protagonist should only be read by women. Of course, from the third book on we are dealing with teenage characters who face very complex issues and experience some pretty horrifying events. Many parents have kept their children from reading the series with the more violent and disturbing scenes in recent books. Besides, there are still plenty of adult characters with their own stories.
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
Children are complex people, too, and their stories can be just as interesting as the stories of adults. I read stories about adults when I was a child, and I read stories about children now.
quote:Belle and Olivet, sorry but your rants and personal experiences bored the hell out of me so I just had to skip most of your posts...
What I was saying about criticism is that people should post constructive comments, instead of just saying "this blows, never write again". Even if it doesn't seem like it, these people have put time and effort into this writing, try pointing out what's good and what doesn't work.
I think my irony meter blew a gasket.
Posts: 3546 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Though I don't write fanfiction, I agree with Belle and Olivet's comments on critiquing. A mamby-pamby, "You're story is very vivid" critique is worth nothing. An exacting critique that points out where the story fails to engage, fails to be believable, and fails to be clear is as valuable as a month of typing.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Does your teacher really let you surf the web during class, or are you one of those students who sits in the back of the class tapping away and thinking s/he doesn't notice?
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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We all have lives. We just come here to talk, and we are generally willing to talk to anyone who comes by. We strive, as a community, to treat young people with respect, regardless of their age.
If you don't like it here, you shouldn't be here, C_i_T. It isn't pathetic to be here, but it is pathetic to act as if someone is making you be here when it makes you unhappy.
There is a wealth of other places to spend your time online if you are bored. If you'd tell us what you want to be reading (other than us), maybe we can help you find it elsewhere more quickly.
Do you want to read new fanfiction instead? What type? Are you interested in science news, or music, or religion? What areas? What would make you happier to read? We can help find it for you.
posted
Companion, I was not aware of ever arguing with you. Adults do come here to discuss things, but we are all more than willing to accept each poster by the content of their posts not their ages.
I have been very impressed and surprised to find out that posters here whose opinions and passionate discussions I have grown to respect have, in fact, been minors.
I would not have guessed you were younger, before the recent drama. *shrug* Hurling insults, trying to make people feel bad for arguing harshly with a child (when we didn't know you were a child before the tantrum, and didn't argue with you as far as I could tell) are only damaging to the way you are seen here, and that is just sad.
We would like to get to know you, and talk without regard to age, but I promise you that childish behavior would get the same reaction, even when posted by old folks.
I know, because I had a few dramas early on. I was a new mother in a strange city, looking for people to talk to, and a place like Hatrack can be confusing to anyone new.
But give us a chance to get to know the bright, kind person that you are underneath, and I'm sure we'll be glad of it. Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Companion_in_Training: Okay, let me get to the real matter at hand. You are all adults and it's pathetic that you don't have any lives of your own to go out and live and that instead you spend your time arguing with a "child" on message boards and reading fanfiction. Trust me, once I'm out of high school, my online time will be greatly limited. I'm only here out of sheer boredom during class right now.
We don't care that you're a child. We care that you're acting like one.
Posts: 12266 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
I just want to say that I am amazed, and a little dissapointed at how civil everyone is being to CiT. After reading her first couple of posts I was excited about the inevitable stomping that would ensue. And it never came! She blatantly insulted almost everyone in this thread, and yet, you're all being so civil and trying to get along... no fun, no fun at all! Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Oh, me too, Liz. I'm just trying to follow CT's stellar example. Being nice to people is kinda...itchy.
Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Shigosei: Children are complex people, too, and their stories can be just as interesting as the stories of adults. I read stories about adults when I was a child, and I read stories about children now.
quote:Belle and Olivet, sorry but your rants and personal experiences bored the hell out of me so I just had to skip most of your posts...
What I was saying about criticism is that people should post constructive comments, instead of just saying "this blows, never write again". Even if it doesn't seem like it, these people have put time and effort into this writing, try pointing out what's good and what doesn't work.
I think my irony meter blew a gasket.
See, I assumed that the irony was intentional. The execution seemed a little clumsy, but I assumed that CiT was planning, after people squawked in outrage, to say "see? How do you like it when people are harsh in their critiques of something you've written".
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
I'm fairly certain that violates the TOS. Not to say that parts of it weren't amusing and all, but maybe you should edit before the whistle gets blown.
That's a bit much, dude.
Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
Looks more like a spambot than a troll. Also, I whistled it first, when I saw the "Prince Caspian" thread. Posts: 10645 | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
You know what amuses me about this whole thing? Some wee grrl got her feelings hurt because we laughed about bad Mary Sues, taking something not at all directed at her in any way and having a hissy fit about it. When we didn't grovel before her and beg forgiveness for something we didn't actually do, suddenly the trolls appear.
I hope she lets us know when her episode Sweet Sixteen airs. *giggle*
Posts: 9293 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
yo, don't make fun of bush. you try bein president if you think its that easy. thats right you cant, mr jelous
Posts: 30 | Registered: Jan 2007
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