More FanFic

[snape-fan-no-1.livejournal.com]

Heya,

some of you have been asking after more fics and aye, I'm working on a few at the moment, but just in case you're curious, here is my FanFic.net page to keep you going, obviously not monaboyd, but some Merry/Pippin which is almost as good, in my mind at least...

just to keep you ticking over till my most recent is finished...or at least one chapter....

More Fic

don't hesitate to complain furiously at my lack of competence with story writing....

more feedback, more motive to write!!!

*hints*

(apologies for attempting to write my dodgy accent, will stick to real English from now on.....)

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I complain furiously at your lack of spelling skills. There are spell check tools that you may wish to utilize.

[(Anonymous)]

Seconded.

One read of this post totally puts me off clicking through to the fanfic for fear of it being filled with the same lack of care and comprehension of the English language.

[shelley6441.livejournal.com]

Um, I thought comments were supposed to help the author to become a better writer, not just personalized, mean criticism.

But anyway, thank you for sharing your other fics. I appreciate Merry/Pippin as much as I do Billy/Dom.

p.s. What do you mean by 'Estuary'?

[snape-fan-no-1.livejournal.com]

pleasure to share my stories, I'm glad people like my writing style, which I know can be a little strange..

'Estuary' accents are around the Thames estuary, almost Essex but not quite so common...

that's the best way to explain really

[calling-alice.livejournal.com]

To the anonymous posters, If you are going to insult the person you should at least sign your names.

[snape-fan-no-1.livejournal.com]

ROCK ON!!!
thankies

[(Anonymous)]

I didn't insult her. She spelled things wrong and I complained. I don't care if people make typos but willful misspelling in a post where the only purpose is to get people to comment on your fic is disrespectful and counterproductive in my eyes.

[(Anonymous)]

By the way, you might want to keep in mind CUPS. Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling. I use this with my third graders to help them remember. I'm not trying to be OMG mean. I'm trying to point out that people will not OMG click on your fic if they are not sure that those things are in place. It's seems that you're trying to get more people to read your fic and that's fine, but most us aren't going to do it if we're presented with gibberish introducing it. So you can cheer on your rosy cheerleaders or you can take some advice. Your choice.

[snape-fan-no-1.livejournal.com]

once again, my writing style is not to draw people into reading my fic, it is just the way I have become accustomed to typing in order to get into the mindset of my characters...
the weird thing is people say it's great when I try to type Billy's accent, but as soon as I do the same for me they are up in arms about it!
thanks a lot (sarcasm in the greatest extent)

[(Anonymous)]

I don't really mind about your complaint for my typing, even though they weren't actually typos, merely my own way of individualising my comments, but they certainly were not simply to get comments!
there is no way I would do something like that
I resent the implication that I would be that desperate for people to read my posts; people read my stories for their content, not anything else, I wouldn't draw them in like you suggest I was doing

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, my bad, I thought a post linking readers to your fic, and asking them to leave feedback was to get people to read your fic and leave feedback.

[sam-i-am-89.livejournal.com]

Can everyone find some perspective here for a moment?

Anonymous entities (who still remain anonymous, I note): Snape is a new author to this pairing, new to Livejournal and still pretty new to fanfiction. Although I never got to see the original unedited message, I'm sure it cannot have been such an abomination to the English language that there was any need of vicious comment.

Equally, as someone who helps her dyslexic father type up documents for work, I, personally, would never dream of leaving a hurtful comment for any message where spelling and grammar weren't top rate. You can never be sure who you are talking to and whether a short sentence from you could truly discourage someone from sharing their thoughts with others (something that it already takes a lot of guts to do).

You have a right to constructive criticism, but everyone has the right to post here and even if the original message deterred you from reading further (and seeing any actual writing talent) then the message that should've been left should not have sounded superior and sarcastic as if Snape was too stupid to realise for herself. This sort of behaviour goes against the very purpose of communites like this on LJ: helping people to become better writers.

Surely, Anonymous Persons (who clearly have a good grasp on language and a respect for it or they would not have commented in the first place), a better way of phrasing your criticism could have been found.

And in the immortal words of Thumper the rabbit: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Sam

[snape-fan-no-1.livejournal.com]

*LOVES*

[(Anonymous)]

Sam,

My comment was not vicious. I said, “I complain furiously at your lack of spelling skills.”

The author requested feedback to complain about her story telling skills. Story telling includes spelling. I did complain. In the manner in which she suggested.

I teach dyslexic children and if their writing is not up to par I call them on it. To do any thing less would be an insult to their intelligence. If Snape is dyslexic and she is old enough to post here then she should be aware that she needs to use spell check.

However, I don’t think she is dyslexic I think she willfully ignored the conventions of English spelling. My point is that I don’t think that will win her many readers. Most of the people I’ve met in this fandom want things spelled correctly.

The purpose of this community is not to help people become better writers. The purpose is to share fanfic and other news. However, if that was the purpose of this community then criticism is vital to that goal.

Snape does have the right to post here and I retain my right to not like what she posts.

[snape-fan-no-1.livejournal.com]

I think it is a little unfair for you to simply assume I am not dyslexic...okay, I am not, but you don't have much basis for that assumption in reality.

Also, I do not wilfully ignore English spelling conventions, my typing is not brilliant at the best of times, and when you have spent several hours solid typing Billy's speech with the accent included (which everyone seems to love) it can then be a bit tricky not to carry on typing in that style.

Also, I agree that LJ is designed to share your fanfic, but surely a part of being in this type of community sharing ideas and common interests includes helping others when they maybe go a bit wrong...

Yes, you do not have to like what I write, but you don't have to go on about it and make such a big deal.

Can I just apologise again, despite the fact I feel I have done little wrong here, besides try to add a bit of my own induviduality to my stories...

[(Anonymous)]

Hey,

I’m not just assuming you’re not dyslexic. I’m using what I know about dyslexic people and basing my thoughts on that. Dyslexic people often don’t choose writing as a hobby and they often don’t play with language the way that you do. So I do have a basis for my beliefs. I wonder why you think it’s unfair that I don’t think you’re dyslexic? Most people would rather not be.

About spelling out dialect; I, personally, don’t like it. Many people don’t like it. I think it jars me out of the story and brings Billy’s nationality into the forefront instead of his personality. It’s distracting.

I think LJ is a great place to share ideas and help other people when they may go a bit wrong. That is what I was doing by pointing out my dislike for your choice of spelling. If I phrased it in a way that was hurtful to you, I apologize; however, I phrased it in the way in which you suggested. If you just want positive feedback it’s okay to ask for criticism to be withheld.

I’m not making a big deal out of this. I’m replying to comments left in response to my comments. I’m sharing ideas.

Frankly, I wouldn’t bother if your fiction was utter crap. It’s not. I’ve quite enjoyed some of it. Your intros though, put me off. You come across as desperate for attention. That may not be your intention but that is how it reads to me, one of your readers. In my opinion, you’d be better off letting your fiction stand on its own with minimal introduction. If you want to share your thoughts on the writing process, your insecurities about it, and your friend’s opinions, I’d put it at the end, behind the cut, or in your own journal.