One Last Workday This Week...

[erulissedances]

What a week. With my poor DH down with diverticulitis and, after beginning to heal from that, coming down with the beginnings of the flu, it's been unbelievable stressful and I've had to work a six-day week. On the writing front, I finished and turned in a LOTR Community story, I'm almost finished with my SV story, and I did another drabble - this time to address the word "borrow". My first attempt was dismal and I pulled it the next day. My second attempt moved it's scope over to one of my more familiar playgrounds - Ost-in-Edhel and the admittance of Annatar into the Gwaith-i-Mirdain. This version I was pleased with and put it up for concrit. Changes suggested were looked at and, if I felt they were consistent with my inner view of the scene, were incorporated.

When an author, a student writing a paper for his fourth-grade class or a professional author with many books on the shelves bearing her name, constructs a scene, s/he develops a mental image of what is being written. In many cases the author lives the work, walks through the rooms, looks at the content on tables, and sees the layout of the buildings. Each author's vision is unique. Unless they are writing a purely factual text, everything is subject to interpretation. In a fictional work, everything is up for grabs.

I rarely spend so much time over a blog post, and I rarely delete as much as I have on this one to avoid casting stones. I live in as much of a glass house as anyone, and I'm personally a bit shy of stones. I gave a reasoned response to someone I considered a friend yesterday and received a thrown stone in return. *sigh* Maybe next week will be better.

Comments

[elleth]

It's always difficult to deal with criticism in the beginning (and in many cases, long after that). I've been writing fic for ten years or thereabouts now, and my skin has grown considerably thicker in the meantime, but believe me when I tell you that it sometimes still rankles, especially with a fic/character that you hold near and dear to your heart. (Though I'm probably not telling you anything new there.)

Other than that, I don't think the Lizard in question is passing value judgement about your writing, they are offering advice from a storytelling standpoint even if it sounds harsh to your ears. As you said, everything in fiction is up for grabs, that's true for you-the-author as much as your readership. Even at the risk of sounding clichéd, it takes all types.

*offers a hug*

[erulissedances]

Thanks for the hug.

I think what bothered me was that the crit was about the format, not the story. If I present an item within a specific format, I'm not looking to be told that it should be put in a different one, I'm looking for crit on the writing within that format guidelines. Just call me slightly frustrated. I'll get over it, and LC still rules!

- Erulisse (one L)