Monday, May 13, 2013

Writing Outside of the Box


Since Zyra and I were actually in the same house together, we decided to sit down and write a post together.  This is the result of that collaboration!  We literally passed the laptop between us as we wrote our thoughts down.  Hopefully they get you guys thinking and commenting and maybe we can do another before she leaves next week.  :-)

Writing Outside of the Box


One of the concerns we often have with writing the blog is that we sometimes feel like people will read what we're writing and take us as the authority on all things Han and Leia.  Well, we're not.  We'd like to think that we are just offering a place for all of us to discuss our favorite couple and have open discussions about the many possibilities when it comes to writing about them.  So we'd like to think that people aren't reading what we're writing and seeing something that goes against something they were maybe thinking about writing and then deciding they can't post it.  We are only offering opinions here, so hopefully you are all still feeling free to write what you want to write as long as it's what you are interested in.

And just as we 'pushed the envelope' with the sexy times post last week, it's good to encourage each other to write Han and Leia maybe as they aren't always written.  It is the infinite number of different ways in which we can all see these characters that make the greatest stories or can make them if we were all to write them.  That isn't to say that we should all go off and write crazy, out of character stories just for the sake of being different.  It's just that we probably don't all see these characters exactly the same way, and we don't want the vocal majority to stifle the creativity of a few people who might have some different ideas but could be reluctant to post because they don't think that the rest of us will buy it.

Lady Peter recently shared with me (Push) her new fanfic writer's motto (I hope she doesn't mind that I'm sharing) and it was:  "Write the story that you would want to read."  I just loved that and it was exactly the message we wanted to get across with this post.  We all probably have enough to contend with dealing with our own internal critics, we certainly don't need to add the voices of a million (it's possible) readers that we are trying to please.  In the end, if you're able to write down a storyline, conversation, oneshot, etc. that you love then share it - chances are someone else will dig it, too.  Which brings us to feedback....

Oh, feedback.  Feedback can bring a writer the greatest feeling of accomplishment.  And lack of feedback can completely destroy their will to ever write again.  Silence in this case can be absolutely deafening.  Unless you've written something and posted and experienced the silence in response, you have no idea.  That is one of the reasons we often encourage you lurkers to come out of the woodwork.  Feedback is a tricky thing.  First, you should know that very, very rarely anywhere in the fandom do I ever recall seeing genuinely negative feedback.  And anytime I have, it was either an obvious troll just looking to be irrationally mean, or the writer of the story was obviously a troll writing something absurd to get a reaction.  So you probably shouldn't worry about negative feedback. 

It's lack of feedback that kills you.  The thing is, you can't let it bother you.  There can be any number of reasons for lack of response.  One thing you notice after posting for a while is that while the sexy time stories always get the most hits (yes, always)  they also often have the fewest reviews.  One potential theory I have on this is that people don't like to admit that they like those stories, or maybe just don't want their name attached to it, even though of course we are mostly anonymous.  Also, there are a lot of stories out there for us to be reading, and once you get to know and trust authors, you start to read them and comment.  But when new people show up, you don't necessarily jump at reading because you aren't sure if it's going to be worth it.  So if you don't give it a shot, and a lot of other people don't, either, then people don't wind up reading or reviewing. 

You really can't let that get to you.  You need to just keep writing what you want to write and trust that if you keep at it, people will eventually jump on board and become avid fans of your work.  My (Zyra) first few stories got very little attention.  Nobody was reading and reviewing.  But I kept on writing and eventually people started reading and reviewing more.  And I (Push) had only about one reviewer for my first story (which happened to be Zyra)...

So, get out there and write the stories you know you'd want to read but maybe are afraid to write.  Or does anyone have any comments on this?  Anyone feel like we've said some things on here that you disagree with but haven't spoken up on before?  We really do want to try and be open minded here.  Keep in mind that we are all just a bunch of creative types who can interpret things differently and only offer opinions.  Hopefully we can always respect each other's. 

Discuss...

   

27 comments:

  1. Great post! It's this kind of thinking that made me believe Han could have musical talent. There's nothing to suggest in any of the flicks that this is possible. But music and math reside close to each other in the brain, and it's clear that Han is good with spatial and vector based tasks. (About 75% of my colleagues in my field play a musical instrument; and there are two well done studies on this topic --and statistics has the lowest percentage of musicians across the various math specialties.)

    Leia may have little to no experience in terms of domestic tasks, as would befit someone with her upbringing, but I'd like to see her learn these things, and I think Han would be a good teacher. I'd also like to see her having fun with her kids. I think she could relax with kids and discover in her the kid that never was.

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  2. I also agree about not letting lack of feedback bother one. I look at reviews as bonus bucks, since more people read and don't comment than do. I don't know if this is truly part of the feedback ethos, but I try to respond to those who take the time to do so. Writing is always a dialogue.

    I write stories I'd like to read. It's nice when people express that they like what you do, but ultimately, for it to be a satisfying experience, you have to write for yourself and write something you love.

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  3. I'll add a more insightful comment later as I have to get to sleep, but how am I just now noticing where Threepio is pressing Leia's hand in that picture?!?!?

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    1. Funny, that's what I thought was so funny about that picture in the first place. It's your innocent mind, I guess...

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    2. I just thought it was like, aw, look at them messing around and being silly and Carrie has a nice smile on her face. Now I know why she's smiling. And yes, probably my innocent mind.

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    3. Anyone who knows about that x rated Topps trading card of Threepio being, um rather...excited, will know why I'm finding Leia's hand in that position particularly funny. :)

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    4. I have no idea what you're talking about, but my curiousity is piqued. Although...weirdly so.

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    5. That I actually DID know about.

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    6. Push, I'm sure Zyra can whisper it in your ear...;)

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    7. I'm sure you guys have seen the photo where Chewie is grabbing her breasts? Carrie seems to have enjoyed striking risque poses. Another reason I'm sure she'd approve on some level of H/L smut :).

      Also, I was just watching the VH1 "When Star Wars Ruled the World," in which Anthony Daniels confirms Fisher's story that, yes, everyone on Jabba's throne would see "all the way to Florida" while she was in her metal bikini. But, he says, "3P0 isn't interested in that kind of thing." Ha!!

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    8. Lol, Lady Peter. That's pretty funny. But poor Leia. She did look hot in it, but all the way to Florida. Oh, my.

      And I don't think I've had an innocent mind since high school. :) But somehow I missed where her hand was too.

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  4. Thanks for the motto! Maybe I'll someday post something because the negative comments will probably concentrate on my bad English. :) I'm not afraid of that, it'll be welcome.

    Some reason why I don't comment, is that the fanfic left me completely wordless for some reason. Maybe I should give it as a feedback... SOME reason would be that my comment would be just an blind praise and Worth nothing. Because I don't know how to explain myself. But beginning writers would probably appreciate that, TOO.

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    1. Lily, I am an English grammar and usage nerd, and I've done a lot of editing. If you ever want someone to take a look at your work with an eye to those things, just let me know! I'm sure your work deserves to be seen :)

      And yes, I think even just "I liked it!" would be a great thing for an author to hear. I know I appreciate it!

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    2. Hey, Lily. I used to feel the same way. What could I possibly critique or what would my opinion matter? But just a quick "I liked it" is actually quite nice to hear. :-)

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    3. Yeah. While we all love in depth reviews, something is better than nothing. Just letting us know you liked it, if that's all you feel like saying, is enough.

      In fact, Push and I started talking because she sent me a PM to apologize for not having commented on my stuff even though she'd read it, because once she started posting and I was one of the few people reviewing her story she realized how much reviews mean! And look at us now! I'm on her couch, eating her food... Wait, maybe this didn't turn out so well for you ;)

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    4. Um, if I come home from work and dinner's cooked and the dishes are done, I might be alright with it...

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    5. I would NEVER get on your case about your English not being perfect, especially in a comment! Correct grammar and spelling are absolute necessities when writing a story (and that's why we have SpellCheck, Grammatik, beta readers, etc.). But don't hesitate to comment in your own way and in your own voice. That you took the time and effort to comment means a lot to someone like me.

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    6. I actually had a review left in Spanish. Easy enough to translate. I though it was cool.

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    7. Wow, big thanks, guys! :)

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  5. Thanks for the shout-out! I'm glad you guys found my new affirmation helpful. It's funny, though: I've been using it with myself in a much more mundane way. For me, it has more to do with making the switch from being just a reader to being a writer as well.

    I started saying this to myself when I'd search for new fanfics to read and come up empty. I'll be searching with some tone in mind, some variety of story, and when I don't find anything I finally just think to myself, "well, I guess you just have to write it yourself." It is very empowering to think that I can create my own stories when I feel like there's something I'd want to read that isn't out there.

    Z&P, I guess your approach is the other side of the coin: Instead of using what you want to read to find something to write, you're saying that everything you write will find someone to read it, even in the (highly unlikely) case that it's just you.

    This reminds me of a principle that inspires me so much as a librarian and archivist and reader that I have it printed on my business cards. The obscure and under-rated library theorist S. R. Ranganathan invented the Five Laws of Library Science. The two that I have on my business cards are:

    Every reader has her book : Every book has its reader

    There is a story out there for everyone, and a reader out there for every story!

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  6. I think it can be a good thing to "think outside the box", providing whatever you write remains in character. My moto as both a reader and a writer has long been that if you can't hear Harrison or Carrie speaking the dialogue or picture them as Han and Leia doing whatever they are doing, then it doesn't work. This is absolutely vital IMHO.

    On the subject of feedback, yes even just an "I liked it" means so much, so even if you can't think of anything else to say readers, just tell us it was good. :)

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    1. It goes without saying that it should be in character. We just have to remember that some of us see what is in character a little differently, and that is where the interpretation comes in. Like, sometimes I read things that have Leia maybe a little more damaged than I really see her, or maybe a little bit more forward with Han. Or maybe Han is a bit more aggressive or something else I might not generally go with. I might not be able to "hear" them saying certain dialog but someone else might.

      That said, you probably do need to remember that if you're going against what we all generally see as in character you should be prepared to give us a reason for their actions and understand the potential that the reactions from the readers might not be what you'd otherwise normally see.

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  7. I am months behind in reading any fan fiction. I feel terrible for not keeping up with it all, this year has been very hectic. I do love the saying that "Every reader has her book and every book has her reader." Amen.

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  8. I am glad you posted this. I get behind reading and many times just read something briefly on my phone between commitments. I always mean to go back and really digest what I gave read and then comment. However when I get back to it I am several posts behind and think why post now group has moved on. Well that is the wrong attitude. I will comment and drop tjilose quick messages when I browse the reading the first time.

    People have the courage to share their stories I certainly can let them know I appreciate it.

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    1. LOL. It amazes me the words I can type on my phone that don't auto-correct. Hopefully the meaning isn't lost.

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  9. Very cool you wrote a post together. Neat way of doing things.

    Interesting post for sure. It prompts some thought on writing stories that maybe aren't completely in character or a bit different. Definitely love the bit about writing the story you want to read and every book has its reader. I think it's neat some people write the stories that they aren't seeing out there. I don't mind stories that are different as long as the author makes it believeable. Make me care about the characters. That certainly goes a long way.

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