Absolute Chaos Discussion Boards
Fic Talk => General Discussion => Topic started by: BSB-Chick-101♥ on October 12, 2008, 04:54:47 PM
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As you all know I'm new here to AC. While I know my writing does need lots of work and all that so I wanted to ask some of my favorite writers for any advice on improving to get some constructive criticism. So I emailed one in particular, a very popular writer on AC with a big following of her series and this is the reply I got back. I'm not sure how to deal with it since I was taken aback by the rudeness of her words I was wondering what everyone else thought?
Dear Leigh-Anna, BSB-Chick-101 or Whoever you are.
You honestly think your series is better than mine?! HA! Well guess what sweetie I have some news for you. Your series will just be a little fly on the wall compared to mine. Leigh-Anna sweetie you can fall off the face of the earth of fan fiction and no one would give a flying fuck! Let me tell you some of the things that are wrong with your stories, lets begin.
1. You have NO plot, and your characters are moronic.
2. You ONLY used Nick as the main guy because you read my series and took the ideas you bitch!
3. There’s no description what so ever!
4. Overall, you just suck as a writer.
So just do everyone a favor, go to writers heaven. I guarantee no one would give a shit. They’ll just read mine. So long fan fic bitch.
Thats what she said, I was only looking for some constructive critism from one of my favorite authors and this is what I got back. And I just wanted to see what everyone else would do if they were in my situation?
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Geesh...that's terrible...the nerve of some people. I mean if you're asking for constructive criticism and all a simple "no i just don't have the time but thanks for reading my work" would suffice.
I'm sorry hon that you had to deal with that! No one should be that mean.
Personally if I were a beginner and had that happen I would use that as a motivator to improve myself and prove that person wrong. Turning a negative into a positive you know?
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Ok well regardless of whatever you might of said in your original e-mail to her and I am sure that you came off as very polite this response is completely uncalled for! I mean I understand that some authors just don't have the time or the paitence to help out a new writer, but the least this person could've done was cordially reply, "You know what? I'd love to help you out, but I have way too much on my plate right now. I am flattered by your asking though." I mean I myself have been in the position where an author has asked for my help and I just couldn't handle taking them on at the moment and I know I was much more polite than that. There's no excuse to talk to another writer like that, period.
As a person who has had my writing trashed in the past, you can only take those tiny bits of critiscism that was given and work them out and become a better writer in the long run. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for people like this. If this is how someone is going to treat their readers this self proclaimed fan fic queen is going to find that no one is going to be around to read her stories and she'll end up destroying herself. Karma will get her.
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Ok well regardless of whatever you might of said in your original e-mail to her and I am sure that you came off as very polite this response is completely uncalled for! I mean I understand that some authors just don't have the time or the paitence to help out a new writer, but the least this person could've done was cordially reply, "You know what? I'd love to help you out, but I have way too much on my plate right now. I am flattered by your asking though." I mean I myself have been in the position where an author has asked for my help and I just couldn't handle taking them on at the moment and I know I was much more polite than that. There's no excuse to talk to another writer like that, period.
As a person who has had my writing trashed in the past, you can only take those tiny bits of critiscism that was given and work them out and become a better writer in the long run. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for people like this. If this is how someone is going to treat their readers this self proclaimed fan fic queen is going to find that no one is going to be around to read her stories and she'll end up destroying herself. Karma will get her.
Totally agree Mel! I've had my writing trashed by someone who was one of my beta's at one point and I was down in the dumps for weeks. Thankfully I had Mel to slap some sense into me and I think I've improved vastly in my writing since. You just gotta tell em to go eff themselves in your head and keep working on it. Hopefully whoever this was will get their commuppance!
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I think maybe the best thing to do is email this person back and explain how incredibly rude they were to you. I'm not sure starting this thread was the best idea.
To me it sounded like maybe you alluded to the fact that you thought you were a better writer than she is and sometimes that's all an ego needs to hear to go off the deep end. Either way, she was rude and hopefully she'll apologize and the two of you can work it out. If not, then her stuff isn't worth the read anymore. At least that's how i'd look at it.
I'll keep this thread open for now because perhaps said perosn will want to come in and defend herself, but i'm warning now if it gets ugly it'll be closed and perhaps people will get banned. Yes, I said it!
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I think maybe the best thing to do is email this person back and explain how incredibly rude they were to you. I'm not sure starting this thread was the best idea.
To me it sounded like maybe you alluded to the fact that you thought you were a better writer than she is and sometimes that's all an ego needs to hear to go off the deep end. Either way, she was rude and hopefully she'll apologize and the two of you can work it out. If not, then her stuff isn't worth the read anymore. At least that's how i'd look at it.
I'll keep this thread open for now because perhaps said perosn will want to come in and defend herself, but i'm warning now if it gets ugly it'll be closed and perhaps people will get banned. Yes, I said it!
I agree with you for the most part. Hopefully it can get resolved. From what it seems like to me Leigh-Anna said she was looking for constructive criticism on her work. And from what I know of her she's pretty humble and doesn't try to boast about her own work so I'm not so sure that she'd actually say her writing was better since she was asking a writer who she admires for help on improving her work.
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That may be, that's just how I interpreted it.
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That may be, that's just how I interpreted it.
Yeah I thought the same thing when I first read that email but after talking to Leigh-Anna she's pretty self-depricating when it comes to her work and is always looking for a way to improve it. Either way that's a pretty cruel response from that writer.
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I agree
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Wow... I cannot even believe that is for real, that someone would actually write that response to you! I'm honestly shocked and appalled. It's disgusting!
Like others have said...
1) I can understand an author not having time or just not feeling obligated to read your stories and give you constructive criticism. But there is a tactful way to tell you that, and that obviously was far from it.
2) If you did somehow insinuate that your stories were better than hers, I can understand her taking offense to that... but again, there's a mature way to respond that doesn't include the flaming, personal insults, and rude language.
I can see Mare's point in encouraging you to reply to the author instead of starting a thread here, but personally, I'm glad you did, and I kinda wish I knew who you were talking about, cause that is someone whose stories I would want to avoid. Probably I already do avoid them, cause judging by the author's writing, they'd have too many grammar issues for my taste. (Lack of punctuation makes my eyes hemorrhage.)
If you're going to email her back, I would encourage you to keep it mature and "polite." Don't stoop to her level by calling her names or insulting her or her stories back. Reply once or not at all, and let it go. She's not worth getting upset over. If you enjoy writing, then keep writing, and forget what some deluded, raging egomaniac has to say about it. The more you write and read, the better you will get; it's as simple as that.
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w.o.w.
I guess my only advice would be just to leave it like it is. Some things are really not worth perusing. She's obviously looking for drama and clearly won't be of any help to you in the future, so I would just try my best to ignore it. No need to get nasty back.
Seriously, what else can I say? Just that hopefully she's one in a million. (and not in a cool-BSB-song kind of way) That was definitely awful of her to write that, but I hope you realize that that can't possibly be the norm. I hope this doesn't stop you from seeking out constructive feedback in the future.
Good luck with your future writing! May you have better luck with all the other authors here.
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Yup, I also wanted to add that it shouldn't discourage you from writing. If anything, let it be a motivater.
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And maybe make a dart board out of one of her stories... (or a banner if she has one.) that might make you feel a little better.
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And maybe make a dart board out of one of her stories... (or a banner if she has one.) that might make you feel a little better.
LOL! Kelly you crack me up. Yeah I agree I would definitely make a dart board!
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Totally; if you did quit writing cause of this (and I don't see you as the type to do that), then she would win. What you need to do is the exact opposite: keep writing, use TRUE constructive criticism (which that was not) to help you write better, and stick around until this chick is a has-been who has retired to the realms of her so-called "writer's heaven" and YOUR stories are the new big thing. I've been writing fanfic long enough that I have seen many authors like that come and go in the span of two years or so. Meanwhile, here I am, still writing and getting reviews after like nine years of working at it LOL. You don't wanna peak with your first story, or your second, or your third... those are practice. Have fun with them, learn from them, and make each new story better than the one before it.
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thanks. my duty in life is to entertain. Plus, I don't take kindly to people being bitchy to me, but I'm way to non-confrontational (aka wussy) to talk to people when things like this happen. I have to resort to passive aggressive behaviors like throwing darts at stories instead of resolving the issue.
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Nicely stated! I agree to use this as a motivator. I mean we were all beginners at one point an lets face it our best work was not our first! lol. I know this is such a complete cliche but that which doesn't kill you only makes you stronger! And those are really words to live by!
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thanks. my duty in life is to entertain. Plus, I don't take kindly to people being bitchy to me, but I'm way to non-confrontational (aka wussy) to talk to people when things like this happen. I have to resort to passive aggressive behaviors like throwing darts at stories instead of resolving the issue.
LOL! I think I figured out who it is and dartboards are definitely a nifty idea. Sometimes passive aggressive is good in an awkward situation. I'm glad Leigh-Anna made this thread hopefully she'll see that not all writers on AC are as self-loving egoists as that letter portrays one as.
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This is what I sent her if that helps. I don't think what I said should have provoked such a strong reaction like that but maybe my words were misconstrued?
Hi! My name is Leigh-Anna and I’m a new writer on AC. I love your series and think you’re a great writer! I was just wondering if it’s not too much trouble could read and possibly help me with my series? I’m BSB-Chick-101 and could really use some pointers. Thank you.
Best Wishes,
Leigh-Anna
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Leigh-Anna check your PMs please.
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and THAT'S how she replied? Wow, that makes it all that much bitchier. It kinda makes me want to send some squishy hugs your way.
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It doesn't make sense, does it?
I feel like I'm missing something from the whole story here LOL.
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yeah it doesn't make sense. Maybe the words were misinterpreted? Like her request is simple and polite and the response makes it seem like somethings missing but I don't think there is. Looking at the response you'd think that someone said that they're better than her but I don't know how she could have gotten the idea that Leigh-Anna was saying she was better in any respect.
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I am the very first person to admit that I am an asshole, but even that is beyond anything I would ever do to someone.
How did you contact this author? Did you do it through the site or do you know their email? I only ask because technically anything that's sent through the site could very well be considered a flame, and you could if you wanted report the person to say... a mean mod that loves to jack people up. :)
I'm sorry that you got a reply like that when you were only looking for help, it's completely uncalled for.
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yeah it doesn't make sense. Maybe the words were misinterpreted? Like her request is simple and polite and the response makes it seem like somethings missing but I don't think there is. Looking at the response you'd think that someone said that they're better than her but I don't know how she could have gotten the idea that Leigh-Anna was saying she was better in any respect.
If we're getting the whole story. I'm starting to doubt that we are. We're only getting one side of it, and maybe not even the whole side, if that makes sense.
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If we're getting the whole story. I'm starting to doubt that we are. We're only getting one side of it, and maybe not even the whole side, if that makes sense.
I can understand the suspicion but I highly doubt she would lie or hold anything back if she was trying to get an honest opinion on here.
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I can understand the suspicion but I highly doubt she would lie or hold anything back if she was trying to get an honest opinion on here.
If.
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Leigh-anna, do you review this person's stories? Is there any chance she's misinterpretin g things you've said in the past and just suddenly decided to lash out when you contacted her? Because I honestly just can't understand where a response like that would come from. I mean I know there are some bitchy people out there, but if it's not provoked, I just really, really, can't understand it. Especially from the e-mail you wrote her. Shouldn't she be flattered? Shouldn't that make her think that you like her stories better, hence the reason you're coming to her for help?
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I am the very first person to admit that I am an asshole, but even that is beyond anything I would ever do to someone.
How did you contact this author? Did you do it through the site or do you know their email? I only ask because technically anything that's sent through the site could very well be considered a flame, and you could if you wanted report the person to say... a mean mod that loves to jack people up. :)
I'm sorry that you got a reply like that when you were only looking for help, it's completely uncalled for.
I was perusing the profiles here on the boards one day and saw her email and decided to email her. So I did and that's the response I got.
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Good points, Kelly. I also understand bitchy, and arrogant. But arrogant people aren't rude for no reason. Arrogant people may be rude without realizing it, but that was obviously intended to be rude. People wouldn't like this girl's stories if she was that rude to her readers or anyone who deemed her worthy of asking her for help. It just doesn't add up to me, Leigh-Anna, knowing who you're talking about it and reading what you say you sent to her first. Even the writing style of her response is different... remember what I said about punctuation?
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I was perusing the profiles here on the boards one day and saw her email and decided to email her. So I did and that's the response I got.
What day was this?
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I was perusing the profiles here on the boards one day and saw her email and decided to email her. So I did and that's the response I got.
How would you have seen her email? Wait, you emailed her through the forum or through AC?
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What day was this?
last friday
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How would you have seen her email? Wait, you emailed her through the forum or through AC?
I e-mailed her THROUGH the form, sent her the e-mail and thats the response that I got back .
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It doesn't add up at all.
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I just gotta say... if anyone here ever has a problem like this there are things you need to do.
First of all, you need to have the email addresses that both you and the accused used. Second you should actually have that email, to forward, with all information, onto the moderators. Take a screen shot, forward the email, do SOMETHING that will actually prove you got the email.
You can't just say someone said something then have absolutely nothing to back it up. We can't ban someone based on your word alone. If you need or want to contact an author from the site... do it through the contact feature.
There are a great many inconsistencie s we're trying to work through here, which would have been more easily dealt with if there was more information.
Here's what it comes down to: You have the proof, the accused will be dealt with and/or banned. You don't have the proof but throw around accusations, or we find out you made anything up you may be banned.
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"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" - Marcellus from Act 1, Scene 5 of Hamlet.
Sorry, I'm rereading the play for my own enjoyment and I found the quote fitting.
Okay, I'm gonna say this, after reading the thread. There's a whole side that's not being told. It's totally obvious. I don't buy the entire story.
And Julilly, I think you and Mare are handling this fabulously.
(And I edited cause I made a big oops lol, this is why I don't quote Shakespeare at 8 in the morning lol)