Chao- It's pretty cool seeing how many new features FF.net has added over the years, like communities, polls, adding cover art, replying to reviews, adding which "world" the fic takes place. Man, so many new features since Chao first got an account in 2003. Speaking of communities, they are such a cool place to see stories with agreed themes. Chao is thinking about starting a Yu-Gi-Oh! community, making it about Friendship since that's the base for the show and manga. To narrow down the theme, it should be with COMPLETED stories that way people who swing by can read a story without worrying about abandonment issues.
YChao- Does that mean I'll get to read more stories about Yugi in pain?
Chao- Maybe. And you know what else will be cool? Starting a community for Phineas and Ferb, one for family.
Agent Daisy- (tilts head to side) ....?
Chao- Well, there are a wide range of characters, so it could be with the Flynn-Fletcher family or Doofenshmirtz. He cares about his daughter so much!
YChao- What about stories with OCs, OCs that are somehow related to a character or go on adventures with them? We all know about your attitude towards them.
Chao- We'll cross that bridge when it comes. This is just an idea right now.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Why, Yes, Every Word Does Count in Writing
Chao- Many of us enjoy reading a good fan fic whether it involves detailed scenery or greatly written action. But what defines good? What makes something you read capture your attention?
One way to have something special: Make every section count. Whether you're writing an introduction, a scenery, or a character's appearance, make every work count. It's important to cut down on wordiness and pointless repetition while focusing on powerful verbs and descriptive adjectives.
Why?: You may know what's going through your head and what your story will hold, but your readers won't. You want them to understand what you're writing. You want them to see an illustration, not a wall of text.
Chao- Honestly, how many of us skip through those large walls of text? (raises paw) Chao may like good description, but not something like The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne (same dude who wrote The Crucible).
Exercise 1: Take an index card and write a short story. You may use both sides. See how any words you chose fit into your compressed canvas.
Chao- This is a good exercise because it gives you a limited space to write. Limited space makes you think what words to use and what to say in your story. Now on a Word document you have much more space, but it is important to keep in mind your readers will grow bored if what you write isn't important, especially if you think so as well.
Ask yourself this: Do you enjoy lengthy descriptions of objects? If so, then write what you like. If not, then keep in mind what descriptions are important to the story.
Notes: One way to trim words is to use words that carry deep meaning. Many of us use a dictionary and/or a thesaurus whether it is through a document program, a published book, or online sources. Using new words don't need to be big and elegant. They just need to be used properly and replace what many words convey.
Example: Very big can be replaced with large, ample, or massive.
Chao- If you look at your own work or a work you really like, keep an eye how a small portion is written. What has and has not been working for you? These are important questions as they will have you analyze your work and find new ways to express your story.
One way to have something special: Make every section count. Whether you're writing an introduction, a scenery, or a character's appearance, make every work count. It's important to cut down on wordiness and pointless repetition while focusing on powerful verbs and descriptive adjectives.
Why?: You may know what's going through your head and what your story will hold, but your readers won't. You want them to understand what you're writing. You want them to see an illustration, not a wall of text.
Chao- Honestly, how many of us skip through those large walls of text? (raises paw) Chao may like good description, but not something like The House of the Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne (same dude who wrote The Crucible).
Exercise 1: Take an index card and write a short story. You may use both sides. See how any words you chose fit into your compressed canvas.
Chao- This is a good exercise because it gives you a limited space to write. Limited space makes you think what words to use and what to say in your story. Now on a Word document you have much more space, but it is important to keep in mind your readers will grow bored if what you write isn't important, especially if you think so as well.
Ask yourself this: Do you enjoy lengthy descriptions of objects? If so, then write what you like. If not, then keep in mind what descriptions are important to the story.
Notes: One way to trim words is to use words that carry deep meaning. Many of us use a dictionary and/or a thesaurus whether it is through a document program, a published book, or online sources. Using new words don't need to be big and elegant. They just need to be used properly and replace what many words convey.
Example: Very big can be replaced with large, ample, or massive.
Chao- If you look at your own work or a work you really like, keep an eye how a small portion is written. What has and has not been working for you? These are important questions as they will have you analyze your work and find new ways to express your story.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Practice a Review with a Review
Chao- Whether we're writing a fan fic or an original story, we like to hear/read reviews from people. As reviewers, some of us already know what to write while others need some time to think. But what do we write in a review? Do we ramble on and on about what we liked and what we didn't liked? Or should we act cautiously since other people can read them too? And why do reviews matter at all?
Why you should review: They are nice to read. They allow authors to know how their work is and what may need improving. A review can be like attending a sports game; showing up is one thing, but cheering can really help players endure the rough times and encourage them to move forward.
Chao- Have you ever read a movie or book review? Did you agree with what that person was criticizing and/or praising? If you read a review before seeing a movie or reading a book, did any of their word discourage you from looking at it? If you want some practice, consider following these steps.
Steps for Writing a Review:
1. Start with a positive comment -- people are already nervous enough when it comes to showing their work to the Internet world. A positive comment is a good way for an introduction.
2. Go on to state whether you like it or not -- you don't have to like everything you read.
3. Move on to say what you liked specifically or what you did not like. -- It doesn't help to say "Your work is wonderful! Update!" or "You suck".
4. Offer some writing advice (without being mean) or make other suggestions. -- If you have no writing experience, then skip this.
5. If you worry about hurting an author's feeling, wish them luck with the rest.
So, whether you send a review or subscribe to a story, it's like telling the author you are interested in the story and would to know what will happen next. Reviews are nice to read.
Chao- A technique that Chao had learned when reviewing public speakers is to use the "cream cookie/Oreo cookie/sandwich cookie review". You give a compliment, "sandwich" a constructive criticism, and then finish with another compliment. Let's face it, a lot of us really do prefer selective hearing, hearing what we like and ignore what we dislike. At least by using this technique we can handle criticism better.
The use of I:
Chao- Apparently it's also best to use "I" when saying what you liked or disliked when writing a review. It's also supposed to help the writer feel less defensive or something like that.
Example: "I liked reading this story from this character's viewpoint. I really got a sense of the emotion he went through. I didn't like reading a few spelling errors because I had to go back and re-read a few lines a few times. I liked the ending you gave; it made me laugh."
Chao- This entry is for those interested in expanding their review when many authors WANT constructive criticism and all they get was "Update soon". But, in the end, sometimes that's all you get. Oh, well, at least you got a review with someone interested in your story.
Why you should review: They are nice to read. They allow authors to know how their work is and what may need improving. A review can be like attending a sports game; showing up is one thing, but cheering can really help players endure the rough times and encourage them to move forward.
Chao- Have you ever read a movie or book review? Did you agree with what that person was criticizing and/or praising? If you read a review before seeing a movie or reading a book, did any of their word discourage you from looking at it? If you want some practice, consider following these steps.
Steps for Writing a Review:
1. Start with a positive comment -- people are already nervous enough when it comes to showing their work to the Internet world. A positive comment is a good way for an introduction.
2. Go on to state whether you like it or not -- you don't have to like everything you read.
3. Move on to say what you liked specifically or what you did not like. -- It doesn't help to say "Your work is wonderful! Update!" or "You suck".
4. Offer some writing advice (without being mean) or make other suggestions. -- If you have no writing experience, then skip this.
5. If you worry about hurting an author's feeling, wish them luck with the rest.
So, whether you send a review or subscribe to a story, it's like telling the author you are interested in the story and would to know what will happen next. Reviews are nice to read.
Chao- A technique that Chao had learned when reviewing public speakers is to use the "cream cookie/Oreo cookie/sandwich cookie review". You give a compliment, "sandwich" a constructive criticism, and then finish with another compliment. Let's face it, a lot of us really do prefer selective hearing, hearing what we like and ignore what we dislike. At least by using this technique we can handle criticism better.
The use of I:
Chao- Apparently it's also best to use "I" when saying what you liked or disliked when writing a review. It's also supposed to help the writer feel less defensive or something like that.
Example: "I liked reading this story from this character's viewpoint. I really got a sense of the emotion he went through. I didn't like reading a few spelling errors because I had to go back and re-read a few lines a few times. I liked the ending you gave; it made me laugh."
Chao- This entry is for those interested in expanding their review when many authors WANT constructive criticism and all they get was "Update soon". But, in the end, sometimes that's all you get. Oh, well, at least you got a review with someone interested in your story.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Authors and Editors
Chao- Hiring another author to look over your work isn't all a bad idea. It's always good having a set of fresh eyes reviewing your work for any mistakes. Some authors, though, make better editors than others. Some are more aware of grammar; plot and characters; tone and style; or working on a macro or micro level (what the story is vs. how it will be told respectfully). How do you know who to choose? Dunno, but here are a few ideas you may want to consider:
Chao- Authors may have experience writing, but not all of them make great editors. One thing to look out is what they edit and how. A big mistake new editors make is that they focus too much on their own style. Editors must be aware and accept tones and styles differ from their own. They may rearrange an entire paragraph without permission and expect you to take their word for it. Is that fair to you, or did you honestly have a reason for that style?
Consider their credibility:
Chao- If you are happy with their work, you can continue asking them for assistance. You are also free to ask other people for help on the same content. Keep in mind that everyone you ask will not always be helpful. And it is ok to change editors!
You may want to change people if:
Chao- Hope this helped those looking for editors to over look their work! Hmm... Maybe Chao should create an entry for beta editors....?
- Why are you asking certain authors for help?
- Do you like the way they write their stories?
- Are their stories written well enough for your standards?
- Do you like their attitude in their author notes or when you PM them?
- Have you read their Beta profile if one is available? Do you agree with those guidelines?
- Do they offer an explanation for a correction, or do they merely scratch them in?
- If they do explain, is it in a language you understand, or is it all jargon?
- Is your language their first language?
- Are most repairs correct? Do they truly cover what is grammatically right, or are they relying on outdated rules?
- If you trade a document uploaded by Microsoft Word, do they know how to operate the Comments and Track Changes? If it is done through Word, do they highlight their changes either through the highlight or font color?
- Do they commend you on anything, like writing a good analogy, joke, or action scene, or are they strictly focused on fixing mistakes?
- Are they focused more on grammar, or can they tell you the pros and cons of your story as a whole?
- Do they ask for your views on anything you wrote?
- Do they ask if you want them to look at anything specific? Do you tell them if there's anything specific? Do you mention if you just want a general overview?
- Do they return the work in a good amount of time, or at least send a(n) email/PM if there's been a change?
- As a writer you are free to decline any corrections or advice they give. Are they all right with that, or do they give you negative remarks?
- Are you happy with their work in the end?
Chao- Authors may have experience writing, but not all of them make great editors. One thing to look out is what they edit and how. A big mistake new editors make is that they focus too much on their own style. Editors must be aware and accept tones and styles differ from their own. They may rearrange an entire paragraph without permission and expect you to take their word for it. Is that fair to you, or did you honestly have a reason for that style?
Consider their credibility:
- They've written fan fics or other stories
- They are familiar with the characters you are using
- They know about the original story your fan fic is from
- People who have hired them liked their editing work
- They are aware of and admit their strengths and weaknesses
- They offer you outside sources, like books or web pages
Chao- If you are happy with their work, you can continue asking them for assistance. You are also free to ask other people for help on the same content. Keep in mind that everyone you ask will not always be helpful. And it is ok to change editors!
You may want to change people if:
- what they provided was weak, poor, contradictory or inconsistent edits
- enforced their own style
- wrote mean comments to you or what you have written
- changed your meaning of your work, even rewriting what you have
- ignored or forgot about you
- you have a personal issue with them or vice versa
Chao- Hope this helped those looking for editors to over look their work! Hmm... Maybe Chao should create an entry for beta editors....?
Monday, April 1, 2013
Updates for April
Chao- It's getting warmer on this side of the planet now that spring is here! (looks over at some plants and sees them fall over from lack of water) Well, that's kinda what happens when you live in a desert. Anyway, let's see what'll be plan for this month!
Yu-Gi-Oh!: "Offspring of Heroes" is getting more and more organized. Future chapters are planned to be publish next month. Hopefully this month will have the sequel to "Social Obligations" published. That one is more than halfway being done.
Phineas and Ferb: No current news at this time.
Cats Don't Dance: No current news at this time.
Chao- So that's it for now. But Chao must give a heads up that not a whole lot will be written and/or published towards the end of this month. Got final exams and projects to worry about!
YChao- Your school gets out early than others. Have you already made plans for summer?
Chao- Summer is going to be tricky: There's either gonna be summer school or working a summer job. Not capable of doing both. On the bright side, maybe once all papers and projects are in a good stance, Chao will finally be done with the chore cleaning Chao's room!
Agent Daisy- (points to calendar)
Chao- It probably would have been done a while ago, but Chao only worked on it for about 30 minutes at a time. Plus, Chao likes to watch something good while doing chores, like Regular Show.
Yu-Gi-Oh!: "Offspring of Heroes" is getting more and more organized. Future chapters are planned to be publish next month. Hopefully this month will have the sequel to "Social Obligations" published. That one is more than halfway being done.
Phineas and Ferb: No current news at this time.
Cats Don't Dance: No current news at this time.
Chao- So that's it for now. But Chao must give a heads up that not a whole lot will be written and/or published towards the end of this month. Got final exams and projects to worry about!
YChao- Your school gets out early than others. Have you already made plans for summer?
Chao- Summer is going to be tricky: There's either gonna be summer school or working a summer job. Not capable of doing both. On the bright side, maybe once all papers and projects are in a good stance, Chao will finally be done with the chore cleaning Chao's room!
Agent Daisy- (points to calendar)
Chao- It probably would have been done a while ago, but Chao only worked on it for about 30 minutes at a time. Plus, Chao likes to watch something good while doing chores, like Regular Show.
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