Writing and rewriting...

A long long time ago, I began my first fanfic and posted it on here. And then I had the audacity to ask the magnificent ChangDictator to review it (I still can't believe she actually read it). The more I read her suggestions and comments, the more I was convinced- my precious story needed a SERIOUS makeover. But stuff kept happening so I was forced to keep putting it off. I finally began my long-overdue rewrite yesterday. I pulled up the super helpful review and analyzed the crap out of it as I went. The more I wrote though, the more I wondered- was it still my work if I was following someone else's suggestions so much? Or was a sacrificing my creativity and my story? Is it ing yourself to write so that you can draw more readers or are you actually making things better? What do you guys think?

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iD0RKIE #1 May 22, 2012 20:54:06

lol...my brain ran out of fart when I saw the freaking essay down there!

DoubleA #2 May 22, 2012 16:51:41

One thing a writer should always remember is that the only thing that makes your work yours is your voice, if you lose it; you’re writing has no life and could become any random piece of prose. You are at a point where you have found your voice, and you have to keep in mind that extreme editing usually kills this voice.

Personally I love your story. It should be noted that even outside of the fanfic world, I still love fantasy. I think you do not have as much readers as you would like because people here aren't usually up for things that don't involve real life situations or hard core romance. Most people here have probably never read a complete book in their lives, at least not fantasy. With this genre, on a page like this, I think getting readers is hard, even if your work is good.

I happened to read the review you mentioned, and if I remember correctly the reviewer mentioned that this was not the type of story she frequented. In my opinion, someone who does not read fantasy cannot correctly judge a story of this genre.

Continuing with editing, remember to keep faithful to your ideas and voice. Let’s say that even a word looked up on the thesaurus usually messes up your voice and stands out horribly, so following someone else’s thought process would be so much worse. One more thing, remember that editing should happen once your completely done writing and not in between, it just kills creativity.

nalaboja #3 May 22, 2012 15:29:49

As long as your edits are there because you think they honestly make the story a stronger story, and not because they'll draw in the simple readers who just want to see their favorite idol's name within the first paragraph ^^

boredbluejay #4 May 22, 2012 15:18:19

O.o are you guys always on or something?

swabluu #5 May 22, 2012 14:54:55

Um
I think that you shouldn't always sacrifice so much of your original creativity and stuff--retain your originality but try to fix problems when people suggest them, and if they make sense. Following suggestions isn't sacrificing your story--it's learning to improve. After all, you are the person who controls what gets improved, and /how/ it gets improved ^^

predictator #6 May 22, 2012 14:54:44

LMFAO MAGNIFICENT. Wae you lie like that LOL. But your story doesn't need a makeover! ;A; what are you making over? Oh my god don't... sacrifice your creativity! Oh my god! Noooo. My suggestions are suggestive but seriously it's YOUR story. As long as you like it that's all that matters ummmm. ;A;