[ SECRET POST #3239 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3239 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.


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02.
[Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani]


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03.
[Law & Order SVU/OZ]


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04.
[Unforgotten, The Fall]


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05.
[Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything]


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06.
[Markiplier]


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07.
[Law & Order SVU (John Munch)]


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08.
[Kaiji]








Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 035 secrets from Secret Submission Post #463.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

Popular or unpopular, it doesn't matter.

Re: Writing Opinions

[kallanda_lee]

For heaven's sake don't do 1st or 2nd person unless you're a REALLY good writer and know why you're using it. Same for present tense, up to an extent.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

I'm fine with first person. Present tense... if it absolutely has to be.

2nd person is hard to pull off. They can't all be I Stand Here Ironing. (And even that might've been better in third or first.)

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

I've only seen 2nd person done well in the Homestuck fandom, which probably has something to do with the canon being written in 2nd person.

Otherwise, instant backbutton.

Re: Writing Opinions

[comma_chameleon]

I haaaaate first person. The story has to be VERY engaging and VERY well written to make me not want to auto-nope out of a fic or book when it's in first person.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

I think 1st person can often be alright in original fiction, but I agree that it's almost never a good bet in fanfiction. I always get this feeling like the author is claiming an unearned intimacy with the character or something. I've seen 1st person done well in fic, but not often.

For me, 2nd person can work, but almost exclusively for a very specific try of fanfic: a fic that's not too long, and is meant to leave the reader feeling unsettled. IMO 2nd person creates a schism between what happens in a story and the feeling of what happens. It can be powerful if you're writing about a character who is struggling to understand themselves and what they feel and what that measn about who they are, but yeah, I think it's uses are pretty limited.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

Certainly for fanfic writers, unless the source material is written in the first person, just don't do first person. You will never, ever, catch the voice of the character. More than likely you'll end up writing an Ayn Rand screed of ultra rationalism in the face of all characterization and circumstance. Goes double if you post on SD.Net or Spacebattles.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

"Said" is a perfectly acceptable word, and should be used 99% of the time.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

Yes.

Half the time my substitute's for "said" end up being horrible. As do most people's.

Re: Writing Opinions

[kallanda_lee]

on that note, so are character names. you don't need to call them "the blond man" or 'the taller woman".

Re: Writing Opinions

[ginainthekingsroad]

I don't understand this one. Why exactly is there a backlash against "said"? It's one of the most necessary words in fiction!

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

This is the conventional wisdom to a very extreme extent

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

Sort of review/critique related but...

I cannot stand drama queen critics. If 99% of your review is histrionics about how the fic was "so bad it raped my eyes" then I cannot do anything with that and I cannot take it seriously either.

The fact that you're getting so mad and emotional doesn't convince me the fic you're reviewing is 'just that bad'. It tells me that you're so blindsided by "OMG I HATE THIS !1!!" to give anything close to a useful review.

They're like the reviewer counterpart to the bratty author who throws tantrums when they get critiques.

SA

[(Anonymous)]

I've been in fanfiction.net for waaaaaaay too long.

Re: Writing Opinions

[dani_phantasma]

Reminds me of a 'review' I saw once years ago. A "flame" that was just absolutely "wtf"

It was a disgustingly detailed jumble of words about an obese sweaty guy chanting something or ...something.

and then finished off with "this is what reading your story was like."

I don't even know what the author is supposed to do with that. "um sorry you didn't like it?" It's not like he went into detail with what was wrong with the story or why it gave them that impression, just...."here this is what I felt reading your fic".

Everything is way more subjective than you think it is.

[(Anonymous)]

In my experience, most common writing advice that's treated as gospel is not at all objective, and is based mainly on the personal preferences of the person giving the advice. A lot of the "mistakes" that beginning writers are told to "NEVER EVER EVER DO OR YOU ARE A HACK" are A) stylistic choices that can and have been used well, and B) in many cases would have been considered good writing a century, or even a few decades ago.

"Show, don't tell" is a classic example that comes to mind. I see this phrase mindlessly parroted so often that I honestly wonder if anyone even knows way the phrase means at this point.

Ideally, I think it should mean: "If you want the reader to know that your protagonist is a good person, show them doing good things instead of having other characters talk them up."

But more often I see it used to mean: "MINIMALIST PROSE IS BAD. YOU MUST GIVE EXTREMELY DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EVERY SINGLE TINY ACTION AND FACIAL EXPRESSION TO CONVEY WHAT YOUR CHARACTERS ARE THINKING AND FEELING AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT."

Re: Everything is way more subjective than you think it is.

[kallanda_lee]

Show, don't tell is more a movie thing, imho. And for good reason, because you can't show thoughts. In books - telling can be good.

Also minimalist prose is great.

Re: Everything is way more subjective than you think it is.

[(Anonymous)]

But more often I see it used to mean: "MINIMALIST PROSE IS BAD. YOU MUST GIVE EXTREMELY DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EVERY SINGLE TINY ACTION AND FACIAL EXPRESSION TO CONVEY WHAT YOUR CHARACTERS ARE THINKING AND FEELING AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT."

The young woman pauses to read the black text on the grey-pink background. A soft hum can be heard in the room. Her brow furrows ever so slightly, and she tilts her head...


Like that? Yeah. You really don't need all of that all the time.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

Writing courses are either really great, or really subjective.

(I took one where the instructor told me I could only have one main character. I couldn't believe it. Has he read anything ever? It was an online class on ed2go and I don't think the guy even had real credentials - he has a career in designing theme park rides.)

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

First, second or third person--present or past tense...write what you want to write, and ignore the people who tell you "You must be This Good before you're allowed to write This Thing."

Don't be afraid of dialogue tags other than "said"--just learn to use them judiciously. Dialogue tags are like seasonings: "said" is like salt, and dialogue tags other than "said" are like spices and herbs. The right amount of the latter can make your dish; too much of them can ruin it. People who tell you never to use any dialog tags other than "said" are like people who think salt is the only seasoning you need. They're like "Look at this stupid person putting ginger and chilies in their food! And here, what's this--lemon juice and black pepper, wtf! And here...some oregano! Nope, nope, nope! Salt, people! Salt, dammit! It's the only seasoning you'll ever need." Sometimes there's occasion for "she asked" or "he wailed."

Reviewers should feel more free to voice criticisms of the fic they're reading...if they can manage to do it with courtesy and gentleness. A negative reaction has as much right to be said as a positive one. Just lose the sarcasm. It's default mode for most people who criticize things on the internet, and nothing is more wounding.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

It's very hard to roleplay once you start establishing your writing voice, because you suddenly care a lot more about where the story is going, how much sense the characterization makes, etc.

Which in some ways is too bad, because I miss roleplaying. But I love writing more, so.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

Fantasy is probably the least creative genre at this point and that's just sad.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

Realize that nothing is set in stone.

I, normally, LOATHE first person and purple prose.

And yet, in reading TE Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom (which uses both of these enormously) I absolutely LOVE it.

Since it's his autobiography and his telling of the Arab Revolt, the first person works exceedingly well. And even the florid prose works to his advantage because it really gives you a sense of his voice and character.

So...do what you think is best, is most authentic. You'll find that, in the end, it's the execution that will matter most.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

I think third person is boring and I find it really hard to connect with characters if the book is written in third person.

Re: Writing Opinions

[(Anonymous)]

Present tense drives me batty and I think it's gimmicky and pretentious.

The "show don't tell" adage has become over-used and misinterpreted. *Some* telling is okay, if it's well-done. I don't mind reading lots of exposition, if the content itself is interesting.

For example, I would rather read a simple statement like "She was scared", than "Her heart pounded, her palms were sweaty, her mind raced, her breathing quickened, yadda, yadda." Too much "showing" becomes wordy and feels like filler.