Angel: Yeah, I never told anyone about this, but I-I liked your poems. Spike: You like Barry Manilow.

'Hell Bound'


The Great Write Way, Act Three: Where's the gun?

A place for Buffistas to discuss, beta and otherwise deal and dish on their non-fan fiction projects.


Barb - May 18, 2010 9:24:52 am PDT #3389 of 6693
“Not dead yet!”

If you've got divided feedback that falls squarely at opposite ends of the spectrum, that's both maddening and a good thing. Maddening, because there's no one way to "fix" things, but good, because it's polarizing. Readers aren't indifferent, which is worse than a strong opinion one way or the other.

Ultimately, you've got to follow your gut instinct on this. WHAT is the book you'd like to read at the end of this? Because I'm sorry, in the end, you're writing primarily for yourself. If you start thinking about "audience" you're going to drive yourself mad with your inability to meet expectation, because there is absolutely no way to make every single reader happy. So you have to make yourself happy.

I'll step off my soapbox now.


Connie Neil - May 18, 2010 9:36:37 am PDT #3390 of 6693
brillig

It's a lovely soapbox.


Gudanov - May 18, 2010 9:45:07 am PDT #3391 of 6693
Coding and Sleeping

That's a good point.


Amy - May 18, 2010 9:46:08 am PDT #3392 of 6693
Because books.

It's really the only point that matters, Gud. It's your book. You have to be happy with what you created, and then let it stand or fall.


Gudanov - May 18, 2010 9:58:10 am PDT #3393 of 6693
Coding and Sleeping

Point taken. I think I'll have surer footing with the next book, having done one.


Gudanov - May 18, 2010 10:18:31 am PDT #3394 of 6693
Coding and Sleeping

Eh, I suppose if it's so long I don't think it'll even get a look, I'll split it at the natural spot. I'm not really expecting to sell the first piece of fiction I've written. It's more for the experience anyway.


Typo Boy - May 18, 2010 10:29:38 am PDT #3395 of 6693
Calli: My people have a saying. A man who trusts can never be betrayed, only mistaken.Avon: Life expectancy among your people must be extremely short.

Yeah but never say never. As others have said, make it the book you want. The chances of a sale are small for everyone right now, but if it is as close to the book you want it to be as you can get it, your chances of a sale are better than if it is a book you screwed up to please others.


Gudanov - May 18, 2010 11:14:23 am PDT #3396 of 6693
Coding and Sleeping

Also a good point.

Sorry for the discouragement flare-up.


erikaj - May 18, 2010 11:52:34 am PDT #3397 of 6693
Always Anti-fascist!

We all have our Billy Walsh moments, Gud. (Billy being the insano screenwriter/auteur character from Entourage who goes from day to day sometimes hour to hour thinking "I wrote Mean Streets" or "I wrote shit.") Sometimes I get embarrassed watching him. Despite the drugs and gambling, his thought processes can be all too familiar sometimes.


Gudanov - May 18, 2010 12:02:06 pm PDT #3398 of 6693
Coding and Sleeping

I'm also having a bad couple of days and not a lot of sleep, so it seeps into the hobby as well.