Writer's Rant

[rusty_armour]

It seems like all I've received since I posted the latest installment of my story has been nit-picking. Now, I know that isn't true because there have been people who have left very generous feedback. However, being over-sensitive and a "glass is half empty" type of person, I've been dwelling on all the negative comments. Ooops. I mean "constructive criticism". Yes, I realize that people are just trying to be helpful and I should be grateful. But when half the replies involve a debate about whether Sheppard has a drawl or if he would use the word "soda," I find myself wondering why I bothered to post this part in the first place. I mean, if those are the kinds of things that people are remembering then the rest of the installment must be seriously boring or just utter crap.

I know I'm over-reacting and I know I should be a better person about all this. I keep telling myself that I should be writing for myself first and foremost. But then I think to myself that I know how the story is going to end. It's not as if I have to read the subsequent parts. And, if this is the case, why should I be busting my ass trying to finish the god-damn thing?

Of course I will finish the god-damn thing because I've already put in too much time and energy not to finish it. Unfortunately, I just don't have any particular desire to work on it. At all. I certainly don't plan to go through another series of marathon writing sessions because I feel guilty for making my readers wait so long between installments. The proverbial straw has been broken and right now guilt is the last emotion I'm feeling.

Well, now that I've probably alienated anyone who might have been willing to read the rest of In the Family Way, I'll just see what other destruction I can wreak.

Comments

[windrose.livejournal.com]

I'm really sorry and I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I still want to read the rest of the series.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

No, it's not your fault. If anything I should be apologizing to you. In fact, I think you're perfectly entitled to tell me to grow up and take it like...a writer. *g* Last night was a case of too little sleep, hormones that were seriously out of whack, and one tiny bit of criticism (that wasn't even related to whole drawl/soda issue) setting me off. It really was the proverbial straw that broke the bitchy camel's back.

I do know that your comments were meant to help me -- and they did! And it's not as if you set out to start the great drawl/soda debate. And, despite what it sounded like in my tantrum/meltdown, there were other issues involved.

I'm sorry that my rant made it sound like I was targeting you. I'm going to post an apology tonight.

[windrose.livejournal.com]

Hey, no worries, sweetie. I understand completely. I had a crit recently that left me feeling like I'd been kicked in the stomach. If it had happened while I was hormonal, I would have completely melted down. As it was, I spent an evening eating chocolate and whining to my friends... and then I got right back to work.

That's the hard part: getting back to work. I really hope this doesn't make you stop writing In the Family Way, it's a great story. Take a break if you need to, but don't let it be too long. The best thing in the world is to keep right on working, and not give self-doubt time to settle in and take root.

I've got a nice little stack of rejection letters from Asimov's, Analog, etc. When I get one, I take that day off. Then I get back on the horse and send the story to the next market on the list. I've got one now that's currently being considered for an anthology. I really hope it finds a home there, but if it doesn't, I'll just keep on sending it out until I run out of markets.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Hey, no worries, sweetie. I understand completely. I had a crit recently that left me feeling like I'd been kicked in the stomach. If it had happened while I was hormonal, I would have completely melted down. As it was, I spent an evening eating chocolate and whining to my friends... and then I got right back to work.

Thanks for being so understanding. :-) I'm glad I'm not the only one who relies on chocolate and whining to friends when it comes to some crit. *g*

That's the hard part: getting back to work. I really hope this doesn't make you stop writing In the Family Way, it's a great story. Take a break if you need to, but don't let it be too long. The best thing in the world is to keep right on working, and not give self-doubt time to settle in and take root.

I'll get back on the writing horse in the next couple of days. I probably would have done it sooner, but reality and other projects have been getting in the way. You're absolutely right about the importance of not leaving a story too long. I'm often plagued by self-doubt even when I am working. *g*

I've got a nice little stack of rejection letters from Asimov's, Analog, etc. When I get one, I take that day off. Then I get back on the horse and send the story to the next market on the list. I've got one now that's currently being considered for an anthology. I really hope it finds a home there, but if it doesn't, I'll just keep on sending it out until I run out of markets.

I admire your courage and determination. I hope the story being considered for that anthology is accepted. :-)

[windrose.livejournal.com]

I'm often plagued by self-doubt even when I am working. *g*

I'll let you in on a secret: all writers go through that. *g* Back in the precambrian era, when I was but a wee baby writer, I used to have this notion that published authors were perfect. They didn't spend hours agonizing over a single sentence, or feel like reaching through the page to throttle their characters. That was just me because I was new and didn't know what I was doing.

Ha.

We all feel that way, even people with 40+ books to their credit. It is the nature of the beast. For me, the writing process follows these stages:

Excitement

Productivity

Doubt

Panic

Anger

Grim determination

Exhaustion

I hope the story being considered for that anthology is accepted. :-)

Thanks, and me, too. :)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I suspected that other writers suffered for their craft, but it's nice to have it confirmed all the same. :-)

It's kind of scary, but your writing process matches mine exactly. I go through all those stages too!

[crew4.livejournal.com]

*Hug* People who debate about if a certain character would say a certain thing have way too much time on their hands, and no life. If you don't want to write at the moment then you shouldn't. It's way to hard to write when you start to hate doing it. Take a break, have a few drinks, and see what happens in a couple of days. Don't let the idiots get to you. If you enjoy it, then don't let them stop you, if you don't enjoy it, don't do it.

Yay you for having a rant. Feels good sometimes doesn't it ;-)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

*Hug* People who debate about if a certain character would say a certain thing have way too much time on their hands, and no life.

No, I totally over-reacted. The debate was actually quite interesting. I just took issue with it because it made me feel as if the other aspects of the story weren't important. And, as I explained to poor windrose, it wasn't even the drawl/soda debate that set me off last night.

If you don't want to write at the moment then you shouldn't. It's way to hard to write when you start to hate doing it. Take a break, have a few drinks, and see what happens in a couple of days.

I probably will follow your advice and take a break from the story. It's quite possible that I'll feel differently in a couple of days.

Don't let the idiots get to you. If you enjoy it, then don't let them stop you, if you don't enjoy it, don't do it.

Unfortunately, in this case, I'm the idiot. *g*

Yay you for having a rant. Feels good sometimes doesn't it ;-)

It felt good for about a minute...and then I just continued to feel weepy and angry. I thought a good rant would help me get it off my chest, but it only succeeded in burying everything deeper...However, a rant often does make me feel better, so your theory is still sound. ;-)

[crew4.livejournal.com]

Hey, we all have our bad days, when everthing just seems to pile on top of eachother. I'm sure windrose won't hold it against you. We're all woman and we all know the hell of hormones :-)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was definitely one of those days. I just wasn't coping well with anything. Now, two days later, I'm on an upswing and can't figure out why I was so upset on Monday. Such is the way with hormones. *g*

[crew4.livejournal.com]

BTW, awesome work on RoS Fanfic. Thanks for all the effort you put into it. We may not say it all the time, but it is really, really appreciated.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

By Herne, what kind of example am I setting? I tell the poor writers at the archive (http://rosfic.tripod.com/index.html) that they should embrace constructive criticism and then I fly off the handle when it's my own fic on the chopping block! Please, please, please do as I say and not as I do! *g*

I'm glad you're happy with the latest update. I couldn't do it without writers like you! :-)

[crew4.livejournal.com]

*hug* don't be so hard on yourself

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

Oh dear... am sorry to hear the commentators are giving you such a rough time. I know how you feel though: Lately I have been seriously wondering why I make icons because I hardly get comments on them at all! :(

As for your fanfic, I know you're a good writer so please don't let those nitpickers get to you. They probably want to give some constructive criticism but since the story is so well-written and Pullitzer-prize worthy that's probably all they can come up with! ;-)

There are plenty of people who do like your stories or else they wouldn't wait for the next installments so finish the darn thing already! ;-)

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Oh dear...am sorry to hear the commentators are giving you such a rough time. I know how you feel though: Lately I have been seriously wondering why I make icons because I hardly get comments on them at all! :(

I really have no right to complain because people have been very kind about commenting. I'm sorry your icons haven't generated more feedback because they totally deserve the praise. I know I don't provide nearly enough comments and I apologize for that.

As for your fanfic, I know you're a good writer so please don't let those nitpickers get to you. They probably want to give some constructive criticism but since the story is so well-written and Pullitzer-prize worthy that's probably all they can come up with! ;-)

LOL! I wish it were Pulitzer Prize worthy, but it's nowhere near that
level of quality! *g* Any constructive criticism I received was valid. I just over-reacted because I'm insane and have a tendency to do that.

There are plenty of people who do like your stories or else they wouldn't wait for the next installments so finish the darn thing already! ;-)

Okay, okay, I'll finish it! *g* I've actually come too far not to finish it, so that was never really in the cards.

[alysscarlet.livejournal.com]

*pets you gently*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-) I'm feeling slightly more sane now. *g*

[jackycomelately.livejournal.com]

Joins in the patting. I can understand why you feel that way. It's a great series. We had John! and Sex! in this one! Sex! and John! Both really good things that go great together! The basement as a character is also really growing on me. I think the way you bring such a regional Canadian voice to the series is wonderful and unique (which is something hard to do with SGA).

More specifically, I particularly loved your comparison of Jeanie to a Wraith Queen. Only John!

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I saved your comment for last because I didn't know what to say. Well, obviously the first thing that comes to mind is a big thank you for your generous feedback. However, I'd feel like a total hypocrite if I didn't confess that you're the reason why I lost it last night...

Yes, I know how utterly insane that sounds because you didn't do or say anything wrong. However, when I read your piece of advice, I got angry because you knew it was that time of the month (when I turn into an emotional train wreck) and I had told you that the, uh, "nit-picking" bugged me. It felt a teensy bit like being stabbed in the back, which is completely unfair to you because I know that wasn't your intention in any way, shape or form. So I'm sorry for not being the slightly more stable and rational person you were no doubt expecting when you took the time to give me your opinion.

I do appreciate your extremely kind feedback and your continued support, especially as you're such a close friend. Sorry once again for being such a freak.

[jackycomelately.livejournal.com]

I was afraid of that. I'm sorry I was insensitive and not as supportive as I should have been.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

No, no, you really didn't do anything wrong. I totally over-reacted. If I couldn't take the heat, I should have walked out of the kitchen, the house and possibly the neighbourhood... *g* In any case, you were supportive. You gave me some great feedback and were absolutely right when it came to your suggestion. :-)

[njc2007.livejournal.com]

Oh, Rusty. I feel so much empathy for you right now. I am also a glass half full (with a leak) type person. I hope the rant helped you. Beat up a pillow. Slug back a beverage. Shred something. Or, you could do what I do (and hate to do)...cry.

If I were in the same city, I would walk over to you and give you a great big hug and then take you to the pub. While at the pub, we would pull out great big pieces of paper and draw things with crayons. There is nothing like drawing with crayons to help us feel better. I think it brings us back to the simpler days of childhood and lets us see what's really important to us.

Oh, and you know I love In the Family Way. I don't give a damn about John's accent or the difference between soda and pop.

*hugs*

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

Oh, Rusty. I feel so much empathy for you right now. I am also a glass half full (with a leak) type person. I hope the rant helped you. Beat up a pillow. Slug back a beverage. Shred something. Or, you could do what I do (and hate to do)...cry.

I over-reacted and the rant only made things worse -- and deservedly so. However, I'm feeling a lot more stable and clear-headed now. I actually wouldn't mind a good cry, but that's just hormones talking. *g*

If I were in the same city, I would walk over to you and give you a great big hug and then take you to the pub. While at the pub, we would pull out great big pieces of paper and draw things with crayons. There is nothing like drawing with crayons to help us feel better. I think it brings us back to the simpler days of childhood and lets us see what's really important to us.

Thank you! :-) If you're ever in Toronto then we definitely should get together for a drink! And have you been talking to any of my relatives? I adored paper and crayons as a kid! They could keep me happy and entertained for hours.

Oh, and you know I love In the Family Way. I don't give a damn about John's accent or the difference between soda and pop.

*hugs*

*Returns hug* Thank you very much! That means a lot to me! :-D