We interrupt your regular programming for the following announcement: · 9:35pm Aug 21st, 2014
Not All Eyes See Equally
Or: Sometimes the words conceal the message.
Okay, so the last few days have been an interesting mix of frustrating and fun, but it's time to dial things down a little and address something that, no matter how many times it comes up, is always worthy of being said just one more time.
Since the day I first found FIMFiction.net, I haven't been one to dither about with false modesty of holding back my opinions. I tend to think of it as fair trade: I want your honest opinions, and so I give you mine. But I came in a lot older than most, and with a lot more cognitive and philosophical grounding than most of those as old or older than me. It's just who I am; that's the road I've walked. When I decided to take a stab at writing, I asked Chris for some help, and he was happy to oblige. I knew almost nothing – and helping me was an awful lot of work, it should be noted – but I had the will to ask. Easy peasy.
Of course, it isn't always easy. In fact for some people, the idea alone is debilitating.
I'm a mess: my life, my brain... everything. This is a fact. But it's also the reason I know so much about reading and understanding other people. One of the things that I see all the time is how many people come to this place to express themselves in a way that simply isn't available to them elsewhere. You all know this to some degree, but I'm not convinced you all appreciate that it really has nothing to do with ponies. Ponies are a gateway to expression, but I would suggest that they are almost never the reason to express. And one of the most common problems among those who have the need rather than the want to express themselves is that they don't always have the tools necessary to ask for the help they need. This isn't a pony issue or a fandom issue, it's a community issue.
I mean, we've all seen the blog posts about giving and receiving criticism, and most of us are well aware of all the FAQs and help guides around, and that's great for most folks. But I want to take a moment to imagine what it would be like to be one of those people who, through no fault of their own, have already decided they are unworthy of help for one of many thousands of possible reasons. This isn't hyperbole; these people are out there, right now – hopefully even reading this post at some point – probably numbering in the thousands. They're anywhere between a little nervous and clutching onto life by a thread. It may be an uncomfortable thought, but on some level I think you all know it's true. Every once in a while, we see the evidence and wonder what we could have done. But of course, we should really be wondering what we can do right now.
I'm sure I'll cop some flack for this but, it sometimes makes me sad when stories like the Michael Morones one hit the headlines. Not because of the tragedy that happened, but of all the ones that go unnoticed while media hype is taking up everyone's attention. See, in many ways, I don't care that much about which end of the spectrum someone is on. As someone who calls himself a philosopher without a shred of frivolity, it's my job to look past the distractions and see what goes unsaid. And there is a lot. Everyone deserves to be heard and I have no desire to play favourites – deal with individuals, but deal in principles.
I see this sort of thing virtually every week, and considering how little of the overall pool that is FIMFiction I have ever, or will ever, see, those numbers feel pretty scary to me. And we all know how toxic a lot of FIMFiction can be. In many ways I can consider myself very lucky: I have plenty of people I can call on to help when I need an extra pair of eyes or some advice, several of them being Equestria Daily pre-readers. But I'm just one person, and no matter how many people need someone to notice them and offer some understanding and help, I have plenty on my own plate already, and more than a few of my own personal issues on top of that. I can barely be anywhere, let alone everywhere, which brings me to what I want to ask.
It's not enough just to have resources available for those that ask. I mean, I wish it were – it would certainly be convenient – but if we're a community at all, we have to be able to go one step further than that. We will never find all of the people who could use a helping hand, and I bet the majority don't even have FIMFiction accounts because they thrive on anonymity. That, however, doesn't mean that we can't try, and once in a while put it out there for anyone who would like a lift up but isn't in a position to ask. Maybe it's just never occurred to them, but maybe it's more than that. So I want you to repost a link to this page on your own blogs – to every corner of FIMFiction it can possibly reach, and beyond if it can be managed.
Secondly, if you're part of (or simply know if) a group that would be beneficial to the kind of person who might not have the confidence to ask for help, please post a comment below with a link to that group, forum, website, blog, etc., and make a case for why your particular corner of the internet would be a safe and welcoming place to visit, free of potential ridicule, judgement, or any other negative behaviour. Above all, be honest about what you're selling; some people will like the idea of a rough and ready forum where ribbing is de rigour and absolutely nothing is taken seriously – others, not so much. Then, I want you to sell it. Sell yourselves like you're desperate for the business of the only traveller on the road. Dammit, pimp yourselves. These people need convincing to even seek help at all, otherwise they'd be looking for themselves.
And lastly, when you see someone who seems to be struggling, say something. Now, I'm guessing a lot of people already do, and on the flip-side you can't reasonably go asking absolutely everyone, but most of us can kinda tell when an author doesn't have much of a support group – it's usually in the writing. You don't need to get into any details or have the time or skills to strike up just the right conversation; just ask them if they have access to an editor, or some friends to help them with their writing. If they don't, then I'm hoping that this post may be a good place for them so find some links that would be helpful, or it spreads so far and wide that the right people will just happen to see it.
I want to see a list of advertisements for places an aspiring author can go to get some safe, friendly help; I don't want to see any other comments on this post. If, together, we can find even one or two people who needed help, whether it's pure writing or just somewhere to hang out, it'll be worth it.
I don't want to over-dramatise the fact, but you don't know when you could save someone's life just by asking. You really don't.
I'm sure more than a few people will find it somewhat hypocritical that I – an exceptionally harsh and unrelenting critic, of all people – am writing this. To those people, I merely say that if the cause is just then who writes of it should be unimportant. If you think I'm asking this as some kind of cheap way to get views on my account, then there is probably nothing I can say to sway you, so I won't bother. This is nothing I haven't done personally on many occasions – now it's just time to see if I can reach further than I ever imagined possible.
With all the love and compassion my little black heart has to offer,
Scott 'Inqusitor' Mence
Email: Inquisitor.M@Hotmail.com
Skype: Scott Mence / InquisitorM
People assume I'm a horrible, insatiable critic because of my blog reviews and comments, but I'm always willing to help people out if they ask. We were all newfags once.
2389073 I may not exactly care for the wording and way you approach things at times, but well, you've always been honest as things go. Given thats freaking rarer than a ceo not having a six figure salary on the net, counts for a great deal.
I'll toss my contribution in. If you are an author feeling down that their stories aren't getting any attention, you might want to check the review list I've been keeping track of. Link here. Check to see if there's a review of one of your stories already out there.
If not, well, I also do reviews myself and I do fairly gentle reviews. If you'd like a review, basically just a 'read and tell you what I think' for a story, toss it my way. Especially if someone as bluntly critical as InquisitorM is a little more blunt/harsh than what you might want. The ones I do are much more on the complimenting, soft, and/or gentle side of the spectrum. So, again, if you are feeling down because it seems like your stories are getting ignored, give me a message and I'll be happy to do what I can to help.
I was wary when you called yourself a philosopher, but this is the first time I've heard someone say it to take on responsibility rather than to shirk it or make a judgement or justify an entitled opinion.
2389256
It's true. He actually thinks my stories are decent!
I wrote a long, ramble-y post that'll go up on my blog in a few hours, but here, I'll just say that if anyone's hesitating to ask a pre-reader or editor to take a look at their story because they "don't want to be a bother," e-mail me. You will never inconvenience me with your requests; if I don't have the time or mental fortitude to help with your story in a timely fashion, I'll let you know, and I'll help you find someone who does. If I do have the time and will, I'll help you because I want to. Either way, I promise you won't inconvenience me--I won't let you!
There are many reasons someone who wants help doesn't ask for it; not wanting to cause problems for someone else is just one of them. But if that's what's holding you back, let me say in no uncertain terms that you can contact me without any fear on that count.
You can contact me through my FiMFic page, or via e-mail at madethisjusttopostponies@gmail.com
Phantoms of the Sacred is a group of "assassins" that I was appointed leader of by the founder. All we do is go around and help people to the best of our ability. Be it merely having a conversation, giving a critique, or helping report a stalker. We do our best to help. (I was actually appointed as leader because I talked to the founder and helped get him out of the "Funk" he was in.)
This message really hits me deep. I've only just now taken my first steps into writing and reviewing, contributing to the community however I can. It's a personal dream of mine to write, and I'd thought that having an audience would make it a little easier. Nothing's ever quite as easy as you think at first, is it? I can already tell this is going to be the hardest thing I've ever done, just trying to get a solid start. I've learned about two new evils so far, and I'm sure there are more to come.
The first is the mountain. You wake up one day and decide you're going to go for a hike. You look out your front door, and then you crane your neck up. And up. And up. The trail to the summit goes far out of view, and you think maybe hiking is just out of your reach. There are authors on this site that have thousands of followers; books with hundreds of thousands of views. People who create entire continuities through their own works, works that are the quality one would expect from professionals getting paid obscene amounts of money for their narrative genius. How does one measure up to that? How does one even hope to compare?
Well, perhaps if you see that you're improving. Perhaps if you take it step by step, you'll scale that same mountain. You might think that maybe there's hope, so long as you keep moving forward, so long as your work keeps progressing in quality. Therein lies the second evil; negative reactions. I'm not talking about criticism, because I adore criticism, especially the negative kind. Tell me what you hate, I beg you! Just don't, please for the love of all that's holy, don't click the downvote button and move on. That kind of lack of feedback hits like a punch to the stomach. I did something wrong. Something I wrote doesn't work right, it doesn't resonate with readers, it doesn't click. But what? I don't know. All I know is, whatever I did, it's not good enough.
That thought is just... it's soul-crushing. It makes you want to say, "I'm not good enough, I'll never be good enough." It makes you want to give up on your dreams. For some people, who have nothing more than their dreams, that's too much to give.
I imagine many, if not all, writers hit this first wall. I know I have. There are options out there, thankfully, for those with the will to look. A dedicated editor/reviewer/proofreader, who can show you how to keep moving forward, would do wonders for overcoming that first cliff. I'm working my way through The Proofreader Group's lists, hoping to find one amongst the overworked few who would be willing to give me their time and attention. I've heard back from a few so far, who apologized for already having far too many stories to review on their plate. They apologized to me for helping people. I can't imagine what kind of force motivates these people to give what they do for nothing in return, but I hope wherever they pull that determination from there is plenty more to spare.
It doesn't take a professional to lend a hand. The easiest way for any reader to pitch in is a lowly comment. A single sentence can help. A paragraph can work wonders. I liked X. I think Y needed more work. Try Z next time. It doesn't have to be a line-by-line review; just a few words of recognition shows the author that, even if only for a brief moment, someone cared. That's enough to keep moving forward. That's enough to keep climbing that mountain.
For some authors, your comment might just mean everything.
Sorry for spamming all over your blog. This topic hit deeper than I expected. Also, I'm a little drunk right now. To all of you out there, especially you InquisitorM, thanks for writing and thanks for reading. Keep up the good work,
-Hack
Danny J has reposted this to his own FIMFiction blog, and he posts a 'how to write stories'-esque post of his own now and again. If you're looking for any advice you can, it's only fair I should point you towards his blog in return.
I started posting a comment here, but it quickly grew into something that would be better for a blog post, which I should post later. For now I will say that this really hits a nerve, and was something I was thinking about these past few days.
Anyway, I am always willing to give people with a second opinion. I always seek to be as honest as possible, but always in a non-insulting way, and I never resort to personal attacks. Just message me on FimFiction, or drop me a line on sogeloquy@gmail.com.
I was thinking about this the other day.
It's been just over three years since I wrote my first pony story. At the time, I had barely even watched any of the show -- I was more interested in the stories being created by the community. I happened across EqD, read a few six-star rated stories, and thought, "I could do that."
So, I tried. I banged out my first story, a little 3k slice-of-life sketch about Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo, and shot it off to EqD without looking for an editor or reviewer or any of that sort of thing, because really they didn't exist back them.
I got lucky. I got in. That first success was what gave me the confidence to keep writing, and now three years later I'm still enjoying myself.
But sometimes I wonder, what if I hadn't done so well with that first story? What if I'd made any of the dozens of mistakes that I now scour stories for, as a pre-reader? What would that have done to my confidence level? Would I have ever written another pony story? Another story, period?
I'm not sure. Part of me worries that I would have simply given up. I'm not, if I'm being honest, the most tenacious person. Sometimes, if I fail at something (or, worse, don't succeed instantly), I give up.
How many other writers out there were just as good as I was, back in 2011, but they got a tougher pre-reader, or they slipped up, or they made some kind of mistake? Back when EqD was the only game in town, you had no other way of publishing to a mass audience. It was our only metric for success.
It's easy to give up when you don't think you have any options for help. I'm glad we have the many groups you allude to; I just wish those people, those edge cases who have everything it takes to succeed except a little spark of confidence, would reach out and use them.
A nice sentiment to be sure, and the world would be a better place if everyone thought like it. Unfortunately, it's not how the world works. The reason things are set up the way they are is because people need to be willing to let themselves be helped, and that means taking a step, however small or big that may be for some.
Reaching out of people, more often than not, is like reaching into a lion's mouth and hoping it doesn't bite. I for one, have been bitten often enough that I stopped trying. I'm all for helping people in whatever way I can, but when it becomes a poison to myself, I won't continue. Sorry world, I care about me first.
I was one of those hang to life by a thread, and even though I feel more self assured now, I can't honestly tell if that's still the case or not.
Long story short: Helping people in difficult times is great, but they have to accept that help which means you're going to miss some people who don't speak up. That's life, unfortunately.
2391141
It's true that, ultimately, it's a person's responsibility to seek out help if they want it. But there's a big gap from there to "if someone doesn't speak up, tough," which is where it sounds like you're coming from. When people feel like they have a safe (not mindlessly positive, not criticism-free, but safe) place to go for help, they're a lot more likely to be willing or able to seek that help. Fostering that kind of environment is good for everyone, not just the folks who won't speak up, because it creates a more vibrant community and encourages improvement rather than just castigating failure. Plus, it means more great stories for everyone to read, ultimately.
Now, that doesn't take away the fact that you can't make someone take that first step, but to borrow 2390570 's analogy, what should we want to happen when our first-time hiker tries to scale that mountain and comes to a seemingly impassable scree slope in the foothills? He needs someone to help him learn how to navigate the loose rock--perhaps he'll ask another hiker for help, or perhaps he'll decide he doesn't trust himself to make it without getting hurt, and he'll never start that hike at all.
That may be his decision, but his choice might well depend on whether he sees other hikers helping one another and offering to guide folks past the scree, or hears about a hiking club that trumpets "beginners welcome, no experience necessary!" Making it as easy as possible to ask for help is good for everyone, ultimately.
2391507
I fully agree. I would very much like to help with something that works towards that end. But if I am a somewhat experienced hiker trying to help someone else up a mountain, only for them to slap my hand away when I'm trying to help them up the first slope, I am not going to be inclined to go back for them.
Which was what I was trying to say: I have tried helping people before and, more often than not, got slapped in the face for my troubles. I am still willing to help with any group's attempt at such things, but trying by myself has given me more grief than I really want to deal with.
I think that making a group like this is going to be hard. It's fairly obvious from the downvotes on my original comment; anybody who dares say anything that doesn't completely agree with the rest of the herd gets a little bit of hatred for their trouble; and the group is going to be facing the same problems.