Ups and downs, or thinking about motivations... · 11:49am Jan 7th, 2013
I took a bad critique yesterday. Not the kind of hater-based, trolling comment; but a reasoned, thoroughly explained negative criticism, pointing out the many flaws in my story. And honestly, it was a blow to my momentum.
Don't get me wrong, I am no crybaby looking for some consolation. I just feel a bit confused and needed to write down a little bit about what drives me forward. I have more than once bickered about the lack of feedback I was having, and I know that having feedback implies the possibility of getting negative feedback. Thinking otherwise would be naive. However, getting negative feedback makes you consider why you do what you do, in this case, writing a fic.
I do it for fun, first and foremost. However, the fun comes and goes, and I guess I'm going through a time where writing is not that much fun anymore. Therefore, I've come to rely more on the motivation others can give me, that is, feedback. And even though I know that negative feedback should act as a powerful motivator, it just sinks me into a sea of doubt. Am I doing things right? Can this critique be the tip of the iceberg, of readers dumping my story because of its poor quality? And most of all, have I got it in me to do better and hook readers up while producing a good story?
Maybe I set my goals way too high, wanting to put Viva Las Pegasus in the FoE Olympus, and I'm in for some back-to-Earth treatment. Maybe I committed the folly of believing I could see myself as beloved by the fandom as others have been. In any case, I need to make a deep reflection about my hopes, ambitions and motivations.
Anyway, S3rb4n over and out.
There are no words I can utter that better reflect my own doubts; perhaps only that we must trudge on. After all, no prize comes without cost.
686537 Thanks, Delvius. I guess there's no other way out of this than going forward.
686541 We lesser known authors have to stick together, right?
686542 Oh, of course. It's a harsh world out there.
As I mentioned in my review, I'd hate to discourage you from continuing to write and I'm regretful if it was upsetting for you but I knew I'd be doing you a disservice to hold back. You do show some natural talent and I think you have it in you to be a good writer. More than that, however, I strongly advocate ars gratia artis--art for the sake of art; if you write for yourself then it doesn't matter what others have to say about it because it's an expression of what's important to you. If you want what you write to be of importance to others, then you'll need to challenge yourself with learning how to convey your ideas in a way that makes other people find them important. And that can be a tricky task. Part of it involves breaking down why it's important to you in the first place which, I can say from personal experience, can be a pretty stressful thing to do and may lead to places you're not prepared for.
The important thing is that you should keep writing. If you haven't already checked it out, I strongly urge you to give this a read because it sums up what I'm trying to say here pretty succinctly.
686684 I have, I have. What worries me is not your feedback, which I greatly appreciate, but what your feedback has unveiled in me; that is, a lack of strong foundations for my motivation to write. I swore to myself that I would stop writing if it stopped being fun, but I also have the feeling that there are people here that might be expecting something from me, as they have enjoyed reading what I gave them. So, it turns out I'm in a bit of a moral dilemma.
Keep moving foward is all i can say
and remember no retreating 
686703 "No retreat, baby, no surrender." Like in that Bruce Springsteen song, huh?
686692
I wouldn't worry so much about what other people are expecting of you. Writing shouldn't become a chore and you especially shouldn't be writing just to satisfy readers' expectations.
Do what you feel is best for you.
My suggestion would be to try and figure out what made you write this story in the first place (that is, as opposed to writing a story about a gryphon merc 100 years before Littlepip or a ghoul turned into a manticore by killing joke or any other possible story (as an exercise, try thinking about what those (or other) stories might end up having in common with this one if you did write them)). Thinking about that--and not being afraid of where it takes you--may help revitalize your interest in writing and will certainly improve the story when you learn how to use it.
686719 I guess I'll have to examine that.
686719
I read your review and I agree with it. Parts of the story do drag, I noticed my eyes kept trying to jump down paragraphs upon my second reading of the first few chapters. It wasn't like when I re-read FOE: Outlaw or Pink Eyes, the characters alone could keep me reading, but the storyline juts makes it all the more enjoyable. I've been meaning to continue reading Viva Las Pegasus, but nothing really pulls me back into it. Farsight is quite inconsistent with his new to the world approach, yet getting people to divulge their life stories.
Also just a personal gripe, but the inclusion of the NCR always bugged me. They just don't sound like the organisation that Littlepip's allies would've helped forge.
686721
I do think your story could use a little more work. Doing a story about political intrigue is harder in Point of View stories, especially being limited to one character's perspective. Take for example, Game of Thrones, multiple points of view that helps you build an idea of the intricate web of alliances and back-alley deals and arrangements. For example...
*Spoiler if you haven't read the books or watched the First Season*
Littlefinger's betrayal of Eddard Stark, after Ned Stark had made an arrangement with Littlefinger to bribe the Gold Cloaks/City Guard to help him arrest Cersei, we see Littlefinger betray Ned and later learn why. I'm not saying you need to copy or emulate Game of Thrones, just that characters have to be more believable and have their own motivations, machinations and agendas in a story of political intrigue like you describe Viva Las Pegasus.
686706 nah i just got it from the Meet the Robinsons and New Roam
Something else I can suggest is to spend some time reading other stuff (and try not to limit it to pony fics). And while you're doing that, try writing down your thoughts about what you're reading--give it a review. There's an interesting correlation between being able to review others' works and being able to review your own. It's another one of the reasons I make such an effort to provide feedback within this community; it helps me as much as it does everyone else.
If the comment listed the faults with no real mention of how to improve, then that's what's known as destructive criticism. This is to be discouraged, as it serves no real purpose.
Hopefully, my comment will be more constructive criticism. I'll tell you where you went wrong, sure, but I'll also try to tell you where you went right, and how to improve on the less-than-stellar areas.
I'll have the review done either sometime tomorrow or the day after.
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691870 No, I doubt the criticism was done with a negative intention. On the contrary, I feel rather sure that there is a clear will to help me improve behind it. However, the flaws pointed out are rather... extensive in my opinion, that's why the feedback shook me so badly.
I await your review. Anything that helps me improve is more than welcome.
692949
Aye, I'll confess to not having seen the comment myself. I try to avoid that section altogether, as their opinions could colour my review.
688843 He-hey!
700417 Ermagawd! He found me!!!!!
heyoo 