Fanstory.com

Okay, because I'm looking for new and glorious ways to promote my new book 'Ghost Mist', I joined a couple new writers' archives lately. The one I would like to talk about today is called fanstory.com. When I got there and really started learning what was available - I was totally floored. Normally I wouldn't complain, because free anything is just that - FREE. But to be able to post writing on this site, a membership is required and in order to obtain this membership - you must PAY. So, when I got all hooked up, I was so surprised and horrified at the lack of competetive features that this site has to offer that I wrote them a letter outlining what I felt were the five hugest flaws. For your interest - here is the exact letter I sent them. If you read over the points - users of fanfiction.net will be shocked.

Hello,

I joined upgraded my membership here on fanstory yesterday and since joining, I have to ask some questions regarding this website. They are not included in the FAQ.

Before I start, I would like to say that I appreciate the goal of this website, and that I ask these questions in the spirit of actually hearing the answer why these things are the way they are. My goal is not to drive anyone crazy, but I earnestly would like to hear the actual answer to these questions.

1. Why can't you upload a WORD or a plain text document when adding new items rather than having to cut and paste?

2. Why is there so little room for a synopsis? I find this the hugest flaw of the site, because not only can I not use the power of my words to invite those that would have a special interest in my story to read it, but I also have trouble finding things to read that interest me. From the space provided there is so little room for description that I have no idea what a story is until I open it. I have only been hanging out here for one day, but already I have heard complaints that reviews and views do not align - could this possibly be because someone has no idea what they're actually reading until after they've had a look at the story itself? Clearly, the proportion of reviews vs. views is a problem anywhere and I see that this site STRONGLY encourages reviews - which is why I'm confused at the layout.

3. Why can you only select one genre to list a story under?

4. Why are there only five topic threads in the forum sections? Because there are no sub-sections and also no search engine, I find it confusing how anyone could find something useful. The only way to find input on what you're looking for would be to start a new thread, when there are probably 200 other threads that could easily have answered a person's question.

5. This is more picky - but why are the icons all so large and frankly - weird? The space used to advertise one story makes no sense to me. Why is so much space wasted for an icon that could be a quarter the size and remain just as meaningful? Not even emoticons have to be big in order to portray a smiley-face.

I am totally floored at the odd way this site is organized - so confused. I'm sure you have goals as the moderator/webmaster/webmistress/administration/person-in-charge in order for this to be profitable for you, and I understand all that. I still can't help but think that this place could be a thousand times better - both for you and for every single user. It could be more beautiful, more efficient, more effective, and a shear pleasure to surf.

Please don't take my criticism as mean-spirited, but please take it to make this site the very best writer's archive online.

PLEASE! I already paid for two years! Or at least tell me that this place is under construction.

With Love (real love),

Sapphirefly

This is the response I received.

Hi,

First, thank you for your feedback. I'm guessing that you are in the computer field (a developer or QA tester) because you did a wonderful job of pointing out areas that can be improved. The site has been under construction for six years. The site is constantly being worked on to address concerns.

Let me address each of your points.

1. That has never been brought up before. I don't know that there would be a big benefit of uploading from Word or a plain text document versus pasting. But an interesting idea.
2. I'm not sure if you are referring to the "What has happened so far" synopsis or the description of the book. But for the "What has happened so far" summary we want to get the reader into reading the actual chapter rather then spending a great deal of time reading a synopsis. So the site forces the author to use as few words as possible.
   
3. That has also never been brought up before. I'm not clear on why you would want to select a second genre.
4. This is a good point. The forums are very active and could use an upgrade. They are custom designed for the site so a future upgrade could very well be directed at them. 99% of the development effort goes towards the writing portion of the site. But I do agree that an uprade of the forums would be well received.
5. Another good point. I have updated the wish list.

Regarding your last note. I think you have more to say. Please don't hesitate to say it. Most changes are a result of user feedback. It's greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Tom

I thought his response was extremely polite. Don't ya think? I was quite pleased with it. However, I still think the site is hugely lacking. HUGELY.

You have to cut and paste a plain text document into a window in order to upload - this seems really old fashioned to me. You are also allowed more characters in the title of your story than the synopsis - I can never find anything I want to read. The genre's seem so rigid. Dragon's Moon is at least four genre's and the only genre I'm allowed to select is Fanfiction. It's never going to do well (but I should be more optimistic since I haven't tried yet). I also didn't tell him that I have a five topic forum with unlimited threads available to me ALONE on fanfiction.net - for free. Or that the icons look like free ones you get off a clip art webpage - really really unappealing.

So, I wrote him back and told him that I would help him make his webpage good for fresher writers who like userfriendly sites. Pretty brave, eh? He turned me down - FLAT. But my spirit isn't crushed. Oh no - the scientist in me is taking over and taking an interest.

I'm going to try an experiment. When 'Ghost Mist' is ready, it will be released on fanstory (since I already bought the membership and don't feel like chickening out) as well as fictionpress.com. For myself though, I'm only going to promote the story on fictionpress. I want to see if my work promoting my story online is tougher than their site - since they're working so hard to get promising talent recognized. I don't mean that sarcastically - I mean it sincerely. People are supposed to get good enough for publication there, so let's see who manages to wrangle up more readers - me or them? Honestly, it won't be much of an experiment since I'll be the winner either way - unless my story sucks - in which case ... yeah. But my story isn't going to suck. It's going to rock!

Oh well, we'll see how it goes.

After my Pity Party

Okay, so after I finished having my 'once a month' pity party - I got up and I got to work.

So, this time when I got to work, I went and worked steadfastly on the character sketches for 'Ghost Mist'. I wrote 22 character sketches, and whoa - that's a lot. I'm beat, but I'm feeling a lot better. I didn't do character sketches for DM, MW, or MoaG, because in my opinion character sketches are for quick reference when I can't remember what a minor character looks like. Sad eh? If it wasn't for that then I probably wouldn't write them. Just for your interest and edification - these are the critera on one of my character sketches:

• Name
• Age
• Hair Colour
• Eye Colour
• Height/Build
• OCA (other comments on appearance)
• Weapon
• Personality
• Other

I also hurried up and got busy making a map for the world 'Ghost Mist' is going to take place in. I know that this is a pretty ugly map and it'll probably go under the knife before I actually get to the serious writing stage, but I thought I'd share what I was able to come up with so far. Yep - there's already been another town added on my rough draft that didn't quite make it here.

There are three more reference documents I have to make before I can even start writing with a clean conscience. I need to write:

• The side quest with the second main character has not been going well. Without that side plot, I am no where near having a complete storyboard ... blah ... where should the story go from there? I know the end, but this one plotline has a lot of potential and yet I'm finding myself stumped. Blah...
• I'm also experimenting by making the clothes for this all impressive fantasy story totally different from the old boys from LOTR. I had never given serious thought to costume design before, but this time - I really need it. I've been reading about fashion in order to come up with a style I like for both the women and the men. Hey, you guys know what a bum ring is? ... exactly what it sounds like. U-huh. And I've learned stuff about posture and fashion as well. Know why women have had such great posture in the past? It's because their dress had a steel frame. I'd have awesome posture too.
  
• And lastly, I really want to create a world that I'll enjoy describing, since I am so weak at description. So, in order to help myself improve, I'm going to write poems, or short paragraphs of description as a little tour booklet for each place on the map. Hopefully, the landscapes will be as enthralling as my dialogue ... uh ... yeah - not bloody likely, but we can pretend.
  

So, when I started writing this blog, I was sorta hoping that 22 character sketches would be enough, but as I've sat here thinking - I'm positive that I need another three. Sick, isn't it? This book of mine is going to turn out to be as long as MoaG and MW put TOGETHER.

Blah...

You know what else? I need to lighten up. It's like a morgue over here. If I don't start being more fun, I'm going to end up eating my weight in chocolate.

Me and My Archives

Okay, now I am a member of FIVE writing archives. I didn't even know there were five, but I've managed to join all of them. So, now I'm part of:
-fanfiction.net
-mediaminer.org
-fictionpress.com
-fanstory.com
-writing.com
I think I'm going blind. It's making me even more excited to finish 'Mark of a Goddess' and get on with 'Ghost Mist'.

There's another reason I'm excited to get on with 'Ghost Mist'. You see, when I finish that one I'm going to give it to a certain person that I admire for them to read and critique. This wouldn't be a big deal, except that if this person doesn't see potential in it then that means that I'm no where near sending something to a publisher.

Yet, at the same time, since I post my work on all these archives, one would think that I wouldn't be shy about sending something to a publisher. One would think ... but somehow I can't seem to be that sensible. No way! Besides, when have I ever been sensible?

Anyway, so far out of all these archives, do you know which one I like the best? That's right - fanfiction.net. And not just because I get the more attention there than anywhere else. It's also because it's free - so I feel like people really read my stuff because they want to. There's nothing in it for them, and I like that idea the best. I really do.

At fictionpress.com it's nearly impossible to get someone to read your work, so that's out.

Media Miner has a far more advanced review system than ff.net, so you've got to love that. If only more people hung out there. But their interface isn't as nice as ff.net.

Fanstory's layout makes me want to die, but I like their reward system, so I still might upgrade my account there. Plus, even crappy stuff gets reviewed by like 50 people.

Writing.com is the one I'm the least familiar with, because I just met them last night, but so far, I think I'm going to have a good relationship with them as well. Their layout is just as polly-wolly-crappy as Fanstory's though. Maybe I'll have to revise my statement about that once I get to know them a little better.

Storyboards

I feel like I've written a post about this subject before and I probably have, but this should be a little different than last time, so hopefully it'll offer something worthwhile.

Okay, here's for you Demon-aura,

Storyboards - My Way

For my own storyboards I use a program called Netnote. It's a post-it note program the displays little coloured windows (on top of ALL other windows - an extremely useful function). If you're interested in it you can download it for free from this website http://www.alshare.com/, but it's not necessary to write a good storyboard. It's just the software I use. Before this, I used a little book I bought at a dollar store, so it doesn't really matter.

So, let's see. I wrote the storyboard for 'Mystic Wings' in a little book. Afterwards I went through and I had written a 56 page storyboard with additional notes and research. The storyboard for 'Mark of a Goddess' is on Netnote though, so I can't gauge its length in the same way.

I've decided to release my storyboard for chapter one of 'Mark of a Goddess', for your interest and edification.

Chapter One - Cold as Stone

- Hitomi and Van start making out and just as he takes his shirt off they both have a Tarot vision
- From Hitomi's perspective at first it seems like Van attacked her because she's thrown against the headboard of the bed so violently
- Then she has a vision of two gem stones. They are Naria and Eriya's symbols
- Hitomi wakes up and sees that Van fell off the bed as he was knocked out too
- Van puts his shirt back on and says they need to go talk to Dryden
- They find Dryden in his bedroom packing his clothes with such vigor and speaking rapidly in Italian to Selphie
- Van interupts and Folken says tht his cousins have received their power and that he's got to get out of the city right away
- Why?
- He explains about Naria and Eriya and how they are both wildly in love with him and how he doesn't want them back. He wants to be faithful to Selphie and if they come near him, he'll flirt, they'll misinterpret it and he'll be screwed
- Hitomi asks about grief and he says a new symbol takes over and a person might not grieve much
- He says he hasn't got much time to clear out of the city, but he has to go to a place where they can't find him
-He's on his way out when the doorbell rings

This is my original storyboard, so there are some things that are missing from it, because they were details that weren't yet worked out. For instance - the details of the Tarot vision aren't included. I hadn't yet decided what Naria and Eriya's rocks were going to be yet. That was the last detail worked out.

But there have been instances where I've had the story worked out a lot less than this. In my original storyboard for 'Mystic Wings' the original plotline for chapter nine (An Old Flame) was as follows:

-Hitomi goes to The Voltage Room to see Dilandau.

That was it.

I sat and stewed over it for a couple weeks wondering what I could do in that chapter that would be exciting and I came up with what is now chapter nine. It's my favourite chapter in 'Mystic Wings'. So as I was stewing, I came up with the following questions that had to be answered in the chapter.

-Why does Hitomi decide to go to The Voltage Room?
-What sort of place is it?
-What kind of music do they play?
-Do I want to make this a songfic?
-How can I show off Folken's abilities?
-What's Hitomi's relationship with Dilandau like?

Once you start asking yourself questions, you can usually see your way through to answering them and coming up with something great. But I also have to point out that I've never written a storyboard so scanty as that one. It's an extreme example.

But besides writing a storyboard you should have other supporting documents to help you as well. For instance, you could have character sketches (original fiction moreso than fanfiction, but it still may be necessary), research papers, and a timeline. For my Escaflowne series, I have a list of tattoos/abilities/elements for all the Tarot users. For me, a timeline only helps me with the weather and what month of the year I'm on.

If you have any other specific questions on the storyboard, I'll answer them on the forum, I think. Cheers! This was fun.

Foreshadowing

This is for you Demon-aura!

The Art of Foreshadowing.

Okay, so I promised I would go away and think about how to do this effectively and then I'd come back and write a detailed post on it.

I would say that effective foreshadowing is a reward of a well planned story. I was thinking hard on how to describe how I do this and the only way I could think of was painting a wall. Not a mural, but just painting the wall white. You paint up, you paint down and then you paint up again - with the roller. So let me describe each one of the strokes.

Painting up - the first time.

When you are first contriving your story you come up with a rough outline - your storyboard. Often times, this isn't the most detailed of articles and actually that's a good thing. But you have to have a plan as to where your story is going. The key is that you HAVE to know the climax. The climax is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY (that's why this is an upward stroke).

Painting down - the downward stroke.

Once you have the climax worked out, then as you go over the events that lead up to it (going backwards over your storyboard), you'll probably notice a few things that need to be slightly changed or corrected in order to lead the reader in the right direction - towards the climax - without interfering with what you've already decided needs to happen. These are usually changes to your storyboard.

Painting up - the last stroke.

This is when you're actually writing the story. Since you know where the story is going and you know what's going to happen along the way - VERY WELL (you should practically have the important parts engraved in your brain by now) then you will naturally add little harmless bits of information that lead the reader along the correct path. Just a word here - a sentence there. That's effective.

You see, I don't think it's enough to simply have 'an idea' of where you want to take the story as you write it. You have to KNOW EXACTLY what's going to happen and how.

You might think knowing all the secrets yourself before you start will ruin the creative process for you, but in my opinion - that's thinking like a reader who's seeking to be entertained by their own story. Those are the thoughts of a lazy author. This is hard work. The author doesn't get the same sorts of thrill out of their work as a reader. Creating a great piece of writing has a different sort of thrill to it than reading. It's a different kind of high. And creating a believable suspense/climax is not for the weak of heart. The reader gets to enjoy the outside appearance while the author stands in the back holding one of the puppet strings between her teeth and another one between her toes, because her hands were full ages ago.

I also have to point out that the longer the fiction is, than the more opportunites there are for creating suspense. The shorter the piece - the fewer options. Obviously a reader can't be clawing their eyes out wondering what's going to happen next if the piece is a one-shot and takes 20 minutes to read. So, suspense/mystery is for novels and serials.

Okay, so those are my thoughts about foreshadowing. I'm the storyboard queen in case you didn't know. I think most problems in writing can be fixed by writing a good storyboard. It prevents writers block, organizes you, gives you a timeline and gives you a good idea as to whether or not you've got steam enough to write it. If you can't make it through your storyboard - you shouldn't be writing the dang thing to begin with. Since you know how it's going to turn out and you can see the whole story for what it is - you can gage your enthusiasm. One of the perks about this is that you'll always finish your stories and you won't have unfinished garbage haunting you.

Cheers!

When I'm not Around

So, when I'm not here writing, I'm usually working on Mark of a Goddess. That's what I've been doing for the last few days. Yup - working on Mark of a Goddess. Just for the sake of making me feel like I've accomplished something - I'm going to write how that's going here.

Today I released chapter seven. Ya know, usually by the time I release a chapter, I'm so freaking bored with it that I can't believe that anyone could enjoy it. But that chapter was a wrap-up chapter. It ties up a couple loose ends, so it's not exactly the sort of chapter that leaves everyone pining for more. Hopefully, it's more the kind of thing that makes the reader feel like a piece of the puzzle has slid perfectly into place, so there's one less thing to worry about. I'm trying to tie things up before I engage in the major conflict, so this is one less step that I must take. If I don't start tying things up now, then it will be rushed at the end. So, I've started to wrap up on chapter seven - sounds early, doesn't it? I disagree. Now is the perfect time.

Chapter Eight is a side quest, so it's actually proving to be the most difficult chapter in the book. It's practically a one-shot that has to fit in with the world I've already created, so I have to tread softly. I've been trying to get some creative consulting on it, but it seems Nightfaux and Kaytala have both dropped off the face of the planet, so I may not be able to update on time next week. If things keep on going the way they are now - I might not be able to update for a couple weeks ... I know - I'm so unnecessarily dramatic.

Chapters nine and ten are done to my satisfaction. They just need to be beta read now.

I've been working on chapter eleven for the past few days, and I know it's going to need an editing trip in a week or so, but it's so delicious that I practically have to count calories. I just finished it. And oh - it's great. I read a little bit of it to my . I thought that he wouldn't like it because it's so ... girl directed, but he thought it was really cute, so I'm super happy.

I also wanted to start releasing a 'best line written today' thing like jomiel and chocolatelova, but everything I write is a spoiler. I just don't do long stints of description, so there's nothing like that in my writing. Maybe that's a REALLY BAD SIGN.

Not my Place

Today I'm going to talk about a kind of fiction that rips me off. I guess I'm not majorly angst-ridden about this - I just think it's a pointless waste of time.

This is when someone takes a story that has already been written and tunes it to existing characters from another story. There are a couple of these that I like. For instance, when someone writes a myth (like the Cupid and Psyche myth or the Persephone and Hades myth) and uses anime characters. Myths are so vague and can usually be summed up in three poorly written paragraphs. They've got gapes in their description the size of the Sea of Tranquility. This, I can tolerate, and I've got a couple that I really like.

But, when someone takes anime characters and sets them to an already existing novel ... it's like - what's the point? My favourite book of all time is called 'The Blue Castle' by L.M. Montgomery. I love this book so much, but I would never think of stealing her plot and casting Escaflowne characters to it. The reason a plot works the way it does is because of the characters so if you steal characters and set them in a pre-made plot, you are going to spoil one of them.

For instance - the anime characters may not behave in the same manner as the characters in the original story you're ripping off, so the story will have to be altered to accomodate the new (unintended) characters. Or it goes just the other way - you make the anime characters behave in a way that is contrary to their nature in order to accomodate the plot. See?

In my mind, this just doesn't work. I don't know why people bother doing this. It just strikes me as SO pointless.

Not to mention that since it's fanfiction - you're already stealing half your idea (or maybe someone's whole idea if you're doing an insertion). Is it really okay to steal the other half of your story as well? I don't think so. In general, I have to say that this is extremely poor practice and fanfiction is already sort of pathetic, because you're outright stealing someone else's idea. Not that I don't do it too, so I can't criticise others ... but STILL!

Like I said, this doesn't outright piss me off. I've thought of writing something that fit this bill in the far distant past, but whenever I thought about doing it - I got bored. I don't know how anyone can actually make it through writing something like this ... I get so bored even thinking about it.

The Process

Okay, so I got a request for general writing advice, and it sort of sparked my imagination and made me want to talk about the process that my writing goes through before I release it. These are all brief descriptions, so if anyone wants to hear more on a specific subject - please request it.

Inspiration

I was going to write a whole post on this awhile back, but then I got jaded and couldn't remember what inspired me. I usually get inspired by one of the following things:

• A really good song.
• A really attractive man.
• A really good story.

The last one probably doesn't do a whole to express my feelings on this subject, but when I get a good idea for a story - the story itself will spur me on to write more, because I just know that it's a story that has to be told.

Story Boards

I'm certain that everyone has heard me toot my 'write a story board' horn, and if you haven't heard it - hear it now. Unless you have EXTREMELY established characters than it's ridiculous to work without a net. This will improve your writing on so many different levels it will boggle your mind. So, if you don't do it - start TODAY.

Do things Out Loud

I've talked about this part of my process recently, so I'm only briefly going to touch on this subject. Tell yourself your story out loud. This will help you work out holes that you didn't account for in your story board. It will force you to make things more detailed and encourage you to accentuate the good parts. It will also help you make things more believable, so the audience will be more drawn into your tale. I also encourage people to read their writing out loud to themselves several times before posting.

Stew

This is a great writing tool. This is when you slam your book shut and you walk away from the project. Come back when you're fresher and when you've had time to think away from the project. You'll naturally come back way more charged. I find that when I write a chapter, I have to take a break of about four days inbetween. But I think about my story ALL the time when I'm writing it, so I come up with ideas on how to brooch topics while I'm stewing.

Hacking Through the Bush

This is no fun whatsoever, but sometimes it's necessary. This is when you have a chapter in your storyboard that you don't want to write, but you can't get on with the good parts in the story if you don't write it. I sit down and I write it anyway. I write as much as I can stand. I type and type until the chapter is done, and all the important points in my storyboard have been hit. Then I go away. Normally when I do this, I have to edit the chapter myself at least five times before I have found a way to make the chapter likable. This is like hauling up a hill so you can see the view - it's worth it. A good example of this in my own writing is the chapter called 'Chain Reactions' in Mystic Wings. Holy crap! I wasn't happy until I got the idea to break it up into headings and then it was better. WAY BETTER! But I still put more work into that chapter than any other chapter in the book.

Creative Consultation

This is sometimes necessary for even the most experienced writers. I go to my good pal Nightfaux for her input. The only thing I can really say about this is - don't let yourself get run over by anyone. It's still your story, so you do what you want to with it. However, it's obviously necessary to sometimes get an outside opinion.

Beta Reading

Someone to catch your errors. I'd encourage everyone to get one, but if you can't for some reason, or if you don't want to - the next best thing is to read your story out loud to yourself. You'll catch a lot of mistakes yourself.

There's a quick overview for you.

Virgin Harem Story

So, the other day I was reading a 'Virgin Prostitution Story'. I think the way you define a 'Virgin Prostitution Story' is that you let the reader know in advance that there is no way that the main character is actually going to have to have sex, so this is just the fun of waltzing around the concept without actually having to do anything truly smutty. I love it! I'm totally all over this concept. It's so up my alley that it's truly frightening.

Except, I wouldn't want to write a prostitution story. Instead, I'd want to write a harem story. Actually, I've been wanting to write a harem story for years. The problem is that although it would be a hoot and a half, I can't seem to find the time to do such a thing. It's really vexing. But because I don't think I'll actually have a chance to write it, I thought I'd write the premise down and see if any of the readers of this blog would find a story like this interesting. Then I'd see if it was worth the time. I figure it would be a four chapter story, and it would probably take me a little over two weeks to write.

So, let's list the story's attributes:

1. It would be a VanxHitomi thing with Millerna, Marlene and Eries in it, but ABSOLUTELY NO other Escaflowne characters.
2. So, Hitomi would be sold by her family into the service of the Sultan and when it's noticed how stunning she is, she's yoinked off to the harem before she even gets accustomed to living in the palace.
3. The harem of the Sultan is quite large and it's awhile before he gets the chance to see Hitomi, so she's safe to begin with.
4. So, the Sultan has three wives - you got it! They're Marlene, Eries and Millerna (not sisters). Now in case you didn't know it. A woman becomes a wife of the Sultan when she bears him a son. So, all three of these woman have sons. But the thing is, that the youngest of his wives - Millerna, was suddenly missing from the harem. Her son was a year old and it was certain - his eyes were brown. Neither Millerna nor the Sultan have brown eyes, so there's a rumour that Millerna was unfaithful to the Sultan and her son is actually the son of the Sultan's right-hand-man - Van. So, all the women in the harem think that Millerna was taken away and killed because of infidelity.
5. So, Van is the Sultan's right-hand-man. He was sold as a slave as a child and even though he's a man now, he still wears the arm bracelettes of a slave. He refuses to take them off. Hitomi sees him around the harem. He's allowed into the harem from time to time on business, so the women think he was 'fixed', but once the rumour started up about Millerna, everyone is starting to suspect that he wasn't.
6. Then Hitomi meets the Sultan and she interests him - MAJORLY. So, Van is sent to 'prepare' her for becoming the Sultan's lover. But will he be able to keep his hands off her himself?

HAHA! That's the premise. I think it's hilarious. Maybe I'll get a chance to write it. Probably not. What a pity!

Writing Advice

I have tried to write several posts about my receiving advice on my writing and my giving others advice on their writing.

I have to admit that I am mean when I analyze someone's writing, which is why I should never be asked to do it unless they are ready for the onslaught of fear and death that I'd drop on them. Someone has to be ready for that kind of action and be completely prepared to deal with the consequences. But most of the time, I would rather not do it. I don't really like hurting people's feelings, because nine times out of ten - I don't think they're ready. I've only ever read one person's work where I was supposed to give an opinion and I didn't think they needed much extra work done on their project. I don't think experienced writers go around asking for opinions.

Anyway, the following is a list of items that I would insist upon in order to be prepared to give an opinion on a piece of writing.

1. The writing must be current. I don't like it when someone asks me to look at something that they last looked at a couple of years ago. That has happened to me a couple of times and I find it most unpleasant because I go through it and give them my suggestions and they scream at the top of their lungs that they can do better, but that the piece was written two years ago. Why did they give it to me in the first place then if it wasn't an accurate display of what they can do?
2. Don't ask me to beta read. I would do this for someone if I was doing it on a betareading exchange, but other than that 'no'. There are a couple of reasons why I wouldn't want to do betareading. The biggest reason is that I don't believe that a betareader should have a whole lot of creative control. If they're beta reading, they should just be looking for errors, and making sure that everything makes sense. The reason for this is that a beta reader can easily step beyond their role and try to start writing the story themselves. This is not good - whether I'm doing it, or whether it's being done to something I'm writing. If someone wants my creative advice (in my opinion, it's the more precious of the two skills), then that's one thing - and I'm more comfortable giving general creative advice rather than picking over every sentence with a fine toothed comb. Because once I start picking - I'm afraid of going overboard.
3. Lastly, I have had this happen a couple of times, but it's when someone asks me to take a look at something I'm uncomfortable with reading - like smut or slash. I never read anything with graphic nudity in it and I don't like vicious needless violence.

Okay, so now I'm going to write about when the tables have turned and I'm on the receiving end of the 'advice'. I get quite a bit of writing advice since I write on several different archives. I'd say that it doesn't take much to separate the men from the boys when it comes to good advice, but it's not that simple. I've had a couple of regular reviewers on ff.net who really know their stuff, but it's more like she or he drops a line asking one specific question and then takes off before I get the chance to answer.

For me I have a hard time taking writing advice under the following situations:

1. The person knows me personally. I stopped asking people I know to read my writing a long time ago, and I'm not about to start that practice up again any time soon. Because they know me - nearly everything that comes out of their mouth has to be discounted - even praise. Don't get me wrong though - I'll let people who know me read my work, but most of the time people who say they'll take a look at my writing won't, so there's no point.
2. They don't write themselves. I know quite a few people who writing - both online and off. Some of them I'll listen to and some of them have such different styles than me that I literally gag when I read their work. So, a simple perspective from someone who writes isn't enough - I have to respect them as a writer.
3. Lastly, maybe they don't have to be a writer and maybe it's okay if they know me, but they have to love me so much that they don't mind giving me bad news and they don't mind pushing me to be better, because they want me to write the BEST THING. So, for those few people - they can say what they want - I know they want to help make me the best author! I'm their star, so it's okay if they shoot arrows at me. I guess my point with this last point is that I can't take advice from people who want to drag me down.