writingwithrosie2009

[writingwithrosie2009]

I hate it when people comment on something that you're really proud of and are pretty convinced came out well and they pull out the compliment sandwich. Compliment + Criticism + Compliment. It's a tactic to cushion the blow of criticism, and to be honest, I don't appreciate it in the least. I think almost everyone that posts art is posting it to share something they're proud of. So when people start being witchy and commenting criticisms, it just tears people down and makes them feel bad about something that was truly their best work so far.

So the moral of the story is that when people don't specifically ask for criticism, don't give it to them. It's nicer to find something you like about the pic and stick with that because in every drawing or work, you can find a mistake or something you don't like. Everyone's artwork is riddled with mistakes, and they really don't need the criticism unless they specifically ask for it because it tears down their sense of self-confidence in their work.

This can also strongly apply to writing as well, so for all of those people that are tempted to criticize, please think of this and be respectful.

[writingwithrosie2009]

Some days, you get a really rude and crude review/comment criticizing you, and you just sit there and think...

If you didn’t like it, why in the world did you read it?

Seriously. Why would you keep reading something if you dislike it so much? Like if you (in my particular case) think that I’m subjecting characters to some sort of psychological torture (when in actuality it was just a prank war where each side attacked the other’s greatest weaknesses), why would you keep reading it? When I find writing that doesn’t agree with my feelings or opinions, then I just click the close tab button. Why can’t other people do the same?

And then you sit there, looking over your best reviews/comments from your best reviewers/commenters that are so awesome and so sweet and so wonderful in every way, and you try your best to forget about that person. Because you’ve got a lot of awesome people backing you up, and what does that one wicked person have? Their negative vibes and killjoy personality to keep them company.

[writingwithrosie2009]

For some characters, do you just take persnickety traits of yourself and employ them into your writing?  

I find myself doing that all the time, and sometimes it’s not even traits. Like if I’m at a point in a fic when for example, the characters are lounging on the couch or something and I need some mundane action for them to do, I sometimes catch myself scratching an eyebrow or tapping my fingers on the table and then I put that action into the writing for the characters to do. It’s really handy, and it helps a lot. In some way, it helps you feel very personally connected to your characters.

[writingwithrosie2009]

I hate it when you’ve found that fic that’s so perfect, and it’s exactly the way you’d write it, and it hasn’t been updated in like forever and you think the author’s never going to get her sorry, lazy behind in gear.

But that’s not even the worst part.

The worst part is when you realize it’s your own sorry, lazy behind.😂

[writingwithrosie2009]

Nothing in the world is more frustrating than not being able to find a single fanfic written the way you want it to be. That’s when you’re forced to write basically your own side of the fanbase for a fandom.

In particularly Adventures in Babysitting (2016), I can’t find any friendship fics for the two main characters. It is so frustrating because no one wants to write them as just friends (like they were in the movie). So as a direct result, I have to write fanfics that I want to read. 

There is a value in non-canon writings, but sometimes I do wish that not everyone in a fandom diverts from canon. In particularly the Adventures in Babysitting (2016) fandom, I try my best to keep it within canon’s set boundaries.

I guess sometimes I just want to read something that’s the way that I wrote it but not something that’s actually what I wrote.

[writingwithrosie2009]

  This was the day. Genevieve Catarina Queen’s first day in the institution. That morning, she could just feel the excitement in her bones as she had put up her silky black hair into a neat bun.

  Everything had been going her way- a new job in her most favorite field, her gold-framed glasses free of any smudges, even the sun seemed a little brighter. She had been going to make a change. She had been going to make an enormous difference in someone’s life. She would heal them.

  Yes, this New Yorker was planning to heal them.

   But she certainly had no idea what she was getting into when a raging mad wildcat was brought to her and her alone to handle.

   It had short, choppy dyed purple hair with the beginnings of blonde roots showing through, and it appeared as if it had emerged on the losing end of a battle with scissors. It was currently fighting the nurses tooth, fang, and toenail to get loose. That is, until its eyes rested upon Genevieve.

   It blinked, gaping at her blankly for a moment. However, just as soon as the nurses had begun to relax a little, glad that the wild thing had tamed itself slightly, it started fighting again with a new vigor as it dragged itself toward the psychiatrist.

   “EVIE!!! Evie, let me out of here!” the girl screamed at the top of her lungs. Genevieve blinked, suddenly feeling a bit of terror at the fact that the girl knew her name.

   But she knew she had to muster something besides fear. After all, this was her patient and she had to take care of her properly.

   So she took a deep breath and greeted the girl.

   “Hello,” Genevieve paused to look at the clipboard she had been given before looking back up at the struggling girl with a kind smile, “Mal. I’m Genevieve, and I’m here to talk to you and help you in any way that I can.”

The beginnings of a Descendants AU fic I will likely never write, unfortunately. But it’s still nice to dream about. 💙

[writingwithrosie2009]

I love in-character characters. Like when you find a fanfic that has the characters the exact way that you’d imagine them to be written, it’s just like, magnifique.

They don’t even have to be written the right way. Just the way that you imagine them to be. There’s truly and honestly no better feeling.

[writingwithrosie2009]

So, today, I received a horrible, mean, and unnecessarily cruel review on fanfiction.net from some guest.

Basically, the person told me that my writing was basically terribly awkward and that I didn’t write the characters actually in-character. And he/she starts off the review with “no offense,” as if it was going to lighten the blow that inevitably hit me hard.

Undeniably and honestly, it’s times like these that you sit and question why you ever even started writing in the first place. Why did I ever post anything? Why do I keep posting things? Why do I get on here and people are so mean and criticize my work so harshly?

But let me tell you something. This review was on a story from years ago when I was young, dumb, and unversed in the ways of writing. I’ll be perfectly honest with you: I sucked. I sucked badly.

I started off my writing career with a Spider-Man fanfic--- which was around 400-500 words and a truly cringey story--- quickly going into the Batman fandom after that. I didn’t know a thing about writing in the least. I was learning with every kind review that someone gave me. Looking back on it, I know that people were just being nice, but I definitely relish the fact that they saw enough potential for growth to exhibit that kindness to me in the first place. I am eternally grateful for it. After all, it is people’s kindness that kept me going since my first fanfic written in 2015. 

So, five years later, I receive this cruel, mean review. Not that I haven’t received unkind reviews before--- after all, everyone does--- but this one just really hits because it woke me up and made me realize that this review could’ve very easily been given to me when I was young, fresh at writing, and much more vulnerable. And it still hurt me today even though I’ve received several semi-recent, bad, mean reviews on stories from years ago.

But do you know what has kept me writing throughout all of the bad reviews?

It has been truly compassionate people that offer criticism only when they see that an author is good enough at writing to take it.

That guest didn’t know I had gotten any better at writing since then. I strongly expect they didn’t take the time to even look to see if I’ve written any more fanfics. This guest was focused on tearing someone down. However, if this quest would have looked to see if I had written anything else, they would be greatly surprised at the person I’ve become today. My writing abilities are tons better than they used to be. I’ve got a long ways to go, but I’ve come a long ways as well.

Ultimately, criticism should only be delivered when people are not brand new at writing and are instead veterans of the hobby and have genuinely written a good story. People that are fresh, inexperienced, and probably haven’t written that great of a story should be given confidence and reassurance that they should keep going on this journey of artistic expression. The criticisms at that early of a point in the writing career can be purely detrimental to a writer and her/his self-esteem.

And with that in mind, I thank all of the people that have been kind to me and my writings, and I shame those who would think that hurting people at such a tender age of writing years is helpful and advantageous.

Guys, let’s keep our baby writers going.

[writingwithrosie2009]

You know, I've probably got so many reviews/comments on this latest update that the system's just too flooded to show them all to me right away.

Every review-deprived author ever

[writingwithrosie2009]

List of Fic Prompts for Platonic Relationships

Thought I’d give out some platonic relationship fic ideas. I’ve included some examples of my Disney Descendants stories when applicable so maybe you guys can better understand what I’m talking about.

1. Road trips. Like A’s being the jolly little goober, B’s trying to make them all behave and simultaneously finding it all kind of funny, C’s aggravating the crap out of everyone, D’s going off the grid in reaction to C’s jabs, and E’s just trying to lay low in the midst of this legit insanity. Example: Girls’ Trip starting from chapter 2 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/20382436/chapters/48374713#workskin 

2. Getting picture with Santa. One thing you’re never too old for, despite many’s opinions. Have the jolly little goober of the group (or the irritating one) take all of the rest of them out to get pictures taken. Have some mishaps occur on the way. Make it fun. Example: “Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal!” at https://archiveofourown.org/works/22036843

3. Getting some of them drunk and having one of them have to take care of the puke, the craziness, and the antics. Example: “Never Again” at https://archiveofourown.org/works/22079578

4. Have them go to a dude ranch or a family farm. A’s thinking they’re going to be an authentic cowpoke, B’s mind is on the ultimate goal of surviving it, C’s being irritating and simultaneously is doing better than everyone else, D’s about to have a breakdown because they are not cut out for farm life, and E’s doing well but has terribly embarrassing or crazy things happen to them every once in a while. Example: Urban Cowgirls at https://archiveofourown.org/works/22231855/chapters/53083960

5. Have them make breakfast together for one of their significant others. A is determined to do it right for his/her significant other, B has no clue of what they’re doing but is trying to do well for A, and C and D are like the Three Stooges in only two people’s bodies. Example: “Breakfast Brawl” at https://archiveofourown.org/works/19785544

6. Have one get sick and another or more having to take care of the sickie. A’s got a runny nose and B or others are having to deal with it despite the fact that they’re ready to puke themselves. Example: “Hot Julys” at https://archiveofourown.org/works/20086294

Sorry the examples are limited to one fandom, but it was the best I had. Hope it helps! If you do manage to write something with these, feel free to send me a link and let me see what you did. :)

[writingwithrosie2009]

Writer’s Peeves: People Who Curse Constantly

Okay, so in my personal opinion, people who cuss too much in the narrating of their fanfiction are very annoying. Why? Because there is so much creativity that is missed. You are not challenging your brain if you just use one curse word various times for multiple different meanings. Writing is about growing your mind and its capacity for fruitful production of words. Writing is about giving your audience quality of description. 

So in short, if your characters are expressing their feelings through cussing in dialogue, that’s one thing (although I personally do not conduct such behavior in my works). If you yourself are narrating with those sorts of words, it is entirely unacceptable. 

Challenge yourselves and see how many substitutes you could use for your choice curse word. You’ll be surprised, and ultimately your writing will be better.

[writingwithrosie2009]

Reviews and Comments

So, awesome reviews or comments on stories... This is something that we all love and keeps us going as writers. As writers, we feed off of the positive vibes of others that read our works. We need that love like normal people need air. I cannot begin to describe fully the value of one great review or comment. After a long, hard day, there is no greater feeling than seeing that someone genuinely appreciated your work that you’ve published for everyone to read. Even if it’s just that one person. That one person has no idea how much that “I liked what she/he wrote, I’ll tell her/him how I feel” means to us. 

So thank you to all of our reviewers and commenters out there. We hope you know that you are truly valued and appreciated.

[writingwithrosie2009]

I have so many ideas for my fandom right now that I’m surprised words don’t come flowing out of my ear.

The metaphorical words that flow out of your ear can be the best words and the worst words that come from your brain. The key is settling on an idea and choosing the right words out of the many wrong words.

So... the lesson learned here?

That’s why I write so slow. 😂

[writingwithrosie2009]

The beauty of writing is saying how you feel through the words and actions of your characters. It is your window to the world and it is how you put your feelings out there for everyone to see.

But the greatest treasure of writing is quite possibly the fact that you are able to make a difference and give others a different way of thinking or a new point of view.

[writingwithrosie2009]

Writers Peeves: Unreasonably Offended People

One thing I really hate: when people get too offended about everything that I write. Sometimes it’s just like honestly, you just had to take that as an insult or as something to be upset about? I mean seriously. I would understand if it was something like racism (which I would absolutely never incorporate into my works) but some people just go way overboard like criticizing a title of one of my works. It’s really ridiculous, and I think that most people that read my works know that I’m not sexist, racist, or anything else discriminatory.

But that was today’s rant, lol, come back tomorrow for the next edition of what’s on Rosie’s mind and seriously getting under her skin today. 😂