evocates | on writing, and 'pretty'

ironic as it might seem, i don't like fics that are pretty. pretty, but empty, like a crystal vase sitting by the window. you look at it once in a while, and it's gorgeous in the light and captures rainbows in the diamond-shaped facets, but...

it gets boring, after a while.

when i use metaphors, i try to use them in-character, and with reason. my imagery tries to paint a picture with good reason. i'm trying to make a point here, with every word i write, and every metaphor and simile and description contributes to that point. that's why writing is, to me. it's to communicate - to tell a story, to weave something gorgeous in the minds of the reader. i try to make everything like a constant video, like you are watching the world through the eyes of the characters and it's appropriately tinted. i don't know whether i succeed, but i try.

what i really dislike, honestly, are descriptions and metaphors and imagery for the sake of it. they are pretty, they help the reader visualise but-

there isn't a point. there isn't a true story to tell. there isn't characterisation. replace these two characters with anyone else and the fic works perfectly fine, or even better, in some cases. the metaphors used aren't what the character themselves might use. it's all a sort of mess of pretty language and it's really such a pity. because, really, these fics are no different from those millions of beautiful, realistic landscape paintings (things like this.)

it serves no purpose. it's like a crystal vase, all ornamental and nice to read once in a while but eventually the magic fades, and it just becomes something your eyes slide past each time you walk by it. it's really very sad when this happens, because-

all these authors, they could have done so much better. these authors - they are the ones who can do it. they can create images, draw links, characterise. it's just that-

they're doing it all so disjointedly, and in the end, it's all a waste. there's no purpose, no meaning, and it's just so flimsy in the end. they could have done more; written something more memorable, something that truly strikes you with a truth that touches your heart, or even an image that haunts you even when you're surrounded by mundanity, or something about the character that changes entirely how you view him.

because that's what art is.

change. revolution. even if it's something miniscule. it's what i try to do with every piece of fic i write - create art.

because that's what language is.

eta; wow. so many responses, and so fast? -takes note of the timing. or is it the subject matter? hmm.-

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

ironic as it might seem, i don't like fics that are pretty. pretty, but empty, like a crystal vase sitting by the window. you look at it once in a while, and it's gorgeous in the light and captures rainbows in the diamond-shaped facets, but...

I stopped reading right there.

Way to be a hypocrite. Most of your convoluted, badly-written fanfiction is exactly this type of writing, with just as convoluted, badly-written metaphors stretched to breaking point within them to describe how characters feel about each other. Even when the character would ICly never be intelligent enough to think this way in the first place. I'm not saying you suck, but you are rather mediocre and everything I see by you, I dismiss not as badfic but as boring pretty!fic.

Try looking at your own writing. You are one of the people you complain about.

Do you expect me to scream and cry at you in incoherence, that's why you went anon to say this? Do de-anon - it makes things easier for both of us, and I don't take offence that easily. I won't throw a fit and defriend you or anything.

Part of it I think you misunderstood me, so perhaps you should have read further? Or perhaps I should have made myself clearer in my first sentence. Hm. But anyway, I don't dislike metaphors and imagery - like you pointed out yourself, I use them. A lot. I adore descriptive language, but I use that language for a purpose, and I dwell on that a lot when I write.

Every metaphor I use have a purpose. And honestly a lot of times I feel that using these devices actually showed these emotions with far more clarity and strength. It illuminates a lot. Like in that simile I used above, I think you immediately got what I meant, and I used it later on to further show how that pretty language actually becomes dull and loses its impact. (I'm discussing lit techniques in a blog entry. What the heck, self.) I use descriptive, 'pretty' langugae for a purpose, which is the point I'm getting ast here - that it's often used to no purpose, and it drowns out the characters and the stories and turns it all into something meaningless.

I do look at my own writing a lot, but I admit that I of course have bias. I don't mind that you think my writing is mediocre. I know that I'm far from perfect, that I have a lot more to work on. (As Echizen would say, 'Mada mada dane', and I apply it to a lot of myself. Life is a constant pursuit of improvement.) But I'd rather that you tell me face to face instead of behind anon so that I can, with your permission, pry your brain to see how I can improve on it. It's impossible to try to please everyone, I know (different preferences, after all), but I would really like to know what you judge to be goodfic so I can stop writing 'boring pretty!fic.

^^;

I'm sure most of the writers that you're complaining about think the exact same thing about their fics, if you brought this issue up to them. It's not only for the pretty! It has depth! And meaning! But you don't see it. Just like I and others don't see it in your fic either.

I'm not on your flist. I was linked here by someone else. I do, however, like to call hypocrisy when I see it, and I have read some of your fandom writing before. Already gave you my opinion on that.

DEAR MYSTERIOUS ANON PERSON <3

I really admire the fact that you know what you're looking for in fics. And anonymity aside... you're pretty direct in what you say and your words have got me thinking about my own writing too *A* The depth and meaning of metaphors... what makes them comprehensible to everyone? What makes it possible for authors to share their concepts with people who share the same thinking processes... and different processes? How far can omniscient narration push theme and metaphors?

Anon. I would be incredibly happy and indebted to you if you would lend some of your time to read even a bit of my writing. Rip everything to shreds with no mercy. Put it into the blender that is your mind and spit everything out at me, I beg you! I don't mind if you stay anon <33

"Spin" and "Unrequited Animosity" are my best Dino/Hibari fics.
"Scramble" is Hibari vs. Gokudera and kinda turns into Hibari/Gokudera. It has the heaviest descriptive language by far... and is the longest fic I've ever written in that style. Also most violent.
"Licking Wounds and Nursing Egos" Xanxus/Squalo. Um I've got a lot of positive comments on this which sort of worries me haha!

If anon could review even one fic... I'd be extremely grateful ;_; <3 I WANT TO IMPROVE MY WRITING LIKE BURNINGGG.

love, spart.

Perhaps those authors think that, but this is just my opinion. Just like it's yours and 'others' who think that my fics don't have meaning or that my writing style has problems. You're just being a tease now, to be honest. Which ones of my fandom writings have you read? What exactly do you think is wrong with them? Because really, I don't see where your criticisms are coming from, and I would really, really like to see where I can improve, hypocrisy or not.

I'm not as forward as

theburningempty right above, but I'd like to ask for you to rip apart something of mine anyway, just so I can understand what you mean. And how to get BETTER from it.

I'm not as ~~forward~~ creepy as theburningempty

fix'd.

SILENCE, PLEBIAN.

I was trying to make you look better there. Bitch.

PFFT <3

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