Alright., Flame-proof vest on. Options

[ShraX]

Hello. I'm new to this forum but have been busy in the Fanfics section for a while until just recently. Forgive me if this doesn't belong here as I would think nothing but fan fiction belongs in that section of the site; General Discussion seemed like the most sensible place to put this.

I hope this doesn't seem rude but something's been bugging me for some time.

Sitting in my cold dorm room two years ago, something odd happened. I was bored to the point of head-to-desk banging as I'm sure many of us have been, and my insanely overpowered character in Morrowind didn't tear me away from the dismal college setting anymore. So, I started writing a Morrowind fanfic for kicks called The Tale of Gaenor, and decided it wouldn't hurt to post it on the official TES forum so I could get some outsider feedback and maybe discover I had some sort of talent that had finally awoken.

I'm hardly attempting to toot my own horn but the comments I received were better than expected, so I went with it and turned it into a 36-page story revolving around Gaenor and his past. I had lots of fun with it and learned from the others posted on that forum. I find no shame in admitting that I checked my thread for more replies between classes in the hopes of fueling my motivation to continue.

Since then, I came up with two other stories called Trials of the Mad God and Gaenor: Reloaded (the second one posted on the Fanfics section of this site). Perhaps I got too wrapped up in myself but I focused less on others and just wanted to know how people felt about what I wrote. The positive comments kept coming, fewer than before but still greatly appreciated and taken to heart. A mistake, possibly, and here's why.

I noticed the same people who replied to my stuff were commenting on an equal level of praise to other peoples' stories. I read them and thought, with as little self-glorification as possible: Really? Is this really like mine? These guys must be putting on an act for everyone, then.

I'm not looking for pats on the back, but if anyone's read some of the.. (there's no kind way to say this without watering down how I feel) lower-quality works on that forum and noticed this, tell me why.

Thanks.

[minque]

Oh ShraX! Why so bitter words? You know I´ve been reading your stories for a long time, ever since you started posting Gaenor at the TES-forums! I just love your writing-style and the use of the english language is nothing but flawless!

But just because I love your story, I can´t put other writers down! I actively seek out the good parts in every story I read, there is you know....something good in everyone of them!

Many, if not all of the writers here are young people who try their best and are proud and happy to share their efforts with us, then who am I to put them down??? I just can´t do that, I think it´s important to get positive feedback, it encourage them to improve to continue writing...and believe me, the stories do get bettter and better, the authors try very hard and I think they should get credit for it!

I do comment on paragraphing and other stuff, just to tell how to make the stores more reader-friendly!

In your work there´s no need for me to mention such things, your´s is perfect as it is! I am from Sweden, I can´t really comment on other lingvistic issues, but I can comment on content and flow....which I also do, when needed.

I will also mention that I do pm writers when I find something more serious, no point in hard criticism in public!