I've been lurking and reading your stories for a long time, but I decided to finally come out of the woodwork to comment on this. I've very nearly given up on both fanfics and original fic after receiving negative feedback, and I know that no matter how many times I tell myself to suck it up and be an adult - and that it will be SO much worse if I ever do try to get published - it's still kind of soul crushing. I'll spend a week or so swearing I'm done, but in the end, I get back to it because I love to write. I know this sounds trite, but I think it's important to remember that you'll never please everyone. Write for yourself, and for the people who can appreciate you. Find people who you can count on to tell you the truth about when your writing needs work, without crossing the line from con-crit to negativity.
As for the actual substance of the story, I say that everyone goes into this knowing it's an AU, and they should understand that you're going to take the characters in your own direction. I remember raging about this after someone commented on a Mass Effect fic I was writing that 'Joker wouldn't say that.' Well, my Joker just did. I get that these are already established characters, and you have to be true to them up to a point, but we're not here because you're trying to write the next Dresden Files book. We're here to see what you can do when you put your own spin on things. It was clear from the first line of MoC that it was a 'What if?' story.
I agree that it might not be the best idea to start arguments with your readers, but just know in your own mind that they CAN be wrong. This is your story. If you personally don't like what you've written - really just don't believe in it anymore, and not that you've let yourself be swayed by others' doubts - then that's something you'll have to think seriously about. As for me, I think the power imbalance can be a tricky line to walk, but you're doing fine. Harry knows from the very beginning that it's there, and plenty of other people point it out to him, and it takes a long time to come around to a point where he's okay with it. It seems like a sane, adult decision-making process. Marcone never forces him into anything sexual, and hell, he even offers the opportunity to back out of their deal at one point. But you know what? If your idea of how the characters would behave has changed, then change them. One of my biggest complaints with any series of books is when the characters stagnate, and years pass without any kind of growth. Harry's growing into his powers and learning not to hide from his emotions, and it's putting him on a more equal footing with Marcone. So what about John? If you think he feels wrong in the first story, maybe that's how you know in what ways he needs to grow now.
Now I'm going to stop, before this turns into a novel of its own. Just don't give it up. It's obvious that you want to write this, and I think you can do it.
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regna
(no subject)
Date: 2012-04-06 02:46 pm (UTC)As for the actual substance of the story, I say that everyone goes into this knowing it's an AU, and they should understand that you're going to take the characters in your own direction. I remember raging about this after someone commented on a Mass Effect fic I was writing that 'Joker wouldn't say that.' Well, my Joker just did. I get that these are already established characters, and you have to be true to them up to a point, but we're not here because you're trying to write the next Dresden Files book. We're here to see what you can do when you put your own spin on things. It was clear from the first line of MoC that it was a 'What if?' story.
I agree that it might not be the best idea to start arguments with your readers, but just know in your own mind that they CAN be wrong. This is your story. If you personally don't like what you've written - really just don't believe in it anymore, and not that you've let yourself be swayed by others' doubts - then that's something you'll have to think seriously about. As for me, I think the power imbalance can be a tricky line to walk, but you're doing fine. Harry knows from the very beginning that it's there, and plenty of other people point it out to him, and it takes a long time to come around to a point where he's okay with it. It seems like a sane, adult decision-making process. Marcone never forces him into anything sexual, and hell, he even offers the opportunity to back out of their deal at one point. But you know what? If your idea of how the characters would behave has changed, then change them. One of my biggest complaints with any series of books is when the characters stagnate, and years pass without any kind of growth. Harry's growing into his powers and learning not to hide from his emotions, and it's putting him on a more equal footing with Marcone. So what about John? If you think he feels wrong in the first story, maybe that's how you know in what ways he needs to grow now.
Now I'm going to stop, before this turns into a novel of its own. Just don't give it up. It's obvious that you want to write this, and I think you can do it.