just wanted to say...

[laura]

I just wanted to say, because I'm not sure how much you guys know this, but you guys are all *really* good writers! Do you know that?

Because, in real life, I've tried to start writing groups with people, I've been in writing groups with people, I've been in writing workshops, and most recently I was just browsing some "critique partner classified" (lol!), because you can never really have too many writer friends. But in the end, so many people just don't have a good grasp of storytelling, or characterization, or language, or imagery, or depth and feeling. So many people who are out there trying to write are really just not very good at it yet, lol! Their story premises are bland, and their use of the craft is amateur at best. (Which is fine, you know, everybody has to start somewhere.) But for me, personally, looking for people to help me take my writing to the next level - it's so rare to connect with someone (especially multiple someones) who really know what they're doing.

But you guys here - you guys are good. Really good! Because I've been out there looking, and there are a lot of people who are just not there yet. You guys are *there* and then some. And I just wanted to make sure you all knew that.

[thelunarfox]

Well, I have to say that I agree. Just from what I know and what I've read and from participating in discussions. It's a pleasure to be here, and it's reinvigorated my urge to write. Even better than a critique group in some ways because you all are an inspiration that makes me want to write more and write better.

[Stacy]

I remember last year we were looking at that how not to write a short story thing and having trouble understanding it, and I realized.

It was written for beginners. Most of us aren't beginners. This be advanced creative writing up in here.

But I think we don't really realize that and sometimes do things like think that we're not getting it because we're not good enough, totally not seeing that we're not the target audience, that we're not getting it because we moved beyond it ages ago.

Classic impostor syndrome.

So yeah - great post, Laura, and I agree. I was scared to read it, lol. Glad I did.

Self awareness about one's skills and abilities is not egotistical or big-headed. I think an accurate picture of reality is good, and it helps you understand yourself and others better and relate with others better. And not feel stupid when you don't get stuff that's not aimed at you.

Sorry to lecture, but it's a lesson I'm learning in general right now.

[laura]

Drew, yes, I think in some capacity, I have seen some writing from almost everyone here. I know I can't follow everyone and everything - but I do check out all the new stories posted here, at least briefly, and from excerpts that are posted in different threads, I can safely say there are some amazing writers here!

I did have a wonderful in-person kind of writing group back when I was living in Michigan, but then a couple of us moved away, a couple more got new jobs or stopped writing seriously for whatever reason. They were a really talented group of ladies, and to be completely honest, this board is the closest I've come to that in the past few years.

And I hope this doesn't come across as arrogant (lol!), because that's totally not how I mean it. But when you get to a certain level - let's say, pre-professional, but no longer amateur (I've been studying the craft for ten years now, I think I can safely say I'm no longer a newbie, lol!) - it's really hard to find a good balance with critique partners and writing friends. To some degree, you really do need to be on the same level, or at least close, especially in beta reading and exchanging thoughts on each others work. Otherwise the "help" is too far skewed in one direction.

Lunar, ditto!

Thank you Stacy, yes, that is exactly what I mean! An advanced creative writing workshop. It really is.

And LOL, why are you always afraid to read my posts?

[dinuriel]

This is definitely an amazing group. It's hard to meet writers--I've been trying to meet writers since I was twelve years old and never met any until I was seventeen and first discovered Sims stories (which is kind of an ironic term, since none of these stories actually need Sims). Not that I don't like non-writers, but it's nice to have people to talk to about writing past the point of polite smiling and nodding, so I would like to thank you all and say that you are a very talented group

On a similar note... I was thinking at some point, we could have some sort of "spotlight" thread? Not really a set or scheduled thing, but if someone posts a chapter or a short piece that someone here deems worthy of particular notice (something on an unprotected blog, since anything on an unprotected blog is open to the whole world anyway and it would be reasonable to assume that the author wouldn't mind if a lot of people saw it), then the nominator can post a link in the thread (and maybe provide the necessary context in a spoiler tag for people who aren't caught up on the work)?

Of course, the tough part would be not putting up everything I read...

[Stacy]

I'm afraid to read most posts - it's not you. It's bad social anxiety. I tend to think that people are yelling at me.

But not only did I read this thread, I came back and read the posts after mine! Yay!

[laura]

Van, I think a spotlight thread is an awesome idea! But like you said, as soon as I started thinking of it, I remembered about a million posts I'd want to spotlight, lol!

[pinkfiend1]

Stacey when does anyone here ever yell at you?

I've never been anywhere where people are so nice. For some reason it's always disconcerting.

[Stacy]

Feb 7, 2011 15:38:39 GMT -5 pinkfiend1 said:

Stacey when does anyone here ever yell at you?

I've never been anywhere where people are so nice. For some reason it's always disconcerting.

Look at me, coming back to the thread again! Woop woop!

I know. It's not rational. Phobias rarely are.

Well - it is sort of rational, if you take fear of my mother's rages plus fear of anonymous hate over on SimSecret into account. But yes - rationally I should know this is a safe place. I'm working on it - see, I'm continuing to read this thread.

To stop derailing the thread - I'll think about the spotlight thing. We do have the interviews that are sort of like that - we could borrow the same structure and have sign-ups?

[rad]

I want to echo the points about everyone's writing. I have much less tolerance for bad writing in novels and other fiction since coming here, and I love how every one of us is improving all the time, in an iron sharpens iron way.

[celebkiriedhel]

I agree entirely. You are all great writers - even the ones that don't think they that are - yes I'm looking at you Beth.

I'm a reader before I'm a writer (in my grand list of the things that describe me) - and the writing here is just wonderful to read. It's really feeding my addiction!

I also adore the interaction that we have here - that people think about writing, and story-telling, and the process of writing, and all the whys, hows, and wherefore arts - it really feeds my thirsty soul.

The other thing that I love is the respect that we have for each other. There's no false criticism or false praise - we're front up honest.

[Velvet]

Laura that was an unbelievably sweet thing to say. I'm feeling very lucky to have 'bumped' into Stacy again. If I hadn't, I would have still been drifting out there on my own, doing my own thing without any group of persons to interact with. I've always been kinda a 'recluse' when it came to writing even when I posted on boolprop in days gone by, it was such an effort to reach out to people. Maybe because writing is very personal to me. It's completely different with the articles I write for LS because, I just see that as information driven with a few doses of story-telling.

When I opened my blog for JTC it was like stepping out on stage with a big spotlight on me. If not for my friends @ LS giving me kudos and boosting me up I may not have kept the site open.

I'm really really happy to be here. Just wanted to say thanks and let you ladies know that.

[raquelaroden]

My first thought is that you can't be talking about my stuff. I wonder if I'll always think that way.

[bex]

Feb 7, 2011 18:40:45 GMT -5 @raquelaroden said:

My first thought is that you can't be talking about my stuff. I wonder if I'll always think that way.

I always feel the very same way!

[choco]

Oh gosh. Thanks Laura. You're an excellent writer and I hope that my stories get as interesting as yours one day. The fact that you started this thread for everyone is very heartwarming. I know that I'm still working my way around the storytelling process and I'm rather anxious about publishing it. Thanks for the accolade.

[infinitygoddess]

Feb 7, 2011 19:09:00 GMT -5 choco said:

Oh gosh. Thanks Laura. You're an excellent writer and I hope that my stories get as interesting as yours one day. The fact that you started this thread for everyone is very heartwarming. I know that I'm still working my way around the storytelling process and I'm rather anxious about publishing it. Thanks for the accolade.

And I'm certainly rooting for you, Beans. :3

I'm also speechless about what else to say in regards to laura's compliment. <---Me blushing.

[mdpthatsme]

And laura, you are amazing too.

I thought about suggesting we do like a newsletter or something with spotlights on authors, stories, and such, but we started the interviews...