.:MY GOAL:.
Well, hello there. First let me state what I'm doing lurking about Fictionpress as I do. Like most other sane people on this website, I'm here to write (and read, of course). But my primary goal is to become better in my writing, and edit edit edit, revising my work over and over again until I gain some confidence in my own ability with pen and paper (or rather, the keyboard). Frankly, we writers all go through a "I'm so crap, no one reads my work! Gah! Waaaaa!" stage in which we thoroughly take the hit of the big fat ZERO next to our reviews quite hard. But then, some kind hearted people come along and add some constructive criticism for those of us who feel at a loss, and we improve. So, basically what I'm saying is, I'm here to improve. My writing sucks- so I fix it. People tell me why my writing sucks and I go at it like dogma, editing, re-typing the whole thing again and again and again. There is never a time when a person can't make their work better. So here are my points:
1) I will write, and continue to write to improve. And I know I need to improve a lot. Unfortunately.
2) Constructive criticism is ALWAYS welcome and accepted with vigour, but no flames please- they are completely useless. Seriously, what's the point of leaving a review such as "dis sux shit" on someone's story? I maintain that when people write, however "crap" it is, they have put effort and at least deserve to know what they are doing wrong. Also, anonymous flames are just cowardly.
3) I review. All my reviews are signed. And instead of the usual "this story is great" or "hmmm, I didn't like this bit" I will tell you why.
What puts me off a story
Hint: DO NOT, I repeat, do not have spelling/grammatical errors in your title/summary!
-Stories containing chapter that are only author's notes... that pisses me off, even if the story is good, heh.
-Writing that has not been edited, has spelling mistakes everywhere and the format is disgusting with the paragraphs in big, unreadable blocks. In most of the cases as outlined, even if the plot is superb I would most likely opt for protecting my eyes instead.
- Which brings me to the point that the story cannot contain any "Mary Sues", or in other words, characters who are perfect in every way and just make you want to either strangle them, pull out their hair, or stab them with a very, very big spork. Repeatedly. The characters need to be "approachable" and human. They need to be fleshed out during the course of the story- ie/ the reader has to really like/hate/detest/be annoyed with/emphasize with/feel sorry for/cry for/feel with etc the character (depending on what the writer intended). It helps that when you write you read over your work from the point of view of a reader. If you find your writing boring and hard to continue reading on, imagine how the reader must find it!
- More importantly, the writing in itself. If the writing is slapdash with no description or dialogue or notion of flowing sentences and thought, and is basically like scratching at paper with a fountain pen that's been dipped into a dry inkwell I will probably not want to read it. I may comment with a CC though, since I read everything.
- The plot. The genre. Generally, I'm not into the supernatural romance catergory, but I still read the works and comment. Some of them are brilliant. Personally, I like the stories that include some humour so the writing is not so heavy and dark. I don't like stories that overdo the theatrics and are over dramatic all the time. I like drama, but just not in every paragraph. I also abhor anything to do with a main character who always thinks along the lines of "The world hates me and I hate myself and I think I'll just kill myself but I'm too cowardly to do it so I have to wait for Mr. Right to come and save me and pull me out of my maudlin puddle of self inflicted grief and subsequently rape me so we can live happily ever after. Oh, and then I kill myself because my hair was fizzy when I woke up today." Thankfully, I haven't met any story of the sort. But you know, the over dramatic ones. Kind of reflects my taste in people- I generally inch away from the ones who think they are the centre of everything and every little problem of theirs is a crisis but for some unknown reason they like to sit around and mope constantly about that little problem... to you. So, here's to that: if you have a problem, think about fixing it. Unhappy? Think of things that make you happy. In pain? Think of ways to lessen it. Angry? Think of taking it out. Insane? Think of buying yourself a padded cell.
The above points are just my personal taste and opinion and I posted it here just because I felt like it.
There are some excellent tutorial type pieces out there, some of which are very helpful. If you think you need it, check these out:
Writing with Diversity- Eyetk
Giving and Receiving Gracefully- Tiefling
The Official Mary Sue Manual- TA Maxwell
If you are a writer prone to having writers' blocks and having an inability to plan ahead for stories (like me), do check this out. Highly recommended. Amusing too.
How to Successfully Complete a Successful Story!
.:MY STORIES:.
Fictionpress (www.fictionpress.com)
/LAST THING TO LOSE/ an Original Fiction by eyesofahuntress (romance/humor)
Summary: Trendy new haircut: 100 dollars. Gorgeous new wardrobe: 500 dollars. Sexy new psychiatrist: 1000 dollars. Having your ex waltz back into your life with a new girl on his arm? Priceless. (Short, quick updates)
/FINDING WARMTH/ (brief hiatus) an Original Fiction by eyesofahuntress (romance/action adventure)
Summary: One day Kristian was holding her hand and the next day she was holding a newspaper with a picture of him ten times enlarged on the cover. Title? MISSING. The mystery begins to unfold when, seven years later, he lands back in her life. Literally. And she is forced to ask herself a question. Just who, or what, is Kristian Hayden? (Update monthly)
/JUST A GIRL/ an Original Fiction by eyesofahuntress (romance/humour/angst)
Summary: He's taller than me. He's smarter than me. He's got the entire mafia behind his back while I have bread crumbs from this morning's food fight stuck TO my back. And to top it off: he's much, much nastier. So remind me. What are my chances of winning again? (Update monthly... tentatively)
Fanfiction (www.fanfiction.net)
/RAGING STORM/ a Twilight fanfiction by dashboard (romance/supernatural/drama/humor)
Summary: Time seemed to slow as I felt his marble cold hands wrap around my own for one last time. “Kill me,” Edward whispered hoarsely, his voice cracking. And plunged the stake towards his heart. (Set after Eclipse for now. BxE and a little bit of J for spice)
/PLAYGROUND/ a Night World fanfiction by dashboard (romance/action/adventure/humor)
Summary: He’s cold. He’s lethal. And he’s absolutely ruthless. She needs to kill him before he has her for dinner. Only problem? She doesn’t have a clue who he is. So how the hell, exactly, did Circle Daybreak expect her to find someone she didn’t even know existed until, hmmm, let’s see- two seconds ago? (Update bi-monthly)
.:MY POEMS:.
/WINGS/ Original Poetry by eyesofahuntress (romance/humour/angst)
Summary: He pulls the trigger, and sunshine fills my head. Like co-current explosions on the sun, my delusions fill me up with brief bursts of energy, only to be depleted at the source. Loving. Promising. Breaking. Hurting. Ending. A poem scrawled across my heart. (Complete)
I hope everyone is writing/reading to their hearts content- I love you all!
Cheers,
eyesofahuntress
:STATS:.
STATS
/Last Thing to Lose/:
Posted Chapters: Chapter 1
Completed but unposted chapters: None
Currently working on: Chapter 2 is 70 percent complete
/Finding Warmth/ (brief hiatus):
Posted Chapters: Chapter 2
Completed but unposted chapters: Expect this in a month.
Currently working on: Chapter 3 is 20 percent complete
/Just a Girl/:
Posted Chapters: Chapter 13
Completed but unposted chapters: none
Currently working on: Chapter 14 is 50 percent complete
/Raging Storm/:
Posted Chapters: Prologue
Completed but unposted chapters: None
Currently working on: Chapter 1 is 5 percent complete
/Playground/:
Posted Chapters: Chapter 2
Completed but unposted chapters: None
Currently working on: Chapter 3 is 80 percent complete
/Wings/ (Complete Poem):
Posted Chapters: Chapter 1
Completed but unposted chapters: None
Currently working on: None
.:NEWS FROM THE AUTHORESS:.
24.07.08: Finally! I have a little time to myself. Expect chapter 14 of JAG out in a week. Expect LTTL chapter 2 soon. Also on Fanfiction I've started a Twilight Fanfic called Raging Storm (with a BellaxEdward focus), and the next chapter to my L.J.Smith Fanfic Playground is almost done and will also be up soon. Finding Warmth will be on the backseat for a while, or I'll die from over-typing. Busy busy.
10.07.08: I am well onto typing Chapter 14 of JAG. I'm also pleased to announce that I've taken Playground off hiatus, the next chapter of that L. J. Night World Fanfic should be up within the month as well XDDD
Yup, I'm looking to be busy this month! Lots of stories to juggle -grins- just hope I pass one last exam (about wine!) tomorrow and we'll get crackin'!
25.06.08: I've edited and replaced the first Chapter (yet again) of JAG, and also finished writing Chapter 13! Yes m'dears, it's finally up -dances- I feel so accomplished today, and am now in the process of ironing out typos an whatnot the other JAG chapters. I'm quite excited about what everyone thinks of this latest chapter XD
Anyhow, next on the agenda- this time, after my exams for sure- will be Chapter 2 of Last Thing to Lose, which is about 70 percent completed at present.
You know you love me (so review me lol)! See you after exams.
24.06.08: GOODNESS. I really really REALLY need to rewrite the first chapter of JAG for the 10th time. Is that crap even read-able?! (spasms) Yes, I re-read the story again and the whole first chapter just URGHHHH. Anyhow, this means that before I post up Chapter 13, I'm going to post up a new version of Chapter 1. Yet again. Bear with me while I go and scoop my eyes out for ever posting such a lousy piece of writing as Chapter 1 even after countless attempts at editing. Hmmm, maybe I should do the new Chapter 1 from a third person pov... and keep it short and to the point. Utter, utter revamp time. Ah, choices. 3 more days until my last exam! Then I can finally concentrate on finishing this story. Things to catch up on after exams... in update order (yup, I adore my lists):
1) Rewrite and replace Chapter 1 of Just a Girl (aka JAG) again. Lord help me.
2) Finally complete and post Chapter 13 of JAG.
3) Post Chapter 2 of Last Thing to Lose (aka LTTL).
4) Finish off last paragraphs of Finding Warmth and post up Chapter 3 of said story.
16.06.08: Posted the first chapter of new story Last Thing to Lose (kind of based on my real life situation at the moment) and a poem called Wings which I wrote after my ex and I broke up. After my exams, which end on the the 28th of June, I will finish writing up the next chapter of JAG and once that's up, you can expect an update for Warmth in the weeks following. Phew, juggling three stories at once will definitely be tough, but they will be continued/finished. Along with H1-ing all my uni subjects and trying to organize matters of the heart... oh, my poor weary teary heart lol! I realized wounds take longer than one month to heal. Considerably longer (sweatdrop).
10.04.08: The next chapter for JAG will be finished and posted soon, promise. Just let me hand in these 2000 word essays and prac reports, and cram in some study for midsems first. Allow me, say, one week my lovelies. Everything's due next Monday but after that I'll be a relatively free woman again. Much love.
12.03.08: Some personal situations have come up. I am very sad and disappointed at the moment. I will continue my stories, but will take a little longer to update. Should be good to go after a month. Sorry.
02.03.08: Completed Chapter 12 of Just a Girl! Now working on Warmth. Looking forward to a Warmth update later, my dears. Wow, haven't I been a pro-active little scout the past couple of days... grins... oh and now Warmth is also up. Yay! I've been a good author! Uni starts today though... I might get busier now or buried under a bunch of assignments. Urgh. Bare with me lol :)
29.02.08: I've written more on the 12th chapter of JAG (6 pages, in fact).. feeling markedly better than yesterday but my throat still wants to rip itself out... anyway, I have work later today so have to stop writing... and just as I was getting stuck into it too... cries... it also sucks that since I don't have my computer for the weekend so I can't write. Sigh... hopefully I can get stuck back into the chapter without too much hassle once Monday rolls around. Also did a couple of paragraphs on Finding Warmth Chapter Three.
.:PROFILE:.
People actually want to know... surprisingly lol. Here it is (uninteresting facts about yours truly):
Name: eyesofahuntress
For heaven's sakes tell us your real name: skiein (no, really... ha... ok, not)
D.O.B: 21/02/87
Occupation: uni student... good lord, uni is expensive.
Location: australia
Nationality: chinese
Interests: writing (duh), reading (anything), sketching, manga and anime, watching movies, shopping, animals, my wonderful friends and bf... ranting (HA!)
Yahoo groups: I am a member of YoungWriters101
Facebook groups: I am a proud member of Incenerate: The Facebook Chapter and Fictionpress Romance Writers and Readers
My DeviantArt: http://skiein.deviantart.com
My LJ: http://skiein.livejournal.com/
Devoted member of LJ community, Reviews100
My favourite stories on fictionpress and fanfiction- the best of the best
Personal favourite: When You Own The Universe -Secretive
The "Get yourself a publisher": Mating Habits of the Popular and the Petty, Against All Odds, Everybody Hates Logan- Myrika (and generally anything by Myrika- that chick is so god damned talented)
I don't usually don't read fantasy on FP but you made me love it: Queen of Glass- S. J. Maas
This girl usually only writes fanfiction (L.J Smith and Tamora Pierce) but her writing is AMAZING. Check her out or I'll stab you with my spork: Kiana Caelum (If you're a fan of L.J Smith "Chimera" is a must read. Even if you don't know who the hell L.J Smith is, read this anyway!)
Generally, I can't decide on which stories are the best, that's why they are all in my "favourites" section. Wallow in the talent, man. Peace out.
Published Works
Favourite Books:
1) Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
2) Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers
3) I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
4) The Princess Bride by William Goldman
5) Memoirs of a Geisha by Author Golden
6) Deception Point, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Favourite Series
1) The Tea Rose and The Winter Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
2) Liveship Traders series by Robin Hobb
3) Nightworld series by L. J. Smith
4) Wraethru series by Storm Constantine
5) Harry Potter series by J.K Rowling
6) Protector of the Small series by Tamora Pierce
7) Thoroughbred series by Joanna Campbell
8) Fearless series by Francine Pascal
9) Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
Favourite Classics
1) A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
2) Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
3) The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
3) Tess of the D'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
4) Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
5) The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Favourite Plays:
1) Anything Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet etc)
2) Anything Euripides (Medea, Heracles etc)
There's many more books/series etc that I can't think of right now, but I'll put them up when they come back to me. Generally I read anything that's by L.J Smith, J. K. Rowling and Tamora Pierce.
.:I'M SPECIAL, READ ME!:.
Lastly, a very special shoutout to some lovely, encouraging readers of mine, without whom I would not be alive, no, really... my preciousssssss... pwahahhaha:
Fran (thank you for being there when I needed it and always, always, encouraging me to write... especially through my blocks... I can't send enough love and hugs over to you)
Terry S (thanks for the much needed encouragement on "JAG" and everything in general)
Sam (I just love you girl, because your reviews are always so long, encouraging and uplifting)
Iced-Faerie (just... thank you so much... especially for always being one of the first to review any new chapters I put up)
To all of my wonderful reviewers and readers:
Much Love and Gratitude!
FictionPress.com - let the words flow
