1. I have no idea where this idea that "professionalism" entails never criticizing came from. Maybe it's my background in philosophy--philosophers show respect by tearing apart each other's ideas.
It may be just a quirk of YA authors, though. Adam Roberts is a semi-famous sci-fi author, and he's been totally ravaging (http://punkadiddle.blogspot.com/2010/03/robert-jordan-wheel-of-time-1-eye-of.html) the Wheel of Time series on his blog.
Really, someone trashing your writing is almost a compliment. They care enough about it to rant, after all. Totally ignoring you is kind of a worse insult. (the whole "the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference" thing)
2. I subscribe to Death of the Author, so I think the author's interpretation of her work is no more valid than anyone else's. I understand that's a minority point of view in fandom, though.
3. The book should be as long as it needs to. In other words, length in itself isn't a problem; unnecessary length is a problem. But as long as each paragraph advances plot or reveals character, don't worry too much about the total length.
4. I'm always amused at how often your characters look at each other. Of course, I have my own writing quirks, so that's kind of glass house territory. >_>
Other things I noticed: "Grue" again (I'm going to be wondering about this for months), "Bathsheba," "pirate" (probably a one-off joke or something, but I have hope!), "seven" and "seventh" (the only number--fetch quest?), "mistletoe" (no further comment).
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Date: 2011-02-05 02:28 am (UTC)It may be just a quirk of YA authors, though. Adam Roberts is a semi-famous sci-fi author, and he's been totally ravaging (http://punkadiddle.blogspot.com/2010/03/robert-jordan-wheel-of-time-1-eye-of.html) the Wheel of Time series on his blog.
Really, someone trashing your writing is almost a compliment. They care enough about it to rant, after all. Totally ignoring you is kind of a worse insult. (the whole "the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference" thing)
2. I subscribe to Death of the Author, so I think the author's interpretation of her work is no more valid than anyone else's. I understand that's a minority point of view in fandom, though.
3. The book should be as long as it needs to. In other words, length in itself isn't a problem; unnecessary length is a problem. But as long as each paragraph advances plot or reveals character, don't worry too much about the total length.
4. I'm always amused at how often your characters look at each other. Of course, I have my own writing quirks, so that's kind of glass house territory. >_>
Other things I noticed: "Grue" again (I'm going to be wondering about this for months), "Bathsheba," "pirate" (probably a one-off joke or something, but I have hope!), "seven" and "seventh" (the only number--fetch quest?), "mistletoe" (no further comment).
-TealTerror