[Ziggy455]

Heed these words.

Considering I have found myself frequently returning here, I've seen a complete slip of intellectual creation. Since my return I've noticed that this category is filling up with half completed stories and scripts, blank topics with stupid titles and triple post floods of unread work. (I won't point fingers, but one of them -illiterately- has the words 'Don't f*cking lock this post!') That's not how we do things here.

So if you're new here, I'd like to point out a few things.

One
'I'll get around to it' Topics
I keep seeing Topics pop up with names and when I go into them, the basic post consist of:

QUOTE

This is my new story. It's going to be super kewl, and it's about a criminal who does criminal things. I'll post the first chapter up soon.

NO! Unless you've actually written the first chapter, nobody wants to know. If you really feel the need to tell everybody what you're planning then go here to do that.

Two
Chapter flooding!

For christ sake, common sense can be used for this. If you post up a chapter, and nobody reads it, does it really seem logical to upload ANOTHER one? What have you achieved? You've bumped up your topic, broken a rule and still, nobody is reading your stuff. Post up a chapter, if nobody reads it, put a shout-out into the Social Club or PM some of your friends to take a peek. (Or even f*cking PM me! I'm constantly trying to give good feedback here.)

Three
The 'Grand Theft Auto' theme

Like a wise man once said 'We all know this is a GTA forum but the theme has been done to death.' - Look, we all understand you've got some hip new revolutionary way of telling us a story, but do you know how many uncompleted fanfics we get that just fill up the page? And the sad thing about it is, is that most of them barely make any imaginative sense. If you're going to upload something, WRITE it up, PROOFREAD it and then put it on here.

Four
Scripts (The difference between a good one, and a lazy one)
Now this is something which is doing my head in. I'm coming on here, seeing some really good old writers who I KNOW have the motivation to write brilliant things, and then I see new faces who upload these virtual stories that I compare to drivel. They basically consist of:

QUOTE

Two men sit in a room and play Jenga. Man #1 Yo man, we gunna go do dat deal bruv? Man #2 Watch your mouth I ent yur bruv. The first man shoots teh second man in deh head. And then leaves and gets in a car and goes to the deal.

Over the last few weeks, this seems to be all I'm reading. (Of course there's a few hidden gems inbetween) Scripts are easy to write, if you're trying not to write a good story. A script is used to make the reader imagine the image, prose writing explains the scene and is used to make the reader see an image in a different way.

If you're going to write a script, for the love of christ, learn the fundamentals; give us some backstory! Who are the two men, what do they look like? Is the room dark? Light? What time is it? Is the second man thin or fat? Give the reader a more general insight. And PROOFREAD.

Five
Laziness
So you've just bashed out a beautiful, thousand word short on the shortcomings of drug deals. Congratulations sir, you've achieved something. Now answer me this- did you write it using an actual word processor or did you write it in the little Topic box that we use to comment on this wonderful forum? Most likely I'd get a bland look of horror and a raising of the arms.

Nobody wants to read a punctuation derived, grammatically starved piece that is coated in typos. Please tell me young sir, what read better in your mind?

QUOTE

He looked at me with a look of horror, I had taken the pistol and shot the man straight through the left eye. The remnants of mush and bone sprayed over his terrified face.

OR-

QUOTE

He luked at me with a look of horroor.....i had take the pistol and shot him through th left eye!!! there was pieces of blood and bone on his scared face!!!

I'll let you decide.

Six
Moving on before you've already started
When I decide to look over some work and give some critical analysis, I expect there to be a small range of people to choose from. All that seems apparent now is this category is getting a lot of new faces, and those faces seem to be clogging up the forum with topic after topic.

Here's a tip. You can't write the first chapter of a story, expect it to hit the high mark of quality and then move on to something else. There's over six topics by one user, he finishes the first chapter, and then decides to move on to another story -which is not exactly different from the one he left- The rule I'm trying to point out here is that you need to focus on a SINGLE project at one time. Once you've finished it, focus on something. But please for the love of god, if you feel like your story is dead, request a lock! It'll make the topic disappear a lot easier.

Seven
Concept Threads
Plain and simple. They're not made for here. I understand you're using your writers intellectual to explain a conception but we want stories - Not a topic that promises us them and doesn't deliver the goods in any way.

***

Now do not mistake this post for myself attempting to offend anyone, because I do not wish to hurt anybody's feelings, sincerely. I've just seen this forum slip with it's intellectual base of writers and hopefully this topic can clear up a few things which are hindering people from actually fully expressing their work. I'm only trying to help people here.

Z

This post has been edited by Ziggy455 on Thursday, Mar 22 2012, 14:55

[Craig]

I feel somewhat bad for all this. I used to be really active in here, dishing out advice, clearing things up and generally getting involved. However, with it not being the most active section on the board (especially in warmer months or busy studying periods) I have neglected to visit as much, and this has probably had an effect on quality control. I know I could play the "life" card but it really shouldn't take me all that much time to moderate things a little better, more so if I'm already browsing the forums and looking at nothing in particular.

This is a good topic, if a little passive aggressive. Everything is relevant though. I need to start paying more attention.

[Ziggy455]

QUOTE (Craig @ Thursday, Mar 22 2012, 15:05)

I feel somewhat bad for all this. I used to be really active in here, dishing out advice, clearing things up and generally getting involved. However, with it not being the most active section on the board (especially in warmer months or busy studying periods) I have neglected to visit as much, and this has probably had an effect on quality control. I know I could play the "life" card but it really shouldn't take me all that much time to moderate things a little better, more so if I'm already browsing the forums and looking at nothing in particular. This is a good topic, if a little passive aggressive. Everything is relevant though. I need to start paying more attention.

Don't beat yourself up over this, Craig. I've written this with a little passive aggression which I couldn't help. It's not yours or anybody else's fault that these things happen. They just do. I check the forum everyday and I just feel like screaming at some of the things that take place. It's more of a 'having the strength' to put up with trying to help others. I know I'll try, hopefully without such aggressive cynicism next time.

Honestly, don't let it bother you. There's other people here who know the score too. I have a life, in fact I'm starting to have a very busy life (Studying, working out, friends.) But I stick by what I say, and I'll continue to try and help other writers as best I can.

[Craig]

I'm not saying it was a bad thing.

I'm not beating myself up so much, I'm just pining for days gone by where we were active and there was an unwritten standard followed. I'm not so uppity to suggest they were "glory days" but I do feel a little nostalgic, haha.

[Ziggy455]

QUOTE (Craig @ Thursday, Mar 22 2012, 15:17)

I'm not saying it was a bad thing. I'm not beating myself up so much, I'm just pining for days gone by where we were active and there was an unwritten standard followed. I'm not so uppity to suggest they were "glory days" but I do feel a little nostalgic, haha.

I feel the same. I miss the days of posting something, getting feedback, bettering that work and then feeling a sense of happiness. Now if you try to give feedback, all the new kids seem to go into crazy-defence mode.

But like I said a few years back I'll still stick around no matter what. Maybe I can try to get this place into some sort of good shape again.

[Craig]

Oh, there's definitely a difference in material now as there was then. That's not even me being blinded by nostalgia. I'm not saying there's not as much effort being put in because people work at different skill levels. I don't believe that all you need is an idea. A good idea will save you, but if you can't execute it right you end up ruining something truly great. It's no use having an amazing plot when your writing is lacklustre. I'm not so high and mighty to start barging in and saying "you're wrong and I'm right, and this is why". All I can do is offer impartial advice, and if that means it looks like I'm urinating on my laptop from the highest point of my house, so be it.

[Ziggy455]

QUOTE (Craig @ Thursday, Mar 22 2012, 15:23)

Oh, there's definitely a difference in material now as there was then. That's not even me being blinded by nostalgia. I'm not saying there's not as much effort being put in because people work at different skill levels. I don't believe that all you need is an idea. A good idea will save you, but if you can't execute it right you end up ruining something truly great. It's no use having an amazing plot when your writing is lacklustre. I'm not so high and mighty to start barging in and saying "you're wrong and I'm right, and this is why". All I can do is offer impartial advice, and if that means it looks like I'm urinating on my laptop from the highest point of my house, so be it.

Very true, people will read this topic and I'm sure I'll get a PM or two telling me how much of a judgemental prick I am and that my writing isn't even up to par either. I think some people just need some tough love and advice.

Ideas are powerful. You can expect yourself to build a skyscraper, but you can't get it to the sky without the proper tools and planning.

I wouldn't say you've ever come off with a high and mighty attitude, I know some here have, but I think that's what we need. We've all been very lenient for a while now, and look at this place. Where has all the good content gone? I'm getting tired, not so much of fanfics, but the obvious lack of grammar or punctuation each one entails.

[ItsOnlyAce]

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THIS! I have recently started to visit here, and you're right. The examples of writing you gave to us was exactly what I've been reading. Since I'm relatively new here and I've never posted a story, I didn't want to be te guy to post somthing like this. Finally we have someone with the balls to do it!

[Ziggy455]

QUOTE (ItsOnlyAce @ Thursday, Mar 22 2012, 22:39)

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THIS! I have recently started to visit here, and you're right. The examples of writing you gave to us was exactly what I've been reading. Since I'm relatively new here and I've never posted a story, I didn't want to be te guy to post somthing like this. Finally we have someone with the balls to do it!

I am glad you took the time to read this mate. If I'm going to clean up this category and make it into a worthwhile place for people who wish to learn, I need to push the boundaries of decorum and politeness.

[SIKKS66]

I blame myself too. My MiA fanfic has kinda been on a backburner for a while yet I'm still on a "I'm going to write it! I am" binge. Hey hum.

Maybe we should stickie this thread and put a "READ THIS BEFORE YOU POST" subheading.

Thinking about it, I browse over a lot of questionable/short/unfinished threads and get annoyed by it but I never report them. Maybe that would solve things?

[Ziggy455]

QUOTE (SIKKS66 @ Friday, Mar 23 2012, 00:32)

I blame myself too. My MiA fanfic has kinda been on a backburner for a while yet I'm still on a "I'm going to write it! I am" binge. Hey hum. Maybe we should stickie this thread and put a "READ THIS BEFORE YOU POST" subheading. Thinking about it, I browse over a lot of questionable/short/unfinished threads and get annoyed by it but I never report them. Maybe that would solve things?

People always do that. I have done it many times myself. Reporting it is not the problem. This thread will help the newbies understand things a little better. I know we all say we're going to post something but that itself is just ourselves talking sh*t. From now on I vow never to write the words 'I'll upload it soon.'

People shouldn't be beating themselves up over whether they've finished their own work or not, they should focus more on the state this category is in. I feel like a lone caretaker in a long since tended graveyard, cobwebs and bones is all I see. (That's not a euphemism for me taking up the mantle of shaper upper.) I just see a lot of new faces, with no guidance and besides that, this place really is dead.

Reporting won't help because then it's a 'I'll look into it' excuse. To be honest, I think we need to nip these problems in the bud. If this topic is stickied, wicked. It's all for the cause of writing anyway. I'm just getting tired of thousands of fanfics and writers who come in hot and heavy and then burn out after the first chapter.

[methods]

Good idea. I think we just need to encourage people to get out of their comfort zone and try new things. Although I don't post as much as I did two years ago (this is a new account), I still like to come here and read some of the work people put up and see if I can give any advice. I'd like to say we could bring back SSOTM but it just falls inactive after a few months.

We need to come together as a community and try a few things out to see what we can do to encourage, educate and help each other out.

[mark-2007]

As mentioned before, I don't long for a return to the glory days, but this place is a bit dead compared to what it used to be. Perhaps not dead, but lacking in the quality pieces that used to pop up fairly regularly. I think the lack of activity in the Social Club topic is a sure sign that this place is lacking a bit of the community feel that there used to be. I've never been hugely active myself, posting only a few stories, but I nonetheless used to enjoy reading over other people's stuff as well as the ideas that went on in the Social Club topic.

[AceRay]

I have to agree with Ziggy here, stories really need to pick up in quality.

[Ziggy455]

I'm always active. I have a life, indeed I'm starting to have a life. But I want to write, I yearn to learn (the ways of the force, derp) all I can. I am pursuing a career in writing so it's only fair to keep up with events and people who share the same interest.

But regardless of whether I have a life or not, I said five years ago I wouldn't leave this place, and five years on I'm still here now. I'm willing to help others if they need it, I can only teach so much, they must take my advice with accepting mindsets. I'm more than happy to pop on here for half an hour or so and give feedback.

[Tyler]

Good topic, Zig, and I have to agree on most points. I hope to see more activity here since I was never around for this supposed heyday, but I've seen plenty of good stories come around in the short time I've browsed the place. The thing is most people end up not finishing their story, or they end up never coming back due to real life issues.

[Danni]

Haha, this is awesome, Ziggy, although I remember when, way back in the day, you were a newbie writer, too.

[Ziggy455]

QUOTE (Danni @ Tuesday, Mar 27 2012, 15:34)

Haha, this is awesome, Ziggy, although I remember when, way back in the day, you were a newbie writer, too.

Indeed Danni, I do not regard myself with high quality work. I consider myself to still be an amateur in the craft and still consider myself of lesser form as compared to many others here. But I must draw a line when I can see fault in this place, me of all people.

And I'm still a newbie...Kind of.

[Craig]

I remember when me and Emi started a forum for writing to act as a "migration" of sorts (not completely, then there wouldn't be much point to having this section) so we could have other aspiring writers and people that enjoy the written word join us, not just those that are a part of GTAF. It did okay but never really took off and now it lies in the pile of many other derelict IPB forums. The problem is always feedback though, and I think that's what went wrong with that forum.

[Ziggy455]

QUOTE (Craig @ Tuesday, Mar 27 2012, 18:04)

I remember when me and Emi started a forum for writing to act as a "migration" of sorts (not completely, then there wouldn't be much point to having this section) so we could have other aspiring writers and people that enjoy the written word join us, not just those that are a part of GTAF. It did okay but never really took off and now it lies in the pile of many other derelict IPB forums. The problem is always feedback though, and I think that's what went wrong with that forum.

I'm sure we could think of something up like this but on a grander scale. Perhaps a critiquing rule? You can only upload a second chapter if you have critiqued several other pieces of work. Post minimums must be about 100 words. That might work.