From: r0ck3tsci3ntist	Date: October 2nd, 2007 11:59 am (UTC)		(Link)

Hey Hun, make of it what it is - one person's opinion. I think it's nice that they were honest, which takes a certain amount of guts, but don't get hung up. Many people love linear writing - that's why it's so popular. :)

What you are doing is experimental and the amazing thing about it is that you've done it so well that many people are willing to do the work to follow along. Most people do not want to work at all when they read because fiction is an escape for them. For myself, I love to be challenged - but I won't take the challenge unless it's worth it. Yours is worth it and I say experiment all you can - it's the best way to learn.

And as far as my credentials as compared to the reviewer. I too am a mature individual with muliple collage degrees and a reading IQ above the 99% percentile of those tested in the United States. Not that it matters. :p

From: indiefic	Date: October 2nd, 2007 02:12 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Everything else aside, the fact that they left an anonymous review means they're a punk and it's my biggest peeve with ff.net.

She's entitled to her opinion, though I personally feel the fact that she completely omitted any identifying information makes her argument that she's neither "uneducated nor inexperienced" pointless.

Your storytelling is bold and it demands a lot, especially from you as a writer, but also from the reader. Readers have to engage their brains when they read your stories and some people just don't like that. That's their prerogative, but at the same time, I think it's pretty shitty of them to hold it against you. If they don't like it, why are they reading it?

Your writing is highly stylized, but I really think the content transcends the method (which is such a rarity). It may jump from time to time and plot thread to plot thread, but each section is so self-contained and so rich it gives the overall story so much more heart and soul than a lot of pieces of similar construction could ever dream of having. I personally think your manner of storytelling completely showcases your strengths as a writer and I'm in awe of it.

Cliff notes version: fuck her.

	From: deaka	Date: October 2nd, 2007 02:39 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Reviews like that are annoying. If the person is *that* bothered by your style, why are they reading? It's not like anyone's forcing them to, and they could easily go and find something nice and easy and 'linear' if they don't want to be challenged. And I love the way they've put their age in there, too, as though it's supporting the argument. That has what to do with anything?

	From: atanone	Date: October 2nd, 2007 03:10 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I think to take this as an one-person view is a good advice..anything about art is a personal-view-thing..what I call "art" may to someone else seem like a fake and what most of reviewers call art may seem a fake to me..it's about if it speaks to me and if I like it..some like Picasso,I don't..some say Tolkien is boring,I like his books-where then the truth is?

	From: fialleril	Date: October 3rd, 2007 02:10 am (UTC)		(Link)

*snickers* Eh, I saw that comment. Had a good laugh at it, actually. Maybe that's callous of me, but... pfft.

It's as if you're trying too hard to be clever about it and it doesn't work as well as you think.

Pish posh. Or maybe it's as if you're writing the story as it comes to you, and because it works better that way. And really, who says that real life is linear?

We Westerners really need to get over such bizarre ideas. ;) Life is all about the blending and inter-flowing of times, really.

	From: laariii	Date: October 3rd, 2007 06:40 am (UTC)		(Link)

"I'm a college graduate, in my 40's, well read, and I write fics (in a different fandom). I mention all this because I want you to know I'm neither uneducated or inexperienced in the world of reading/writing"

Pfft! One of the worst novels i have ever read was by a university lecturer.

From: bobill	Date: October 4th, 2007 12:02 am (UTC)		(Link)

Yeah I agree with the comments that the age and the experience of a writer mean nothing to me.

In the end, writing is a passion, and you write what you like to write. If you get a real kick out of writing nonlinear fics, which I feel you do, 1) that in itself is enough to justify yourself and 2) it really shows in the quality of your story.

Also, there's a very rare number of people willing to be long-time lurkers to stories they dislike. However, the number of people willing to lurk for a guilty pleasure increases dramatically. Most likely she wants to tell you that your writing isn't what she expected an "experienced" writer to be like, but she doesn't really seem displeased enough to stop reading.

Erm, yeah, in conclusion, write what you like and screw the rest.

	From: knight_ander	Date: October 4th, 2007 01:42 am (UTC)		(Link)

Maybe the reader/lurker really likes your work, but much prefers the linear style over a non-linear style. You're good at both, but I think she's sayng that you're doing the non-linear style too much, and it is taking away some of the enjoyment in reading your stories.

	From: vanimy	Date: October 6th, 2007 10:02 pm (UTC)		(Link)

That review was... interesting. I think this person was simply frustrated because she didn't understand the whole thing. She felt insulted because she didn't follow the whole story and so she latched onto you... ;)

Don't worry about your story... This is just one review, coming from a frustrated person, I believe.

Ps: I would love for you to write happy A/P. Heck, I've been thinking about it too... :P