Writing thought

[unfeathered]

This has just occurred to me, and it's actually rather obvious, but I just hadn't thought about it before.

I write long stuff. It's how I write. I write more words than I need to, and I have a habit of waffling.

I also find it easy to write the Tenth Doctor and the Master, and a lot harder to write Nine (and not just because I haven't seen so much of his season).

This is obviously not some kind of coincidence.

On the other hand, to pick the person whose writing I know best as an example, Becky (becky_writing / fandom_me) writes much more succinctly than I do and tends towards shorter fics.

She finds it easy to write the Ninth Doctor, and harder to write Ten and the Master.

Again, obviously not a coincidence.

I feel daft that I didn't work this out before! *g*

(We both find Jack easy, which must say something for his character - perhaps that he's not only omnisexual but omni-writery too!)

Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

But not everyone is lucky enough to have a beta!

[unfeathered]

Don't think you can get round me with that icon! *g*

There's nothing lucky about it. There are places to look (e.g. Torchwood Cafe) and failing that just ask someone whose writing you admire. I've seen loads of writers mention that they're always available for at least a quick look over something if you ask nicely.

And yes, I know how incredibly hard it is to ask someone to beta the first time, but honestly, if you're serious about writing, you just have to pluck up the courage and do it.

It took me about a week to pluck up the courage to ask Jades that first time, but I got there in the end, and it was soooo worth it! :-)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

But TW cafe etc isn't always the answer. I begged about before posting my first nondrabble and sent it off to be beta'd and all they did way say 'yep, it's great' and I wondered why the heck I bothered.

[unfeathered]

All right, yeah, that was a bit crap then.

I can't speak from experience because I've never really bothered to look there - I was going to but then Jades mentioned something about always being ready to beta so I asked her (would have asked Becky, because I was already betaing her stuff, but I needed someone with Buffy knowledge)...

Actually, I've remembered, there had been a discussion about betaing at Torchwood Meta just before, and that was where Jades had said about being available - just good timing, I guess.

Tbh, I think I'd always go with asking a writer you admire rather than a complete stranger, if you can, because at least you have some knowledge of each other.