Okay, so the title of this 'chapter' isn't cryptic - it describes exactly what is about to happen. I'm designating chapter 28 as a space where I can write something to you guys. Something I've been thinking about for a while now.
Also, this might be a bit of a rant, so if you don't want to read all of it I'll probably just put a summary at the end that you can skip to.
So, first of all, let's just agree that when I started this fanfic I bit off more than I could chew. I knew it would be a lot of work, but I rushed into things. Rushing always leaves consequences.
You see, no matter how many people praise me for this fanfic I would never be able to believe them. After writing the first chapter, I was incredibly pleased with myself. I thought it was reasonably well written. Unfortunately, I then got slightly cocky in my writing skills and rushed the following chapters.
This was probably clear to you guys, but I had no idea for a plot. I knew roughly where I wanted my fanfic to go, of course (marriage, kids, etc.), but I had no plans of how I wanted to get there.
One thing this fanfic lacks is a sold plot line. Sure, some people might disagree. But the chapters of this story don't flow. They don't piece together how I'd like them to.
Some readers may not notice this, but trust me - I do.
Another thing about this fanfic is that there is no continuous point of view. It changes from going to Ron to Hermione to no one in particular. This is because I don't plan, I just write.
I want to change that.
No, I'm not deleting my fanfic - merely changing it. I'm going to sit down one day and develop a plot line. A solid plot line. One that will take me all the way to the epilogue without breaking the flow.
Not only does it make my fanfic more enjoyable to read, but also more enjoyable to write. Because, that way, I don't have to come up with each chapter on the spot.
My next step is to have a solid point of view. I will either write from Hermione's perspective or from Ron's perspective - not from a perspective somewhere between the two. Not an observer's perspective. To do this, some chapters will have to be changed - I won't lie to you. But I'll make sure the story remains intact. Okay, so chances are that I'll cut some chapters out completely meaning that the time scale will change; but it shouldn't make too much difference.
Once I've done these two steps, I'm going to write. Or should I say re-write. I'll start up a new story and call it Young Love: Improved or something. I might even change the name. I don't know yet.
I will read each chapter of the original carefully, converting it as I go. For some areas this might not make a difference; whereas other areas might become unrecognisable. Chances are that the 'plot' up until now will remain the same - otherwise the story would have to be changed so much that I may as well start from scratch.
People are probably going to ask why I have to start all over just to develop a plot line.
This isn't the only reason that I'm starting over.
So I don't know how many of you have read my new fanfic (The Second Generation: Rose Weasley), but if you have you probably noticed the writing style was slightly different.
Less conversations, more description.
In this version of Young Love, it is mostly made up of various conversations. You'll notice that I never go inside the heads of my characters. This is another reason I need a perspective.
I need to start describing more.
If you've read my new little one-shot then you might have noticed that the writing style is slightly different. The writing style of that is pretty much how the new and improved Young Love is going to be.
There's a lot more I could talk about regarding that, but now I'm going to move on to the next topic. This is targeted more at my readers.
You.
Do you know what a silent reader is?
It's someone who reads without voting/favouriting or commenting/leaving feedback. Most authors despise silent readers. Can you guess why?
Imagine getting 200 reads on a chapter, but only 3 votes and 1 comment at the most.
Why aren't people voting?
Why aren't people commenting?
This is a problem that I have a lot.
I can't express how much this happens. On most chapters I get a hundred reads or so, a few favourites and then a review every few chapters.
I love it when I get reviews. It really cheers me up and motivates me.
I don't know why people silent read. Is it because they don't have accounts? Is it because they don't know what to say?
So I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I need your reviews. I need you guys to give me feedback on each chapter, because otherwise I won't know how to improve. I won't know which parts are terrible and which parts are amazing. As a writer, these are things I have to know.
Trust me, I would rather receive 10 criticisms than 1 praise.
Also, without comments, how am I supposed to know if people are enjoying the story? Because, honestly, I have no way of telling. I just have to look at the stats that provides me with. They don't tell me enough. They don't tell me what I need to know.
Only my readers can tell me what I need to know.
I don't know if I'm getting my message across. Let me do a short summary:
- I'm re-writing my fanfiction
- It will be in a slightly different style (less talk, more description)
- I'm adding a solid plot line
- I'm going to write continuously from one point of view (some chapters may differ if that's what the plot requires)
- I need feedback
- Please do not be a silent reader
- Leave criticisms
- Vote
- Let me know if you're enjoying it and why. If you're not, then why not?
- I can't improve unless you tell me how
- Votes and comments are a writer's energy. A writer's motivation.
Is that everything? Probably not. I'll shut my eyes in ten minutes time and think of fifty things I forgot to put down.
Now, all I want you to do, is leave feedback. Tell me what you think of this 'idea'. Do you support my decision? Do you think it's a bad choice or a good one?
I need to know.
Lucy
Otter_Patronus
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