FFVIII: Overwritten

[edenbound]

Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII
Pairing: Squall/Xu
Warnings: Angst
Rating: G
Summary: Xu, sick with jealousy. For over_look.


It wasn't that Squall was a bad commander. That, in fact, was one of the things that really sickened Xu. Squall was a good commander, and he'd be a brilliant one if he worked on his people skills a little. She couldn't even blame his success on his popularity, because ninety percent of that had been gained because he was good at what he did, and not just because he looked good (though she allowed herself the comfort that he was good looking, so perhaps that had gained him a few more supporters).

There was a time that she had held that kind of position, commanded that amount of respect. She'd been second to Cid, and he'd been second only to Garden's sponsors. She'd been the one people followed with their eyes, the one people sidled up to during festivals to ask favours of. She caught those same people sidling up to Squall, nowadays.

It wasn't that she really wanted it for herself, either. It was just -- well, she deserved that much, surely. She'd been a SeeD when he was still struggling to lift his gunblade. She'd taught him. And then he'd been given the rank of commander, elevated above her, suddenly unquestionable, untouchable, given rights she'd never even considered having. He'd overridden her, overwritten her place in the whole story.

She'd curse him, hate him, work to destroy him, something, just on principle, if she could.

But the most galling thing about it all was that she didn't really want to. That, in the end, she loved him, too.

Comments

(frozen comment)

[edenbound.livejournal.com]

Four novels (completed but not edited), quite a few short stories (completed, edited, one put in a magazine), won myself a place on a writer's course (not going there, but I won the place), got highest marks in two writing modules of my A Level. I'm not a completely inexperienced writer. :/ Not that I'm saying I'm wonderful and brilliant and the world should be kissing my feet, but, I'm not a complete novice, either.

I believe you were formerly celetinachan, no? And you've commented here before? And you already know you dislike my style, characterisation and whatever else it was -- ninety percent of what I write. I've taken your concrit on board, thank you, but I don't find the way you do it helpful to me. Last time I ended up not feeling able to write FFVI fanfic anymore, so I'd appreciate it if in future you didn't concrit me.

(frozen comment)

[perotine.livejournal.com]

A simple "yes" would have sufficed. I didn't ask for your credentials.

"And you already know you dislike my style, characterisation and whatever else it was -- ninety percent of what I write. " I don't remember saying anything negative about your characterization in this. Nor do I remember saying anything about it not being to my personal tastes.

The problem with your response is that it's entirely about you and your feelings. It shouldn't be. Say "thank you", or "yes, I realized that" or "no, I disagree". "You make me sad" is neither mature nor professional. If you haven't reached the stage where you're ready to accept criticism, you haven't reached the stage where you're ready to post your writing.

(frozen comment)

[edenbound.livejournal.com]

You asked if I'd written longer things before, I responded and expanded a little. That's generally the way I work, I'm sorry it seems to have annoyed you.

I didn't say that: I said that last time you did this, you didn't like my writing. Which makes me curious as to why you came back, though of course, you're fully entitled to go where you want on the internet. (And yes, I checked the celetinachan/perotine redirect to make sure I'm not being an idiot.)

I can take concrit, most of the time, but the kind of concrit you give set my teeth on edge last time and again this time. It's not helpful to me, and I'm simply respectfully asking you not to do it, because whenever I've got concrit from you, it hasn't helped and has indeed torn down my confidence. I said "thank you", and I mean it, I'll consider what you've said, but the way you go about it is not particularly helpful to me. In the end, I don't see the problem with being emotionally involved with my writing, at this stage. I'm not a professional writer, nor looking to become one right now.

(frozen comment)

[perotine.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry if it isn't helpful for you. That doesn't invalidate it. I'm not saying you shouldn't be emotionally involved; it's difficult to write anything and not very attached to it. However, that's not part of the critiquing process. You separate yourself from it and consider it accordingly.

Don't mention your credentials if you aren't actually interested in writing seriously. Either decide that you're doing this for fun and games or you intend to improve from it. You can't be both an amazingly gifted and brilliant writer who also happens to have their confidence "torn down" when somebody doesn't offer a comment without "Magnificent!" and "so beautiful!"

(frozen comment)

[edenbound.livejournal.com]

Part of the reason why I elected not to go to the writing course (you'll notice I did mention that) is because I don't feel in the right place for it mentally. When we talked before, I told you I had problems accepting concrit, and that it takes me time to come to terms with it. I am interested in writing seriously, but not yet. For now, I'm just having fun.

I've never claimed to be amazingly gifted or brilliant, though I'll take such compliments when they come my way. ;) I can take criticism, and indeed, my A Level coursework came back to me at least sixteen times before my teacher was done with it, but in this case, I find your concrit unhelpful and wish you to stop. It's not an unreasonable request, to my mind: some places have headers with the option to say you don't want concrit, etc. I don't mind concrit when I feel it helps, but all the concrit you have offered me, while technically correct and coherent, has not helped me. I'm not saying it's a failure in you, and it might well be a failure in me, but that's my concern, not yours.

(frozen comment)

[cupcakemonster.livejournal.com]

FANFIC = SRS BIZNESS

There really is a difference between a concrit being honestly written with the intention of making the writer better, and one that isn't. Your intentions are obvious, and really lame!

Implying that a writer is lazy in your concrit causes me to give you an automatic F- in feedback!

Until you're able to concrit without making personal comments, I suggest you don't concrit at all.