Another Writing Meme Question Answered

earlgreytea68 asked for number 7, to make up a character on the spot.

Holly Lattimore is 19, but looks 25. She’s one of those kids who grew up fast, too fast, not just mentally, but physically. A good thing, too, since she’s been able to pass for an adult ever since she took her little sister and ran three years ago. All she knew then was that she had to protect Ella at all costs, and witness protection wasn’t doing it, but now the past is catching up with her. Her uncle, who has always helped them, has died under mysterious circumstances. A detective has been sniffing around Ella’s school. And her father has just been acquitted of murdering her mother, something Ella witnessed and repressed, but something Holly remembers all too well. With their father suddenly hot on their trail, Holly knows it’s time to run again, to create new identities, to find a new community to become part of, and so they do. But now Emma’s memories are starting to resurface in horrific nightmares and Holly’s sexy new neighbor, who is also the counselor at Emma’s school, is questioning their identities. It’s all Holly can do to hold it together and try to lead a normal life for her sister’s sake, but she knows all it will take is one mistake and the world she’s built for her sister will come crashing down around them with devastating consequences.

Writing Meme--Another Answer

corusca asked me to answer number 6, my thoughts on critique.

See "A Dangerous Creature? Not So Much" http://amberfocus.livejournal.com/590135.html for my thoughts on that score.

I think people online often use the guise of critique to tear down people they don't like or authors they think are getting too much attention and haven't paid their so-called dues. It seldom has anything to do with the work itself. I have seen it happen too often. I have seen it from people who are in positions of...if not authority in fandom, they at least have a modicum of power in it. Some of these have been quite vicious and nasty, to the point of driving people out of fandom. Often the critique ends up showing more about the critic and his or her personality, than the story that was written.

True constructive critique is rare. And it is usually done in private. It is polite and well-reasoned and can give insight into how things are being perceived by readers that an author might not have realized. It is helpful and not hurtful. It can point out a canon mistake or fandom faux pas, like writing something like "Doctor Who did this" instead of "the Doctor did this." It is well-meaning and meant to genuinely help a writer improve. That is always welcome.