The Best Writer You Say?

[cynicalshadows]

"Fill-in-the-Blank is the best writer in the Fill-in-the-Blank fandom."

This statement pisses me off. Seriously. It doesn't matter the author in question, or the fandom. Even on those few occasions when the comment was a compliment directed at me, I still get upset because I have a big problem with "best." See, "best" is a value judgement. It

Comments

[chuckblair3]

Thanks for pointing this. It's a good point. I would really hate it if what is supposed to be a community of people who all love the same thing and share interests were to turn into a group of people in competition with each other.

I wish fanfiction could just be about what it is... people's fictional interpretations of what they love.

Not everything is about winning...

=)

[cynicalshadows]

Exactly. It shouldn't be about winning, or being the best. It should be about sharing our love for a particular ship or character and sadly I have seen too many people who want to start writing but don't because they feel they aren't "good enough" compared to those deemed "the best," when really we shouldn't be comparing at all. Every writer offers a unique interpretation, no matter how well read their fics turn out to be.

[neverevered]

ITA bb. <3

[cynicalshadows]

*hugs* I thought you would. :D

[potential_zeppo]

I think we all need to join a support group :D

[cynicalshadows]

It's one of my biggest pet peeves about fandom in general, and seeing as it has come up a lot in the last few days, I felt I had to say something. :D

[tomlinsons]

Twilight would be in the same category as Shakespeare and the New Kids on the Block would be on par with Mozart.
LOL

I have to admit I've said it, several times, to different writers but with the intention to make the writer know that for me she has a lot of talent, it was directed as a personal opinion without trying to make the rest feel inferior because it was made by a normal girl that gets all happy when she reads a story that she really likes and squees and gos all bubbly lol

Case in point: I've read fics that were absolutely brilliant that had almost no reviews while other fics that I felt were shit had hundreds of comments.
Totally true, that's why I don't check to see how many reviews a fic has when I read it.

Other than that thank you for this because you said some really good things here, like:It makes fanfiction about winning and losing, and don't think people get into fanfiction because of that
This was very lovely hun♥

[cynicalshadows]

See I think a lot of people say it to be encouraging without realizing what the word "best" actually implies, and because it is an issue in all fandoms, I just thought I'd point it out. Anyway, thanks for commenting. :D

[tomlinsons]

See I think a lot of people say it to be encouraging without realizing what the word "best" actually implies
Well I relize it now and will be more carefull next time :)
How was your last day at work btw?

Icon♥

[cynicalshadows]

Hell! Seriously, it was a nightmare. I'm going to write a post about it as soon as I finish the next update of WNRCNF which should be going up soon.

[yankeesam32935]

True. I don't have much to add seeing that you said everything that needed to be said. Honestly, if anyone wrote just to be the best there is in the fandom, it would be a sad day indeed. I especially like your comment about Twilight and Shakespeare. It's a very interesting topic indeed though.

Anyways, I guess you're probably getting ready to go, but I'm going to miss you. I'll be sending you emails on the weekend just to let you know that I'm thinking about you. Have a safe trip home. *HUGS*