Challenge Dear Diary Challenge 2016|December discussion and mini-challenge now up

I think I just changed my mind.

 

SQUEEEEEEE!

 

How come? Ewok Poet

 

I am in for 2016 with some surprises

 

Let's see. I'm a bad student, a bad follower and a bad admirer in general.

While I'm not a blunt competitor type, I like to be eligible to win, have an equal chance to be read and get new readers. If they're quality readers, who actually follow the story and not people who say "yay for A for having done X", that's a plus.

People more ambitious than me, classic overachievers and classic winners tend to suffocate me. When around them, I'm forced to overperform and keep up with their pace, which does not produce the standard of quality that I want and makes my art far ess sincere. The last month on the boards made nearly everybody ineligible for, well, anything. There's been a balance shift that absolutely freaks me out. And I have a clean-ish bill of health and considerable talent, so I cannnot imagine what it's like for a hobbyist. We have already seen how people with various health problems reacted to it - out of all folks acting out recently, only one had a different reason.

And this is not the fault of the overachievers themselves, they will always be overachieving because it's in their nature, it's the fault of there not being balance and there being a lot of super-blunt cheerleaders and passive-aggressive folk.

At the same time, Admiral_Volshe 's suggestion is so, so, so tempting!

While at it, can you give any sort of context to your diaries, the way - say - Jedi_Lover did. I tried to read yours and I tried to read a couple of other people's, but I had no idea what I was reading. I assume I had to research, both on here and on various fanfiction posting sites, but as a writer, you should give the reader some sort of an introduction, as opposed to alienating them and having do the hard work themselves.

In general, it would be absolutely cool if people who continue their diaries from whatever year would link them. Not name the other diary, which would then require searching and all, but link them and give some context or a synopsis of the previous year in the spoiler.

Making stories accessible not only to one's long-term board buddies (I figured out that a lot of diarists have known each other for up to ten years, which is awesome!), but also complete random strangers is the key.

 

That's a shame you feel that way as long as everyone keeps their diary updated, then everyone has a fair shot at winning and its something fun to do in the long run

I forgot to link my other diaries and that's something I should go back and do, especially with Order 65 continued three years now and now I plan to do a third year with A Secret Ally...

 

I may or may not do this next year. I don't know yet who to do one on. My first one was an OC and this year I'm doing one for the Force and no idea who to tackle next year. I could always do another OC but when and what are they?

A plot bunny has suggested an Inquisitor but I don't feel comfortable at this time doing a Dear Diary for one until I have more knowledge on how the Inquisitor System works.

Maybe when I see TFA an idea will come to me.

 

The Inquisitor thing, that gives me an idea! I have a rough story that needed some background, maybe I can do that.

There's no minimum or maximum word count per entry, right?

 

No minimum word count. You can have it as short or long as you want Admiral Volshe

 

Ewok Poet, your post has gone completely over my head and to be fair, seems a little passive aggressive itself. If there's a complaint to be made then make it, because I feel like I have to deconstruct some elaborate code to discover what you're actually talking about half the time.


In any event, my diary fic has put me under a lot of pressure this year since I have so many other fics to write, so although I've enjoyed writing it and glad I did I don't think I will partake in the 2016 challenge. I'm also not going to get to the end of the dairy by December - I assume there's nothing wrong with continuing it into 2016 (of course not as part of the challenge, just to finish it off).

(Also, I posted the second entry for October on the 21st - apologies, I have been slack about sending PMs.)

 

Well, I can understand how my celebrity could be somewhat intimidating. I am not sure who the celebrities are within the DDC. I think diaries of well-liked canon characters will always fair better than OCs unless the OC has been around for a while in other fanfics. I write about four minor canon characters that most people have never heard of. I don't have many readers (or at least reviewers) but I don't let that get me down (thanks to my loyal reviewers! ). I would say give it a shot. Everybody has different likes and dislikes. There is usually an audience for most diaries. The challenge is personal and not competitive. Can you write a diary for a year? That is the challenge, not if you will win best diary. I encourage people to try!

 

What Finds said is correct - not pointing fingers at any writer, just the cults of personality forming et cetera.

And ouch, I still need to read that certain diary.

 

I am not sure what cults of personality means. Are you trying to say there are cliques? A lot of people believe it, but it is not true when it comes to authors, IMHO. People do favor certain eras and particular relationships and that is perfectly acceptable. We all read what we like. If a unknown author appeared and wrote a story that caught my interest or had characters I liked I would read it. I think most people would. I wouldn't snub my nose and say, "This is not one of my preferred authors". I just don't think people do that. Of course if cults of personality doesn't mean cliques then please disregard what I wrote.

 

Okay, so you're not targeting any specific writer, but cults of personality? Are there no actual personalities at the centre of these "cults"?

I don't want to argue and this is certainly not the place to debate this issue, but I'm still a bit lost.

 

Ewok Poet I understand from your recent comments here and elsewhere that you feel like there are some major issues on the fanfic boards or at least issues that generate some frustration, but I don't think that this thread is the appropriate place to air your grievances. Perhaps you could start a discussion thread about it, or take up the issue with the mods, or even take it to comms if you deem it necessary?

Also:

There, I fixed that for you -- although IMO a more diplomatic way to phrase this request would be not to address it to anyone in particular as long as you're not in their story thread, or even better, to ask Falcon to insert a reminder about it in the opening post.

 

Hmm... I'm considering picking up my 2014 diary again for 2016. Quick technical questions: 1) It's okay to continue a previous diary, correct? 2) If so, is the 2016 diary required to have a fresh thread? For the sake of continuity I think it would be better to continue the old thread, but I would understand if the rules require otherwise.

 

I think you have to have a new thread. At least that is what I was told last year when I asked the same question. I simply put an author's note at the beginning of the new thread explaining it is a continuation of a past diary and then I put the link to the old thread.

 

Start a new thread from where you left off. For me it makes less confusing for keeping track of the dates. I don't want to have to worry about which year it is when I check the dates of when you last posted

Edit as to Ewok Poets post, I want to get this thread back on track. If you want to continue this discussion please start a separate thread for it. This is not the place for such discussions.

Thank you

 

Briannakin I would love to see a River Song diary!!!

And, of course, any other NSWFF diaries ...

 

I will eagerly devour TFA inspired diaries.

Spoiler

Like one for Rey Skywalker

Edit: Falcon all fixed.

 

Nyota can you put some spoiler tags around that post of yours please and thank you Nyota's Heart

 

If my Muse strikes you'll get your wish!

P.S.

You're lucky it's cold and dark out or I'ld hunt you down right now to interrogate you on the possible spoiler.

 

Aaaand Darth Plot Bunny just gave me something for a pre-PT diary of an OC - whose name is That Which Was Spoiler Tagged* - and her search for her kidnapped sister, Shmi.

* Given Anakin Solo, Ben Skywalker, and Syal Antilles, just to name a few, I don't think this is too far-fetched.