What are your writing goals for 2012?

[Gavin Luper]

How do you mean, Charles? I'm not familiar with the reference to the legendary pirates of the golden age - can you elaborate on what you mean, exactly? I hope you are okay.

[Charles Legend]

How do you mean, Charles? I'm not familiar with the reference to the legendary pirates of the golden age - can you elaborate on what you mean, exactly? I hope you are okay.

In a nut shell my history as a writer, well Many of the most well known pirates in historical lore originate from this Golden Age of Piracy, which is a common designation given to one or more outbursts of piracy in maritime history of the early modern period. In its broadest accepted definition, the Golden Age of Piracy spans from the 1650s to the 1730s and covers three separate outbursts of piracy, many of the pirates from the Caribbean such as Charles Gibbs were executed by being hung on the Gallows.

Gavin I won't lie to you, right now my pride as an author is hurt badly, and my reputation is in ruins, I have no one to blame then myself for both an idiot and a jackass...

~Charles Legend

[Chris 2.1]

Don't worry, Charles. Writers are always developing and honing their skills. It's not unusual to feel like you've not reached a certain goal, or your work isn't looking how you want it to. We're all constantly looking to improve - not for the recognition of others, but to do our own ideas the justice they deserve.

[Gavin Luper]

In a nut shell my history as a writer, well Many of the most well known pirates in historical lore originate from this Golden Age of Piracy, which is a common designation given to one or more outbursts of piracy in maritime history of the early modern period. In its broadest accepted definition, the Golden Age of Piracy spans from the 1650s to the 1730s and covers three separate outbursts of piracy, many of the pirates from the Caribbean such as Charles Gibbs were executed by being hung on the Gallows.

Gavin I won't lie to you, right now my pride as an author is hurt badly, and my reputation is in ruins, I have no one to blame then myself for both an idiot and a jackass...

~Charles Legend

I agree with the advice Matt and Chris have given you, Charles. It's tough being a writer, or an artist of any kind, but hang in there, try not to be so hard on yourself, and keep writing away! Good luck.

Cheers!

[Chris 2.1]

And we're a community, not a panel of critics I remember when I wrote a trainer fic (From Rookie To Champion: The Indigo Road) it was completely slated by a certain mod from Perth

But I'd like to think I've come leaps and bounds since then. Perhaps it's a testament to my writing now that I can't bear to read any old fics.

[Gavin Luper]

And we're a community, not a panel of critics I remember when I wrote a trainer fic (From Rookie To Champion: The Indigo Road) it was completely slated by a certain mod from Perth

But I'd like to think I've come leaps and bounds since then. Perhaps it's a testament to my writing now that I can't bear to read any old fics.

Oh man *cringe* I shudder to think what I would have been like as a reviewer way back then. Probably completely tactless? Sorry if I slated your work. Or maybe I'm not sorry, since you have become a genuinely awesome writer (and published journo) following that tough criticism? Okay, I obviously can't use my past bluntness to take credit for your talent, but you get what I mean, maybe the advice helped. I definitely hope it was ultimately helpful and not too harsh, since that was the end goal.

... and I definitely do the same when I look back at my past writing, especially pre-LTL stuff like Pokemon: Kohtu. I don't even have any copies of that anymore, I don't think, but I remember it well and it was basic. Granted, I was twelve. Incidentally, I'm pretty sure it was criticised quite sharply when I first posted it, and I ended up working hard instead at my alternate story, Lisa the Legend, and put everything I had into lifting my game. So maybe that's where I get my credo from that firm but fair criticism is crucial for a writer, as I found it worked on me and made me work harder to improve myself.

[Chris 2.1]

Totally. Back when TPM was a website, I put my fic up for criticism and Pancake (then MistyDeeDee gave it like 1/5. I was so crushed. But then, I was also about 11 years old.

Christ, have I really been on TPM longer than I've *not*? *has all-knowing moment*