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{ARTICLES} I really wish people weren't so hard to judge others characters, telling them that they need to make it into their own preconceived format. This is the writers own character, and if they make it what is coined 'Mary Sue' then let them. It's their imagination, and I think this imagination will develop into something more. I do consider myself a novice when it comes to writing even after all the education I've had. Yet I continue to improve. I'm a horrible speller, I forget where I'm going with my story and my flow tends to wander and change. Yet I've learn from this writing process I start to care about my characters and I want to make this story I have in my head come out the best. I want to the world to know about Sailor [insert Otaku Senshi here]. I want people to like her just as much as I do, yet I'm so deathly afraid people will reject her and I tend not to post. Perhaps I have a strange attitude, but I think deep down, most people don't want to be told their character sucks and their story is a rip off of Sailor Neptune or something to that effect. So where the heck am I going with this? Really to say that I encourage anyone who wants to make their Otaku Senshi to come alive. They don't need to follow a format or some unspoken rules to how to do it, but just to have fun with it. Who knows, you might go back and read your story and want to redo it again. Or even better, ditch the whole Sailor Moon theme, mix it up and write your own original story with characters and might get it published. It could happen. My biggest grip is don't discourage writers. Granted you may not like their story, or character and think it's childish, cliché and just a rehash of the original, but by saying those things, you stifled the young artistic mind. Instead encourage them to write, and give suggestions, but kindly. There is no point in saying, "Geez what is wrong with you? Another story about Sailor NeoEarth being Mamoru's long lost sister? Are you a nimrod?" Yea, that's harsh. One, so what if they write something that wasn't included in the original story and has been said that it never will be. Does it really matter? Perhaps their story is really good at explaining this 'impossible' character. Two, please don't tell the writer their character isn't real. I've seen way too many movies, tv shows and cartoons with characters that would never be considered real. It's fantasy, treat it like that. Now if their story is hard to read via grammar, or doesn't flow, and you feel you want to be helpful, offer to edit the story. Heck just offer suggestions like, "I think Sailor NeoEarth would fit much better her past is explained and how she is Mamoru's sister." Sounds a little nicer? I think some people would appreciate the feedback more than the harsh criticism. So remember be nice to those who do take the time to write down their characters into the Sailor Moon Universe. It's their pride and joy, and if it is written by a person in your opinion with less talent than most authors, try to encourage them and help them. Writing is a wonderful thing to do, as well as reading, it helps the mind grow. Don't try to stifle it, because you have your own stigma of how otaku senshi should be, but try to help a future author become better. Who knows they can really benefit from it. In closing be kind to fellow authors, no matter how silly, and grade school the story is. They did try, and they want people to see what they envision in their heads. The only, only time to be negative is if they plagiarize someone else's character. That irks me more than anything. Yet that is another topic in it's self, and I think I shall stop here. I had no idea this essay would go this way, I hope you enjoyed reading it. •RETURN |