I'm sorry, I guess I missed something

[essbeejay]

But since when did "original pairings" come to mean "better stories?"

I make an effort to avoid being overly negative on this lj (God knows there's enough of that already), so I'm probably going to regret saying all this shit later, but is that seriously a prerequisite for a good story these days? An "original pairing?" That's interesting, because I thought there might be other qualifying factors, like a strong narrative, or a nicely paced plot, or, hm, maybe well-developed characters, perhaps?

This isn't just an issue I have with fandom. This is an issue I have with any film, any book, any TV show that goes out and says, "I'm gong to do something different and original!" and then winds up sucking because you dumbass writer/director/producer-type decided that so long as you had an "original" concept, you didn't need to focus on any other aspect of the film/book/show that might actually make it palatable and worth my time.

Originality is an excellent thing, don't get me wrong, but it is not the sole basis on which you can (or should) judge the value of a creative work, especially when it comes to anything involving writing.

Of course, what makes something "better" is subjective. But to be that dismissive and arrogant about it? Frankly, I find it pretty fucking aggravating. And pretentious. Get off your high horse and just do as you do. I don't have a problem with which characters you want sucking each other's faces, so maybe you should quit copping an attitude about the rest of us.

W/E, just W/E, you guys. I'm having the painters in soon, so I'm allowed to be moody >8C

Comments

[crystallinearmy.livejournal.com]

And it's pretty much impossible to be 100% original. A creative writing book of mine pointed out there are only about 30-some (if my memory serves me well) ideas that exist. Such as a past conflict causing the main character to plot revenge on the one(s) who stirred the past conflict.

The rule "if you focus on one thing too much, the other things will fall flat" can play into this as well.

ALSO.
"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it." -C. S. Lewis
Maybe trying so hard to be original isn't the best idea after all... Of course, I'm not shunning originality; I'm just saying it shouldn't be the number-uno priority.

I think some readers/watchers out there don't really care for all the technical stuff (e.g. character development, grammar, climax, the way the story is played out, et cetera), either. Therefore, they would only focus on originality. However, this does not make the "originality is the only thing necessary; everything else is shuck" logic okay. You do have people out there who appreciate the technical stuff. Plus, acknowledging and using core aspects (AKA technical stuff) shows that not only do you have intelligence in the field, but also that you put hard work into your story and don't care whether or not people notice the little things.

Long comments are awesome.

[xjabooo.livejournal.com]

My dad told me once, "Never believe that your idea is original. There are billions of people in this world - some of them could've thought of it before you. Plus, don't forget the trillions that died already." Which really is a bite in the ass for people who don't really care about the technical stuff, because it makes sense.

And I agree with your last paragraph. Originality is a good thing, because it gives an artwork/story/whatever it's character, but honestly if all one cares about is originality, it's not going to seem original because the author didn't play it out in a specific way - ignoring grammar mistakes and plot holes and incredibly bad spelling. Those things help build up the originality, and yes, they're also signs that the author thought their story through.

And honestly, for the sake of lack of fics in a certain fandom or something, I will ignore minor mistakes when reading a fic if I think the plot is good, but if there is one big giant gaping abyss of nothingness that is a plot hole, then I'll start ranting.

[crystallinearmy.livejournal.com]

I'm becoming increasingly jealous of your icons.

I remember when I had a really, really thick head and ignored the technicalities. Now, my eyes are more opened, and I start picking out the little things.
Agreed. If it's nothing major, I just ignore it (because a friend and I have found some minor plot holes in some PpG episodes).

I remember watching a super terrible movie not too long ago. One of the things that enraged me so was a giant plot-hole. A girl drowned her grandmother's antique car in quicksand. It was completely submerged in quicksand and everything. But she and her friend only talked about for five minutes after it happened...then it's no longer mentioned in the plot. The parents don't punish her, the grandmother doesn't care about losing her only car, and no one even mentions it after the girl gets home. Excuse me, but isn't nearly destroying/losing a car, not to mention an antique one, a big deal? How was it so easily forgotten?

[xjabooo.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you. :3

[essbeejay.livejournal.com]

YOU ARE RIGHT TO BUST OUT THE C.S. LEWIS BUSINESS THERE.