Whinging - feel free to ignore

[lady_karelia]

Admining a fic today had me really upset. Like, seriously upset. The author's response, which was ignorant at best, and certainly defiant, made it worse. I don't know, maybe I'm just burnt out. I want to write, and as much as I love mentoring authors to the point of validation, sometimes, I just feel overwhelmed. Like today. So, yeah, I'm hopelessly behind with betas right now. I had, until tonight, not written a word in about four days. We're extremely short in the admin department this week, and for some reason, there were loads of really long chapters in the queue.

Thankfully, tonight Lucius suggested a hot bath, which was a brilliant idea, since I went to Lush yesterday. And wow, did that bath help the Muse. About 350 words written for the LMHG exchange. Not a lot, but it's a start, and what's more, I have the entire outline. So, yeah, I'm feeling better now. But I still wish people would apply brains before uploading fic. Anyways, Lucius, with the help of Mozart and Sibelius, fixed my mood.

Comments

[corianderpie.livejournal.com]

I give you x and o! Thanks for adminning, it is a generous thing you do, for readers and writers alike. Good for Lucius, glad he's earning his keep.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Heh, thank you! I'm soooo pleased you're posting with us! Looking forward to reading it! :D

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

I'd just like to say thank you for all the work you do. It's really appreciated!
{{{hugs}}}

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Aw, you're sweet. Thank you! ::hugs back::

[geminiscorp.livejournal.com]

*huge hugs*

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

*beams* Thank you! :D

[dickgloucester.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. It's one of the hardest lessons to learn in writing - how to take criticism. I'm sorry you've come up against someone who has no idea.

Enjoy the bath. Enjoy the music.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I've noticed over the years that there are clearly two camps: those authors who wish to improve and those who don't. I think it's me more than anything else in that whole thing because I cannot fathom how one does something, and does it regularly, and has no interest in improving the skill. *shrugs* Well, it's gone now.

The Lush!bath was wonderful and very bubbly and the music awesome, so I'm back to happy. :)

[schmoo999.livejournal.com]

It is hard to remember that something like 90% of the people of this world are complete idiots. I am always just stunned when I get hit in the face with some people's stupidity.

Baths do always help that.

*hugs*

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

It's kind of sad to think of it that way, but you pretty much hit the nail on the head. Thankfully, there are bubble baths, LOL. :D

[pyjamapants.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

It's unfortunate that the admin shortage is happening just when everything from the ss/hg exchange has started rolling in.

Thanks so much for all your hard work!

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

And it looks like everyone held their stuff back while the exchange was going on and now started posting again. I refuse to look at the queue today, lol.

Thanks, love, I appreciate your kind words!

[melenka.livejournal.com]

Well, everyone but silly o-fic writers like me! Doesn't seem to have affected my readership, slim as it is.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I don't understand the lack of following. I said to Shaf the other day that when I grow up, I want to write like you do, and he wished me luck. I can't imagine anyone not loving your writing, no matter what it is.

[kittylefish.livejournal.com]

*waves magic wand to banish bad fics and recalcitrant authors*

*hugs*

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Wow, you're a genius! Your wand-waving worked! :D

[kittylefish.livejournal.com]

lol! i saw that she took it down. apparently i am MUCH more powerful than i suspected! ;D

[silverdoe7127.livejournal.com]

I wish there was something I could do to help you. I can offer encouragement in the form of cheer leading or an ear to vent too.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm very touched by all the support. I might take you up when I have the need to rant, lol. :)

[organic-chemist.livejournal.com]

***hugs***

Everything you do is very much appreciated! I'm glad the bath, Mozart, and Sibelius helped you. :)

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Thanks, love. Amazing what a combination of bubble bath, good music, and good friends can work! I'm feeling a lot better today. :D

[melenka.livejournal.com]

I, too, am baffled by people who don't take your generous advice to heart. I learned so much from the admins at TPP and I try to pass what I've learned on to other people so that all ships are lifted on a tide of proper comma usage and coherent narrative. Yeah, yeah, mostly we're still hull-deep in silt, but it doesn't stop us from trying.

On the other hand, a bath allows you to lift your prow above it all for a while. There, I've beaten that metaphor nigh unto death for you.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for making me smile! It's thankfully only a minority of writers who act in such ways. But then, if there were more, I don't think I could cope, LOL!

[m-mcgonagall-65.livejournal.com]

Sorry that admining/betaing is getting you down right now. I'm glad that Lucius was there to help out. ;) Hopefully, with some rest, things will look brighter...

*hugs*

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Actually, the betaing isn't getting me down; it just tends to suffer when the queue bogs me down because then I just lose the ability to concentrate and become all scatter-brained.

Lucius is an amazing Muse, and I'm very grateful he chose me. The bath helped, too, of course. I think I'll repeat the bath experience now. lol.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

A small observance that I have made, in albeit the limited time I've been posting to moderated archives, is this: ya'll aren't worshipped nearly enough for being the Goddesses that you are.

When I get a chapter back from AnnieTalbot, or Ferporcel, or any of the other Goddesses at OWL, my emails to them of 'Thank you, I appreciate it,' it seems a like paltry thanks for what they do.

When we do our Sat Night Drabbling, (which incidentally has become a ritual for me, and the HIGHLIGHT of my week) and ya'll work overtime into the wee hours, and some nights go way to overlong for my timezone; I am amazed. And you still have time to nudge me about my god-aweful commas. Nevermind the fact that you actually write me about why the changes that you're making are necessary, rather than saying 'You idiot, you should know what an independent clause is.' And if I have a question, you come back with a full citation and a learning experience, for which I am eternally grateful, and a better writing because of it.

You don't get the flowers laid at your feet that you deserve. And if there's anything I can do to make you feel more loved and appreciated I'll gladly do it. Because I have just a tiny inkling about what goes on behind the scenes to make TPP and other moderated archives tick. And honey, it seems like a helluva lot of work.

And if I ever, ever, give you a problem or hassle - smack me. Because I never intend to be 'that guy,' but if it happens. Lemme know. Life is a learning experience, and I can take constructive criticism. You, however, should NEVER have any of your hardwork thrown back in your face. Nobody should ever give you attitude. Ever.

Ever.

Kisses!

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

*wipes tears to see clearly*

Gods, has anyone ever told you you have a way with words?

None of us are Goddesses beyond the fact that we're women, which makes us goddesses by default. :D I think what admins of moderated archives share is essentially an appreciation for the beauty that language can be. Naturally, we want to see every author giving their best, and, speaking for myself, it downs me when I see sloppy work. Which thankfully is in the minority. Struggling with punctuation and/or grammar, I can totally understand! And I'll be the first one to agree that it can take time to learn all those pesty rules, and not only that but to appreciate the nuances of commas versus words etc. My first few chapters were complete rejections until NSS decided to take pity on me.

I absolutely love the Saturday night drabbling and chatting, and we have to thank Lyn_F for being so dedicated to them. Without her, it wouldn't be what it is these days! I occasionally feel guilty for not doing much explanation in the corrections on these nights, but then, most authors post regularly, and everyone knows they can ask if something is unclear to them. It's never a problem; I love sharing knowledge.

I'm glad I don't get those flowers; I don't like cut flowers; they're too temporary. On the other hand, if ever you come this way, let's go to the Botanical Gardens, and we'll take pictures and then talk about the awesome outing and beautiful flowers for many years to come. :D

Um. I stop now. Know that your kind words mean the world to me.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Why thank you! I'd like to think I have a way with words... it's the punctuation and grammar that sucks! But I am improving. Not EVERY sentence ends with a preposition. Dear god woman, you do stretch yourself thin. And how many exchanges are you signed up for?

Right. No flowers. Actually, that makes you a woman after my own heart. I like things alive and green. Sending someone a bloom cut off in the prime of it's beauty and in the process of dying is not what I'd call a romantic gesture. But how about something sweet, and useful? Like a berry bush? They've got tiny thorns but they're hardy, pretty, and sustain animals and camping Trios alike!

*walks away to scribble*

from SeverusLovesUs

[astarrymist.livejournal.com]

Well, when it gets this bad and this overwhelming, things have to shape up again. I hope you find time to write with all the beta and admin work. I know people appreciate you for all three, so please don't let The-"Author"-Who-Must-Not-Be-Criticized get you down! I don't do work on nearly as many stories as you do, but there was one that took a lot of effort and careful explanations. She submitted without making all the changes, was rejected, and decided it was not worth her time to correct and post at all. Ah, well, c'ést la vie. The writers who do appreciate your help and feedback and those of the other admins will hopefully continue to make it worthwhile. It is really precious that you do enjoy helping writers improve. Thanks!