I don't understand exactly what that (sporking) is as I'm not a writer, but it sounds like she raked you over the coals, and that's just not right.
As to whether it, and myself, are intending to discourage fanfiction writing. Well, admittedly, writing fanfic can be nail biting. But I come from the perspective that fanfic writing is just writing. If we're hoping to write in the fantasy genre, it can't hurt to be self-reflexive about what makes it fantasy writing.
With all due respect, "Bwahaha this Fantasy RPG Editor bingo is hilarious for anyone editing DA fanfic..." makes it sound as if the target audience is editors, not authors. You are absolutely right, R2, when you say that it can't hurt to be aware of existing tropes and cliches, and self-editing is absolutely part of becoming a better writer. And yes, a good editor will point out things the writer missed. And no, there is no harm in having a little fun while you're doing it. But putting it out there like that, *without* the disclaimer quoted above, conveys a very different meaning.
Sporking is where someone goes through what you've written and adds Mystery Science Theater 2000 style comments that point biting sarcasm at specific passages, like Siskel and Ebert critiquing a really bad movie. There was also a drinking game that went along with it (it was amusing and would probably have resulted in a trip to the emergency room), but the hurtful part was that the beta-reader was taking weeks longer than usual to return each chapter because she was too busy writing her MST commentary to actually do any editing. In other words, she would rather make fun of what I'd written than help me fix it.
And that's why things like the bingo card make me uncomfortable. There's already a perception that writing fanfic is a members only club, erroneous as that may be. The opinion and endorsement of respected writers is solid gold, and condemnation by them is crippling.
It did hit a sore spot for me, and based on some of the mail I've received, I'm not alone. It saddens me to think how many people out there - how many of us - have had similar experiences, and how many of us are still too close to the pain to talk about it openly.
My experience with it is mostly behind me. When it happened, I was devastated, but years of reflection upon the beta-reader's personality, circumstances, and body of work have left me with the consolation that it probably was motivated at least in part by jealousy. And the work in question was my first fanfic, and I had no idea how to go about it. Ironically, I was allowing my style to be influenced by fanfic I was reading, which included my beta-reader's. But writing is like anything else. There's a learning curve, and everyone - everyone - goes through awkward phases as they explore new themes and expand their repertoire. I don't imagine that the knowledge that somebody might be turning a personal struggle into a game would help them find their confidence any faster.
But I do understand that no harm was intended, and that's important. 
Anyway, as some have pointed out, this is a very serious topic for a Cullen discussion thread, and I do feel as if I'm dragging the thread down by discussing it, but as you say, R2, many of us are writers. The drive to create is strong, but so is the fear of ridicule.
TL;DR: I'll shut up now.
Retour en haut
![=]](https://lvlt.forum.bioware.com/public/style_emoticons/default/sideways.png)
In English. Sounds pretty close to the original.
Or maybe we will find out that Cullen commissioned Varric to write it!
