I have a serious character flaw.
I want to please people. I almost always live up to people’s expectations. I feel uncomfortable when I can’t do that.
That is very double edged. On one hand I have lived up to some pretty high expectations and enjoyed and benefited from that.
On the other hand I have had two burn-outs. The circumstances around the first one were very fortunate and I was able to shake it off in less than half a year and without my work being seriously impaired. To balance that the circumstances around the second one were extremely unfortunate and I still can feel some remains years later lurking behind other problems caused by those extremely unfortunate circumstances.
BCTS is a wonderful site with a plentitude of marvelous writers. Many of them provide us with wonderful stories with both breadth and depth. Fascinating character development, Intricate and well thought out stories. I could go on and on.
Then there are writers who write short one-off stories. At present there are fewer of those at BCTS. I believe I make a contribution in this field.
In my opinion one of the strengths of BCTS is the variety of stories. The long, deep ones and the short short stories and everything in between.
• I like writing short stories without tying up all the loose ends (that is how life is).
• Only occasionally do I write sequels. I have consistently found those “less” than the original stories. Judging from the Kudos given I’m not alone in that view.
• I write because I like it.
• I have no ambition to be the next Great American Author.
• I haven’t even an ambition to write for money.
I have looked into and tried writing the kind of stories so many others do so well on this site. I have come to the following conclusions_
• Yes, I could do it.
• It would need diverting quite a lot of effort and time from other activities that I want to do.
• I don’t find it fun or satisfying.
• I’m actually quite uncomfortable doing it.
I have stated many times that I don’t “do” sequels or fleshing out. I consistently mark my stories as solos. Despite that I repeatedly receive comments asking me to write extension/longer and fleshed out stories.
In many cases those commenting intend this as a sign that they appreciate my story. To you I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you – and please stop doing it.
Then there are those who feel disappointed or even shortchanged (despite the solo flags) by the lack of fleshing out and body. To you I can only say “Tough luck”. As I’ve noted above there are so many others here at BCTS who provide what you are looking for.
I believe that on this site, if anywhere, there should be an understanding of a person not liking to be pushed into being someone you don’t want to be and that you feel uncomfortable being.
Comments
Well...
I like you as you are. I guess and hope others too. Or I'm wrong?
FWIW
Bru, readers love your stories. I know I do. They are invariably clever, fun, and always enjoyable. Judging by hits, kudos and comments, you’re a star. Not that you do, or should.
For whatever it’s worth, I usually figure I’ll get around 20% more kudos on a solo than on the initial chapter of anything longer, so there’s clearly a market for them. One of our objectives in the New Years contest was to generate more solos.
I like writing both. I started writing longer stories and went to shorts to try to learn a little discipline. It helped, though I still tend to write heavy even when I do a solo.
Character flaw? Not hardly. Brevity is the soul of Bru. And also, I’m told, of lingerie. Coincidence? Hmmmm. :)
— Emma
Nothing like a well Bru-ed story.
Bru,
Your talent is well expressed with the short, quick -- wait, that's not quite what I expected story. You do it well and never fail to leave me smiling. I like that, even sometimes I'm groaning while I do it.
I wouldn't ask you to change a thing. It's your trademark. It wouldn't be a Bru story if had all the loose ends tied up. To fit your style, it needs to end abruptly and in an unexpected way. That's what makes it a well Bru-ed story.
Keep 'em coming.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin ein femininer Mann
most of my stories are short-shorts
and while I'm often open to going back to expand a story or make a sequel, in reality it almost never happens. I love your stories, Bru, short as they may be.
huggles!
I would like...
...to write a good comment for every gem that deserves one but lately I don't seem to have the energy. I know one of your stories will be delightfully tweaked and I always look forward to reading them. :)
A good short story is like macrame wrapped in origami, not a talent everyone has. Please keep writing and making us smile and/or groan. :)
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Lovely words and sentiment
This three are IMHO, the highlights
• I write because I like it.
• I have no ambition to be the next Great American Author.
• I haven’t even an ambition to write for money.
Simply because they are the same as mine (other than change American to British).
Carry on being yourself and we love your stories.
As someone who is deep into a crime novel where the crimes are particularly heinous I know that spending a few minutes reading a 'Bru ditty' will lighten my day.
Keep on trucking Bru.
Samantha
Where was the part about the character flaw?
I have to assume you're writing a bit tongue-in-cheek here... Character flaw?
I really, really enjoy your writing. Your pieces are gems.
I'm acutely aware that you have a gift for doing what you do, and that most of us don't have the verve or panache to do what you do.
I do see your point. Every time I see a writer here complain about not receiving enough comments, I always wish I could transfer a few of mine... I won't go into the reasons why some irk me. But when you see the "please write a full-length novel and movie treatment using these characters" remember the pleas of other writers who don't get any comments at all, and would die for the chance to be misunderstood.
Hugs and much appreciation,
- iolanthe
An appropriate comment
I read Dorothy Colleen's "Orientation Day" and left the following comment:
Her answer:
If someone feels that the story needs "fleshing out" or expanded. They should ask permission to write it themselves. I did and I'm 21K words into it starting on chapter 14. In a PM I confirmed that she was good with it and promised to let her read it before posting it with veto power if she thinks I've totally botched it.
With a little luck and perseverance I should have it complete in the next 30 or so days.
Here's the art work for it.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin ein femininer Mann
I love the artwork, hon!
I can't wait to read the story!
The character flaw
The character flaw is that I'm too disposed to please people. In this case that causes an internal conflict between that and doing something I don't want to do. That's why the requests about extensions/sequels/ fleshing out bothers me so much. I have learnt to say no but I still can't avoid feeling uncomfortable about it. This is life :)
I'm not complaining about getting enough comments. Actually, compared with others I get more than my fair share.
I know how hard it is to write a comment that you feel is meaningful.
I also appreciate that Erin has got her priorities right.
Yesterday I was getting a bit frustrated. For various reasons I was more vulnerable than usual to my internal contradictions. I thank you all for your kind words.
If pleasing people is a character flaw…..
Then we should hope that the entire world is riddled with such flaws. Would that I could find that place where people are so worried about pleasing others that it drives them to distraction.
It is the flaws in a sapphire or ruby that make it sparkle more - gemologists call it “silk”, and these flawed stones are actually worth more. It is the chemical imperfections in a diamond which give it distinctive color. The carbon is not pure - so the flaw in the chemical makeup creates a better diamond.
The Japanese have an art called kintsugi, which means “join with gold”, which highlights the beauty in broken things.
We are none of us perfect, and if your character flaw is to please people - then I would say that you are a far sight closer to perfection than I.
As to readers asking for more of a story, I will readily admit that I have often told an author that in my opinion a story was too good to allow it to die without adding more. It is intended as a complement - when your story is so compelling, your characters so real, and your plot pulls the reader into it so much, then how can you blame them for wanting more. It should be taken as a compliment that the reader loved your story so much they didn’t want it to end.
D. Eden
Dum Vivimus, Vivamus
Do what you do do well
As the song goes. And you do. Bru posts are appreciated for what they are, and enjoyable just like that.
Teri Ann
"Reach for the sun."