Advice for writing a Fiver
Hello.
I am attempting to write a Fiver. It's odd, writing something for a site that makes graveyards look like raves, but that's pretty much how the music video for "Thriller" started, so... the moral is we should start playing Michael Jackson music until we start a choreographed dance? Now, first off, I have it all done. I asked Zeke about it, but for some reason, he didn't respond. Maybe his PM box is full? I dunno. Maybe email is the better way to go. I wouldn't mind getting some feedback on it, but I am unsure what to do. Do I post it here and solicit comments? Do I post it on some random other place? Do I show it to people I know and hope they don't have me locked in an insane asylum? |
If you're hoping for it to be a real, published on the site fiver I wouldn't post it here in the forum. Maybe you should at least tell us the franchise, and one of the more experienced fivists here who's familiar with it can go over your drafts with you through PMs.
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Hope is good. Yes, I'd like to try.
The one I went with was Voyager. |
Response coming, but first a response about my lack of response. (I'm posting it here because it goes for any other prospective guest writers.)
I'm sorry, but you'll have to be patient with me. I don't mean in terms of sympathy or anything -- I'm saying you literally have no choice. I am very slow to do things. It's gone past the point of cliche here and looped around into being an essential part of the fabric of the site. I have guest fivers from 2004 that aren't dealt with yet. But I would actually feel more guilty if I were up to date, because I'm just as far behind on things like my career that should be coming first. As for the specific request, I'll have more to say by PM, but the short version is this: they may be pretty out of date, but we have FAQs for a reason. |
All right, no worries. I am very laid back when it comes to writing, and when it comes to putting things ahead of Internet sites, that's obvious, especially when there's no monetary compensation on the blogosphere for what is clearly a hobby.
I thought I went through all the FAQs; didn't see the whole "Voyager has been claimed" bit. That was my bad, and I will endeavor to be more careful in the future. So then it's time to brush up on the other series. |
Some general advice, from someone who learned it through experience (writing novel fivers in the Misc forum, and a couple for the Excelsior fan series):
Hope this helps! :) |
Don't get too over-the-top on the running gags and crazy inter-fiver references. My few fivers did this, and, with ten years' hindsight, I see they did not reach their full potential because of it. The commendable editor of 5MSTNG (Derek? Mark? It's been too long, and I am too lazy to check) very politely told me that one of my submissions was bantha poodoo and made me rewrite it before publication, and that helped me turn the corner.
And, yes, way back in 2002, my first submission to the site had a one-year turnaround before Zeke replied. "'Soon'" means "'soon,'" and not a moment before -- and note the triple-quotes! QUESTION: Given the significant changes in activity level here over the years, would it be worth considering the possibility of revoking or at least re-confirming some of the old claims, for example on whatever Voyager episode FG wanted to parody? |
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Thank you all for your advice. |
Don't be afraid that you first effort might suck. Accept that it will, and make your second one better, and your third one even better. My first submission was Body Parts, and looking back at it I find it lacking, but only because the ones I did after it are more polished.
TNG was the same way. Watch the first season, and then watch the fifth season. Huge increase in quality. |
Unless you go from "Conspiracy" to "Cost of Living", that is.
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All the sequel shows have this.
DS9: "Dax" to "Let He Who Is Without Sin..." VOY: "Jetrel" to "Bride of Chaotica!" ENT: Damn it, it should have had a season 5! |
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"These Are The Voyages" never happened, dammit. It's not real! I will go full inverse Benny Russell on everyone if someone claims it was. |
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