Upset, depressed, thoroughly dejected

[mijan]

Okay, today was just a bad day regarding my fic.  First, I find myself facing accusations of plagiarism.  Some random wanker on the PageofPeril Yahoo group (the group run by azhure1 and wintermoon3 for their awesome fic, PSL) decided to accuse me of plagiarising the Draco Trilogy, claiming that I used quotes from Draco Veritas in my fic.  I've never read Draco Veritas, so how the fuck could I plagiarize it?  I didn't even read the first part of the trilogy until this past winter, and then, I didn't even really like it... just not a style I particularly enjoy... hence why I never read the last parts. It was HET for heaven's sake! Draco/Hermione... *shudders*

And then, just a few minutes ago, I got this lovely flame.  Just what I need to solidify EVERY freaking uncertainty I had about this last chapter.  Now I feel like I have to go back and rewrite.  I was nervous as hell about this chapter in the first place... I was worried about being over-dramatic, but in contrast, what if it wasn't dramatic enough for a grand finale?  And then, after 16 chapters of Harry and Draco alone in the woods, it was going to be vastly different from the rest of the fic anyway, having them back at Hogwarts, so I had to deal with a major shift in the fic.  Did I rush the ending?  Did it suck?  Should I have taken a more conservative route?  I can admit that real life was a major distraction while I was writing it, with all the insane things happening, but that's no excuse.  I don't know, but now, it's almost 3:00 AM, I'm freezing cold because my body is shutting down from lack of sleep, but I'm too upset to go to bed.  I need to edit the chapter now.  I can't just leave it like that.  I wasn't 100% certain about the chapter in the first place, and I knew it wasn't as good as the previous chapter... oh dear.  I'm rambling... I'm just too upset right now.  I think I'll go have a cup of tea.  No rest for the weary.

~M

Comments

[rockchick-101.livejournal.com]

that flame totally sucked - you're fic was awesome and the last chaper rocked! dont worry too much cuz you're a fantastic writer and i cant wait for more! just remember your humanly inable to please everyone so every now and then someones gunna flame.
but all the sane people loved it!!!!!!!!

[misspandypants.livejournal.com]

I reviewed at Schnoogle and came wondering over here to see how you were doing on the epilogue, and I'd just like to say that I just LOVE chapter 17 the way it is. It's heartbreaking and poignant and not at all sappy. That's exactly the way I would imagine the boys would act in those kinds of crazy circumstances, particularly considering the pressure they were under for so long. Though in my own special little world there was time for a quick stop before they left the room of requirement at the end :P

I hope you don't feel like your work was sub-standard, because in all honesty it was perfect!

*lots of love*

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

That's tough to be accused of plagiarism. I've never finished the Draco Trilogy myself. Just wasn't my style.

I know it's easier said than done, but I wouldn't pay attention to a few wankers intent on bringing me down. Jealousy, perhaps? People like to be cruel in this fandom if they can.

If you'd like a pair of eyes for your fic, I'd be more than happy to look it over for you.

Let me know.

--TMP

[calzamante.livejournal.com]

Please, don't rewrite it! I thought it was wonderfully executed. There was tension, drama and resolution (and boylove! YAY!). Yes, it was different from the other chapters, but by its very nature it had to be. I did not feel it to be cheesy at all, I really believed in the healing energy, the cliff scene etc. - that the strength of feeling that Draco and Harry had developed for each other would cause them to act in the way that they did. I can only speak for myself when I say that it left me feeling very satisfied, but from what I've read at your Yahoo group and other reviews at Schnoogle I am not the only one. It is always easier to take criticism more seriously than praise (modest human nature I guess), but please remember that this flame was only ONE person's thoughts. You have affected far more people in a beautiful, positive (sorry to be so vague, I kinds suck at reviewing!) way. Focus on that instead.
Thank you, and sorry for clogging up your post in such a rambling way!

[aliciajd]

That flamer is an idiot. The whole tenor of the review seems designed to hurt. I see nothing constructive in the way it's written. Chalk it up to blatant jealousy and leave your fic alone. It is outstanding. There are just a few trolls out there who aren't content to wallow in their own misery, they have to try and spread it around. Don't listen to it.

[neru-kudasai.livejournal.com]

sorry clicked the wrong link thingy

[neru-kudasai.livejournal.com]

lets see if I can post this right now:

I loved all of eclipse, that flamer just doesn't know what he/she is talking about.

I've never read the Draco Trilogy so I can't say anything about that, but I really don't believe that you plagiarized intentionally, if at all.

[annephoenix.livejournal.com]

Bleh, ignored the sillies *BIG HUG*-- You should see the amount of flames I get for my fics :p.

[parthenia14.livejournal.com]

They're right, you know. People sometimes weigh a critical opinion far more than they would a positive opinion.

I've read the Draco Trilogy all the way till the end - the 3rd one's better - and I actually quite liked it, but it's completely unlike your story. Ironically quite a few of CC's critics have accused her of plagiarism (of Buffy I believe).

For what it's worth the main story of Eclipse seems very distinctive to me; I thought the ending was very good, although as an ending it's quite close to the way various stories about curses/potions end. (And how else are they supposed to end?).

So pfft. It doesn't matter. Just means you're getting thoughtless attention.

[oconel]

Though this has also been discussed at the Yahoo Group, I'll give you my thoughts about the DT thing. I've read DT, and has nothing to do with your fic. In both fics H and D end up friends, so what? how many fics are out there about H&D becoming friends? I think what might have been triggered that plagiarism acusation is that in the latest chapter of DT Draco sort-of dies, and in a cookie released recently, it seems like Harry goes to look for him in his coma. But the characters are very different, and the stories are very different, too.. Don't listen to those accusations, the ones who've been reading this story since the begining know it's not true.

And about the flame: If people don't know what slash means, they shouldn't read fics labeled as such.

[manraviel.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know how much you hate Draco Trilogy, because I was reading your comments on it as and when you were reading it.

And though I didn't review on Schnoogle, I totally loved the new chapter. Don't listen to a couple of chits who say otherwise. It's their opinion, yeah, but it's not the opinion of the majority. I think the chapter rounded up the story very well. With the change in the locations and sorroundings, there WILL be a change in the dynamics and interaction between Harry and Draco. If you had not done it this way, it wouldn't have felt real, cuz it did. I was also quite impressed by the way you pulled off the romantic angle of the story with so few hints in the earlier chapters.

EVERYONE gets flamed once in a while. There would be no fun if we didn't. But the trick is to crumple those stupid opinions, roll it into a cig and smoke it off.

[shudaizi.livejournal.com]

Bah, the review isn't something I'd worry about. Sure, it's disturbing, but she offered no concrit, just personal opinion. Not everyone is going to like everything we do, and thats just a fact. I'd worry more if she came to you and said, "This doesn't work, here's why, and here are some things you can do to maybe adjust it so it's better." In that case you could weigh her comments against what you were trying to accomplish with the chapter and if you still felt adjustments needed to be made, you could. Give it the consideration it's due, and no more. If you're really that uncertain, talk it over with someone you trust.

Drink your tea, get some rest, and when you feel better, come back to it. I'm sorry if this comes off bossy, it's meant to be soothing and encouraging. Since you've come so close to being finished, I'm going to start at the begining and read all the way through. I've been waiting a long time for this! Only thing stopping me to this point is RL and YaoiCon staff work. Ok, and my current Snarry addiction, but those are the only things, I swear!

[nightwish-fan.livejournal.com]

Please do not change the last chapter, it was perfect! so much has been building up, and the last chapter was a brilliant climax. I love Eclipse, all of it, don't let one pathetic idiot bring you down! xx

[zedmeister.livejournal.com]

The fact that that flamer found the story "gay" seriously makes me wonder if it was actually Harry and Draco getting together that pissed them off, not the other things they listed. In any case, if they can't come up with any criticism more concrete than "cheesy" and "gay", I really don't think you should stress over it. *hugs*

[awaywithpixie.livejournal.com]

Well, you know that I never realised that you were PhoenixSong until after the whole wank over there started, right? Call me blonde today, but I never realised. The accuser has quietly gone back into his hole, but the more I see it, the more I think he's been reading some stupid translation that some twit has done, or on some archive in Russia you know nothing about...

Not that I'm defending the sucker in the least. I just wish I could moderate that one person on the group, but Yahell seems to have disallowed the ability to moderate individuals that aren't new people. That sucks.

As for the suckful review... look at all the others around it. They seem to say lots of good things. I totally understand where you are coming from with the dejection and the depression.

Change it if you honestly think it needs changing, not because someone else tells you to... (pot, kettle, black, I know, I should listen to my own advice at times).

[kurla88.livejournal.com]

Psh@the flame. The person didn't even register and use a real id. Also, it's a slash fic and they called it "supergay." No self-respecting slasher does that. My guess is it's just someone out to hurt you for random vicious reasons. I don't think you should rewrite the chapter, but it's up to you, of course.

[didi522.livejournal.com]

Hi, I've just recently started reading Eclipse, and let me tell you sweetheart- the ending was wonderful. I know it's difficult to get those sort of comments and just ignore them, but it's not like you received more than one of those flames..

Therefore, look at the majority. They all like it? Wonderful. They all hate it? Maybe -then- you should think about changing. And that's not really valid at all times, because like someone here had already said: you should change it only if you honestly think it needs changing.

As for DT; I've read it, and loved it, and therefore would have been incredibly pissed if there was any sort of plagiarizing. And there wasn't any. So don't fuss about it one bit.

<3 Adi

[elizabeth-rice.livejournal.com]

I can't put into words how much I love that chapter. I don't think it needs to be rewritten at all. Ignore that flame. Or maybe toast some marshmallows. -wink-
I love chapter 17 & am eagerly looking forward to reading the epilogue.

[blackiesdungeon.livejournal.com]

please DONT edit the chappie !! only because this idiot decided to flame and not have the guts to leave a real addie (-> he was a "guest"), dont let him get you !

this chappie was more than intense and this homophobic is not worth reading your grand story. ;(...

please let the chappie stay as it is - you know all the positiv feedback in your mailinglist and no one was flaming about it or bitching about too much that and this ... and this gay-thing .. i think all of it was gorgeous, intense and right !

as for the (censored) who think you copy from DV - as much say, i abandoned the story, because it is not my cup of tea anymore. the first two were nice, but that is it. they are way not so intense and good as eclipse and believe me, i have read enough fics over the last 3 years ;).. (to be exact, over 2000, i have 1393 storys archived on my harddisc)

please do not let this one ***hole get to you - think of all your fans, that worship you and like your story so much, as it is :))

[dark-spryte.livejournal.com]

The chapter on the whole was very intense. By that I mean a healthy amount of Drama was in there, which served to accentuate the extent of Harry's love for Draco and vice versa. If someone thinks that it's overkill, well, you can't teach them to appreciate such good work. Their loss. I thought the way everything ended, especially the letter, was just brilliant. I'm sure many other agree with me.

As for plagiarising DV, I should know about that. I've read and re-read DV so many times I lost count. If I didn't pick up the slightest hint of similarities at all, I think it's safe to say that Eclipse is really, truly, entirely yours. Don't get upset just because of what one person said. You should know if required, your fans could always form a troop to stamp our your flamers. *g*

Just remember that you have thousands of fans who love your baby. :)

[nekokatechan.livejournal.com]

Ignore them, your fiction is amazing. I think that the ending was one of the most dramatic pieces, and yes, perhaps a little overdone, but it contrasts nicely with all the subtle magics in the previous chapters. Throughout the story the magic has been... less dramatic, and a dramatic climax was something that the story needed to bring it to a close. Don't worry about the ending, certainly don't re-write it because one person doesn't like it. The more drama and cyclones, the better!

As for plaguerism... I have never read Draco Veritas, like you, it never really captured my attention. I have to ask, was it the actual author of this fiction that accused you or just some rabid fan. Unless it's the author themselves, you shouldn't take a claim like that seriously. After all, a character is a character, they say what is in their character to say. Similar phrases will turn up in all fictions, because that character doesn't change no matter whose fanfiction they're in. Isn't it like saying (using example from another fandom sorry): "Hisoka only ever calls Tsuzuki by his last name, but in my fiction he calls him by his first name, therefore, no one else is allowed to have him call Tsuzuki by his first name."

It's already there to be used. Whoa, I think my comment might be longer than your entry....

CHEER UP YOU'RE AMAZING.

That was the message behind the thing...

[cho-o.livejournal.com]

ok, so loads of people have already said what I'm about to, but I'll say it anyway:

The Chapter was Lovely. do NOT, I repeat, do not change a thing. It is one thing to listen to criticism when it is well though out, justifed and cosntuctive, but just a random flame like that, with no weight behind it.. nope.

You know that chapter kept me sane? I hope I told you, cause I really would have gone crazy without it that night...

as always, with love and admiration, and this time some warms hugs
/F

[brandil.livejournal.com]

Eclipse is my third most rec'd HP fic with The Shadow of His Wings and Underwater Light. What you've done with the story is nothing short of miraculous. The journey that Harry and Draco undergo from the kidnapping to the absolutely NOT cheesey revelation of being in love is beautiful. There are absolutely no short cuts, it is in turns heartbreaking, hilarious, suspenseful, and horrifying. The last chapter is not of lesser quality than the chapters before it, I think you did a wonderful job of it.

Please, disregard the comment this person has made.

[marksykins.livejournal.com]

Oh, hon, I know the flames and groundless criticisms always tend to stand out more than the positive stuff (be it simple "I loved it!" or more in-depth concrit), but focus on the positive. I'm really not even sure how you could be accused of plagiarism as I've read both stories and other than a sort of similar thing with Draco toward the end that could also apply to lots of other stories (and I'm being deliberately vague here), they couldn't be more different.

I loved the last chapter. It felt so very satisfying.

[hoshiforever.livejournal.com]

Crazy wankers. That's what they are. Your stuff is AMAZING and fully original and I don't know what they're on, but ignore them. Just remember that you can't please everyone and that we all love you more than anything. :-)