> I guess I'll have to add Hatman to the list of people I can't write about without making people angry. Since nearly the entire Lair Legion is on that list (only CSFB! and Yuki are left, and I think it's because Kirk is being much too kind), I guess I'll have to stick to my own characters from now on, or maybe World Class.
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Rather than simply say "I can't write that character", why not try to adjust your approach to said characters? For example, Shrike has said Hatman's portrayal is too passive (I do agree actually, he didn't come off as very leader-like). So next time, adjust him a bit. It's part of the writing process, evolving as you go.
> I always thought it would take much too long to email each story back and forth to each poster-character for approval, then editing, then back again before posting it - I'd end up posting maybe every 2-3 weeks to once a month instead of 1 or 2 times a week, and that's not including the stuff that has to be scrapped before it's even finished because it's just too messed up. Maybe that's just how it's done, and why most people don't post so frequently, I don't know.
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I highly doubt that. I only e-mail another poster about a story if I want to collaborate with them or do something that might seem out of character or change that character's status quo. It would be nuts to get approval every time a story gets posted, and would take the fun out of it too.
> But after screwing up something big enough in a majority of posts I've made since the beginning of the year to earn an few angry comments, plus screwing up an entire plot line and having to scrap it, I feel like I'm wasting my time entirely. Most of what I write for the PV either ends up in the trash or should have been. I think I've completely lost the touch when it comes to the shared characters of the PVB.
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I don't think most of your stuff goes in the trash, and you're being a bit too harsh on yourself.
I think some of what it boils down to is in your stories, your characters almost always come off really well, but it can be at the expense of other characters. The basic rule of thumb is when you use other people's characters (especially poster-characters), make sure they look good too, which gives them a reason to be in the story besides building up others. I mean, if they're just background it doesn't matter as much, but if they're main characters in the narrative they should have something to contribute.
> I'm thinking that I'm either going to have to go on "probation" and go on a schedule where I only post shared character PV-related stories maybe once or twice a month - long enough to check it with everyone involved, have them write their own dialogue because I can't do it right, edit, re-edit, etc. Or just consider that my feeling of wanting to write something with shared characters isn't worth the trouble and give up on it.
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I would hate to see that. As long as you've got ideas I encourage you to keep writing!
> It makes me sad to think I just don't have the ability any more. I don't know when I lost it. But maybe it's time for me to stop denying it, admit I'm no good at this shared writing anymore, and stop doing it before I hurt myself further. I also don't like putting anyone in a position where they feel they have to demand I remove a story to avoid damaging a character but don't really want to ask because I have the keys.
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Hey, at worst we have a couple of retconning arch-villains around.
And sometimes stories can lead to unexpected results; we wouldn't have an evil Doorman running around, who I've had a blast writing, had it not been for your contributions to the Moderator Saga.
> I guess I have plenty of characters of my own to play with, I suppose I should exclusively use them for now, and hope I can keep up.
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No, you should continue to play with others. But I think that if someone does criticize how a character is portrayed, try to listen to the concern rather than go to a straight "This story has to be thrown out" or a post like this about stopping writing PV stuff.
I think you're a great writer; I only wish I could be as descriptive as you are. It would be a shame if you stopped contributing, as I think you have lots to contribute.
~Hat~
