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Firefly -> Heart of the Dark: Acknowledgements (5/31/2009 13:38:45)
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Commentary goes here: http://forums2.battleon.com/f/tm.asp?m=15655967
On November 30, 2007, a writer joined the Artix Entertainment forums. On May 31, 2009, the writer completes her long-overdue thanks to the community that has nurtured her.
I will not claim that L&L made me a writer; I concede that I was writing long before. I will not exclaim how L&L is the best thing that has ever happened to me; writing is a lifelong journey, and how it will turn out remains uncertain. But I’ll say this: If it weren’t for L&L, I think I would have buried my stories within myself. I think I would have told them for my own eyes only. I think that, even if I managed to break the barriers life has set out for me, I still would have pursued serious writing much later than I intended to. Without L&L, I would’ve been one of the countless thousands whose works never see the light of day, or among those who have always wanted to write, but started far too late for their liking.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. A community is only as good as its weakest member. It is my luck that the community I dove into—Legends and Lore—is full of passionate members who are full of love for literature. Here, I planted my first public seed of writing by sharing my novel Heart of the Dark. And here I received comments, criticism, encouragement—and most of all, a community that made me realize, “I will be a writer.”
On December of 2007, I posted my first piece of writing in L&L. Since then, I have completed the initial draft set on the Adventure Quest world, gained countless readers and friends, and started on my own quest: to rewrite the story into something that will grow wings and soar.
But as of today, I have no choice but to stop posting this story on the forum that gave birth to it. My rewrites are making the initial draft impossible to comprehend, and my research in publishing has advised me against making the story public. Though the story will still—and always—be available for those who wish to read, I have a farewell to say. It isn’t a farewell between Firefly and her friends. Just a farewell between Heart of the Dark and Legends and Lore. I will thrive to remain active on this forum and post what works I can, along with reading and critiquing others’ writing. But this story, my first in L&L, the one with the deepest roots in the community, will cease to be posted on the forum.
The story would not have existed without this forum, and it would not be alive without the people who read it. Therefore, it is time I hand out my gratitude to every person who has made their mark on the story.
Thank you Recar Dragonlance for being the first person in L&L to read the story after I was approved. Your compliments touched my heart, your feedback helped me improve, and your nitpicking at my typos has bettered the quality of my writing. I am glad my story has brought some amount of enjoyment to you, and I promise that, every time I feel discouraged about my writing, I will remember, “Recar believed in me.”
I offer my thanks to Jerenda, the first person to lighten up my comments thread and to sprinkle everything from critiques to comments with humour. Your edits have incited me to work harder in finding the correct word and not making embarrassing mistakes. I am glad to have another vampire writer on board, and your support and understanding have affected in every aspect of my writing.
Thank you Fabula. Where should I begin? You read all of the old Heart of the Dark in one sitting, minus the then-unposted epilogue. You are undoubtedly my most dependable and constant editor for the new Heart of the Dark, and you never hesitate to give opinions be it on specifics or generalities. You can summarize in a few paragraphs what others would take dozens of examples to explain, and yet you never baulk from offering examples when needed. You are the epitome of constructive critic and encouraging friend, and I don’t know what fortune brought you to me.
And now I turn the spotlight to Eukara, who has been so helpful that I do not have words to express it. Your deftness with words extends from your stories to your commentary. You are always able to pinpoint the good, the bad, and the ugly with a hunter’s accuracy and an artist’s elegance. Your encouragement resounds in me for hours; your criticism is always helpful and tactful. I honestly can say that I would not be able to work and rework on this story without my discussions with you.
My gratitude also extends to ~Shade~: friend, fan, reader of utmost cleverness and humour. Your speed at processing large blocks of text in a single sitting as well as your perceptive analysis of the story has me enveloped alternatively in laughter and awe. Your theories about the story are thoughtful, and you have helped me countless times in exterminating plot holes.
Thank you Alixander Fey, or should I call you Alex now? You were, to my knowledge, the second person ever to read this story and the first one to stick through it. Your blunt comments are highly valued, because you’re the person I trust most to give me brutal honesty. You are engaging and fun, amusing and helpful. And your unsugared words only make your compliments sweeter. Beyond being a reader, you are also a wonderful friend; I will never forget your innovative words and your love for dragons.
I now give the nod to Brynn Summers. You are always ready to give feedback to my writing, and your edits of both the old and new versions of Heart of the Dark cover all areas of grammar and typography. Your ability to read, reread, edit, and reedit large portions at once never ceases to amaze me. Your posts emit a gentle aid and kind friendship that always brings a smile to my face.
Thank you Mastin2. Your prompt responses to my updates (whenever you’re online) and your enthusiastic theories are in a class of your own. Whenever I feel down, all I need to think is, “Having a reader as engaged as Mastin really is enough. It beats all the money in the world.” Even when I suddenly snare you when you’re online, you’re always willing to help. You truly deserve the title “Typomaster.”
Another person who has done great service for me in terms of finding typos is Garnetdragoness. Your speedy and thorough edits have never ceased to amaze me, and I can say that I slept easier knowing that you were there, with your trusty dictionary and unlimited vocabulary.
Thank you Crimzon5 for your edits of the new Heart of the Dark. I’m amazed at how you can spot typos even after several others have gone through it, and your joking complaints about spelling “crimson” with an “s” has made me chuckle from time to time.
Sometimes, typos aren’t the only things that hinder a work of prose. Therefore, I am grateful for all my other editors, who manage to chew on the style in addition to the typos. Demolitiondragon, I thank you for your edits and your friendship. Thanks for being there for me when I needed feedback, editing my works despite the chaos of your own life, and just being an all-around good pal.
While I’m on the topic of editing, there is no better editor than Eddy II, and I am honoured to say that I was one of his… experiments? targets? No one has given me more detailed feedback than he. Eddy, this must be my hundredth time of saying it, but you are one half the reason I am rewriting Heart of the Dark. Even though my rewriting might make your line-by-lines seem obsolete, that is far from the case. Your edits made me realize I still have a long way to go, but with enough work, the story can take me there.
But sometimes, it is not the editors that get you writing. It’s those people who drop by with a simple comment of “Nice story, keep going.” That’s when you know that you’re not being confronted by someone who knows the market, but by someone who is the market. At the end of the day, the detailed edits fix the wheels but it’s the simple sentiments of enjoyment that adds oil to the engines.
Thank you Lady Eliac for your support and encouragement. It is an honour to know that a writer of such emotional appeal like you finds something worthy in my works. I will never forget how giddy I felt when you dropped by my thread, or when you nominated me for Writer of the Month.
Thank you GhostBear5 for your comments and feedback. I am grateful for the time you put in to help me find errors, but even more touched when you honestly speak your mind as a reader.
And I can’t miss thanking R0de0b0y. I love how you state your mind, I love how you never shy from the truth, and I love how you express it all in a manner that has me erupting in gales of laughter. You say that my works inspire you; from my point of view, you, your comments, and your writing have marked me deeper than I can ever influence you.
Some readers arrived later than others, and I am grateful for that. When someone doesn’t know the old version, they are able to see the new with fresh eyes and fresh perceptions. Thank you Sentharn for your detailed edits and insightful commentary. Thank you Ont and Green_girl02 for your interest in the story. Thank you Gwoonjustin for your wonderful edit of the prologue and your honest opinions about my work as a whole. Thank you Argeus the Paladin for your brilliant comments and engaging critiques. Thank you _Depression for your thoughtful edits.
Thank you all the people who have read the story at various times and in various portions: Saber Boy, Axael Rosaria, Gotag, Dentr963, WyvernKnight, Ziox, Bobby1013852, Mo, and many others who have not left their names. Thank you everyone who has read anything by me, people too numerous to name.
A giant thank you to all the AKs, former and current, especially the following people: Coyote, for your wonderful critique of the old prologue that is half the reason I’m rewriting this story; Mistermafio, for your constant encouragement and dependable friendship; RationalParanoia, for your interest and commentary on the story, as well as your heaps of advice; Ricobabie, for approving me when I first stepped into L&L and supporting me on the forums and on IRC; Master Samak, for your detailed feedback on my writing as a whole and your touching compliments; Time Losh, for your positive vibe and caring friendship. Your work in maintaining the rules of this board have been nothing short of stunning, and I thank you all for taking the time to make this a helpful community to everyone.
My thanks, of course, extends to Falerin and the Artix Entertainment team. Thank you for making the games that—through twists and turns that would become novels themselves if I wrote them down—led me into this wonderful forum.
And lastly, thank you everyone in L&L, regardless of who you are or whether you read this story or not. Thank you for setting me on this path, and accompanying me so I would not walk alone.
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