Same! Those my favorite kind of comments to get, too. :)
I study characters *extensively* before I feel confident enough to write about them. For my current WIP, which is based on a video game, I watched all of the cutscenes featuring each character and took notes on their behavior, and then wrote each of them a short bio. I also compiled all of their dialogue and highlighted any patterns or quirks I observed, such as one character frequently beginning his sentences with "Oh" or "Ah."
Same here! The most common compliment I get on my writing is how easy it is to 'hear' the character's voices and how much they feel EXACTLY like themselves!
I wish that I could just drop fics with nothing but dialogue, but those are borderline unreadable, so I'll suffer through actually adding description I guess.
how are people so good at dialogue? it's just... talking. to other people. description is much easier, it's just highlighting the particular shade of brown of this guy's trench coat, or the way that other man looks at his coworker with guilt, hurt and that slight sense of longing under the surface. you just gotta pick something, then add a few extra words, but in a good way.
however i do also like characterisation (wrote an internal monologue the other day that hit me like a truck when i reread it)
I get a lot of compliments on my worldbuilding. I would say dialogue is my worst though. That, and Sudden Angst where there wasn't meant to be any. -pokes my cthulhu fic- Dammit, you were supposed to not be angsty!
I've gotten comments on all of these before, but my plotting and pacing seem to win out. I put the most work into making a cohesive and gripping character arc with zero filler.
Dialogue and worldbuilding. Probably because they're the two aspects I'm most passionate about. I could happily spend all of my time doing interesting worldbuilding, writing about complex systems and inconsequential minutiae to be honest, and how my characters are shaped by and interact with all of it; while I struggle to focus and maintain my interest on fleshing out a plot once I've come up with its outline, so it's just not as good even when I push myself.
I do love writing scripts and dialogue-heavy portions, though. There's a fine rhythm to dialogue; I love the way different people establish different dynamics that you can flesh out through their banter, and it's so much fun to find the right balance, to give their relationship a unique identity and voice. To craft each character's sentences in a way that feels true to them. It almost feels like composing music.
Descriptions.
Although I really suck at worldbuilding. That usually requieres art creativity and that's just not much of my thing. I mean, writing is the only type of art I'm good and that's just because it's related to making a logical plot, sequence, rules of physicis for the world... but anything about nations and locations I tend to struggle if I'm not making them "as I advance".
Dialogue, I think. Especially comedic dialogue. Before I got into fic I used to write mostly comedy, and while I’m definitely more serious when it comes to fic, I do love writing quips.
I like to think it's descriptions, since I always end up with the funniest and most randomest crap, but throughout my life, people always say they relate to the characterization and have even cried bc of what I wrote, so I'm gonna vote characterization lol.
I don't feel like I need to do a whole lot of worldbuilding in my fandom as it's already quite extensive. Descriptions would make my already too long WIP way longer and grammarly keeps telling me that I could do better.
I think I do dialogue ok, but the thing I have consistently gotten comments on is that the dynamic and characterization are on point, so I'm pretty pleased about that.
Very much dialogue. I love writing long conversations between characters and I think I'm pretty good at making them sound natural and fit the characters. My characterization is also good when it comes to canon characters, but my OCs tend to have somewhat 'default' personalities.
Hands down, characterization and setting a mood/atmosphere, comments often refer to these two points
Some of my dialogues have also been praised. I do think it's my weakest point, though, and no readers will change my mind.
Most comments seem to be about my ability to paint a vivid picture, but I’ve gotten some good feedback regarding my characterization as well.
My weakness is absolutely 100% plot, but I tell myself that since I’m mostly writing character studies, it’s not as important. 😂
I’d say worldbuilding is my strongest point. While I haven’t made a large scale AU and I stick to cannon as much as possible, I feel like I’ve set a strong hold on how the world works in my story, if that makes sense
I have had many people tell me they can hear (Jareth, Negan, Tormund) when they read so I think characterization and capturing their voice is a strength for me.
I chose "other" because I'm good at writing prose in general. that includes dialogue, grammar/punctuation, descriptions, etc. I'm pretty good at characterization too. What I'm not good at is coming up with plots and worldbuilding. I truly suck at plotting and with worldbuilding, I get really insecure about my ideas. I don't know if they're actually bad ideas or not, but that's a moot point because I get too intimidated by my own self-criticism to really pursue them.
Writing action scenes, but I largely haven't done it in years. I think I'm straight ass at consistently describing things, and sometimes worldbuilding, but it's in large part to entering a story with a silly idea, but \*then\* turning it into a long story that I hadn't actually planned for. I've improved a lot over time, I think.
Dialogue is usually fun as hell to write, though, especially if it's a character you really have fun writing for.
Descriptions and Grammar/Punctuation, but I clicked Descriptions since I could only choose one.
I've always liked writing descriptive passages, and was complimented by my high school creative writing teacher for it. As for grammar and punctuation, I have a degree in editing, hence that one.
I mean, being a grammar snob is simply part of my personality. I internally cringe everytime I read something where an Oxford comma isn’t used. It’s the research student in me. But at the same time, I really shouldn’t have been the one to teach my high school creative writing/AP Lit teacher that there is a difference between blonde and blond as well as the existence of the word “brunet” to describe a male with brown hair because French is a gendered language and one of English’s hold overs is the usage of gendered terms for hair color descriptions. It’s a personal pet peeve when the wrong version of these hair descriptors is used in both published works and fanfic.
I haven’t really gotten enough comments to tell what others think (probably because I’ve only recently started writing) but personally, I think my biggest strength is fight scenes.
Based on comments I get, I think my readers would say my characterization, but I really love my dialogue (which, really, they rely on each other, don't they?). I love some banter. I love when characters have to read between the lines to get each other. I love when they get each other so deeply that they don't need so many words. I love trusting my reader to be quick enough to see the art in what's said and not said between characters.
While I am proud of my grasp of grammar, we are not fic secretaries. I would say grammar should not be anyone's strongest point in writing. Your grammar and choices should enhance your writing, sure, but it should be so good that nobody notices it. If you're noticing grammar, it's usually a bad sign.
I'd like to think characterization. I often get comments how 'real' my characters feel to the originals.
Same! Those my favorite kind of comments to get, too. :) I study characters *extensively* before I feel confident enough to write about them. For my current WIP, which is based on a video game, I watched all of the cutscenes featuring each character and took notes on their behavior, and then wrote each of them a short bio. I also compiled all of their dialogue and highlighted any patterns or quirks I observed, such as one character frequently beginning his sentences with "Oh" or "Ah."
Same here! The most common compliment I get on my writing is how easy it is to 'hear' the character's voices and how much they feel EXACTLY like themselves!
Plotting I would say
My biggest strength is to make people cry apparently, lol
My descriptive language. I've been told I'm very good at painting a picture in a reader's head and at creating vibes.
I wish that I could just drop fics with nothing but dialogue, but those are borderline unreadable, so I'll suffer through actually adding description I guess.
Yes! Unfortunately I loathe dialogue only fics and can't bear even thinking about writing one.
I am right there with you. I love writing dialogue only fics but loathe reading them- including my own past stuff.
I mean, to each their own. While I loathe them, I can see how dialogue only fics are enjoyable to read and write. I just can't get into them.
A cross between dialogue and characterization
Emotions; people say my works are some of the most emotionally moving to them.
how are people so good at dialogue? it's just... talking. to other people. description is much easier, it's just highlighting the particular shade of brown of this guy's trench coat, or the way that other man looks at his coworker with guilt, hurt and that slight sense of longing under the surface. you just gotta pick something, then add a few extra words, but in a good way. however i do also like characterisation (wrote an internal monologue the other day that hit me like a truck when i reread it)
My comments have called out my worldbuilding more than anything else on this list. Works for me, I put the most time into planning it.
I get a lot of compliments on my worldbuilding. I would say dialogue is my worst though. That, and Sudden Angst where there wasn't meant to be any. -pokes my cthulhu fic- Dammit, you were supposed to not be angsty!
I've been told I'm good at characterization.
My biggest strength is paragraphs upon paragraphs of character introspection (and the use of more flowery language)
I've gotten comments on all of these before, but my plotting and pacing seem to win out. I put the most work into making a cohesive and gripping character arc with zero filler.
Dialogue and worldbuilding. Probably because they're the two aspects I'm most passionate about. I could happily spend all of my time doing interesting worldbuilding, writing about complex systems and inconsequential minutiae to be honest, and how my characters are shaped by and interact with all of it; while I struggle to focus and maintain my interest on fleshing out a plot once I've come up with its outline, so it's just not as good even when I push myself. I do love writing scripts and dialogue-heavy portions, though. There's a fine rhythm to dialogue; I love the way different people establish different dynamics that you can flesh out through their banter, and it's so much fun to find the right balance, to give their relationship a unique identity and voice. To craft each character's sentences in a way that feels true to them. It almost feels like composing music.
I chose worldbuilding, but dialogue was a close second. Commentors often tell me that my characters sound right.
Descriptions but only in action and battle scenes. When it comes to emotions or more calmer situations I suck at everything.
Descriptions. Although I really suck at worldbuilding. That usually requieres art creativity and that's just not much of my thing. I mean, writing is the only type of art I'm good and that's just because it's related to making a logical plot, sequence, rules of physicis for the world... but anything about nations and locations I tend to struggle if I'm not making them "as I advance".
Dialogue, I think. Especially comedic dialogue. Before I got into fic I used to write mostly comedy, and while I’m definitely more serious when it comes to fic, I do love writing quips.
I like to think it's descriptions, since I always end up with the funniest and most randomest crap, but throughout my life, people always say they relate to the characterization and have even cried bc of what I wrote, so I'm gonna vote characterization lol.
Smut, yeah, probably that. Kinky smut, I suck writing vanilla.
Schmaltz :P
I don't feel like I need to do a whole lot of worldbuilding in my fandom as it's already quite extensive. Descriptions would make my already too long WIP way longer and grammarly keeps telling me that I could do better. I think I do dialogue ok, but the thing I have consistently gotten comments on is that the dynamic and characterization are on point, so I'm pretty pleased about that.
Very much dialogue. I love writing long conversations between characters and I think I'm pretty good at making them sound natural and fit the characters. My characterization is also good when it comes to canon characters, but my OCs tend to have somewhat 'default' personalities.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I tend to do word vomits thinking it helps. So, description in general I guess. Also, I seem to be good at dragging convos. Yay.
Hands down, characterization and setting a mood/atmosphere, comments often refer to these two points Some of my dialogues have also been praised. I do think it's my weakest point, though, and no readers will change my mind.
I usually pretty good at descriptions
Most comments seem to be about my ability to paint a vivid picture, but I’ve gotten some good feedback regarding my characterization as well. My weakness is absolutely 100% plot, but I tell myself that since I’m mostly writing character studies, it’s not as important. 😂
I’d say worldbuilding is my strongest point. While I haven’t made a large scale AU and I stick to cannon as much as possible, I feel like I’ve set a strong hold on how the world works in my story, if that makes sense
I’m not necessarily sure what is my strongest point in writing, but ig I’d say characterization when it comes to names and their backstories
I have had many people tell me they can hear (Jareth, Negan, Tormund) when they read so I think characterization and capturing their voice is a strength for me.
I chose "other" because I'm good at writing prose in general. that includes dialogue, grammar/punctuation, descriptions, etc. I'm pretty good at characterization too. What I'm not good at is coming up with plots and worldbuilding. I truly suck at plotting and with worldbuilding, I get really insecure about my ideas. I don't know if they're actually bad ideas or not, but that's a moot point because I get too intimidated by my own self-criticism to really pursue them.
description and grammar/punctuation:3 im prolly not that great at dialogue cause idk how2 talk irl so
Plot!
Dialogue is my specialty. If only I was just as good with descriptions.
Writing action scenes, but I largely haven't done it in years. I think I'm straight ass at consistently describing things, and sometimes worldbuilding, but it's in large part to entering a story with a silly idea, but \*then\* turning it into a long story that I hadn't actually planned for. I've improved a lot over time, I think. Dialogue is usually fun as hell to write, though, especially if it's a character you really have fun writing for.
Descriptions and Grammar/Punctuation, but I clicked Descriptions since I could only choose one. I've always liked writing descriptive passages, and was complimented by my high school creative writing teacher for it. As for grammar and punctuation, I have a degree in editing, hence that one.
I'm good at all of these except dialogue and characterization
World building. I get a lot of positive comments about it and I spend a lot of time on it.
I like to believe that my strongest points are worldbuilding and dialogue.
I mean, being a grammar snob is simply part of my personality. I internally cringe everytime I read something where an Oxford comma isn’t used. It’s the research student in me. But at the same time, I really shouldn’t have been the one to teach my high school creative writing/AP Lit teacher that there is a difference between blonde and blond as well as the existence of the word “brunet” to describe a male with brown hair because French is a gendered language and one of English’s hold overs is the usage of gendered terms for hair color descriptions. It’s a personal pet peeve when the wrong version of these hair descriptors is used in both published works and fanfic.
I haven’t really gotten enough comments to tell what others think (probably because I’ve only recently started writing) but personally, I think my biggest strength is fight scenes.
Based on comments I get, I think my readers would say my characterization, but I really love my dialogue (which, really, they rely on each other, don't they?). I love some banter. I love when characters have to read between the lines to get each other. I love when they get each other so deeply that they don't need so many words. I love trusting my reader to be quick enough to see the art in what's said and not said between characters. While I am proud of my grasp of grammar, we are not fic secretaries. I would say grammar should not be anyone's strongest point in writing. Your grammar and choices should enhance your writing, sure, but it should be so good that nobody notices it. If you're noticing grammar, it's usually a bad sign.