Although I enjoy writing fiction here on Ronovan Writes, and that is something I intended to do more of, it has come to mind I am not in a position to do as such.

With the creation of the Friday Fiction with Ronovan Writes Challenge, I am now aware of a conflict.

When one is the facilitator of a writing challenge that involves possible feedback to others, including the link/review each week, it may be in the best interest of all concerned for that person to remain a facilitator. (Yes, I know the actual definition of facilitator but the actual use of the word has changed over the decades.)

If a person comments critically about the facilitator’s work, then the facilitator reads the work of the person that commented and finds reasons for pointing out areas of improvement there may be some tensions arise. I am not saying this has occurred, not at all. However, I am aware things could head in that direction with the wrong people involved in the conversation.

The purposes of the Friday Fiction with Ronovan Writes are to:     

1. Challenge each individual to be creative.
2. Bend and twist to include scenarios one might not have thought of in a work they have planned.
3. Take one out of their comfortable writing box.
4. Improve writing.

To accomplish the above, one needs feedback. I am going to be the one to offer up that feedback. I wish for the community around this challenge to grow to a point where comfort levels are such thoughts are shared without problems occurring, but for the time being, I will give feedback to those participating, unless the author states at the bottom of their work they wish for all to comment about certain areas or overall impressions.

Be careful of what you ask for. Some will be very blunt and direct. Some may be too easy. Others will not be qualified at all to comment and simply want to be negative to anyone trying to do something.

I see each story as separate from everyone else.

1. Is the story idea itself good?
2. Is the story passive?
3. Has the story been edited or proofed?
4. Is the story engaging?
5. Is the story entertaining?
6. Is the writing tight? (By this, I mean no extra words or phrases that are unnecessary and take one out of the story and rhythm.)
7. Has the writer taken time to craft the piece or did they throw it together and put out to the world?
8. Does the writer seriously want to achieve improvement and entertainment?

I even copy and paste each story in my own word document to check on the various things I look for. Don’t worry, I don’t save them. I use the same document each time.

Yes, the challenge is supposed to be fun, but it is also to be a way of improving. Each single one of us can improve. If Ernest Hemingway were here now, he would still be improving.

I will still write, but have created a site that will have a link in the menu up top to share my fiction in. The idea of a site dedicated to my creativity is appealing to me. I do hope some of you will click over once it is up and running.

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