just say good enough and go

[dragonlady7]

creators, and think before you give advice

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I saw a post, I won’t link to it and don’t need to, where someone had sent an ask to a person whose specialty is elaborate scientifically-justified headcanons about fictional creatures.

and I’d say probably the asker was well-intentioned, but the gist of it was, “why bother making up such elaborate things! Just, you know, make up something plausible, and say it’s good enough, and get on with your life!”

Of course the person who takes all this obvious joy in making these incredibly scientifically-justified complicated backstories about how fictional creatures could plausibly work in the real world was furious at this, and justifiably.

And it just made me sort of mad and sad. I mean, let’s back up, the asker probably didn’t mean any harm, and yes, there is something to be said for not getting oneself hung up on the nitty-gritty of a project. This is, in fact, how I, with a learning disability and a shockingly inadequate scientific education, do most of my creature-building. I make something up, I make sure it has some kind of consistent rules to it (because, as Asimov(?) said, “if everything is possible nothing is interesting”– you must always put limits on things, if only to make the story have some genuine interest to it, some real stakes), and I move on, and only refine it if it’s not sturdy enough to bear the story.

But– there’s nothing wrong with devoting more effort to something. Sometimes, the harder you work on it, the more interesting it is! And if you have the capability to really pour a whole bunch of talent and interest into a thing, why the fuck would you not do that??

Can you imagine, if someone said to me, “I don’t write longfics. There’s no need. Just do a oneshot, and go!”

Come on. Or, “I don’t write fics. Just do a headcanon post, and call it good!”

oh my god. “I don’t color my art. just do linework, and call it good!” “I don’t do linework. just make a sketch and go.”

Like. There’s no wrong way to do art, and absolutely, if you’re an artist with an ambitious vision who realizes that the project has ballooned in scope and is in danger of overwhelming you, scale that shit back! Break it down a little! Don’t hurt yourself! Do manageable chunks! Don’t overcommit! This is all fine and sensible advice.

But like also. if you’re a person who likes art. Don’t tell an artist not to do their art. Don’t do that. Goodness sakes, don’t do that. (Your picture was not posted)

Comments

[krait]

Very good points, all.

I mean, let’s back up, the asker probably didn’t mean any harm,

This bit I'm dubious about. People who go into spaces labelled Here Be Elaborate Worldbuilding in order to complain about how elaborate worldbuilding is a waste of time generally aren't acting in good faith, in my experience. (Substitute any subject for elaborate worldbuilding, here - longfic, fanart, minor character speculation, manga/manhua translation circles, fandom as a whole. The 'you're wasting your time' people definitely exist, and are definitely feeling smug about it.)