As fans, we have sometimes difficulties to share our passion. To be understood by everyone, and not just some friends. So, here are some advices:
Think of your readers
Sometimes we keep ourselves from sharing an information because it has been published elsewhere. We don’t write a review because there’s already tons of them. Wake Up! Being the first doesn’t really matter. What matters is what you can bring to your readers. That’s Internet, information is everywhere and you’ll always help/interest someone out there. Don’t be afraid, be efficient.
Make it simple and clear
Each field has his own specific terms – slang. Words that people from outside don’t understand. You have to explain them, or find a simpler word, or use well-known western references – it will make things clearer:
Ex. I saw a great ninkyo-eiga / classic yakuza film / japanese gangster film
Some of you must think that’s not a good example. You can’t reduce “ninkyo-eiga” to “gangster film”. Well, keep in mind Rome wasn’t built in one day, you can’t write a thesis each time you use a term. You’ll lose your readers – people who come to learn. Make a choice: simple is difficult.
Make it short
During exams in highschool, some of us thought writing many pages as possible was a sign of success. That is not true. Why using 2 pages when you can say it in 1 sentence only? Correcting exams must be a painful task for teachers, and you don’t want that for your readers. Really.
Knowledge corrupts (Aka Gollum effect)
When you start knowing things, you may also start thinking you should keep it to yourself. Because you think people can’t understand it. On the other side, you can explain it. You can ‘open’ it for your readers. Then what are you waiting for? Your Preciouuus?
What would be your advices?
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
> Think of your readers
Do you have a special advice about ‘keeping motivated after 5 years of nonexistent feedback’?
Try something fun you really want to do. If you start getting bored at doing something, maybe it’s time to renew it, to find again the fun part of doing it. The first thing is, enjoying ourselves without expecting things from anyone. Otherwise, what’s the point?
I liked this! I tend to be too long-winded on my blog and I hate writing about films that have been covered to death, but sometimes you have to! Especially if everyone is bashing a film you like and it needs a smart and considered defense. Or if you’ve noticed things that have been overlooked by critics, etc.
Maybe I should start writing that appreciation of Losey’s Modesty Blaise?
I think Losey was a bit out of his depth on Modesty Blaise. He’s much better with insular British stuff like Accident and The Servant. Just my opinion.
As for “nonexistent feedback,” don’t let it get you down. Just write for yourself, on the things you feel passionate about. That’s when you’ll do your best writing. Plus, the only feedback that really matters is royalties!
what is your advice on writing a historical paper about a film maker like Kinji Fukasaku i mean he’s not that kinda famous like akira kurosawa so basically his information not that kind of more informative(informations are short and sometimes not enough)
Fukasaku is among several Japanese directors active during the 60s/70s who have received critical interest and praise in recent years (along with Seijun Suzuki and Teruo Ishii). So there should be enough research material for you to work with. I’ve written about him, as has Patrick Macias, Mark Schilling, Chris D. and Sharp & Mes. Although his films have developed a cult status, he was really more of a journeyman filmmaker whose output followed popular trends. (Occasionally he would set a trend, like his jitsuroku series Jingi Naki Tatakai.) He’s certainly made a lot of pictures, so there’s a lot to write about. Why not?
I follow most of those except the second one, but only because I tend to use the Japanese word, and then write a footnote if I think it’s too uncommon a word. Some of the Japanese words I use, I learned first in Japanese, or understand in Japanese better, so it’s more natural for me to use them (neither English nor Japanese is my first language). Anyway it’s always fun to learn new words right?
Fukasaku’s received a lot of attention (academic and otherwise) since the release of the super-popular Battle Royale and his passing soon after. The Jingi naki tatakai boxset Yakuza Papers has tons of great and informative extras that anyone interested in his work should see.
My advice would always be the following:
Blog for fun and be true to yourself! As soon as you start to force yourself to blog in a certain way which doesn’t come naturally, you’ll lose interest sooner or later.
Of course it’s important to think of your readers, but ultimately you have to think of yourself. And sooner or later your readers will notice if you’re trying to mold yourself into someone else.
I mean, you’re not blogging to make money, you blog because you want to share your passion about japanese films (or something else). So it’s perfectly normal to write about the things that YOU are interested in, and not what the readers are interested in.
@ Joshua
A paper about Kinji Fukasaku? Sounds like a great idea to me! Do it! And let me know when it’s done, i’d love to read it!!
@M
Funny coincidence you wrote about “Ten Women, One From Each Decade (1920-2009), Who I’d Totally Go Out With”. Just eyesterday I started writing about how women seem to dominate Japanese cinema nowadays. I’ll get this text out today.
@ Mikko
Writing too many serious reviews can be a little exhausting, so I try to think of amusing features/lists to entertain me (and other people hopefully).
Not much to add – good advice in the post and comments. To the second point, I’d add that details of history/culture sometimes need to be explained as well as terminology. Collapsing into the first point, it depends on who your audience is and how much it’s safe to assume they know about the Japan depicted in the movie you’re writing about.
Good advice
although in regard to “Each field has his own specific terms”
I think you should be careful with this one.
If you are writing for a specific audience then you should expect your audience to understand any slang used in articles available on the website. ‘Dumbing’ down may be a bad idea in this respect. But if you are creating a more general website and looking to attract a more general audience then 100% dumb down your terms. This will allow more of your viewers to understand what it is you are writing about and further encourage repeat visitors.
As always, content is king so do your research!
Dont be a false prophet. Try to do as much research as possible when writing your articles – dont rely on just one source.
Knowledge is key but knowledge is endless. Just because you feel as though you are well informed on a subject does not excuse you from researching.
So to conclude my tips would be :
1. Write for your expected audience
2. Research , Research and… umm Research!
3. Write about what you love and not about what you think will get you more readers.