A little comment about concrit...

[quidditchgrrl]

If you want to improve as a writer (fanfic or otherwise), you must listen to constructive criticism. No, not those folks who seek to insult you personally ('I can't believe you would write about rape! You're an evil person!'), but those who read what you've written and respond in a thoughtful manner, whether they liked what you've written or not.

I love to get reviews; all authors do. To paraphrase epicyclical, show me someone who doesn't read their comments and I'll show you someone trapped under something very heavy and can't get to their computer. One liners are okay, I appreciate that the reader took the time to write even that little thing. The best reviews, however, are not always the most complimentary.

They've changed my views on what I've written, and have changed the outcomes of subsequent chapters. They've made me more aware of my particular grammar mistakes and driven me to have some of my fics beta-read before releasing them to the fandom at large. They've caused me sleepless nights (am I really Harry-bashing? I love Harry, right? Or maybe I'm subconsciously spoofing fanon fluffy!Harry...) and moments of helpless laughter.

Concrit isn't a personal attack; it's a person's view of your world through their eyes.

No work I release is for my entertainment only, else they'd sit on my neon-colored floppies and collect virtual dust. I rarely entertain the squeeing masses (all three of them, lol) and I don't need stroked and petted to make myself feel good. Like what I've written, great. Don't like it, well, I need more than 'this sux!' to understand your point of view.

I try to give concrit in a loving way, when I do give it. Typically I don't make it past the second paragraph before I click away; I can't get into a fic that starts out trite or stereotypically ('Hermione was so excited to get to Platform 9 3/4. She'd lost tons of weight and finally had her frizzy hair straightened'). You gotta impress me (or squick me terribly) to get me to the end of the page. If I can't review objectively, I don't comment at all.

I wouldn't be half the awful PWP writer I am now if it weren't for concrit. I look on it as a compliment, whether it be bad or good. But honestly, I'm afraid of praetorianguard, man - her concrit is brilliant and brutal. I could use some of that, no matter how much it stings.

Comments

[bloodee-maree.livejournal.com]

I agree completely. You are absolutely correct that the best reviews aren't always completely complimentary. The best reviews are the ones that show you where you can improve or correct to make the story better. They show you how to be a better writer. I think that praetorianguard should be taken very seriously in her comments regarding precisely what the term "constructive criticism" actually means.

I also agree that the critic has to be objective in order to leave a good critique. I don't leave them when a concept has squicked me out. No need to. (If a writer can get me past my squick...well, that's one hell of a writer and I am compelled to leave a review.) Personal squicks are not the stuff of good reviews. Nor does shipping play a role in reviewing unless that is specifically stated at the onset of the critique.

I have one additional comment...I don't leave a review if the writer is clearly a kid who is just dabbling - One can tell fairly easily if that is the case. Unless I can spot some talent in there, I just keep my "mouth" shut. That's what ff.net is for - dabbling and testing. If there is talent, I will send the kid a nice long email (if possible) detailing how said kid could grab my imagination. A kid can have raw talent and imagination but not have the technical skills to present his or her ideas. Learn the technical stuff - How to plot, how to present characters, hearing your dialogues, sentence structure, etc. - And you have a good writer with drive and imagination. I wish someone had done that for me when I was young.

Well said, PBG!

Re:

[quidditchgrrl.livejournal.com]

I agree totally. I have left long reviews for kids whose stories have promise of some sort - they just lack the experience or the level of detail required to draw a reader in. I've actually beta'ed for a couple of those younguns and all they needed was advice and a little bit of help! There's a lot of potential there to be developed. Where you have to be careful is with folks who think their stuff is great, even if it isn't. They don't tend to want any sort of concrit in general.

I'd never flame someone, nor do I participate in public witch hunts for people who can't figure out what's honest concrit and what is a personal attack.

[bloodee-maree.livejournal.com]

I tend to email the young'uns if I can. I suppose I do that because I don't want to hurt feelings in a public manner. Teendom is such a hormonally sensitive time. I usually get great emails from them in return. However, I did get a couple of nasty-grams. That's fine. No harm done in the long run.

There is a ton of talent in the fandom. I sincerely think that we will see an explosion of wonderful new writers in the fantasy genre in the future. I am looking forward to it in a very big way. I can't wait to see an author from the fandom published in dead tree form. It's gonna be cool. I get to say "I knew them when..." I love saying that.