![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I’ve decided to post this here because I’m starting to get tired of repeating myself when an author or an author’s fans take exception to one of the reviews I’ve left. Since I the recent firestorm over one of my reviews probably won’t be the last time I piss someone off due to a review that I’ve written, I think what I’m going to do is just link this page every time someone gets pissed off in the hopes that if an author or reviewer understands why I review the way I do that it will make what I say a bit easier to swallow.
So I’ve read your story and left you some negative feedback or (as is more often the case) I left a review of a story that you (a reader) really, really liked and have offended you with my review, and now… I’ve royally pissed you off. I’ve got three words for you:
Get over it.
Seriously. Get over it. I am simply one mouthy broad from Detroit. My reviews are the opinion of exactly one person: myself. If you thought that the story I reviewed was the greatest thing since sliced bread and you disagree with me and think that I’m completely full of shit, that’s fine. That’s your prerogative, and hey, feel free to let both the author and myself know your opinion. But before you sound off against me personally, I would appreciate it if you all kept a few things in mind:
Leaving negative concrit for a story is entirely appropriate.
I’ve been told by some people that concrit is okay, but that my comments are inappropriate, mean and spiteful. I’ve been told that it is okay to critique things like grammar and punctuation, but that beyond that, is simply too subjective and that those kinds of criticisms are not helpful to the author and that I ought to keep those thoughts to myself.
Bullshit.
Concrit is more than just: “Hey your spelling and grammar is wonky, you might want to fix that.” There are a lot of subjects that are fair game for a reviewer. This includes telling someone that the pacing of their story is sluggish, that they’ve mischaracterized character, that they have gaping plot holes or simply that they hate the story. As long as a reviewer takes the time to articulate why they did not like a story, there is nothing wrong with telling an author that.
This is not a flame (a recent example of something that someone objected to):
I will point out though that the beginning of your story is one of the most important parts. You need to find a way to hook the reader’s attention and not let them go, especially in that first chapter because that is the first thing that they see. Honestly, it took me three attempts to get though your first chapter, because I found it really slow and bland. If your story picks up pace further down the road, then you may want to consider chopping off the first five chapters and starting there instead where your plot actually starts happening, especially since it appears that nothing of consequence in those first five chapters.
Telling someone that it took them three tries to get through their first chapter is not a spiteful thing to say (a recent example). It’s an honest statement of how big of a problem a fic has to me the reader. Personally, if someone started my story and couldn’t get past the first chapter, I would want to know, so that I could decide whether there is a problem and if it was something that I needed to fix. If something like that strikes you as a flame, then you need to grow a thicker skin and take your stories off the internet.
This is what a flame looks like:
You are an ass hat. The amount of self congratulatory wankage in this story is mind boggling. I felt like I was watching you intellectually masturbate. I can’t believe that I slogged through five entire chapters of your mind numbingly retarded story and still nothing happened. Do everyone a favor and stop writing, take your god awful stories off the internet and drop dead.
See the difference?
Taste is a subjective thing.
What appeals to me as a thirty year old female attorney is not necessarily going to be the same thing that appeals to a fifteen year old high school student. I don’t claim that I have some divine knowledge of what makes a good story. God does not appear to me to tell me that a story sucks and that I should smite down unruly budding authors. I don’t claim to speak for all readers. All I have to offer are my opinions and my reactions to a story.
I don’t expect for people to agree with me. Honestly, I don’t. It is an author’s prerogative to completely disregard me or to take to heart what I say. If you don’t agree with me, then there is one very simple solution: ignore me.
I would suggest, however, that there is a better solution. Drop me a line. I’m entirely open to discussing your story, and hey, maybe both of us will learn something.
It is possible to leave a fair critique of a story even if I haven’t read the entire thing.
Really, it is. It is not necessary to read through a fifty chapter epic to have something legitimate to say. If the opening of a story doesn’t grab someone then that story has a major problem.
I don’t see people bitching about how illegitimate positive reviews of a middle chapter of a long story, so I have to think that this is some kind of misguided attempt at a rational argument.
Many people find critical reviews helpful.
I know this may surprise many people (especially the readers who like a story and take offense at my words), but a lot of times when I leave a long critical detailed review of a story the author actually thanks me for taking the time to read their story and to leave feedback. A lot of people actually find this helpful. I know that I do.
Not only that, but other writers who read a story and the reviews find comments to be helpful. I know that there have been instances where I’ve read someone elses’s story, seen the feedback, decided that the reviewer has a legitimate point and changed something in mine.
Positive feedback is a wonderful thing. Everyone likes to get those reviews. But concrit is just as useful, and sometimes it is more useful than the gushing reviews because we tend to learn more from the negative reviews than the positive ones.
Finally, I just want to say, my goal is not to stop anyone from writing, but if you cannot take the criticism, then you need to take your stories off the internet. I critique stories the way would like mine to be critiqued, and I try to be as polite and respectful as possible. Sometimes, I’m harsh (and my words might be misinterpreted due to a failure to communicate on my part), but I always try to be respectful.
I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is. My stories are out there and feel free to honestly and forthrightly tear them apart. As long as they are free from personal attacks, I’m open to anything that you’ve got to say.
And to the people who wish I’d just shut up and go away, you’ll be sad to learn that it’s not going to happen. I’m going to continue writing my reviews the way that I have been unless one of the mods on the sites that I post on tells me that I can’t.
So I’ve read your story and left you some negative feedback or (as is more often the case) I left a review of a story that you (a reader) really, really liked and have offended you with my review, and now… I’ve royally pissed you off. I’ve got three words for you:
Get over it.
Seriously. Get over it. I am simply one mouthy broad from Detroit. My reviews are the opinion of exactly one person: myself. If you thought that the story I reviewed was the greatest thing since sliced bread and you disagree with me and think that I’m completely full of shit, that’s fine. That’s your prerogative, and hey, feel free to let both the author and myself know your opinion. But before you sound off against me personally, I would appreciate it if you all kept a few things in mind:
Leaving negative concrit for a story is entirely appropriate.
I’ve been told by some people that concrit is okay, but that my comments are inappropriate, mean and spiteful. I’ve been told that it is okay to critique things like grammar and punctuation, but that beyond that, is simply too subjective and that those kinds of criticisms are not helpful to the author and that I ought to keep those thoughts to myself.
Bullshit.
Concrit is more than just: “Hey your spelling and grammar is wonky, you might want to fix that.” There are a lot of subjects that are fair game for a reviewer. This includes telling someone that the pacing of their story is sluggish, that they’ve mischaracterized character, that they have gaping plot holes or simply that they hate the story. As long as a reviewer takes the time to articulate why they did not like a story, there is nothing wrong with telling an author that.
This is not a flame (a recent example of something that someone objected to):
I will point out though that the beginning of your story is one of the most important parts. You need to find a way to hook the reader’s attention and not let them go, especially in that first chapter because that is the first thing that they see. Honestly, it took me three attempts to get though your first chapter, because I found it really slow and bland. If your story picks up pace further down the road, then you may want to consider chopping off the first five chapters and starting there instead where your plot actually starts happening, especially since it appears that nothing of consequence in those first five chapters.
Telling someone that it took them three tries to get through their first chapter is not a spiteful thing to say (a recent example). It’s an honest statement of how big of a problem a fic has to me the reader. Personally, if someone started my story and couldn’t get past the first chapter, I would want to know, so that I could decide whether there is a problem and if it was something that I needed to fix. If something like that strikes you as a flame, then you need to grow a thicker skin and take your stories off the internet.
This is what a flame looks like:
You are an ass hat. The amount of self congratulatory wankage in this story is mind boggling. I felt like I was watching you intellectually masturbate. I can’t believe that I slogged through five entire chapters of your mind numbingly retarded story and still nothing happened. Do everyone a favor and stop writing, take your god awful stories off the internet and drop dead.
See the difference?
Taste is a subjective thing.
What appeals to me as a thirty year old female attorney is not necessarily going to be the same thing that appeals to a fifteen year old high school student. I don’t claim that I have some divine knowledge of what makes a good story. God does not appear to me to tell me that a story sucks and that I should smite down unruly budding authors. I don’t claim to speak for all readers. All I have to offer are my opinions and my reactions to a story.
I don’t expect for people to agree with me. Honestly, I don’t. It is an author’s prerogative to completely disregard me or to take to heart what I say. If you don’t agree with me, then there is one very simple solution: ignore me.
I would suggest, however, that there is a better solution. Drop me a line. I’m entirely open to discussing your story, and hey, maybe both of us will learn something.
It is possible to leave a fair critique of a story even if I haven’t read the entire thing.
Really, it is. It is not necessary to read through a fifty chapter epic to have something legitimate to say. If the opening of a story doesn’t grab someone then that story has a major problem.
I don’t see people bitching about how illegitimate positive reviews of a middle chapter of a long story, so I have to think that this is some kind of misguided attempt at a rational argument.
Many people find critical reviews helpful.
I know this may surprise many people (especially the readers who like a story and take offense at my words), but a lot of times when I leave a long critical detailed review of a story the author actually thanks me for taking the time to read their story and to leave feedback. A lot of people actually find this helpful. I know that I do.
Not only that, but other writers who read a story and the reviews find comments to be helpful. I know that there have been instances where I’ve read someone elses’s story, seen the feedback, decided that the reviewer has a legitimate point and changed something in mine.
Positive feedback is a wonderful thing. Everyone likes to get those reviews. But concrit is just as useful, and sometimes it is more useful than the gushing reviews because we tend to learn more from the negative reviews than the positive ones.
Finally, I just want to say, my goal is not to stop anyone from writing, but if you cannot take the criticism, then you need to take your stories off the internet. I critique stories the way would like mine to be critiqued, and I try to be as polite and respectful as possible. Sometimes, I’m harsh (and my words might be misinterpreted due to a failure to communicate on my part), but I always try to be respectful.
I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is. My stories are out there and feel free to honestly and forthrightly tear them apart. As long as they are free from personal attacks, I’m open to anything that you’ve got to say.
And to the people who wish I’d just shut up and go away, you’ll be sad to learn that it’s not going to happen. I’m going to continue writing my reviews the way that I have been unless one of the mods on the sites that I post on tells me that I can’t.
Tags:
From:
no subject
Also, I noticed in the first chapter that in a couple of scenes you shift point of view between characters an awful lot. Personally, I think it's okay to do this, but if you do it too much it becomes somewhat distracting.
I think that my favorite chapter was chapter two, and the growing relationship between Revan & Malak. Then again, I'm a sucker for a good romance. ;)
Anyway, well done. I hope to see more from you!
That is a review from you. For a story that I wrote a while back. I could have done one of two things. I could have gone, OMG BITCH why are you pointing out my small mistakes and being so mean. Shifting point of views between characters is what I do it makes for a better read.
What I did do was sit back and think about it. And I realised that I didn't like the change in POV when I reread it and that led me to a thought that didn't really have to do with the review but it stemmed from that. I dramatically changed my writing to a third person perspective where it's almost close to first in that the person that is in control sees stuff but can't see or feel anyone else's emotions. Totally perspective. And you know what? I am so happy with that. I love it. I found my nitch.
So when people go batshit about tiny little things and act like NO ONE wants concrit I spit on them. Today I was in my creative writing class and no one would give me any good constrictive criticism and you know what? I was really sad about it and kept staring at my story and being like... what should I fix? Did they even listen?
So if anyone was linked to this because you are a whiny complaining idiot. Let me add to Pris' comment. Stop being childish and grow up. People are going to have differing opinions and someone who is being nice about it and telling you that - well that's great so shut up.
From:
no subject
When you write a review, it is not all supposed to be like "OMG THIS IS PERFECT!" A review is to help the writer fix any mistakes and overall improve their work. I mean, of course some of my reviews are all compliments but most of them are basically suggestions for the author.
I just cant stand when people make a big deal over my opinion of a story. Yes, I leave some negative reviews, but I am never MEAN about it and I NEVER flame someone. And it doesn't even really matter what people think of what I say. It is an opinion, Nothing more.
From:
no subject
From:
no subject
I'd also like to add that the next person who says, "it's only fanfic" I will hit in the face with an icepick.
Bullshit.
If you were just doing it for yourself, for fun, there's no reason for you to be posting it online. You were posting it because you thought it was special and for the ego equivalent to a cock stroke.
Go show your mommy, boys and girls if you want a head pat. The rest of the world, the real world (it does exist,) doesn't care.
I think it's even more infuriating when I post an original short story on a literary site and still get those head pat/cock suck responses. Like there's some sort of feel-good-special revolution, it won't magically change those rejection letters into sprinkles and whipped cream dreams.
From:
no subject
*sigh*
people
From:
no subject
Some people (especially if they're just getting started writing) have a great deal invested in their writings emotionally. Is that a bad thing? Meh, not necessarily. Some people write better when they tap into their emotions.
When that starts to be a bad thing is when they're so emotionally invested in their writing that they respond nastily to any insult, real or perceived. I think it's important as a writer to find a happy medium between emotion and writing, so as to develop that thicker skin to handle criticism.
I've told you before, Pris. I like your critiques. You tell what you like and you tell what you weren't so keen on. From there, it's up to me to decide "well, maybe I could have done it like this" or "Nah, I like it better the wway I wrote it". I don't want you (or Arrow, for that matter :D) to stop writing reviews, 'cause I think it's a tad silly to censor your thoughts simply because some folks can't handle it.
BTW, with your review on my one fic, I wanted to say that I got a kick out of your remark that it came across as a bit "soap opera-esque" (which yes, was intentional on my part when writing it. The beauty of extreme AU fic writing). I kid you not, my first thought when I read that was "Yay! I can write a good soap opera script!" Thanks for making my night that night!
From:
no subject
I used to be one of those really critical people who got devastated by criticism...I think I've mostly grown out of it. One good thing to do, is don't have unreasonable ideas about your own skillz and talent -- also realize, even good writers are capable of writing drecky boring wankfests. Art is designed for an audience -- if it's not reaching one, it's failing. Simple as that -- rework it and try again.
Kudos again, Pris, your reviews rawk.
From:
no subject
Well spoken. My view is that the moment you post something on a public forum, it is fair game. If you want to restrict yourself to a tiny clique, then create a webpage that only your admirers can see.
People being what they are, you cannot reasonably expect 100% of the population to love what you've done. It's just not realistic and you have to be prepared to accept it...as with your comment on taste. As a 25 year old, I'm a bit past gushy romances and more into politics, intrigue, and well written action scenes.
I've received both wonderful concrit (which I always take to heart) and a few visits from the anonymous flame fairy (the hazards of a public forum). On the flip side of the coin, flamers should also be prepared to defend their position and be ridiculed in turn. Chances are, since the writer controls the site, the flamer will look rather foolish in the end.
I absolutely find comments and suggestions useful. When leaving comments, I think that separating the story from the writer in such comments makes it more digestible. I also like to tell a writer what worked for me so that they'll continue to use that technique.
Anyway, great discussion.