The Etiquette of Holiday fics

[geoviki]

Like all the rest of you, I'm delighting in the reams and reams of new stories and art (and this year's art is especially terrific!). There's the granddaddy, merry_smutmas, and then others like harry_holidays, hd_holidays, smutty_claus, lupin_snape.... an embarrassment of riches!

As we are encouraging each other as writers and artists, I'm trying to leave feedback as well. One thing that caught my notice, though, has left me feeling uneasy, and I wondered what your views are: In your opinion, is it uncouth to leave concrit that's negative on a fest fic? (Disclosure: this is not anything that's happened regarding my own fic, just other folk's.)

I don't see the author requesting any, for one thing. Personally, I won't do it, but then I never leave anything less than praise unless I'm asked specifically and privately. If I don't like something, I just pass it by. Which unfortunately is the same response to something I've not yet read, so the writer is never sure if I'm unhappy or just behind (if the writer even cares what I think), but there you go.

But IMHO, these stories are gifts. And I can't see criticising a gift. Am I over-sensitive? What do you authors and artists think?

Comments

[angiepen.livejournal.com]

[Here from metafandom. [wave]]

As a reader, I wouldn't be critical of a story someone wrote especially for me, especially one given anonymously where I have no clue who the writer is or what they're like and no basis to judge whether they'd welcome concrit. Their intention was good even if the execution wasn't perfect and I can always appreciate that they meant to make me happy without going into details.

As a writer, though, I always welcome detailed feedback, including specific criticism with examples, and frankly that'd be a really wonderful Christmas present to get. I realize I'm a bit odd in that area, though. :P

Angie