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

[gmth.livejournal.com]

No, I don't think it's appropriate at all, not while the fest is running. After the reveal, when everyone takes their fics and goes home, so to speak, the fics are open for con crit and reviewing just like everything else. But IMO, while the fics are still considered gifts, negative reviews and con crit is completely inappropriate. Especially if the fest is anon and the writer can't say anything to defend him/herself if s/he is so inclined. The fics will be out there for the rest of eternity; if someone really feels the need to give them negative reviews, they've got forever after the reveal.