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

[ravenclaw-devi.livejournal.com]

We might judge a very good author more harshly than someone who is newer and just stretching their quill. If we leave harsh concrit for a newer author's story, without her even being able to identify herself and enter a dialogue, it's not a good way to gently encourage new authors.

*Devil's Advocate mode on* On the other hand, as coffeejunkii said, it might be a way for "big name" writers to get an honest opinion on their fics that they may otherwise not get because of the "Who am I to criticise that fabulous, fandom-famous writer?" factor. (Yes, the alliteration was deliberate.)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you're right from that angle, too. I guess that overall, it just kinda throws me off to see people criticizing something that's essentially a Christmas present. That's what it comes down to, for me.

[ravenclaw-devi.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I do see that point.