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

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

For me, it's not the anon/name-attached issue. It's more that quite often, the author is constrained - sometimes rather seriously - by the conditions the recipient has attached to the request. So it's no help to an author to say that the commenter didn't like, for example, a bottom Harry when that was specifically requested.

[coffeejunkii.livejournal.com]

ahh, i see. yeah, i wouldn't point out something like that, but more things that confused me or that didn't work for me regarding characterizations. i guess it would be easier to assess an author's choices if the prompt were included somewhere in the header [which is something i don't do when writing a fest fic, but it's certainly worth thinking about]. i guess i'm thinking that the author will always be able to point things out to me after the reveal and when they repond to comments.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Speaking from my own experience of writing exchange fics (and really struggling to create something for a specific request), there's an extent to which I couldn't be sure what was done for a particular recipient and what was just less-than-stellar writing. I mean, cruise the requests -- people ask for some pretty crazy stuff. :-P

[coffeejunkii.livejournal.com]

that's very true. i haven't looked up the requests for the smutmas fics that have been posted so far because it's kind of time-consuming to wade through pages of comments, but it's probably worthwhile to do that.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, sometimes, the nature of the request itself is difficult for a particular author, or the request was specifically for something that another reader didn't like as much.

For me, I almost always like feedback, except for in these exchanges. There are a couple of reasons. First, I CAN'T edit. I don't have control over my own fic, once I submit it and it's posted. And I can't harass the moderator to alter or re-post my fic for me. Second, exchange fics aren't done out of pure inspiration. The fics are done for a purpose, with requirements, on a deadline, and that's not always a person's best writing environment, if you take my meaning. For some people, it brings out their best writing. For others, it's tougher. Some people were writing nearly a half-dozen fics for this holiday exchange season, between multiple fandoms. I'm not, but I know that would stress me out! And finally... you don't know who you're reviewing. 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. Yes, it's true that many people on these exchanges are experienced fandom writers, but not all of them. There are times for concrit, and there are times to grin over what people have put forth as their best effort. Sometimes, it's just nice to smile and appreciate.

And then... we have 11 other months to merrily rip each other's fics to shreds. :D

[coffeejunkii.livejournal.com]

i don't really see pointing out a few things in an otherwise squeeful review as "ripping to shreds." if there are aspects of the stories that really bothered me, esp. if i liked the fic a lot in general, i'd practically be lying if i only said "this was awesome!".

i actually think that the anon exchanges are an opportunity to [unknowingly] leave concrit for well-known writers. i think that a lot of people are hesitant to speak their mind if seemingly everyone else thinks this author is amazing. but in anon exchange, you have no idea who you are leaving fb for. also, if a review really bothers an author, they always have the chance to respond anonymously [i certainly would]. there's no rule against that.

[maya231.livejournal.com]

I'm skimming through some of the longer comment threads after making my own post, and I think this whole discussion is really interesting.

i actually think that the anon exchanges are an opportunity to [unknowingly] leave concrit for well-known writers.

That's a point I hadn't thought of, and I wonder what authors think about that. Are there other forums where authors can post anonymously and get feedback, if they wanted to do this?

I tend to be uncomfortable leaving public concrit unless it is clear that the author wants this, so I am already a bit more conservative than some on feedback ettiquette. But I think I'm just as, if not more, bothered by the concrit on behalf of the recipient than of the author. It may sound silly, but I think there's something sort of magical about receiving a gift, and hearing criticism (even well meant) sort of tarnishes that moment.

And, I admit, I choose to see these presents as gifts for fandom (I, as a fan, get more presents that way, you see), so it sort of tarnishes my moment too.

[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.

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think you've put your finger on my problem with it - the author has to wait until after the reveal to respond! When I get criticism I want to be able to explain my reasoning RIGHT AWAY!

[coffeejunkii.livejournal.com]

technically, the author can always respond anonymously--just like a lot of people will respond anon to the comment left by the recipient of their fic. i certainly would choose that route if someone left a comment that i felt required an immediate response.

[titti]

I knew that story must have prompted this. Some of those comments were totally inappropriate, especially since it was such a good story, very elaborate, with an original plot. To say that it doesn't work because Harry would never bottom it's so stupid. I wanted to answer and ask when in canon does it say that Harry would never bottom? And does that apply to Draco only? Is he fine bottoming to Snape? *heads desk*

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Well, exactly. It hurt me as a reader, because I thought the story was utterly wonderful, and I wanted the author to feel the love. And instead the first comment was a litany of what that individual did and didn't like as far as pairing and identity. Which to me was a big WTF.