>>I do think that on balance it would have saved us both a lot of stress if I had just ignored it. I'm determined to try that next time :)
It takes practice.
>> I used to think that I was happy with concrit, but now I think it's more complicated than that. I'm very glad to have suggestions from people who are reading the story as it progresses and clearly know what I'm trying to do, who have suggestions for what I could do to improve a story they are already enjoying. And who are also people whose writing I know and admire, so that I trust their opinion.<<
There's a big difference between constructive criticism and drive-by bitching. Things that matter: * whether you know the person * how well they know your work * porportion of praise to criticism * whether you're open to editing the piece.
Me, I rarely edit fanfic. Editing is a lot of work, not fun, and I don't get paid for it. I'll edit things I sell, because I want that to be professional quality. My readers will tell me if they spot a typo, and I try to fix those. I once had someone correct the modern Greek I put in a poem to the Classic Attic Greek appropriate to that context. But fanfic, I don't have time for everything, and editing it is rarely worth my effort. That means I'm less interested in constructive criticism there.
Also, I really don't like people coming in my space and telling me what to do. Especially if they're not paying for the privilege.
So yes, it's complicated, and that's okay.
>>I'm much less happy to have it out of the blue, unmixed with any sign that the commenter enjoyed anything at all, and expressed in a way that makes me doubt that they understand what I'm trying to do, or even what I did do. Particularly when they're strangers with whom I have no relationship at all, and who have come in swinging.<<
Yeah. That's a dick move.
As a reviewer, I try very hard to review the item furnished, not what I wish it had been.
... what I wish it had been that it isn't, is what I get to load into my creative engine to do with as I please. After all, they didn't want it, no point letting it go to waste.
>>My personal impression was that the commenter was deriving enjoyment from acting superior - handing down their wisdom to a poor simple writer who clearly needed it. But I could have misinterpreted and it could well be that they were trying to be helpful in a very unhelpful way. <<
Those would be my guesses in order of probability.
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Re: Thoughts
Date: 2022-11-21 10:43 am (UTC)From:It takes practice.
>> I used to think that I was happy with concrit, but now I think it's more complicated than that. I'm very glad to have suggestions from people who are reading the story as it progresses and clearly know what I'm trying to do, who have suggestions for what I could do to improve a story they are already enjoying. And who are also people whose writing I know and admire, so that I trust their opinion.<<
There's a big difference between constructive criticism and drive-by bitching. Things that matter:
* whether you know the person
* how well they know your work
* porportion of praise to criticism
* whether you're open to editing the piece.
Me, I rarely edit fanfic. Editing is a lot of work, not fun, and I don't get paid for it. I'll edit things I sell, because I want that to be professional quality. My readers will tell me if they spot a typo, and I try to fix those. I once had someone correct the modern Greek I put in a poem to the Classic Attic Greek appropriate to that context. But fanfic, I don't have time for everything, and editing it is rarely worth my effort. That means I'm less interested in constructive criticism there.
Also, I really don't like people coming in my space and telling me what to do. Especially if they're not paying for the privilege.
So yes, it's complicated, and that's okay.
>>I'm much less happy to have it out of the blue, unmixed with any sign that the commenter enjoyed anything at all, and expressed in a way that makes me doubt that they understand what I'm trying to do, or even what I did do. Particularly when they're strangers with whom I have no relationship at all, and who have come in swinging.<<
Yeah. That's a dick move.
As a reviewer, I try very hard to review the item furnished, not what I wish it had been.
... what I wish it had been that it isn't, is what I get to load into my creative engine to do with as I please. After all, they didn't want it, no point letting it go to waste.
>>My personal impression was that the commenter was deriving enjoyment from acting superior - handing down their wisdom to a poor simple writer who clearly needed it. But I could have misinterpreted and it could well be that they were trying to be helpful in a very unhelpful way. <<
Those would be my guesses in order of probability.
>>I think I can live without knowing :)
Sensible.