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In other words: to the left.
May. 10th, 2011 12:55 pmThey're discussing feedback over at ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
the_slash_pile and I have to say, I honestly don't mind it. I've worked hard and practiced my writing and read books on writing and suffered through critiques from writing groups and had the red pen of death slash all over works of mine. Bad comments and harsh critique can be upsetting, (I've been known to mope for a day or two) but it's one of those things where you have to learn to trust your voice (and the opinions of certain others) and carry on. But I also aspire to be (wait, I am one, weird) a professional writer and so I expect that sort of treatment. I'm not someone writing fanfic or an original story just for fun and posting it online to amuse my friends, so I can see how others would find any unasked for critique upsetting. (Though honestly, if you don't want the world to find your stories, then put them under a lock or keep them private.)
At the same time, I've learned to recognize that some critique matters more than others. I've learned to filter out remarks from people who simply have different taste than me ("eeeew gay stuff!" or "too much porn!" or "fantasy is stupid")--though I do sometimes wonder why they would read my fic after reading the summaries and warnings--the same way I've learned to filter out comments from those who were expecting something else. (Seriously, you ever go into a movie or something expecting one sort of movie because the trailers led you to believe something and it's not that kind of movie at all??? How pissed are you? It's understandable.)
The comments you want to pay attention to aren't just the obvious ones about grammar or typos or plot hole questions, though yeah, notice those and be grateful for them, but the ones in which someone has taken the time to really read through your story and point out, not just why it didn't work *for them* but also why it might not work *for everyone else*. There is nothing disrespectful about this process and I do not understand why people get these sorts of comments and reviews confused with the flame "I AM SO ANGRY RAWR!" reviews, which are a different beast. (Although frankly, if everyone loves you and *no one* hates you, you're doing something wrong). You don't have to listen to a review or a comment like that, it's up to you, as the writer, to make all final decisions, but you shouldn't fear or loathe getting such a comment either. It's a sign that someone cared enough to bother, and trust me, being ignored is far worse than a little criticism.
It would be nice if reviewers, even the haters, could remember that it's someone's baby they are talking about and keep their tone professional, but it would also be nice if no one went to bed hungry anymore and all wars were over and I got to meet Amy Poehler (and not make a fool of myself if I did). But those things ain't gonna happen any time soon. All you can do is keeping writing and choose to take away from the experience whatever you choose to take away. Personally, I take away that people are varied and diverse and what is aces with one person is the most horrifying and obnoxious thing in the world to another, that some people like to work for their answers and others don't want to think in their fun reading time, and that some people are really, really judgy about sluts in love.
Which is their loss really, sluts in love is like my favorite thing ever. But, as Etienne would say, C'est la vie, bitches.
the_slash_pile and I have to say, I honestly don't mind it. I've worked hard and practiced my writing and read books on writing and suffered through critiques from writing groups and had the red pen of death slash all over works of mine. Bad comments and harsh critique can be upsetting, (I've been known to mope for a day or two) but it's one of those things where you have to learn to trust your voice (and the opinions of certain others) and carry on. But I also aspire to be (wait, I am one, weird) a professional writer and so I expect that sort of treatment. I'm not someone writing fanfic or an original story just for fun and posting it online to amuse my friends, so I can see how others would find any unasked for critique upsetting. (Though honestly, if you don't want the world to find your stories, then put them under a lock or keep them private.)At the same time, I've learned to recognize that some critique matters more than others. I've learned to filter out remarks from people who simply have different taste than me ("eeeew gay stuff!" or "too much porn!" or "fantasy is stupid")--though I do sometimes wonder why they would read my fic after reading the summaries and warnings--the same way I've learned to filter out comments from those who were expecting something else. (Seriously, you ever go into a movie or something expecting one sort of movie because the trailers led you to believe something and it's not that kind of movie at all??? How pissed are you? It's understandable.)
The comments you want to pay attention to aren't just the obvious ones about grammar or typos or plot hole questions, though yeah, notice those and be grateful for them, but the ones in which someone has taken the time to really read through your story and point out, not just why it didn't work *for them* but also why it might not work *for everyone else*. There is nothing disrespectful about this process and I do not understand why people get these sorts of comments and reviews confused with the flame "I AM SO ANGRY RAWR!" reviews, which are a different beast. (Although frankly, if everyone loves you and *no one* hates you, you're doing something wrong). You don't have to listen to a review or a comment like that, it's up to you, as the writer, to make all final decisions, but you shouldn't fear or loathe getting such a comment either. It's a sign that someone cared enough to bother, and trust me, being ignored is far worse than a little criticism.
It would be nice if reviewers, even the haters, could remember that it's someone's baby they are talking about and keep their tone professional, but it would also be nice if no one went to bed hungry anymore and all wars were over and I got to meet Amy Poehler (and not make a fool of myself if I did). But those things ain't gonna happen any time soon. All you can do is keeping writing and choose to take away from the experience whatever you choose to take away. Personally, I take away that people are varied and diverse and what is aces with one person is the most horrifying and obnoxious thing in the world to another, that some people like to work for their answers and others don't want to think in their fun reading time, and that some people are really, really judgy about sluts in love.
Which is their loss really, sluts in love is like my favorite thing ever. But, as Etienne would say, C'est la vie, bitches.
