Hello fellow Fanficians :)
I just recieved a very well-constructed and positive argument against my
recent post regarding my questioning of the need for pre-readers, and the
lost art of posting C&C publicly to the list. The poster of the message
shall remain anonymous to respect their wishes, but I feel that this issue
is one of concern to the list so I am posting my reply here.
The argument was made that there are valid reasons and circumstances for
C&Cing an author privately, and not publicly to the list.
The first reason was that some folks don't feel comfortable posting their
comments to the list. A fair point. But to overcome that discomfort is to
become a part of this community. No-one is saying you *must* post C&C
publicly, but one of the great things about being a part of an ML is
learning to express yourself in a public forum, doing so with respect to
others, and having people respond to your ideas. This creates discussion,
the concept on which every ML is founded. IMHO, what you get out of this
list is what you put into it.
The argument was made that posting C&C publicly could give out spoilers
about a story. True, that can and does happen. But if the commentor is
aware of this possibility, and uses a little tact, leaking the ending or
parts of a story can be avoided, while still opening up a story to a wider
audience that might not be aware of its fleeting life as a *single* post
among a sea of other posts.
The poster also told me how pre-readers can be beneficial. I can't argue
that point. ANY constructive input given is a good thing. But if it's
private, how can any of the rest of us help you? Think of the number of
people on this list that you aren't reaching because you are witholding a
story in its early stages, so that it can first go to a closed pre-reader
list, then as I understand it another closed pre-reader list for more
specific criticism such as grammar or spelling.
The poster explained to me that the route for such fics is to first go as a
rough draft to a pre-reader list (and in some cases a second pre-reader
list), then as a second draft to the FFML, and then as the finished draft
to r.a.a.c. Well hey, there's a well read story all right! But you are
denying yourself the kind of C&C that this list was made for. The kind that
works by sending your rough draft to *this* list first where it can be
commented on publicly (or privately if you so request), AND other people
can view those comments and make comments of their own. At this point you
have a potential pre-reader list of (last I heard) 900+, not just a select
few! :)
Okay, so we know that's not what happens, right? 900+ people on this list,
and yet how often do we see C&C posted directly to the list? Very seldom.
Sure, posting publicly can produce spam when the thread drifts away from
the story, but it's our responsibility to remember why we're here. The fics.
I think that maybe the idea of having pre-readers seems a lot like washing
your dishes before putting them in a dishwasher to me. But hey, *this*
dishwasher (the FFML) does actually work! But the power of this dishwasher
is wasted if you put dishes in it that have the sticky gooey cruddy bits
taken off already ;)
So okay, hang on to those pre-readers, because IMHO ANY constructive input
is GOOD, but just be aware that, by washing those dishes before sending
them here, you may not be getting the full value of your membership here.
Think of all the minds here that missed the discussion between you and a
pre-reader, and the input they might have provided. You joined this list,
use it to it's full potential :)
Andy Skuse
---
EVOLUTION!
"BG Cross" ~ http://www.Lonet.ca/res/askuse/bgcross
Raven's Garage ~ http://www.Lonet.ca/res/askuse/ravengar.html
"The Dragon's Tower" ~ http://www.Lonet.ca/res/askuse/dragons
"If humans don't want us, then why did they create us?" - Naomi Armitage