On Wed, 2 Apr 2003, Krista Perry wrote:

So in other words, you're not really looking for C+C; you're looking for
grammar corrections and nods of approval. You should make it clearer when
asking for these things, as saying 'C+C is very welcome' might mislead
people into giving some. There's no sense in wasting time giving

suggestions

to someone that's going to ignore them before they're given when there are
many others starved for C+C.

You know, this is something that has always bugged the hell out of me.  I
personally do not mind C&C that involves grammar and spelling corrections,
as well as correcting awkward phrasing, or perhaps asking for more
clarification.  It's my story, and I want to tell it in the best way
possible -- which is the purpose of asking for C&C.

But when I get C&C that involves someone telling me to change the plot
points of my story, major or minor, just to suit their personal whim?
*Especially* when they try to pass it off as genuine criticism, and not a
reflection of their biases?  Forget that.   If someone doesn't like the way
my story is going, they can read something else, or write their own.

I'm going to unlurk for the first time in years to respectfully differ
with Krista. (Hey kids! Remember me?) This isn't specifically addressed to
her, or anyone else for that matter.

In general when you boot out a fic into the big wide world, you have to be
prepared for comments. Some people specifically ask up front not to get
any commentary that isn't complimentary; if so, it's generally best to
respect their wishes. Anything else, though, is fair game.

To my mind, the only kind of commentary that's offlimits is abusive or
unspecific. Examples:

"You are a halfwit and a sorry excuse for a trained lemur. Only a sick and
diseased mind would write a fic on the premise of 'what if Ranma were a
potato.'" (Abusive.)

"This fic was not good." (Oh, gee, would you care to be more vague?)

Otherwise... look, part of the writing process is finding out how other
people react to your work. Some of that involves people telling you that
your fic operates on flawed premises or that your plot isn't realistic.
I've had people tell me this. Hell, I've had PREREADERS tell me this.
Mostly I ignore 'em; in at least one case, I thought about it for a long
time, decided they were right, and changed the fic. It wound up better
than it would have otherwise been.

Listen close, folks, Unca Mike's gonna tell you a secret! If you don't
agree with the C&C you got, guess what... YOU DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW IT!
Yes! You can hit the D-key, and it'll vanish forever. I used to do this
all the time. People giving you unfavorable opinions of your fic will not
cause cancer, force you to alter your great work, or turn you into a
turnip. All it will potentially do is hurt your ego, and if you're
anything like the fanfic writers I know, you have too much ego to start with.

You you feel that your ego isn't strong enough to stand that, or if it
causes you such aggrivation that it kills the joy of life for you, then I
respectfully suggest you quit publicly releasing fanfic. Sharing your
creation with other people isn't all wine and roses, folks. Learn to live
with it. It's good for the soul.

Unless the FFML has changed dramatically since I entered hibernation, the
last thing one should do is discourage, well, just about any sort of C&C.
Bob knows there's little enough of it as is. Hey! You! C&C the next good
fic you read, or I'll come to your house and scare your pets, y'hear?

Anyway, rant finished. I'll be back in another 5 years, or when Zen
releases the next part of TLWR, whichever happens first.

-Mike Loader
(Yes, I'm retired, no, the damn page hasn't been updated, no, I wasn't
always this grumpy, yes, still fighting the book in hand-to-hand combat,
no, I'm not winning.)

Which I actively encourage, actually.  Many good fanfics and fanfic authors
are created from dissatisfied readers.

-Krista
Utukki:  Babylonian Mythology Was Never So Bishounen.
http://www.utukki.com


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