RE: Decline of B/W Fanfiction

["BillGopher" <asagiri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, seeing as others have commented about this and spoken up and the
topic hasn't just 'disappeared' as it has in the past, I figure I'll add my
2 dinars. One of the main comments about the lack of C&C feedback not really
existing on this list is quite accurate, it doesn't. 99% of feedback
consists of "Good job, I liked it and more please," all of which are good
(and valid) replies for a writer. Yes we do want to hear what a reader
thinks good and bad, and even suggestions to us on what they feel might
improve it. But how many of us actually have the time to sit down and really
give the time for that feedback??? I know I don't, I'd like to but the
reality is RL takes precedence over well-thought out feedback to a writer.
And I'm quite guilty of writing feedback to authors on and off list saying
what i loved about their story or just "Great Job!" and I'm not embarrassed
about that either. Nor should anyone else. As a writer, when I get feedback
even if it's "Good Job" or "This has me hanging waiting for more," I'm damn
happy since it means that they liked it enough to let me or Red know. But
the point about feedback when it is pointing out errors and corrections on a
writers story has to be tempered as well, it's all well and good to write
back and tell someone their idea for their story is good, but problems X, Y
& Z wreck it, can be crushing to young writers. I'm not saying don't write,
just consider whether it would be more appropriate to contact the author
off-list, nothing can be more frustrating or humiliating then to have
criticisms of a story (that might be valid) posted onto the list when they
are written in a fashion that is extremely harsh and unforgiving, especially
when the feedbacker does not even make any suggestions on how to improve it
or even balance out their comments with what was liked in the story.
However the point Mad-Hamlet made about Beta readers is valid, but not
every writer 'has' a Beta to catch the errors they miss; whether they are
spelling, grammatical or just plot corrections. So they do the best they can
and then send it to us to read and enjoy or not.
Finally, "Comparing a fic that has been carefuly, and lovingly crafted
over a moth with someone who hammers out an eight page wonder, of course the
month fic ..normally..would be far better. But it doesn't take a month. Heck
a WEEK could do it. " Mad hamlet's comment there is not quite fair to those
authors, (such as myself & Red for example since I'm not going to use anyone
else) since you really don't know how long the author worked on that part
prior to it being posted. But I know that right now I'm 2 weeks ahead of
what's to be posted and this is because how Red & I worked it out when
writing this and we still find errors sometimes. Yes, if you take an extra
week on a part your posting it can be better, but the "eight-page wonder"
comment is not fair either. Some authors are very prolific and 'can' put out
a new part or story every week, some don't. There are some truly great
fiction authors such as H.P. Lovecraft whom I love and E. Hemingway whose
writing style I just can't stand. It doesn't mean the authors' talent is
anyless, just that i didn't like it.
Well, I've had my say and I'm getting off my soapbox now. TTYL

Bill Gopher