(Untitled)

[emmuzka]

Okey, it looks like it's a big, stinking NO for my application for becoming a member in aific. I can live with that. Some of the "no" comments went over the requirement of polite concrit, though, judging the fic for its pairing and not for its quality. Most of them just commented on the "oddness" of the writing, asking if the fics were betaed (yes, they

Comments

[naotalba]

I don't read aific, so I can't comment on that, but I've read a lot of your bandom fic. Before I found out you aren't a native speaker, I thought that you were very young and probably didn't have a beta, because sometimes your syntax and word choice is jarring. Knowing that you aren't a native speaker, I expect that going in and it isn't a big deal, but I can usually tell which anon_lovefest stories are yours.

My point is that I wouldn't take it as a criticism of your writing. I think it's a pretty amazing accomplishment to be able to write creatively in a foreign language.

Also, like I say, I don't follow ai, so I can't do beta for content, but I am always happy to do grammar/word choice type betaing in any fandom. If you ever want a native-speaker to run through something you've written, and you don't mind concrit, just send it to me. naotoalbah@gmail.com (note the extra h)

[emmuzka]

Oh, thanks for the offer, I will take you up for it ;) I have a few things in the the works, and I will ask an oddity-check when they are ready.

For the foreign thing, it's pretty frustrating that "good for a foreign" doesn't really cut it. I would never mention it in my author notes, for example, because that would be like I would be asking for going easy on me, or saying that the story sucks. It's actually pretty interesting that you could pick my stuff out in anon_lovefest; I'm totally blind for those nuances, obviously.

[naotalba]

Author's notes that say, "non-native speaker" are a complete turn-off for me, too. You don't want to be "good for a foreigner" -- you just want to be good, period. I think your writing is very strong content-wise, but like you say, you are blind to some grammar and syntax issues. The only way you could totally avoid that would be to live here for a decade or two.

It can be fixed with an extra beta run-through, though, as long as you can recognize that there is an issue. For instance, I would disagree with the phrasing of "I have no problem with your gay." Either "I have no problem with your being gay," "I have no problem with your gaying it up," or "I have no problem with gays," would all be more common phraseology.

[emmuzka]

Yeah, the "I have no problem with your gay"- thing, which was seen so incomprehensible that it ended up as the "gay issue" -tag in ontd_ai; The person saying that is a devoted christian that believes that being gay is a choice. So I meant him saying it the same way that one would say "I have no problem with your STD" or "I have no problem with your HIV." I don't know it if it works that way, but that was what I meant.

[lumiyu]

That's how I read it, but then, finnish also.

While I agree that I wouldn't want to be 'good for a foreigner' either, I think having that in the notes might not be a bad thing if it's an issue. I'd rather people think I'm foreigner than them thinking I'm some kid who doesn't know how to use beta :/. (Although having native beta might fix the issue.)

[emmuzka]

Nah, I think that any mention of the writer writing in other than her native language would be considered as a disclaimer stating that the fic is bad. Harsh, I know. But, I have always loudly stated that (putting it harshly,) fic communities are not special ed schools where everyone deserves a golden star for trying. There are no easier classes for foreigners and beginners, nor there should be. I'd rather be a bad writer in the "normal" class than a good writer in the "special education."

[teroyks]

When I saw that phrase I automatically assumed it was an attempt at whedonspeak. Something along the lines of, "I can't brain today, I have the dumb".

[emmuzka]

Haa, if only! I would love to master that, instead of accidentally inventing a tag line.