part 2 because my brain went on a breakprofshallownessFebruary 14 2006, 21:01:48 UTC
I've spent my weekend catching up with some fanfics, too, and I was appalled at what some people put out there.
Usually, I'll scan the summary or the first few paragraphs and click away if I see that it's bad. I just got caught up in fics that started off decently but went haywire in the third paragraph.
Don't get me wrong, I don't say I'm perfect: far from it! That's beside the point when you're reading, surely. If the grammar is so bad that the reader doesn't understand what the writer is trying to say, words like 'appalling' and 'badfic' are pretty justified.
English is my first foreign language and I try very hard to make sure my grammar and punctuation is correct. I tend to think that people who speak more than one language, and most non-English speakers are rather more aware that they are correct in these respects. While some monoglots seem to think that 'grammer' is a violation of their human rights.
It just annoys me to - quite often - see some sort of author's note at the end of a chapter along the lines of "I couldn't be bothered with grammar, duh, so either you like it as it is or bugger off". I have probably run off far, far away by that point, so I don't see so many of those comments. Although if they have posted it in public, they are open to being described as lazy, ignorant and stupid. (Yes, it's rude, but not unjustified. Pointless if they've gone to the effort of making such a coment, mind.)
I don't care about correct grammar use in speech. I know I make a lot of mistakes even in my mother tongue. Well no, not for informal situations - ditto, up to a point, in some informal writing. But in reading and writing: correct grammar is reader-friendly and polite and essential for reading comprehension. Exactly.
Re: part 2 because my brain went on a breaklusmeitliFebruary 15 2006, 11:28:14 UTC
I think what happens is this: they're reading fanfics, think "I could do that too, and I have an idea", sit down and get to typing. Only then they notice that it actually is a LOT of WORK. And then they post it and ask for reviews and get some that point out what's not really working and what they should keep in mind for the next fic and then they get all worked up over that. And the next story they write will consist of lots of author's notes, simple and silly excuses for their laziness. That might sound harsh, but it's what I've experienced.
Re: part 2 because my brain went on a breakprofshallownessFebruary 16 2006, 17:38:05 UTC
Only then they notice that it actually is a LOT of WORK.
See, I'm not sure that, apart from 'ooh, this typing of words takes longer than I thought', they get this. Or not based on the stream of consciousness 'and this happened next and then this' word dumpings that aren't consistent or logical that can be found on the net.
Also to them reviews or feedback means 'uncritical praise' because they spent a lot of time typing (none rereading though). They deserve it!
some that point out what's not really working and what they should keep in mind for the next fic and then they get all worked up over that. And usually this is tame stuff. Like a politely worded suggestion to get a beta.
And the next story they write will consist of lots of author's notes, simple and silly excuses for their laziness. Are those the one inserted in the fics? Or the ones at the top?
That might sound harsh, but it's what I've experienced. Harsh? Pfft. Not really. Fair: I can well believe you've seen many examples of it. I mean, I do think that being aware that 1. feedback means something different to them (though if they're story does objectively break grammar rules or established fictional conventions for no good reason, a reader is entitled to say as much if it's posted publicly) 2. they're writing for different reasons and 3. avoiding such stuff - authors' notes are a giveaway, for instance - keeps my blood pressure down. And throwing in a few rants where the word lazy appears a few times :)
Usually, I'll scan the summary or the first few paragraphs and click away if I see that it's bad. I just got caught up in fics that started off decently but went haywire in the third paragraph.
Don't get me wrong, I don't say I'm perfect: far from it!
That's beside the point when you're reading, surely. If the grammar is so bad that the reader doesn't understand what the writer is trying to say, words like 'appalling' and 'badfic' are pretty justified.
English is my first foreign language and I try very hard to make sure my grammar and punctuation is correct.
I tend to think that people who speak more than one language, and most non-English speakers are rather more aware that they are correct in these respects. While some monoglots seem to think that 'grammer' is a violation of their human rights.
It just annoys me to - quite often - see some sort of author's note at the end of a chapter along the lines of "I couldn't be bothered with grammar, duh, so either you like it as it is or bugger off".
I have probably run off far, far away by that point, so I don't see so many of those comments. Although if they have posted it in public, they are open to being described as lazy, ignorant and stupid. (Yes, it's rude, but not unjustified. Pointless if they've gone to the effort of making such a coment, mind.)
I don't care about correct grammar use in speech. I know I make a lot of mistakes even in my mother tongue. Well no, not for informal situations - ditto, up to a point, in some informal writing. But in reading and writing: correct grammar is reader-friendly and polite and essential for reading comprehension. Exactly.
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See, I'm not sure that, apart from 'ooh, this typing of words takes longer than I thought', they get this. Or not based on the stream of consciousness 'and this happened next and then this' word dumpings that aren't consistent or logical that can be found on the net.
Also to them reviews or feedback means 'uncritical praise' because they spent a lot of time typing (none rereading though). They deserve it!
some that point out what's not really working and what they should keep in mind for the next fic and then they get all worked up over that.
And usually this is tame stuff. Like a politely worded suggestion to get a beta.
And the next story they write will consist of lots of author's notes, simple and silly excuses for their laziness.
Are those the one inserted in the fics? Or the ones at the top?
That might sound harsh, but it's what I've experienced.
Harsh? Pfft. Not really. Fair: I can well believe you've seen many examples of it. I mean, I do think that being aware that 1. feedback means something different to them (though if they're story does objectively break grammar rules or established fictional conventions for no good reason, a reader is entitled to say as much if it's posted publicly) 2. they're writing for different reasons and 3. avoiding such stuff - authors' notes are a giveaway, for instance - keeps my blood pressure down. And throwing in a few rants where the word lazy appears a few times :)
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