My two cents on comments/feedback & concrit
I'm taking a cue from the bit of discussion I've seen going around about author entitlement in regard to feedback left on their fic, and I'm putting out my thoughts on the matter, if anyone cares... ;)
It may help to read dashakay 's post about it to put things in context, because that's the springboard from which my thoughts originate, though ishie had some sound thoughts, too.
I'll start with my response to coffeesuperhero 's comment on dashakay's post, which I partially quote below:
It's because I define art in this way that I've always said that I don't write in a vacuum, and that's why feedback is so valuable to me. I absolutely create because I feel an internal motivation to do so, but the nature of the thing I'm creating gives me an external motivation, too. When I call, it's nice to get an answer. It enhances the experience to share it with someone else. It's not my primary motivator (most of the time, more on that in a second), but it's definitely a factor.
This, and what dashakay said about having the need to create and share-having a story that needs to be told-is the fundamental reason that I write fic and, more recently, create art. So, I suppose I'm vouching for it applying to both mediums.
I get these images and stories in my mind, inspired by something truly random mostly, and then, writing a story or doing an illustration is the best way for me to share my ideas. Feedback is what lets me know that others may have been thinking the same thing, too.
With my art in particular, feedback is like fuel. I get an amazing sense of accomplishment whenever I complete a new piece, but my main reason for creating it is to share it with others, because it makes people happy or causes them to think of something in a way they never before considered.
However, I certainly don't think I deserve or am entitled to feedback. I put my art out here (on the internet for a reason). Like you said, I'm not creating it in a vacuum. I want someone to see it and appreciate it, and it's gratifying for me if they take the time to let me know. :)
I suppose I'm unique in the sense that I can answer this question from the perspective of both an artist and a writer. Sure, I'm writing because there's a story I have to tell. I draw to make a statement about something, and the actions isn't always a conscious one, but the motivation behind it is basically the same. I've never thought of myself as a truly "creative" person. When I was around 13, I drew from comic books, literally copying-not tracing-the work of artists whose work I admired. When I started writing fan fic (about two and a half years ago), I did the same thing, emulating the styles of author's whose work I loved, borrowing words and ways of phrasing things, trying to find my own voice. It's a constant process that I don't think ever really ends.
The point is, I do have a drive to create things, but it's ultimately with the intention to share with others. Most of my art is posted on the internet, not in physical galleries. So how do I know if anyone on the other end of the tube likes or appreciates what I'm doing? They have to tell me. By leaving a COMMENT.
When I posted my first story to fanfiction.net, I seriously expected it to be ripped apart because I was writing a (then) rare-pairing, and it was basically a baby-fic, which, at the time, I didn't really have a concept of as a genre. So, when people had nice, encouraging things to say about my story, I was overjoyed. And since I was new to writing was (and still am) horrible about proofreading my own work, I actually had a few people comment to that effect. Someone might have suggested I get a beta. (My concise thoughts on betas: they're great if you're uncertain about something and don't get one that tells you everything is perfect isn't going to help you. I've been a beta, jsyk.) It wasn't the end of the world and I welcomed the criticism. How the heck was I going to get better if no one said anything?
Maybe my view is a bit different because I've been an Art major and am used participating in class critiques. Granted, I've never had a bad experience with that, and honestly, there were some instances where I'd be torn over the best way to tell a person that they just need to start over from scratch because the final product just wasn't working. It happens. It's a hard pill to swallow. But, I think if that person had had someone along the way to steer them in the right direction before the project was completely unsalvageable, then they would have been able to, uhm, salvage it earlier. :) True, art is subjective, but there are some generally accepted parameters to judge whether something "good" or successful and if something doesn't have a good foundation, it's gonna fall apart no matter what the artist's "vision" was. I think we subconsciously recognize these things, but it just takes practice to be able to perceive these elements in action.
Have I thought these same thoughts while reading a fic? I'd be lying if I said I didn't. I feel like, if I get through the end of a story, it's my responsibility as a reader to tell what I think. When I'm reading, I evaluate things critically. I read for enjoyment, but also like to get insight into certain characters or situations, to see things in a way I never before considered. Many times, I have no idea if the writer is open to concrit or not, but there's no harm in putting it out there.
At times, the type of feedback I leave is just a matter of discretion. Personally, I like stories that feel grounded, I prefer a bit of angst over pure fluff, and if an author is taking chances with a character, questions my perceptions of what that character is capable of, challenges me to see them in a new light and take me on a fun ride all the while, then I should probably tell them so. On the other hand, I may love the story over all, but find the stream of consciousness narrative, abrupt switching between perspectives, and lack of pronouns at the beginning of a few sentences hard to follow at times. But I have commented to that effect, after stating how much I enjoyed the story as a whole.
There's the chance that they may not care what I think, but I care enough to read their work and initiate the dialogue. I'm not in this game solely for praise. If I failed to communicate what I was trying to say with my story or art, I'd like to know so I can do a better job the next time. That's just me, though.
I don't think it's immodest to admit that I'm a fairly talented artist. It's also true, however, that I have a tendency to draw heads too large or a nose too long. But IF NO ONE SAYS ANYTHING, then it will just go on as being me being neurotic about my art and not a real issue that is observed by other people. I could just chalk it up to style, but if it's not something that I do consistently (it's not) then it's something may I need to work on, especially if it detracts from the appreciation of the art, establishing the character likeness and all that good stuff.
TL;DR: I like feedback, and I really concrit (emphasis on the constructive). I don't think you should be afraid to leave either, newbies especially. :)
I definitely didn't cover everything here, but feel free to discuss. :)
It may help to read dashakay 's post about it to put things in context, because that's the springboard from which my thoughts originate, though ishie had some sound thoughts, too.
I'll start with my response to coffeesuperhero 's comment on dashakay's post, which I partially quote below:
It's because I define art in this way that I've always said that I don't write in a vacuum, and that's why feedback is so valuable to me. I absolutely create because I feel an internal motivation to do so, but the nature of the thing I'm creating gives me an external motivation, too. When I call, it's nice to get an answer. It enhances the experience to share it with someone else. It's not my primary motivator (most of the time, more on that in a second), but it's definitely a factor.
This, and what dashakay said about having the need to create and share-having a story that needs to be told-is the fundamental reason that I write fic and, more recently, create art. So, I suppose I'm vouching for it applying to both mediums.
I get these images and stories in my mind, inspired by something truly random mostly, and then, writing a story or doing an illustration is the best way for me to share my ideas. Feedback is what lets me know that others may have been thinking the same thing, too.
With my art in particular, feedback is like fuel. I get an amazing sense of accomplishment whenever I complete a new piece, but my main reason for creating it is to share it with others, because it makes people happy or causes them to think of something in a way they never before considered.
However, I certainly don't think I deserve or am entitled to feedback. I put my art out here (on the internet for a reason). Like you said, I'm not creating it in a vacuum. I want someone to see it and appreciate it, and it's gratifying for me if they take the time to let me know. :)
I suppose I'm unique in the sense that I can answer this question from the perspective of both an artist and a writer. Sure, I'm writing because there's a story I have to tell. I draw to make a statement about something, and the actions isn't always a conscious one, but the motivation behind it is basically the same. I've never thought of myself as a truly "creative" person. When I was around 13, I drew from comic books, literally copying-not tracing-the work of artists whose work I admired. When I started writing fan fic (about two and a half years ago), I did the same thing, emulating the styles of author's whose work I loved, borrowing words and ways of phrasing things, trying to find my own voice. It's a constant process that I don't think ever really ends.
The point is, I do have a drive to create things, but it's ultimately with the intention to share with others. Most of my art is posted on the internet, not in physical galleries. So how do I know if anyone on the other end of the tube likes or appreciates what I'm doing? They have to tell me. By leaving a COMMENT.
When I posted my first story to fanfiction.net, I seriously expected it to be ripped apart because I was writing a (then) rare-pairing, and it was basically a baby-fic, which, at the time, I didn't really have a concept of as a genre. So, when people had nice, encouraging things to say about my story, I was overjoyed. And since I was new to writing was (and still am) horrible about proofreading my own work, I actually had a few people comment to that effect. Someone might have suggested I get a beta. (My concise thoughts on betas: they're great if you're uncertain about something and don't get one that tells you everything is perfect isn't going to help you. I've been a beta, jsyk.) It wasn't the end of the world and I welcomed the criticism. How the heck was I going to get better if no one said anything?
Maybe my view is a bit different because I've been an Art major and am used participating in class critiques. Granted, I've never had a bad experience with that, and honestly, there were some instances where I'd be torn over the best way to tell a person that they just need to start over from scratch because the final product just wasn't working. It happens. It's a hard pill to swallow. But, I think if that person had had someone along the way to steer them in the right direction before the project was completely unsalvageable, then they would have been able to, uhm, salvage it earlier. :) True, art is subjective, but there are some generally accepted parameters to judge whether something "good" or successful and if something doesn't have a good foundation, it's gonna fall apart no matter what the artist's "vision" was. I think we subconsciously recognize these things, but it just takes practice to be able to perceive these elements in action.
Have I thought these same thoughts while reading a fic? I'd be lying if I said I didn't. I feel like, if I get through the end of a story, it's my responsibility as a reader to tell what I think. When I'm reading, I evaluate things critically. I read for enjoyment, but also like to get insight into certain characters or situations, to see things in a way I never before considered. Many times, I have no idea if the writer is open to concrit or not, but there's no harm in putting it out there.
At times, the type of feedback I leave is just a matter of discretion. Personally, I like stories that feel grounded, I prefer a bit of angst over pure fluff, and if an author is taking chances with a character, questions my perceptions of what that character is capable of, challenges me to see them in a new light and take me on a fun ride all the while, then I should probably tell them so. On the other hand, I may love the story over all, but find the stream of consciousness narrative, abrupt switching between perspectives, and lack of pronouns at the beginning of a few sentences hard to follow at times. But I have commented to that effect, after stating how much I enjoyed the story as a whole.
There's the chance that they may not care what I think, but I care enough to read their work and initiate the dialogue. I'm not in this game solely for praise. If I failed to communicate what I was trying to say with my story or art, I'd like to know so I can do a better job the next time. That's just me, though.
I don't think it's immodest to admit that I'm a fairly talented artist. It's also true, however, that I have a tendency to draw heads too large or a nose too long. But IF NO ONE SAYS ANYTHING, then it will just go on as being me being neurotic about my art and not a real issue that is observed by other people. I could just chalk it up to style, but if it's not something that I do consistently (it's not) then it's something may I need to work on, especially if it detracts from the appreciation of the art, establishing the character likeness and all that good stuff.
TL;DR: I like feedback, and I really concrit (emphasis on the constructive). I don't think you should be afraid to leave either, newbies especially. :)
I definitely didn't cover everything here, but feel free to discuss. :)