I don't normally read LiveJournal, but...

[rj_anderson]

I received a piece of feedback this morning beginning with the words: I don't read [this particular subgenre] in fanfiction, I really don't, and then going on to repeat the same sentiment in a different way, before adding some words of slightly bemused, I-still-can't-believe-I-enjoyed-this praise

Comments

[yahtzee63]

I *do* sometimes get offended by this kind of FB, though I certainly don't always. It all comes down to what you said:

what point is the feedbacker really trying to make? Do they mean their remarks to be in any way insulting or belittling of my tastes or my abilities as a writer?If somebody says simply, "I don't usually read subgenre x, but I read this and I loved it," then I am well-content and happy. If, OTOH, somebody sends a feedback letter that spends three paragraphs talking about why subgenre x/your central character/your pairing of choice/etc. sucks and is ridiculous, then tosses in a line about the story, you have to wonder why this person sent the e-mail

[marinarusalka]

Heh. Practically every piece of feedback I received during my time in BtVS fandom began with some variation of "I normally hate Riley, but..." Like Yahtzee, I did occasionally get annoyed by what appeared to be character-bashing rants disguised as feedback -- really, the fact that I wrote a novel-length fic centering on a sympathetic portrayal of a character should be a pretty good tip-off that I like the guy and don't want to read a ten-paragraph e-mail about how much he sucks -- but overall, I took the comments in the complimentary spirit in which they were intended.

And because my mind makes strange connections, I have to say that feedback like that always makes me think of Darcy's first proposal to Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, and then I giggle madly.

[hedda62]

*giggling madly as well* That's a beautiful analogy!

[yahtzee63]

And because my mind makes strange connections, I have to say that feedback like that always makes me think of Darcy's first proposal to Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, and then I giggle madly.

That's really PERFECT.

And just to be clear -- I think the proportion of "well-meaning" comments of this type to "bashing" comments of this type is about 50 to 1. That 1 can be mightily annoying or downright mean, but I have worked hard not to let the natural response to that shade my reactions to the other 50.

[rj_anderson]

Darcy's first proposal to Elizabeth

Oh, that's splendid. Really sublime. Hee!

Now I'm never going to see another feedback of that type without giggling myself.

[chrisleeoctaves]

I personally agree that fb from someone who states that they don't normally read your sub-genre (or pairing) is high praise indeed. I have both sent and received similar feedback. As we all know, I write predominantly B/A dark or angsty fic...and have had fb from people who have told me that they can buy B/A written the way I write it, but normally they don't like them at all. (Sadly, the fics aren't as well received by many B/Aers...*g*) I am sure that I have read pairings that don't appeal to me on some level...Oz/Angel for example, but in the hands of a talented writer, (lj user="glossolalia"> for example, the story is tremendous. I don't think there's anything wrong with telling a writer: "Hey, you know what, this isn't my normal thing, but this was fantastic." It's a compliment; at least I always intend it as one.

[hedda62]

Thinking about this - I suspect whether feedback like that is viewed as an insult has to do with (as the other commenters said) the language used and how the subgenre is described. The only reviews I got of that sort had to do with not usually reading crossovers, which is something I sort of understand, since they usually suck. However, it's nice to see people overcome their prejudices, and when it's some broad area they decline to venture into (like het or slash or pastfics or futurefics), then as long as they're not singling out your fic as the one and only they'll ever be able to tolerate in that genre, it sounds like an excellent thing all around.

Of course, if the review starts "I don't usually read schmoop, but..." it is not to be trusted. :) But I suspect yours said something a lot more complimentary.

[rj_anderson]

Heh on the schmoop.

as long as they're not singling out your fic as the one and only they'll ever be able to tolerate in that genre

But what if they do? Let's say that someone sent me a review for "Endings and Beginnings" that began, I don't read Harry/Ginny as a rule, but your story was recommended to me by someone I trust so I read it -- and I was really pleasantly surprised, it wasn't juvenile or saccharine at all. I still prefer to avoid H/G on principle, though.

Is that really offensive? I can't see it, myself. I might feel that the person in question was depriving themselves of some good fic, and I might even suggest to them a couple of other stories that they might want to try before giving up, but in the end it's really up to them what they want to read. Is it any different when the subgenre is het or slash or pastfics or futurefics?

[hedda62]

Hmm. It might depend on how much investment you had in H/G - some people would get up in arms about having the ship described as "juvenile and saccharine" - but it would certainly be better to respond by saying "thanks, and have you tried these others that aren't juvenile either?" than get upset about it.

I have trouble thinking in genre or ship categories anyway, though, so I'm the wrong person to ask. I've never understood the people who say "I don't read slash" or "I don't read het" or "I don't read anything set in the MWPP era" - why not just find good writing? - but if they're really irritated or squicked by something then of course they can't be forced to read it. After all, there's an awful lot to read out there even in the fic world let alone everything else, so unless your OTP is McGonagall/Crookshanks and you won't read anything else ever, probably you'll be OK. :)

[erinbow]

RJA, thanks for this post. It helped me sort out my bemusement and occasional resentment over what *I* often hear: "I don't usually like contemporary poetry, but .... "

[rj_anderson]

You're welcome, Erin, and thanks in return. Especially since I would be one of the people giving you one of those "Darcy proposal" reviews, because the other contemporary poetry I've read really hasn't engaged me the way that yours does.

But then, it's entirely possible that I was just exposed to all the wrong contemporary poets in high school, and that I've had singularly bad luck with the contemporary poems I've encountered since in magazines and so on.

I can't say that I'm yet at the point where I'm about to embark on a quest for more contemporary poetry, but I can certainly say that I enjoy your work, and that I am significantly less inclined to be pessimistic about modern poetry as a result. So, hoorah for you! And all that. :)

No worries, I know you weren't trolling for a review. I just felt like giving you one anyway. Hey, everybody, go read Erin's poetry!

[erinbow]

:::blushes:::

Well, if you ever do want recs on some non-bleak, no-magic-decoder-ring-required contemporary poetry, let me know. I am bursting with them.

BTW -- I love the term "Darcy Proposal" reviews, and plan to adopt it.