Re: To Crit or not to Crit?
anonymous
February 27 2010, 00:13:36 UTC
Of course, the immediate question when you don't get any comments is, "What did I do wrong?" and you can't ask for comments outright without looking, as you said, like a comment whore.
As a reader, I don't comment on everything I like (or don't like for that matter). Quite often, it's because I have nothing better to offer than, "I enjoyed it," which sounds half-hearted but actually means precisely that--I read it, I enjoyed it! It does depend on mood (e.g. just feel like reading, not feeling intelligent enough to comment) and whether I am at my computer when I'm reading--harder to comment anonymously via phone.
Worse than potentially hurtful concrit is no comments or just one or two, because I end up coming up with all sorts of theories as to why (characterisation, choice of story, boring writing, what...). It doesn't help me write better because I never am sure which of these are right. I wouldn't even know whether to interpret the silence as indifference or absolute dislike. At this point, my ego would be so low, I wouldn't dare ask for concrit for fear of meeting more silence.
I've learned to swallow my losses, move on to the next story, and hope that I'll stumble across a better formula next time
Same, and the more successful ones make up for it. Yet, because all of them are my babies, I still do wonder. And I stay away from the particular genre/theme or whatever that I failed in, without knowing why.
In short, I think authors including 'concrit appreciated' when it is wanted would be good, just because we never know if the author really does want concrit and it might help those of us who are more nervous about asking for it if they see other people are doing it...
Re: To Crit or not to Crit?
anonymous
February 27 2010, 04:12:42 UTC
I think people shouldn't hesitate to leave "I liked this" comments, especially for fics that are short on comments. It's a nice courtesy to the author, it may start a dialogue, and chances are it'll encourage more fic.
It's a shame when great fics or updates to great fics appear to be ignored, even though just looking at the quality of the writing I'm sure they were read and enjoyed by at least some people. If you can think of something specific to remark on that's a bonus not a requirement.
As a reader, I don't comment on everything I like (or don't like for that matter). Quite often, it's because I have nothing better to offer than, "I enjoyed it," which sounds half-hearted but actually means precisely that--I read it, I enjoyed it! It does depend on mood (e.g. just feel like reading, not feeling intelligent enough to comment) and whether I am at my computer when I'm reading--harder to comment anonymously via phone.
Worse than potentially hurtful concrit is no comments or just one or two, because I end up coming up with all sorts of theories as to why (characterisation, choice of story, boring writing, what...). It doesn't help me write better because I never am sure which of these are right. I wouldn't even know whether to interpret the silence as indifference or absolute dislike. At this point, my ego would be so low, I wouldn't dare ask for concrit for fear of meeting more silence.
I've learned to swallow my losses, move on to the next story, and hope that I'll stumble across a better formula next time
Same, and the more successful ones make up for it. Yet, because all of them are my babies, I still do wonder. And I stay away from the particular genre/theme or whatever that I failed in, without knowing why.
In short, I think authors including 'concrit appreciated' when it is wanted would be good, just because we never know if the author really does want concrit and it might help those of us who are more nervous about asking for it if they see other people are doing it...
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It's a shame when great fics or updates to great fics appear to be ignored, even though just looking at the quality of the writing I'm sure they were read and enjoyed by at least some people. If you can think of something specific to remark on that's a bonus not a requirement.
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