Voting in DS Match

[zebra363]

This reading more fanfiction idea is working out really well for me so far. I'm still getting tons done outside on my days off, but without tipping over the edge into too tired to function. The green is almost gone, growing season is nearly over and I'm busy mowing and whippersnippering and clearing fallen branches to get ready for firebreak

Comments

[isiscolo]

I followed you back here from your comments in my lj, and I have to say this is a fascinating take on things. I love reading about how people approach stories, partly because I'm a writer (and want to craft my stories to hit people just right) and partly because I like to compare/contrast with my own approach.

It's particularly cool for me to read this, in this case, because as a Team Angst member I know a bit more about the stories (at the very least, who wrote them; possibly I beta-read or even wrote them, but I am carefully preserving anonymity here).

[zebra363]

I enjoy looking at stories in an analytical way (everyday-analytical, not literary criticism analytical, since I know nothing about the latter!), but there rarely seems to be much of a place for it in fandom. The general view seems to be that the beta process is the (only) appropriate place, but that leaves no role for the reader who sees the story later, means the author doesn't get as many detailed reader reactions, and means that readers don't get to see other readers' reactions much beyond "heartbreaking", "awesome", "&hearts", etc. I'd love to read exactly what other people did and didn't like about stories I have strong opinions on, but people don't tend to say those things in public - and maybe if I were a writer, I'd prefer they didn't! As a reader, it makes things less interesting

[isiscolo]

You and I will have to have a talk after the reveal, because I'm anxious to hear all your thoughts! I can't say more without compromising anonymity

[zebra363]

And one commenter did say something negative, I noted, and was reprimanded by a mod, which I think may have had a dampening effect on others.

I saw that response by the mod just a couple of days ago and wrote to her to say I thought it would have exactly that effect. I'm really glad I didn't see it back on Day 2, because I think it would have had a very dampening effect on my enthusiasm for the entire challenge. (Especially as that commenter wasn't trying to be negative - as far as I could see, she was intending to give glowing praise!) It definitely affected my decision not to read that story, since I doubted I'd be able to leave a comment on a F/V/K story that would meet with official approval!

I do occasionally email people with more detailed comments, but what I'd really prefer is a culture where those responses were posted publicly. I'd like the fun of reading other people's reactions, too!

Looking forward to the reveal!

[isiscolo]

but what I'd really prefer is a culture where those responses were posted publicly. I'd like the fun of reading other people's reactions, too!

Me too. I actually started a community when I was in HP, hp_fictalk, for that purpose. There's one in SGA as well, and that engendered a bit of wank a few times, alas. I'm a little doubtful it would work well in dS for various reasons, but I love discussing stories I liked and stories I didn't, and I try not to be shy about doing so publicly.

[zebra363]

I don't like the rules of thecuttingboard, because the author can't participate and I want to hear their views as well as those of other readers. No one is ever likely to convince me of "the death of the author"!

I enjoyed ds_workshop while people were posting stories for review, but not many did.

[ari_]

I know there was a mailing list for critical review of DS stories once, but as it was run by someone who'd been involved with shit-stirring (I'd have to look up details, it's been too long ago)...

[zebra363]

but as it was run by someone who'd been involved with shit-stirring

No, I don't want any of that! :)

[china_shop]

(And one commenter did say something negative, I noted, and was reprimanded by a mod, which I think may have had a dampening effect on others.)

Hey there! For the record, the only thing I objected to was the statement that Vecchio is canonically straight, which had nothing to do with the story review. I mean, technically all of the characters are canonically straight, but we're in our happy slash place, right? :-)

[isiscolo]

Still, I think that JSC felt as though you were limiting her ability to say what she wanted in feedback (and I think, for the record, that her perceptions of canon count as legitimate content, because she was talking about what the story made her believe contrary to her ordinary beliefs) and it felt to at least one onlooker (me) like a reprimand.