The AsCast Jar
A Call to Action
As a fairly new writer, I’m curious – why do you write and what does it mean to you?
I began writing because I needed a creative outlet. After fifteen years of musical theater productions, various choirs, and voice lessons, I quit doing all of those things cold turkey and changed my major from musical theater to history. Soon, though, I realized how much I missed stretching my mind in a creative way and how much I absolutely needed it. Singing and performing used to be the way I expressed all of my emotions…but then, without doing those things every day, my creativity felt stifled and bottled up inside of me. (I’ve since started singing again, by the way – shameless plug! Check out my YouTube Channel! http://www.youtube.com/irishsongbird85)
Writing became my new release. So yes, I write fan fiction for fun and use it as a creative release. Most definitely. As soon as it stops being fun and starts honestly stressing me out, I’ll quit doing it.
I’ve recently started getting some critical reviews of my story, “Like the Touch of Rain.” They’re unbelievably honest and full of both praise and critique – a reviewer who has taken the time to read and give her frank opinion on what could make me a better writer. Instead of bristling defensively at anonymous criticism, however, I feel grateful. The reviews I usually get aren’t critical – they’re only full of things my readers like about the story (with a few exceptions). I so appreciate those reviews – they’re great self esteem boosters and it’s wonderful to know people connect to what I’m writing. I’m fairly certain, however, that most reviewers could offer criticism along with their praise. And yet, they don’t say it. Why?
I believe the reason is pretty clear. Reviewers hold back on honest critique because they are worried they will offend and upset writers. I’m pretty sure that a lot of reviewers who are capable of being critical are scared to share their honest opinions – for quite a while I’ve been one of them, as well, scared to share what I really think. But – here’s the important part – being critical of something doesn’t mean you don’t like it! Not at all!
I’ve realized all of this in the last few days and it greatly saddens me. When someone leaves a respectful review, full of both praise AND critical evaluation, why should an author take offense? The reviewer obviously respects you enough to say, “Hey, this story is pretty good – good enough that I want to read it…but I see a few things that I personally think could make it better.” This is exactly why I’m grateful for these types of thoughtful reviews; they challenge me to be a better writer and assume that I have it within me to make these improvements. And as writers, don’t we all want to have the ability to grow and change and achieve more? Even though we all write fan fiction for fun, striving to improve our writing abilities through fan fic will inevitably lead to the improvement of our writing in all other respects, as well.
People respond to respect. An honest critique is not disrespectful, but a chance for honest introspection and a stretching of our skills. A critical review will probably cause a small piece of defensiveness to rise up in all of us, and might be difficult to respond to in a mature and humble way, but it can be done. A simple thanks for reading and expressing an opinion will be much better in the long run than a defensive and arrogant response. An opinion is all any reviewer is ever offering, after all, and most of the time, her suggestions are probably ones to at least consider. They aren’t telling you to edit your entire story to fit their specific wants and needs – they’re only doing what any reader of any book on the planet does – deciding what they like and don’t like about a piece of writing. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
The great thing is that here on the internet and on NFFR we have the ability to share these things with each other! We have the ability to help each other out and create better art! I personally think that’s fabulous, whether it’s only fan fiction written for fun or not.
Here’s the point of this entry: from now on, my reviews are going to consist of constructive criticism – both praise and critique of things I like and don’t like about stories. I hope you will do the same for my work because I respect your views (even if I may not agree with them) and I respect your honesty in sharing your critique with me. Respect is the key word here. So, have fun reading and reviewing, guys, and may we all grow in our writing with each other!
~Irish
P.S. Please don’t forget about Haiti – if you have already donated to the relief effort, that’s awesome. If you haven’t yet, please give whatever you can! Imagine if everyone donated only $1 or $5…it would be a HUGE amount of money to help them. We are capable of action, so please don’t be idle!!!!!
7 Responses to “A Call to Action”
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- Ep. 9: Lucy's Love Boat Cruise
- Ep. 8: The Voyage of the Barney Ship
- Ep. 7: Mary Sue's "Push-Me-Over-and-Do-Me" Heels
- Ep. 6.5: These Boots are Made for Clowny Clown Clown
- Ep. 6: In Which the Neffers Make it to Heaven
- Ep. 5: In Which Rabadash Is Barry Manilow
- Ep. 4: The Moose and her Carbuncle
- Ep. 3: In Which Corin Gets Struck by Lightning
- Ep. 2: Magical Poo
- Ep. 1: In Which Tumnus Milks a Centaur
I think that’s all just wonderful, Irish. Thank you so much for posting this – it’s great to have things that I too have been thinking about expressed clearly and rationally and positively.
I totally agree about the idea that reviews should be met – no matter whether they are laudatory or critical – with grace and thanks.
Some thoughts of my own –
There has to be a give and take relationship between reader and reviewer – each understanding that what they give will be received maturely and gratefully and that what they take will be taken in a good natured spirit of gratitude, enjoyment, and honesty. The writer provides the fanfiction community with the opportunity to read and enjoy their personal creative work, and the reviewer in turn provides (or should provide) an honest review based upon their personal opinions and values. Neither party is required to love or even like what the other says, but each needs to be open and accepting, and allow the other to air their opinions.
I really think it would be fantastic if NFFR could sort of blaze a trail in this way. We all already have a clearly awesome group, and a great dynamic of fun and respect – that should be extended out into the fanfic world, really helping and encouraging each other and others with good, positive but critical reviews.
Yay!
Hey Irish!
I write because I have ideas, and I want to have fun with it. It gives me a chance to tamper with creative writing, and a chance to write the characters how I would like to.
I critique on things that are obvious (like misspelled words, or things that don’t add up right), or if I think something is…..not as it should be (like a Mary Sue catching one of the boys). Otherwise I tend to praise. I don’t look at the grammer side of things because I’m not very good at recognizing bad grammer (despite my being in AP Egnlish).
I know I will get defensive, especially if it sounded rude. I know some people have asked me write more of the character, and to stop concentrating on the more Sueish things I’m writing about (sadly that’s because I’m in a habit). I’m trying to do as they asked (recent revision of chapter six of my fic shows that – at least for the latter request). I would like reviews that will help me improve (hint – please read my fic, Irish. I’d love to hear what you have to say).
Yeah, that’s pretty much me. Good post, Irish!
Aslan’s Blessings,
~Fierce
“I really think it would be fantastic if NFFR could sort of blaze a trail in this way.”
I think so, too. I would like nothing more, in fact!
And Fierce, I will try my hardest to read your fic and let you know what I think ASAP!
Awesome post Irish!
I completely agree with all of your points! It’s very true, a lot of the time I don’t say what’s really on my mind when I review; I mostly just point out the things I like and perhaps a few grammar mistakes I have — shockingly — noticed. Though it depends on the story, and how much I enjoy it. If I like it, I praise it and keep critiques to myself mostly. If it wasn’t my favorite, I be nice, but mention the things I didn’t enjoy or things that could be improved upon.
I agree with you Meto! Let us NFFRs start lighting the torch of honesty and kindness in our reviews!
I have lots to say on this subject but will try to keep it to a minimal. First off, I want to demolish at the outset the idea that fan fic is for fun and so should not be held to an objective standard because the author is only doing it for fun and the reader is only reading it for fun. Lots of fan fic writers do go on to pro works and they aren’t going to get there if they can’t take critique here. Try working with a real editor some time and you’ll find out the meaning of humility. Moreover, I know that I cannot separate the real work I do from the fiction work, in that the one bleeds into another. So, if my “fun” fiction is bad, it is likely that my real writing, the writing that matters, is even worse. Granted my typos are likely to be less in my professional work because I have editors and subordinates who proof and I print and edit before sending, but conversely when I do make mistake, it’s much, much, much worse.
A fan fic writer who hopes to be a pro writer had better get used to critique from people who are not concerned with preserving the writer’s self esteem and making her feel good. An agent and editor’s job is to make a better product that sells and until you are JK Rowling and have the clout to say, “I’m talking my multi million dollar franchise to another publisher,” you have to do what the editor says.
Last, really what is a flame, versus say constructive or even harsh criticism? It’s such a subjective thing. In the end, I put it out in the Internet and if I can’t defend the work, even against the slings and arrows of outrage, it’s my problem. I know that what I do may and does offend. Granted, I am more likely to mock the “You sux” review, but if someone comes back with, “I really disliked this because…” and then delivers the equivalent message as a “You sux,’ well, that’s life. In real life and fic life, what bothers me far, far more is the brooding silence, the passive/aggressive response, the sudden disappearance. Rather than silence, I would much rather hear, “I can’t stand what you’ve done and I’m through with you.” It hurts to get that sort of thing, sure, but again, my sensitivity is my problem.
All that being said, personally, I really don’t think most fan fic writers adhere to my rhino hide approach. Delivering in fic a real edit of the sort I would give to my client, subordinate or colleague will induce hives of anxiety in me. In real life, we don’t care about making each other feel good. Whereas in this environment, I do care about the emotions of the friends I have in fandom and most readers and writers here have not been slinging real critique back and forth for years the way I have. And, last, in the it’s-really-my-problem-not-yours, while I’m good at turning a work product into what I would write, I’m not as effective as turning it into something YOU would write.
What a fantastic point, Irish. I especially like that question, “why do you write” . . . personally, I can’t imagine doing otherwise. Reviews be damned, if I did not write I would not be me. Yes, it is nice to know that somebody likes one’s work, but I find that the content and even the number of reviews I get do not affect the way I feel about my pieces overall– one of my favourite stories (of mine) caught only a handful of reviews, but it still remains one of my favourites, while certain pieces that netted a lot more attention I could take or leave.
Where reviews really come in handy for me is how they affect the way I view the mechanics and structure of the piece. If people like my tone and style, I am less likely to change that. If people find I get bogged down in details, I will take note. If they like, not necessarily WHAT I did, but HOW I did it . . . that matters to me. Somebody is ALWAYS going to dislike the general storyline for whatever reason, but if they have issues with my delivery thereof, I really like to know.
Sometimes I will have a nagging feeling something is off, but it takes a more focused critique of the published work to direct me to exactly what is “off” about it. Sometimes I will like something well enough and then somebody comes along with an indea of how I might make it better, and light bulbs start flashing in my head and all sorts of pathways wind off from that initial suggestion that show me in exactly how many ways I can make something SO MUCH better. I love those moments!
Even if I don’t alter the piece in question accordingly (if a story is finished and has been posted for a few years, odds are good I won’t fix anything bigger than a typo) I will certainly take that input and that information with me as I craft the next story, which means (I hope!) that each piece is going to get a little bit better than the last. A “this is good but that could be better” review is not only a good service to a writer, but to all future readers of that writer’s work.
/ramble
Amen to this and to what everyone said in response.
I guess growing up creating visual art has thickened my skin when it comes to criticism. It’s unfortunate that many people automatically take it offensively, as though something not filled with praise is automatically mean-spirited or a personal attack. Constructive criticism is quite the opposite– there’s more care and nurturing found in the critique than in any sycophantic dribble. An in-depth critique means that someone took the time to view, analyze, and respond in order see the creation flourish.
A part of creating something worthwhile is accepting the opinions of others. That’s the beauty of critique…you can learn more about your work through other people’s experiences with it–which in turn makes it stronger. As far as I’m concerned, if you are creating something meant to be viewed/read, and you are putting it out there to be viewed/read, then you are putting it out there to be studied, scrutinized, enjoyed, loathed, and everything in between. If you don’t want to accept everything that might come your way, then don’t put it out there.
That’s the very reason why I don’t show my art in galleries–my work is not ready for the critical eye. But at the same time, the critique is what I enjoyed the most about having a joined studio of artists–the others working beside me could see things I couldn’t. They had expertise in some areas where I lacked and they could advise me so I could improve…and vice versa. I once had a mentor tell me a painting I slaved over was a “successful failure”…this did not mean that I was a failure as an artist, rather it meant that I was successful in taking necessary risks even though my piece didn’t survive them. And with that critique, I found liberation and was able to turn my painting around and create something beautiful.
Regardless if fan fiction is “just for fun”, it’s still a craft and even if you’re not completely serious about it, it’s important to take pride in your work….otherwise, what’s the point? If you’re writing just for the sole purpose of the enjoyment you get out of writing, or if you are using writing as a tool for self-expression and exploration, that’s wonderful…but don’t post it on the internet if it’s something you don’t want opinions on. It’s a simple solution.
Alright…enough rambling from me. Peace out.