:(

[sherryillk]

I just got admonished by a mod on the Snupin gift exchange website. How very mortifying! Someone should have told me critiques are generally considered bad form when it comes to gift fics! Why has this never come up before? If I had known, I would have been more careful! :( Gah, this has me all depressed now... T_T I don't like people thinking I did things maliciously when I was just making a comment about a story... If you state a truth about something, it doesn't really make it bad or good, right? I thought it was just constructive... Apparently not. Oh well, I'll just refrain from reviewing anything that isn't awesome anymore since apparently it's considered bad etiquette. :(

Although truthfully, this sorta sapped the joy out of things... I don't really want to leave any more comments now. Who knows what would be considered bad and get me kicked off the site? I love Snupin fics! That'll be such a crushing blow... :( Anything short of glowing has a chance of being considered critical... I went and deleted all the other reviews that I've made that weren't of me raving about the fic. *so don't want this to happen again*

*wants to crawl under a rock*

Now I'm going to be self-conscious about all the reviews I leave for the various gift exchanges going on now... I feel like someone should have posted something somewhere about not leaving constructive reviews for gift exchanges. It wasn't even a mean one and was very mild in my mind. I didn't even think anything about it... But obviously it's raised a red flag so I guess it wasn't as tame as I thought it was. :( Was this just understood? Did I miss something that said "don't say anything if you can't say anything nice, even if it's true and said neutrally"? Gah, I feel so horrible about this... T_T *totally fails*

Comments

[mithril-56.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, the criticisms I've received tend to be opinion based (my version of the characters don't fit their version of the characters), a dislike of part of the plot, (it made them sad, etc. so it shouldn't have happened), or agenda based (they hate a character so why did I write that character as likable or why did I write that 'ship when I should really be writing the 'ship the commenter likes.) In other words, what I've received aren't true critiques, like you've said you write.

I agree that the above examples are *not* concrit. It would be nice if mods in comms would issue a 'welcome' post (or have a side-bar link to one) for new members that explain what the expectations are in their community for fic. They should explain what the responsibility of the writer is (in terms of filling in the feedback box appropriately) and what is expected of the reader as well. I'd do something like this:

* * *

Writers:

DO fill in the feedback section of your header appropriately. Here are some options you might want to consider:

1. Yes (you may get praise, concrit, or a mix of the two)
2. No (you should get no feedback whatsoever)
3. Tell me you love me (positive feedback only, please, no concrit/reviews)
4. Concrit via private email please (email addy: xxxxx.com)

Readers:

DO provide feedback unless none is requested. Remember that fanfic writers do not get paid for their efforts except in terms of reader feedback.

DO provide feedback only as and if requested by the writer in their story's header segment. Look at this first before posting feedback of any kind.

NEVER flame. Here are some examples and definitions for you to use:

Concrit (constructive criticism) IS:

Constructive (positive)
Specific (examples from the work given that illustrate the point)
Helpful (helps the writer improve their craft)
Tactful (not intentionally hurtful and never malicious)
Focused on grammar (spelling, punctuation, verb tense, etc.)
Focused on characters acting out of character ACCORDING TO CANON (not on personal preference)
Focused on timeline or continuity
Balanced (includes what works as well as what doesn't - encourages the writer to continue!)

Concrit IS NOT:

Vague (unspecified complaints not tied explicitly to the work under discussion)
Opinion-based (based on preferences for character behavior not canon, OTP ships, etc.)
Insulting (concrit should always be helpful - insulting comments never are)

Flames:

Flames are generally what Concrit IS NOT. See the above section to avoid flaming. Flames are NOT allowed in this comm. A first flame will result in a private notice from a mod. Additional flames may result in a ban.

Thank you for reading and adhering to this policy!

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Okay, there's more to this post, but since I've exceeded the limit, I'll continue it in an additional reply below :>