sophinisba | vague idea for a fic community

I've been toying with the idea of setting up an LJ community for giving and getting constructive feedback on hobbit fics, and I'd like to, well, get some constructive feedback from you all on the idea. The general idea would be something like a writers' workshop -- mind you, not the lame kind of writers' workshop where people try to shoot each other down, but the cool kind where people are genuinely interested in helping each other improve as writers.

I'm not dead set on the idea by any means. I realize there are a lot of ways it could turn ugly and people's feelings could get hurt. The main strategy I've come up with so far for avoiding unpleasantness is "The mod would pay really close attention", but honestly I don't know if I want to take on that kind of commitment or those kinds of conflicts. Anyway, fanfic is something we do for fun, and maybe it would be better to stick to the positive feedback most of us give each other on our fic journals, or suggestions made by the beta reader and in occasional e-mails. I really believe that the main way we get better at writing is by writing (a lot); and I think the kind of negative feedback that inhibits creativity and keeps us from writing (a lot) is really not helpful.

Still, it could be nice to get honest reactions and suggestions from other writers and readers, especially if there's, I don't know, a fic that we're just not satisfied with, or a certain goal we're not sure if we're reaching (does the dialogue work? was the surprise a surprise? is the sex scene sexy?). It would be like the beta process, only with more people, and maybe the other people watching could learn something about the process of writing and revising as well.

By the way, I do realize that

lotrfic_crit exists. What I'm envisioning would be different in that it would focus more on hobbits than Elves, and we would only review fics posted to the community by their authors. (There would be no snarking or ranting about random badfic on ff.net.) If you think hijacking that community (say, posting a whole bunch of good quality fics about hobbits there) would be a better strategy than starting up a new one, please say so. And please let me know if there's another community that already does what I want.

Honestly, in general, what do you think? Would you play? Do you have suggestions for keeping it truly constructive and helpful? Do you think people who want concrit would be better off just saying so wherever they already post? Do you think the hobbit writing community is too closely knit and public concrit would create serious conflicts between friends? Would you like to co-mod with me?

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Over the four years I've been reading and reviewing fanfiction, I tend to only leave positive comments (or no comments at all). I don't feel that folks post to Stories of Arda, etc. to get grammar or plotline advice, but to share something they're excited about. If I read a story and all I can think of is, "Please learn to use commas!" or, "There's nothing of the author here, she's just regurgitating Tolkien almost word for word", I usually don't review at all.

However, if folks post somewhere (like the community you're suggesting) and truly are asking and hoping for honest advice, I'd try to leave honest and helpful with comments.

I'd certainly be interested in seeing where this goes.

I fully agree! I never assume that anyone wants a critique unless it is specifically stated somewhere. If there's something major that is really bothering me and I think the author is worth it (really, really good except for this one thing), then I will email her about it (possibly). Although emailing someone you don't know very well with any kind of critique bears its own risk, as I have found out in the past! :-)

I'm very interested to see where this goes, too!

Me too. Or, well, I sometimes e-mail people about typos. I've done a lot of composing in my head of e-mails I would send about slightly more substantive things, if I had the guts to do so.

When I was a lurker I didn't realize how rare concrit was. I had all these ideas of e-mails I planned to big name fans, pointing out the little flaws in their works. *shakes head ruefully*

It may not go anywhere! Even some of the responses to this post are making me feel a little uneasy, so how the hell would I handle modding a concrit comm? :D I really appreciate your thoughts, Claudia!

I honestly do think that this would be a difficult thing to mod. Well, you could just jump in and see what happens! The worst htat happens is that it doesn't work out that way and you try another way! ;-)

I don't feel that folks post to Stories of Arda, etc. to get grammar or plotline advice, but to share something they're excited about.

Yes, I definitely agree. And I wouldn't show up on somebody's livejournal and where they've posted a fic and get on their case for comma usage either, although if I think they write really well and they missed a comma or a word I might e-mail them. But I have seen a few people take constructive criticism really well on their journals and I get a little jealous even as I get scared! But I thought if they were posting to a community whose specific purpose is to do that, then it should be okay. Voluntary, you know?

I'm not sure if this will actually go anywhere, but it is great to hear ideas from so many people.

vague idea for a fic community

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