vague idea for a fic community

[sophinisba]

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?

Comments

[sophinisba]

Thank you so much for your thoughts, including the healthy dose of pessimism. Would you mind letting me know which rps comm had the way off base criticisms? I'm interested in seeing what other people have tried. I follow elijahslashdom, a comm that encourages concrit, and it seems like they do all right, though there isn't a ton of traffic there these days. Most of the authors who've received concrit there have been really gracious about it. But it could just seem friendlier to me because I'm looking at it as an outsider and not thinking of posting there. Maybe if I were writing in that fandom I would find the group cliquish, and as it is I'm just a reader who likes that the fic there is usually good quality stuff.

I like the compromises you suggest, like saying we don't insist on a beta reader but maybe we encourage you to use one and at the very least run a spell check. And I think the kind of community where you apply could work. I'd tend to be pretty liberal about letting people in, unless they look like sockpuppet journals or they're obviously fond of putting other people down. I know there are some mean people who have a lot of influence but I really don't think their numbers are very large or that they'd be particularly interested in joining a community with me and my friends, you know? I would want it to be possible for a group of friendly people to set the tone and let new people who want to join follow that model, but maybe it would get out of control, I really don't know.

If people submitted really horrible fic, would it be very hypocritical of us just to ignore them?

Thank you so much for offering to help! I have a good deal of vain cowardice too but I do think this might be worth a try. I always really appreciate your comments in fandom discussion (sometimes I even get jealous of how smart and articulate you are!) and I think we'd get along well and have similar ideas of how we would want things to go.

[blackbird-song.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome, and I'm always willing to emulate my favourite pessimists!

I'm afraid I'd rather not mention the concrit community by name, here, as the criticism in question is leveled at one of my favourite writers by someone with whom I've had some issues. To be blunt, this person has an overly inflated idea of her own competence as an editor and writer, and has tended to throw her weight around in ways that hurt others unnecessarily. She's never been nasty to me, nor do I believe that she means to do harm, but she has caused some hard feelings in a fandom in which I participate a great deal. In this case, she really didn't understand the specialized idiom she was criticizing. I would have jumped in and offered a very different take on it, but I didn't want to start a conflict within the group. I rather wish I had risked it, now, as I don't think this story was ever finished or posted.

I have not followed elijahslashdom, but in checking it briefly, I have seen only positive feedback, rather than constructive criticism. Granted, I have not looked into it at all deeply and could be completely wrong. Having skimmed bits of Dom/Lijah fandom, I can say that I do notice that the cliques in that community seem to follow those in the greater circle of that ship. If you want to encourage concrit, you may have to point out that it involves more than people telling authors what they like. They'll need to mention what they think does not work, and why. As Semyaza said, there is an art to concrit, and it's tricky to do it without destroying artistic impulses or hurting people's feelings.

I think that if you're careful about following your instincts when it comes to letting people in, you'll be all right. Don't discount the possibility of mean and influential people wanting to be part of something like this. While it's unlikely, it could happen, and you'll want a strategy. The idea of having a core group starting out is a good one, which would allow people to see and follow the general tone you seek to establish. Perhaps a model post with how to and how not to behave might work. It could be backdated and linked as a sample from the user info page for those seeking clarification.

If people really did submit absolutely horrid fic, we could ignore it. If it's trollish fic, the mod or mods could delete it, of course. I'd imagine that you wouldn't be in favour of obligating any member, including the mod(s), to offer criticism. :)

The offer of help stands, and you're quite welcome. I blush at your praise, and would be happy to work with you, if you can still stand the idea after this. ;) Please feel free to email me, if you wish to talk more about this.

Catherine