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

[lilybaggins.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's it exactly. It's happened to me and it's an awful feeling. I do realize that fic posted publicly is vulnerable in that way, and that if I'm choosing to put it out there, I have to take the good with the bad. However...

I'm not even certain that targeting specific fics is the main thing that kills my own writing muses---sometimes just reading about the problem with certain genres or writing styles or canon-murdering makes me never want to pick up my keyboard again. For example, a ten-page expose on why Frodo and Aragorn would never work as a couple would NOT give me the urge to write. Likewise, nitpicking on every single thing in a story and whether it's canon or not---that drives me crazy sometimes.

I admit, knowing canon makes a story better, even if the story is far off-the-wall AU. But nitpicking a story because it has fir trees in it and fir trees could not have existed in Europe at that time is just ridiculous. Just using that as an example... I have no idea about fir trees!

[sophinisba]

Oh, I know, I've talked to Claudia about it more but I read some anti-interspecies stuff just a short time after I found out about fanfic that really kept me away for a ridiculously long time, and also some mocking of people who don't know their canon well enough that really inhibits me to this day. Now I know some people might think it's just as well if people as sensitive (or lacking in knowledge of canon) decide not to be active in fandom, but I think discouraging other people from writing in general is just not a good plan. After all, don't we all want more fic about hobbits (and rangers)?

And I so agree about the fir trees omg! I mean, I guess I understand that it's a big priority for some people but for me it's just not! I want to write something that people will enjoy reading and that will help us think about the characters some more. I know some people really enjoy the nitpicking about canon but it's just not as interesting to me.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

O, nothing that irritates me MORE than hearing someone's diatribe about why a particular pairing doesn't work. Honestly? I'd much rather hear an essay on why a pairing DOES work. Make me believe. But don't take it too seriously. Not that I need an essay if I find a pairing or a story hot. Nobody needs to defend a pairing based on canon for me to buy it. If Frodo wants to go off wiht Bill Ferny, then so be it. If the story is good enough, I shall believe.