Sophinisba Solis (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sophinisba) wrote2006-05-30 06:23 pm
sophinisba) wrote2006-05-30 06:23 pm
Entry tags:
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![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
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?
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?
no subject
I can understand that though, especially if it's a fic by someone you don't know or don't know well, just because we're used to e-mails being a little bit like letters and so needing a salutation and sign off and all of that. I wouldn't send an e-mail that just says "Great job, I really enjoyed reading this", although a few e-mails I've sent about fics haven't been much more than that. I'd feel more of a need to introduce myself and all that, and that's part of why I'd been wondering if the quantity of comments dropped off but the quality improved. So your answer was just what I'd wanted, no need to worry about the rambling. (I mean really, it's lj.)
I agree with you that people often say they want an honest reaction but then want that reaction to be "You're the greatest writer ever." I'd like to be able to get away from that but maybe a new comm isn't the answer. Or maybe it is but it should be moderated by someone else, because I'm too much of a softy. :) It could also be that there just aren't that many people interested in getting public concrit, so a new comm isn't a good idea for that reason. I know I could be asking for concrit when I post fic and I haven't been doing that so far. I always intend to but then I figure I'll start when I've got a fic I care less about, or when I'm feeling less fragile, and that never seems to happen! I really am a very indecisive and wishy-washy person! But I enjoy talking these things out. Thanks again.