White Collar Meta! Constructive Criticism: a Primer.
Alright. Some things before I start:
1) I am not, by any means, an expert on constructive criticism. What knowledge I do have comes from the fact that I am a creative writing student, and as such have been in a number of workshop classes. These classes exposed me to the views of several brilliant professors, and also to those of a number of other writers. Additionally, I was lucky enough to have one of those professors agree to work with me on the production of the novel I'm currently writing. Because of this, I have received A LOT of concrit. None of this makes me any kind of an expert; it just makes me comfortable with this topic.
2) I am also not, by ANY means, attempting to cause wank. This is not my super sekkrit way of calling someone out--I don't play those games in real life, and I see no reason to play them over the interwebs. I am writing this post because this topic has come up a lot over the past few weeks. I've heard from writers who've received concrit (or NOT concrit) and have wanted to know how to handle it; I've heard from readers who want to offer concrit, but are afraid to. I myself have received some concrit from readers who have been massively apologetic about offering it, and it finally occurred to me that I've never seen a post that really delves into it. THAT IS ALL I AM TRYING TO DO. please do not be mad at me :D
OKAY. All that being said, here we go:
Concrit: What It Is, What It Isn't, and How to Give and Receive It
So! Let's talk about concrit--or, to use its given name, constructive criticism. This can be anything from "Hey, I think there's a little canon error tucked in there" to "Hey, loved this, but Neal saying 'Oh my god I TOTALLY LOVED PRISON' felt a little OOC to me. Maybe try a little less enthusiasm next time?" It is a way of gently letting someone know that something in their story didn't quite work. Here, having some examples!
Five Things What Are Constructive Criticism
1) Letting an author know when you notice a typo or grammatical error that detracts from the flow of their story. On the first story I posted in the White Collar fandom, I spelled Neal's last name "Caffery," not "Caffrey," because I sort of watched every available ep in two days and then started ficcing without, uh, reading anything. I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE HO!YAY, OKAY? Anyway, I received a very kind private message from a lovely reader letting me know, and I was able to change it with minimal embarrassment. It was awesome. (Note: I said *a* typo. If you notice a rash of grammatical errors, that is not a time for concrit; it is time for a beta. This is discussed later in this post.)
2) Letting an author know when, as mentioned up top, you notice a canon error. This happens. There is a lot of canon, it's easy to miss things. And believe me when I tell you--authors want to know if they've screwed that up, because it lessens the credibility of a story. We all, at the end of the day, want our stuff to read like it could be part of the established reality.
3) Letting an author know when they have contradicted themselves. For example: a story starts with Peter NEVAR EVAR having slept with a man before, and then he's expertly topping ten minutes later. It's okay to mention that this confused you--the author may have left out a detail, or forgotten what backstory they'd given, or just not realized the degree to which that was unlikely.
4) Letting an author know when they've overlooked something or made a mistake in their research--on sex, on a legal matter, on a piece of artwork they've got Neal lifting, whatever. We want to know this stuff! There is, of course, the chance that we've done the research and chosen to ignore the aspect of it you're pointing out; poetic license, etc. Still, it's just fine to ask us about it.
5) Letting an author know when they don't explain a necessary aspect of the story. "But how did Neal get to Thailand with his tracker on?" is an okay question to ask.
The real rule of when to offer concrit is: exercise good judgement. If it's an error you'd want to know you'd made in one of your stories, it usually is okay to tell the author about it, provided you do it the right way.
*
However, before we discuss the right way to give constructive criticism, let's discuss some things that are not constructive criticism.
Five Things What Are Not Constructive Criticism
One: Unsolicited Story Advice
Commenting on a completed story to say "I think there should be a sequel! And these things should happen in it! And the characters should react this way!" is NOT constructive criticism; it is unsolicited story advice. "I think this story would be better with an entirely different ending" is also unsolicited story advice. So is "this story would be better if you'd set it elsewhere/written it in another character's POV/made your porn more or less explicit."
Unsolicited story advice is the fanfiction equivalent of getting a haircut, going to meet your mother for lunch, and hearing her say "Oh honey, why'd you do that to yourself?" It is like knocking on a stranger's door and saying "The next time you paint your house, I think you should make the shutters blue. That would make this house look better." Would you tell a stranger what color to paint their shutters? You would not.
In all seriousness: unsolicited story advice is not constructive criticism because it is not constructive. At best, it distracts a writer from their own view of the characters--at worst, it makes them doubt what they've already come up with. It can make them feel guilty about their own ideas, like they are not going to be able to satisfy people; it can make them nervous enough to freeze up and not write anymore. It is a GREAT way to scare someone away from a universe entirely, but if that's your goal, you should refrain from commenting.
If you have read a story that you think should have a specific kind of sequel/a different ending/a new setting/any number of other things, there is a solution: write it that way yourself! This is what remixes are for. You want to tell another version of a story? Another POV in a universe someone else has created? Ask the author if you can do a remix. Most authors will be flattered that you found the story affecting enough to want to play around with it, and will tell you to go to town. If they're not comfortable with it, they will tell you, and then you are, alas, shit out of luck. But! At least you can be secure in the knowledge that you did not bum someone out with unsolicited advice.
(A note: sometimes, authors say something like "Hey, I'm totally stuck: what do you think I should do with these characters next?" In that situation, throwing in your two cents is still not constructive criticism, but it is acceptable, because it is then SOLICITED story advice. If you have a big sign on your door that says "What color should I paint my shutters?" then you cannot fault passersby for telling you. If you ask your mother what she thinks of your haircut, you have no one to blame but yourself.)
Two: Beta Work
Sending a someone a list containing more than two or three grammatical/structural errors from their story is not constructive criticism; it is beta work. Perhaps you have come across a story that is lovely conceptually, with beautiful language, but has distractingly bad grammar throughout: I, too, have discovered such stories. It is a bummer. But the way to handle that is not to send an author all of those errors--they will probably not appreciate it. If you really can't bear to see the work crippled like that, then send them a message that says "Hey! I read your story and I loved it, but there were a few grammar errors. Let me know if you'd like a beta! I'd be more than happy to help."
Be aware that you may be told to stick your helpfulness where the sun doth not shine; this is again an unsolicited advance. But it's one offering help, not heaps of changes, and you'll find that most authors who post stories with lots of grammar errors have not used a beta. They may well be grateful for the offer, and if they're not, that's okay too. You can go your separate ways: you will know that you tried, and they won't have been offended by receiving an itemized list of their mistakes.
Three: Mockery
Making snide or mocking comments about something in a story is not constructive criticism; it is mean. Authors put a lot of time and effort into these stories, and writing is an exercise in self-doubt as much as creativity. You're putting a bit of yourself out there in the universe for people to poke at, and that's a little terrifying.
There are often amusing mistakes in a story. Everyone has made an amusing mistake at some point in their lives; I myself tripped up the stairs only yesterday, to the great mirth of my companions. And at some point, the author may realize the mistake you've found so hilarious, and find it hilarious themselves. However, if it is pointed out to them in a mocking way, they will not find it hilarious; they will find it mortifying. Bite your lip, giggle in the silence of your own home, and move on--it is best for all parties that you do.
(A note on embarrassing mistakes: I typed "It is best for all panties that you do" up there in my first draft of this post. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, PEOPLE.)
Four: Overstepping Your Bounds
Demanding a change instead of suggesting it is not constructive criticism; it is overstepping your bounds. The author in question does not HAVE to change anything. It's their writing, and they are The Boss of It. Even if you think that Neal's more OOC that you've ever seen him, even if you think the way Peter's suddenly decided to wear sparkly shirts to work is completely ridiculous, they are not obligated to do what you say.
Also in the category of overstepping your bounds is the "WRITE MORE NOW" comment. Authors have jobs and families and lives, and they are doing the best they can to get fanfiction out to you. But it's hard! Sometimes a story gets stuck and sometimes you burn dinner and have to make it again and sometimes you get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and have to sit around for three hours without computer access.
Seeing a comment that demands you do anything--write more or change something or what have you--is disheartening. Fanfiction is supposed to be fun! Feeling like you owe someone something, like you are obligated to be writing the stories you are writing, makes them feel more like assignments than creative endeavors. If you want to see a piece continued, say "I love this story--I hope to see more someday! Thanks so much for posting." If you want an author to make a change, suggest it, don't demand it. If they agree with you, great! If not: tough. Them's the breaks. Move on.
Five: Being a Troll
Lastly, of course, it goes without saying that posting "I HATE THIS STORY" is not constructive criticism; it is being a troll. Nobody wants to be a troll. That new green tinge to your skin will make your makeup absolutely useless, the club you have to carry around just WILL NOT fit in the overhead carry-on bin on planes, and it's really hard to find pants that fit. Oh, and people will ban you from stuff. I advise strongly against it.
*
OKAY. We know what constructive criticism is! We know what it is not! It is now time to address the difficult topic of...
How to Give Constructive Criticism
My favorite rule of giving constructive criticism is: highlight the positives too. There are two of reasons to do this. The first reason is that sending someone a message containing only criticism is like driving in someone's blind spot for ten minutes on the highway; it is technically legal, but people will think you are an asshole. On the highway, they will mutter about you in the privacy of their own car. In fandom, they will probably dismiss what you have to say, and that would be a shame.
The second reason to highlight the positive is that writers are defensive about their work. It's just the nature of the beast. It's nerve-wracking, the posting of writing, and we sometimes compensate for our nerves by jumping a little at negativity. WE CAN LEARN TO OVERCOME THIS, but you must help us by stoking our egos a little bit, so we do not feel bad about ourselves for making an error. It will make us more likely to hear what you are saying! It is a good plan.
Some other things to consider: be kind. Be gentle. No matter how many positive comments about the story you pad it with, hearing "But this part REALLY SUCKED" will make a writer sad. In any realm of concrit, it pays to keep in mind how hard people work on their stories. Every piece of fanfic you read represents a ton of effort, so play nice. It will make the experience better for everyone.
Know when to offer concrit. If an author posts a story with a header that says "This is my first time writing fanfiction and I hope you like it and I'm SO nervous," they are probably not ready for concrit. In the same vein, if an author posts or sends something with the tag "I really just need a cheerleader for this," take them at their word and hold the concrit until they ask you for it. If they want their piece to be the best it can be, they will ask you for it.
ALSO: one must consider the medium through which one delivers concrit. My favorite method is the private message, and I will tell you why! First and foremost, it is discreet, saving the writer the embarrassment of being called on a mistake in public. Second, if the author does make the change, they don't have to worry about people reading the comments and realizing they changed something. It's uncomfortable to get asked about a change after the fact, and it distracts from the finished content of the story.
If you do decide to offer concrit in a comment (or you are in a kinkmeme situation, and the PM is not an option) the rule about being kind applies doubly, because lots of people will be able to see it. However, be aware that if they can, the author may delete your comment. This is not an attack on you. It is probably embarrassment on the part of the author. That, too, is the nature of this particular beast.
*
WHEW. THAT'S A LOT OF META UP THERE. I recognize that this has wandered right into tl:dr territory. But I have only one more thing to discuss, and that is:
How to Accept Constructive Criticism
So you've gotten a piece of concrit. If you're like me, and you've been getting it heaped onto you for years, you've probably mostly overcome the natural immediate reaction: to wit, "OH MY GOD I SUCK I SUCK I SUCK THIS IS SO MORTIFYING." It will still hit you to some degree, but you will have learned to silence it. I am now at the point where I love getting concrit, because of what a help it is. Despite that, I still have to remind myself to ignore the YOU SUCK voice: it can be very convincing.
If you haven't been, uh, repeatedly bludgeoned with the concrit stick before, you are going to have that reaction in spades. It's okay! That's normal. You worked hard, and someone thinks you could have done something better, and that is never fun. The way to make the YOU SUCK voice shut up is to tell yourself you don't suck (you really don't) and to remind yourself of the great truth of constructive criticism. I am going to give it its own special paragraph and put in the center of the page and write it in big bold letters, so you do not forget:
CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM MAKES YOU A BETTER WRITER.
No, really. It does. Even if you don't make the changes someone suggests--and you DO NOT have to, it is your writing--you will remember what they've told you. It will help shape your future pieces. It will make you think more as you're working, and that will make you a better writer. It just will. It's science.
As such, the proper response to constructive criticism is always a heartfelt thank you. Note that I said constructive criticism--if someone does one of the things I mentioned in the NOT concrit section, you may respond however you see fit. But if someone has takes the time to sit down with your work, read it, process it, and gently offer you some guidance for improvement, you owe them some thanks. Remember, they are taking nearly as big a risk in offering the crit as you were in writing, because you could yell at them. Do not yell at them. They are honestly trying to help...and they are helping. Because (say it with me) CONCRIT MAKES YOU A BETTER WRITER.
This does NOT mean you have to make all the changes they suggest. In fact, you don't have to change a damn thing if you don't want to. Maybe they see the characters differently than you do, maybe they misunderstood your intent, maybe it's not a big enough canon error to matter, maybe you don't feel like it. Maybe they're straight-up wrong--that happens sometimes. Just consider what they've said, and decide if it works for you. It's your writing, after all; you don't HAVE to do anything.
Except thank them. You really, really should thank them.
*
YOU MADE IT TO THE END. Congrats; you are officially more tenacious than the average bear. Have a cookie! I'd bake you one myself, but alas, the internet does not allow for such things.
Here is my last hurrah: there are really only two things I want to you to remember from this post. The first is that constructive criticism makes you a better writer--it's just the truth, and I cannot say it enough. The second is, to steal the words of a brilliant friend: BE AWESOME TO EACH OTHER. There's nothing better than a working, loving fandom, full of support; the White Collar fandom has been that way so far, and doing concrit right is just one of the many ways to ensure that that continues.
I'd like to state again for the record that I am not in any way trying to cause wank, anger, or anything approaching drama. That said: feel free to let me know what you think! You know what concrit is and isn't, you know how to deliver it and how to receive it, and I am always happy to hear what you have to say.
Peace, love, and gentle edits,
K
ETA 3/18/10: A kind reader has pointed out that sometimes writers react to concrit badly, no matter how well it is given. I didn't talk about that when I originally writing this, because I haven't heard about much (any, really) wank in the WC fandom, and I didn't want to discourage you guys, but it does bear some discussion.
If you take the time to write out a thoughtful, gentle piece of concrit, and are answered with FIRE SPITTING SCREAMING HATE, congratulations! You have come across someone who feels like causing wank. This happens; it's not your fault. Sometimes it's that the writer is unable to deal with criticism in a healthy way, and sometimes it's that the writer is looking for an excuse to cause drama, for reasons that I am unable to fathom. If this happens to you, the right thing to do is relax. Be cool. DO NOT argue with these people--no matter how noble your intentions, you will not succeed in explaining your meaning in a way that quells their bad reaction. Just apologize for causing offense and then quietly extricate yourself from the situation.
Finally, do not let this scare you away from giving concrit in general. As much as these stories circulate, most writers (at least in the fandoms I've frequented) are both sane and willing to work towards making their work better. And again, so long as you were kind and gentle, their bad reaction is not your fault; it is theirs. On the behalf of all of those writers who are not rational enough or stable enough to do it themselves: THANK YOU. Whether they realize it or not, you did them a favor, and you can pat yourself on the back for that.
1) I am not, by any means, an expert on constructive criticism. What knowledge I do have comes from the fact that I am a creative writing student, and as such have been in a number of workshop classes. These classes exposed me to the views of several brilliant professors, and also to those of a number of other writers. Additionally, I was lucky enough to have one of those professors agree to work with me on the production of the novel I'm currently writing. Because of this, I have received A LOT of concrit. None of this makes me any kind of an expert; it just makes me comfortable with this topic.
2) I am also not, by ANY means, attempting to cause wank. This is not my super sekkrit way of calling someone out--I don't play those games in real life, and I see no reason to play them over the interwebs. I am writing this post because this topic has come up a lot over the past few weeks. I've heard from writers who've received concrit (or NOT concrit) and have wanted to know how to handle it; I've heard from readers who want to offer concrit, but are afraid to. I myself have received some concrit from readers who have been massively apologetic about offering it, and it finally occurred to me that I've never seen a post that really delves into it. THAT IS ALL I AM TRYING TO DO. please do not be mad at me :D
OKAY. All that being said, here we go:
Concrit: What It Is, What It Isn't, and How to Give and Receive It
So! Let's talk about concrit--or, to use its given name, constructive criticism. This can be anything from "Hey, I think there's a little canon error tucked in there" to "Hey, loved this, but Neal saying 'Oh my god I TOTALLY LOVED PRISON' felt a little OOC to me. Maybe try a little less enthusiasm next time?" It is a way of gently letting someone know that something in their story didn't quite work. Here, having some examples!
Five Things What Are Constructive Criticism
1) Letting an author know when you notice a typo or grammatical error that detracts from the flow of their story. On the first story I posted in the White Collar fandom, I spelled Neal's last name "Caffery," not "Caffrey," because I sort of watched every available ep in two days and then started ficcing without, uh, reading anything. I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE HO!YAY, OKAY? Anyway, I received a very kind private message from a lovely reader letting me know, and I was able to change it with minimal embarrassment. It was awesome. (Note: I said *a* typo. If you notice a rash of grammatical errors, that is not a time for concrit; it is time for a beta. This is discussed later in this post.)
2) Letting an author know when, as mentioned up top, you notice a canon error. This happens. There is a lot of canon, it's easy to miss things. And believe me when I tell you--authors want to know if they've screwed that up, because it lessens the credibility of a story. We all, at the end of the day, want our stuff to read like it could be part of the established reality.
3) Letting an author know when they have contradicted themselves. For example: a story starts with Peter NEVAR EVAR having slept with a man before, and then he's expertly topping ten minutes later. It's okay to mention that this confused you--the author may have left out a detail, or forgotten what backstory they'd given, or just not realized the degree to which that was unlikely.
4) Letting an author know when they've overlooked something or made a mistake in their research--on sex, on a legal matter, on a piece of artwork they've got Neal lifting, whatever. We want to know this stuff! There is, of course, the chance that we've done the research and chosen to ignore the aspect of it you're pointing out; poetic license, etc. Still, it's just fine to ask us about it.
5) Letting an author know when they don't explain a necessary aspect of the story. "But how did Neal get to Thailand with his tracker on?" is an okay question to ask.
The real rule of when to offer concrit is: exercise good judgement. If it's an error you'd want to know you'd made in one of your stories, it usually is okay to tell the author about it, provided you do it the right way.
*
However, before we discuss the right way to give constructive criticism, let's discuss some things that are not constructive criticism.
Five Things What Are Not Constructive Criticism
One: Unsolicited Story Advice
Commenting on a completed story to say "I think there should be a sequel! And these things should happen in it! And the characters should react this way!" is NOT constructive criticism; it is unsolicited story advice. "I think this story would be better with an entirely different ending" is also unsolicited story advice. So is "this story would be better if you'd set it elsewhere/written it in another character's POV/made your porn more or less explicit."
Unsolicited story advice is the fanfiction equivalent of getting a haircut, going to meet your mother for lunch, and hearing her say "Oh honey, why'd you do that to yourself?" It is like knocking on a stranger's door and saying "The next time you paint your house, I think you should make the shutters blue. That would make this house look better." Would you tell a stranger what color to paint their shutters? You would not.
In all seriousness: unsolicited story advice is not constructive criticism because it is not constructive. At best, it distracts a writer from their own view of the characters--at worst, it makes them doubt what they've already come up with. It can make them feel guilty about their own ideas, like they are not going to be able to satisfy people; it can make them nervous enough to freeze up and not write anymore. It is a GREAT way to scare someone away from a universe entirely, but if that's your goal, you should refrain from commenting.
If you have read a story that you think should have a specific kind of sequel/a different ending/a new setting/any number of other things, there is a solution: write it that way yourself! This is what remixes are for. You want to tell another version of a story? Another POV in a universe someone else has created? Ask the author if you can do a remix. Most authors will be flattered that you found the story affecting enough to want to play around with it, and will tell you to go to town. If they're not comfortable with it, they will tell you, and then you are, alas, shit out of luck. But! At least you can be secure in the knowledge that you did not bum someone out with unsolicited advice.
(A note: sometimes, authors say something like "Hey, I'm totally stuck: what do you think I should do with these characters next?" In that situation, throwing in your two cents is still not constructive criticism, but it is acceptable, because it is then SOLICITED story advice. If you have a big sign on your door that says "What color should I paint my shutters?" then you cannot fault passersby for telling you. If you ask your mother what she thinks of your haircut, you have no one to blame but yourself.)
Two: Beta Work
Sending a someone a list containing more than two or three grammatical/structural errors from their story is not constructive criticism; it is beta work. Perhaps you have come across a story that is lovely conceptually, with beautiful language, but has distractingly bad grammar throughout: I, too, have discovered such stories. It is a bummer. But the way to handle that is not to send an author all of those errors--they will probably not appreciate it. If you really can't bear to see the work crippled like that, then send them a message that says "Hey! I read your story and I loved it, but there were a few grammar errors. Let me know if you'd like a beta! I'd be more than happy to help."
Be aware that you may be told to stick your helpfulness where the sun doth not shine; this is again an unsolicited advance. But it's one offering help, not heaps of changes, and you'll find that most authors who post stories with lots of grammar errors have not used a beta. They may well be grateful for the offer, and if they're not, that's okay too. You can go your separate ways: you will know that you tried, and they won't have been offended by receiving an itemized list of their mistakes.
Three: Mockery
Making snide or mocking comments about something in a story is not constructive criticism; it is mean. Authors put a lot of time and effort into these stories, and writing is an exercise in self-doubt as much as creativity. You're putting a bit of yourself out there in the universe for people to poke at, and that's a little terrifying.
There are often amusing mistakes in a story. Everyone has made an amusing mistake at some point in their lives; I myself tripped up the stairs only yesterday, to the great mirth of my companions. And at some point, the author may realize the mistake you've found so hilarious, and find it hilarious themselves. However, if it is pointed out to them in a mocking way, they will not find it hilarious; they will find it mortifying. Bite your lip, giggle in the silence of your own home, and move on--it is best for all parties that you do.
(A note on embarrassing mistakes: I typed "It is best for all panties that you do" up there in my first draft of this post. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME, PEOPLE.)
Four: Overstepping Your Bounds
Demanding a change instead of suggesting it is not constructive criticism; it is overstepping your bounds. The author in question does not HAVE to change anything. It's their writing, and they are The Boss of It. Even if you think that Neal's more OOC that you've ever seen him, even if you think the way Peter's suddenly decided to wear sparkly shirts to work is completely ridiculous, they are not obligated to do what you say.
Also in the category of overstepping your bounds is the "WRITE MORE NOW" comment. Authors have jobs and families and lives, and they are doing the best they can to get fanfiction out to you. But it's hard! Sometimes a story gets stuck and sometimes you burn dinner and have to make it again and sometimes you get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and have to sit around for three hours without computer access.
Seeing a comment that demands you do anything--write more or change something or what have you--is disheartening. Fanfiction is supposed to be fun! Feeling like you owe someone something, like you are obligated to be writing the stories you are writing, makes them feel more like assignments than creative endeavors. If you want to see a piece continued, say "I love this story--I hope to see more someday! Thanks so much for posting." If you want an author to make a change, suggest it, don't demand it. If they agree with you, great! If not: tough. Them's the breaks. Move on.
Five: Being a Troll
Lastly, of course, it goes without saying that posting "I HATE THIS STORY" is not constructive criticism; it is being a troll. Nobody wants to be a troll. That new green tinge to your skin will make your makeup absolutely useless, the club you have to carry around just WILL NOT fit in the overhead carry-on bin on planes, and it's really hard to find pants that fit. Oh, and people will ban you from stuff. I advise strongly against it.
*
OKAY. We know what constructive criticism is! We know what it is not! It is now time to address the difficult topic of...
How to Give Constructive Criticism
My favorite rule of giving constructive criticism is: highlight the positives too. There are two of reasons to do this. The first reason is that sending someone a message containing only criticism is like driving in someone's blind spot for ten minutes on the highway; it is technically legal, but people will think you are an asshole. On the highway, they will mutter about you in the privacy of their own car. In fandom, they will probably dismiss what you have to say, and that would be a shame.
The second reason to highlight the positive is that writers are defensive about their work. It's just the nature of the beast. It's nerve-wracking, the posting of writing, and we sometimes compensate for our nerves by jumping a little at negativity. WE CAN LEARN TO OVERCOME THIS, but you must help us by stoking our egos a little bit, so we do not feel bad about ourselves for making an error. It will make us more likely to hear what you are saying! It is a good plan.
Some other things to consider: be kind. Be gentle. No matter how many positive comments about the story you pad it with, hearing "But this part REALLY SUCKED" will make a writer sad. In any realm of concrit, it pays to keep in mind how hard people work on their stories. Every piece of fanfic you read represents a ton of effort, so play nice. It will make the experience better for everyone.
Know when to offer concrit. If an author posts a story with a header that says "This is my first time writing fanfiction and I hope you like it and I'm SO nervous," they are probably not ready for concrit. In the same vein, if an author posts or sends something with the tag "I really just need a cheerleader for this," take them at their word and hold the concrit until they ask you for it. If they want their piece to be the best it can be, they will ask you for it.
ALSO: one must consider the medium through which one delivers concrit. My favorite method is the private message, and I will tell you why! First and foremost, it is discreet, saving the writer the embarrassment of being called on a mistake in public. Second, if the author does make the change, they don't have to worry about people reading the comments and realizing they changed something. It's uncomfortable to get asked about a change after the fact, and it distracts from the finished content of the story.
If you do decide to offer concrit in a comment (or you are in a kinkmeme situation, and the PM is not an option) the rule about being kind applies doubly, because lots of people will be able to see it. However, be aware that if they can, the author may delete your comment. This is not an attack on you. It is probably embarrassment on the part of the author. That, too, is the nature of this particular beast.
*
WHEW. THAT'S A LOT OF META UP THERE. I recognize that this has wandered right into tl:dr territory. But I have only one more thing to discuss, and that is:
How to Accept Constructive Criticism
So you've gotten a piece of concrit. If you're like me, and you've been getting it heaped onto you for years, you've probably mostly overcome the natural immediate reaction: to wit, "OH MY GOD I SUCK I SUCK I SUCK THIS IS SO MORTIFYING." It will still hit you to some degree, but you will have learned to silence it. I am now at the point where I love getting concrit, because of what a help it is. Despite that, I still have to remind myself to ignore the YOU SUCK voice: it can be very convincing.
If you haven't been, uh, repeatedly bludgeoned with the concrit stick before, you are going to have that reaction in spades. It's okay! That's normal. You worked hard, and someone thinks you could have done something better, and that is never fun. The way to make the YOU SUCK voice shut up is to tell yourself you don't suck (you really don't) and to remind yourself of the great truth of constructive criticism. I am going to give it its own special paragraph and put in the center of the page and write it in big bold letters, so you do not forget:
CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM MAKES YOU A BETTER WRITER.
No, really. It does. Even if you don't make the changes someone suggests--and you DO NOT have to, it is your writing--you will remember what they've told you. It will help shape your future pieces. It will make you think more as you're working, and that will make you a better writer. It just will. It's science.
As such, the proper response to constructive criticism is always a heartfelt thank you. Note that I said constructive criticism--if someone does one of the things I mentioned in the NOT concrit section, you may respond however you see fit. But if someone has takes the time to sit down with your work, read it, process it, and gently offer you some guidance for improvement, you owe them some thanks. Remember, they are taking nearly as big a risk in offering the crit as you were in writing, because you could yell at them. Do not yell at them. They are honestly trying to help...and they are helping. Because (say it with me) CONCRIT MAKES YOU A BETTER WRITER.
This does NOT mean you have to make all the changes they suggest. In fact, you don't have to change a damn thing if you don't want to. Maybe they see the characters differently than you do, maybe they misunderstood your intent, maybe it's not a big enough canon error to matter, maybe you don't feel like it. Maybe they're straight-up wrong--that happens sometimes. Just consider what they've said, and decide if it works for you. It's your writing, after all; you don't HAVE to do anything.
Except thank them. You really, really should thank them.
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YOU MADE IT TO THE END. Congrats; you are officially more tenacious than the average bear. Have a cookie! I'd bake you one myself, but alas, the internet does not allow for such things.
Here is my last hurrah: there are really only two things I want to you to remember from this post. The first is that constructive criticism makes you a better writer--it's just the truth, and I cannot say it enough. The second is, to steal the words of a brilliant friend: BE AWESOME TO EACH OTHER. There's nothing better than a working, loving fandom, full of support; the White Collar fandom has been that way so far, and doing concrit right is just one of the many ways to ensure that that continues.
I'd like to state again for the record that I am not in any way trying to cause wank, anger, or anything approaching drama. That said: feel free to let me know what you think! You know what concrit is and isn't, you know how to deliver it and how to receive it, and I am always happy to hear what you have to say.
Peace, love, and gentle edits,
K
ETA 3/18/10: A kind reader has pointed out that sometimes writers react to concrit badly, no matter how well it is given. I didn't talk about that when I originally writing this, because I haven't heard about much (any, really) wank in the WC fandom, and I didn't want to discourage you guys, but it does bear some discussion.
If you take the time to write out a thoughtful, gentle piece of concrit, and are answered with FIRE SPITTING SCREAMING HATE, congratulations! You have come across someone who feels like causing wank. This happens; it's not your fault. Sometimes it's that the writer is unable to deal with criticism in a healthy way, and sometimes it's that the writer is looking for an excuse to cause drama, for reasons that I am unable to fathom. If this happens to you, the right thing to do is relax. Be cool. DO NOT argue with these people--no matter how noble your intentions, you will not succeed in explaining your meaning in a way that quells their bad reaction. Just apologize for causing offense and then quietly extricate yourself from the situation.
Finally, do not let this scare you away from giving concrit in general. As much as these stories circulate, most writers (at least in the fandoms I've frequented) are both sane and willing to work towards making their work better. And again, so long as you were kind and gentle, their bad reaction is not your fault; it is theirs. On the behalf of all of those writers who are not rational enough or stable enough to do it themselves: THANK YOU. Whether they realize it or not, you did them a favor, and you can pat yourself on the back for that.