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[kenyacandoit]

I have a question for you Fic Writers out there. Please give it a read and see if I'm just weird or what. Shut up. I heard the snickering.

Comments

[riani1]

I would prefer not to use a word that noticeable so often. Of course, my first reaction to people pointing things out is offense and outrage that anyone would even dream of daring to point out errors in my deathless prose, but fortunately on second reading I'm normally more reasonable.

[kenyacandoit]

Well, I'm keeping my mouth closed on the subject from now on. Really, it's not that important in the big scheme of things, is it? :D

Thanks so much for giving me your opinion. It and you are very appreciated.

[thisficklemob]

I admit, I'm very sensitive to criticism... and sometimes I'm like, "Well, who are you" when someone points something out... not as in "who are you" as a writer, but "who are you that I should trust your judgement over my own." But the times that has happened have been in real life, where the tone of voice has really been part of the insult. Also, the more personal and difficult it was more to write something, the more sensitive I am about it. Thing is, even when someone is probably right, criticism is difficult for me to hear, so mocking my poetry is far more likely to bother me than picking apart my critical essays. Fic falls somewhere in the middle. But such sensitivity to criticism is MY issue, in a way, and I know it

[thisficklemob]

Um, I implied this, but not sure I made it clear...

IMHO, inappropriate/non-deliberate word repetition can be construed as a mistake... as in I've had professors mark it, and if I notice it when I'm beta'ing, I mark it. Because it's not something the writer may notice when writing, but the reader does notice. So in this case, if you sent me this feedback, I might feel foolish, but I probably would not ask, "well, who are you to give this feedback?" Because while the extent that it bothered you is a matter of individual reaction, if she really was using an unusual word every few paragraphs, and it was not deliberate, then it's objectively (rather than subjectively) a mistake. You see what I'm saying? So you're on pretty solid ground there.

*goes to look for caffeine*

[jonesiexxx]

Or, you could say, "I loved this fic because x y z... I had one quibble, though... do like to get constructive criticism, or would you rather not?" And then that leaves it in her court.

Brilliant.

[kenyacandoit]

You know, I really don't know her take on receiving critical fb. I have written her several times for several stories, but it's always been high praise and pleas for more, which is the only kind of fb I give. So I don't know if she's open or not.

I feel that I will not say anything though. I'm over the initial "ow, my brain with that word!" reaction, so it doesn't seem quite as important.

Thank you so much for your comments of this sensitive subject. It means a lot to me that you commented!

[jonesiexxx]

As I mentioned above, I thought thisficklemob's suggestion was fantabulous.

Whether you say something or not, I hope the writer does get the message from someone. Because then she can turn around and kill her beta, who really really deserves it.

[kenyacandoit]

That is a really good was to do it. I doubt I will, though, because after a day later, it seems so insignificant now.

But on the other hand, I also hope others read it and are disturbed as I was so I have a bit of vindication for my ranty post! Yes, I'm a small, small person.

Thank you so much for commenting. And thank you for using the lovely, hilarious icon! "Concurrently"!!! Can I be next?

[brynspikess]

Hmmm... I'd probably mention it, just like "Hey, didja know you used this word 47 times?" 'cause I'd wanna know - it's something I try not to do but I catch myself doing it occasionally. In this one chapter, I was writing it really fast and didn't have time to beta it, and later when I was rereading it, I realized I used the word 'gently' like five times in the same paragraph. *headdesk* So yeah. T'was not a fun revalation.

[kenyacandoit]

Thanks for the opinion! I ended up not saying anything (big chicken) and am still happily reading her fic. I guess it was a "just in the moment" kind of knee jerk reaction.