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[silawen]

LJ and Reviewing.

This is a subject I've been thinking about for quite a long time. How does reviewing relate to LJ. Basically, how does it work? LJ seems to have a very specific reviewing style, at least in the fandoms I'm a part of, and it's nothing like other sites or forums. I'd love to get ideas on this from my flist as well.

Comments

RE: reviewing

[blue_eyesgirl]

Huh... Maybe I should start actually asking for concrit then. My Shuu/Izu oneshots not so much because I'm really attached to how I portray those two (and I'm sure some people completely disagree and probably find them OOC) But if concrit where to suddenly appear on one of my fics I wouldn't mind at all =D So long as whoever wrote it is polite about it and not drifting towards flaming then it's fine ^_________^

Re: reviewing

[silawen]

Heh, this post may end up getting me in trouble. I don't have time to review everyone's fics, but that could be the result. XD

Do you recognize what I said, though? It may well be I'm the only one who sees that, so I'd love to hear other people's opinions. I hardly ever see constructive criticism that isn't asked for.

Re: reviewing

[blue_eyesgirl]

XDDD I think so... Ooops |D

Yeah this is true there is no concrit randomly posted. It's odd... I personally am too scared to write concrit (as I have no idea how to give it) that probably contributes to the lack of spontaneous concrit.

[ansela_jonla]

I really hope I'm not one of the ones who's giving off the 'no concrit at all or else' vibe. I like concrit.

Sadly I don't give much of it. The last time I pointed something out to the author, she did end up taking part of my suggestion (that a journal theme with light pink text on a white background with an eye-hurtingly pink border was going to put readers off) but the notes about grammar, spelling, paragraphs, spacing... those went unnoticed and she deleted my comment.

Then again, there was also the person who I left concrit for, in politer wording than the fanficrants post she generated, and she listened to me, editing the canon mistakes she made. That was nice.

I think it just depends on the author sometimes. And I mean what it says on my fic journal: concrit is always welcome.

[silawen]

Oh, no, I'm speaking more 'in general' anyway and it's related to all the fandoms I've been on, not Bleach specifically. It's just that I'm active in this one right now, so that's why you guys are the ones reading it. XD I also think it's different amongst friends than it is in general. Giving you concrit is different from giving a random person concrit, because I already know you're not opposed to it, whereas I don't know anything about the other person. Even so, you're specifically stating you're okay with criticism, while at FF.net and forums everyone is pretty much expected to and mentioning that you're fine with it isn't really necessary. If that makes sense. : P

[muha]

YOU DON'T NEED A LICENCE FOR A HIT AND RUN!

Hm.. I never know what to say about a fic, so I usually never do. I'm sure writers would love both concrit, encouragement and praise and I'm also sure I'd get out more of the story after discussing it with the author. But I'm finding it really hard to write anything intelligent, especially if I know said writer. I don't write myself, so this world is a mystery to me.

Ravenclaw pride! I really need more text icons, but I'm very picky when it comes to typography these days.

[silawen]

I will leave you a reply to the hit and run meme in a bit. I'm going to reply to the discussion replies first and then, when I have time, do the meme. ^^

I'm pretty sure people want encouragement and praise, but I'm not always sure about concrit. There are definitely those who like it - and they come out and say it - but on LJ there seems to be some sort of unspoken rule that reviews should always be all positive, or something, because I very rarely come across reviews that aren't. At least in the fandoms I frequent.

Though I do agree that writing concrit for people I know can feel awkward, because I never know for sure if they can take my bluntness. : P

Ravenclaw indeed! XD

[muha]

If there is any concrit... it's usually from a very close and old friend, or so it seems to me. Maybe it's that LJ seems more personal (even the anon memes are filled with praise and praise only), even if the person is using a writing journal. FF is more like a fiction archive and therefor concrit seems more natural. I am very confused myself right now. I'm not sure of what I'm talking about. It made sense in my head, I swear.

...I probably wouldn't make Ravenclaw if I took the test again. ^^;

[silawen]

I suppose that could all depend on the fandom. Like I said, pokémon and LOTR fandoms weren't like that - they actually had active concritters - but I could see Bleach being different. The one time I wrote a constructive review there the author flipped. XD

In-depth? Really? Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, then, because I've never seen an in-depth review. Or, at least, in-depth reviews that focused on things that could be improved. (Especially regarding grammar, spelling and punctuation.) Most reviews I saw were nothing but positive.

I think feeling free to offer concrit is a result of the fandom's actions. Bleach doesn't feel very open to concrit to me, so I don't really review, whereas it's different in an environment that actually enforces the right to concrit.

[silawen]

Yeah, I think that's different. It's much like specifically asking for the reviews, because you know what kind of community you're joining. Plus, if it's locked, then people are less likely to feel confronted. I could understand people feeling more comfortable that way.

But overall, I haven't seen concrit given freely, without immediate request - be it direct or indirect - by the author. That seems different when compared to FF.net and forums. I don't feel like I could leave the kind of reviews that I'm used to here. I mean, the reviews you showed me are very good, but they come from a locked community that is geared towards such things, not a random fanfiction place. :)

[horusguard76]

I remember that we touched upon this topic during our first meeting here on LJ

[ravens_rising]

I understand and agree with most of what you're saying here. :) I do want to point out that you, er, sort of contradict yourself a bit, though. You say wanting it but not being willing to give it is a bit egoistic, but I disagree, and you even mention the reason why I disagree.

Very often I read that people in general are scared of giving concrit. It could all blow over far too quickly, be misunderstood, diverge into flames etc. And it has become so bad that a reader who gives concrit may be chased away by well-meaning friends of a writer in order to protect said writer from the 'mean' feedback. It's not egoistic to be afraid of causing a flame war. ^^ While the author herself might be open to receiving concrit, if they've spent any time around fandom at all they'd know that a lot of people definitely are not

[horusguard76]

It was late when I typed that. I'm sorry, I should have made myself clearer

part 1

[ravens_rising]

It's fine *g*. I was rushing out when I wrote some of my responses, so I probably didn't make as much sense as I would've liked either xD.

First off, you are right it is not egoistic to fear a flame war or starting one. But that's the thing! Concrit doesn't equal flaming. That's why I wondered whether some writers even know what proper critique is. Because in my personal opinion when someone gives concrit, it's the direct opposite of flames and there is nothing to fear, really.Hmmm, yes, I do agree that lots of fanfiction writers don't know what proper concrit is. Those are going to be the authors that react badly when someone leaves concrit on one of their stories. But in the original context it sounded like you were saying that the reviewers were the ones that didn't understand what concrit was, and I don't think that's necessarily true. Some probably don't, but the ones that do aren't going to leave concrit in fear of starting a flame war/offending someone. Since you never know how people will react, especially on the internet xD