Oh dear. I'm so paranoid about that sort of stuff. Even writing the fics I did this year for the Christmas challenge, I googled to see what was on Broadway during Nov 2005, to make sure that I got it right
( ... )
Not a lot. But there, I've been saying for years that my whole life has been a rehearsal to be a grumpy old woman, and now that I've retired I'm entitled to the role.
I never know what to saw when I read something like that, I don't write myself so I feel I don't really have the right to be critical so I just leave the page quickly and quietly. Makes me even more appreciative that there are so many authors out there who produce such high quality work.
Yes. It's just frustrating, because I kind of feel that maybe there's a good story idea in there somewhere, but there's no chance at all that I could enjoy a story with so many errors.
Mind, some are hilarious. I read one story where the flight from Pittsburgh to New York seemed to take about 5 hours. (There was time for a meal service, plus time for Justin to sleep for several hours.)
And one where Pittsburgh had a beach, with sand and everything.
I just wanted to send the writers concerned the link to google maps for US.
I remember the one with the beach did get a comment about how far Pitts is from the sea and they just kind of shrugged it off with "it's only a story". Takes all kinds I guess.
Me, I google restaurant names and locations and flight timetables and all sorts of fact checking before I would dream of even sending a fic to my beta.
To be fair, CowLip had some ficlike doozies in the Pittsburgh realm. Liberty Ave. as the equivalent of Church St. Or Canal St. In Manchester was pushing it!
Just a bit. I've been to Liberty Avenue. Before QAF came out actually. I google mapped that one to see if there was another Liberty Ave in Pittsburgh. *g*
Not to mention (I know we're on the same page here) their bizarre timeline. Guinness Book of Records for longest human pregnancy for a start. (Although, when you think about Mikey, sometimes I think the "human" is questionable.)
"So what do I do? Do I give the writer this kind of feedback (a little more gently phrased of course)? Would there be any point? Do I just advise them to get a better beta?"
I think it depends. LOL, how's that for skirting around the issue? On occasion, I've pm'd a writer if I found a glaring error (but again, it depended on my 'relationship' with said writer). Most of the time, if I do comment on a fic, I don't mention any errors (especially if there's a beta involved-wouldn't want to get in the middle of that kerfuffle. I'm not that strong. *g*)
I realize I'm on the OCD spectrum of writing accuracy, but if I'm putting a fic 'out there' with my name on it, I want it as perfect as I can make it. I remember years ago, a reader had pm'd me about a SPAG error. I was so grateful that they not only pointed it out, but did it in a gracious and private manner. Needless to say, I corrected it immediately, all the while berating myself at letting it slip by.
My limited experience of giving this kind of feedback has been that it's usually been met with a "it's just a fan fic story" kind of approach (often paired with 'other people like it'). It's as if they don't think they need to bother with quality as long as their pals leave them flattering comments.
And the criticisms weren't harsh, they were trying to be supportive and constructive.
As I've said elsewhere, when I first started writing I'd often get pulled up for using Brit/ Aus colloquialisms or terms. I have a list which I still reference occasionally. I used to do a word search of each fic to make sure none of them were in there.
I really valued that feedback. It helped me a lot. And I know other writers felt the same. But I don't know ... that doesn't seem to be the case much anymore.
Doesn't seem to be worth the hassle, to be honest. *sigh*
Absolutely agree with your post, as well as your previous one which I thought should have the additional point of REREAD, REREAD, REREAD, FFS, REREAD!!!!
English is not my first language but my grammar, spelling and obsession with perfection are good enough that, once I find a mistake in a story, I can't see anything else. At that point I don't read anymore, I just jump from mistake to mistake.
I was fortunate enough that when I started writing, I got the absolute most incredible beta in the world. Not only did she take my stories to a whole new level, but she also taught me writing and language skills that I'm still using at work daily (or is that "using daily at work"?).
As for how to respond to the fic? As a writer I very, very much appreciated feedback that enabled me to avoid rookie mistakes, and grow as a writer. I suggest try to find something positive first, even if it's just, for example, to say that the plot sounds promising, and then just add a gentle but straight suggestion that they double-check xxxxxxx before posting.
Thanks. To be honest - that last paragraph - that's exactly how I feel. I read fan fic to be amused and entertained and to relax, not to be driven nuts by stupid careless errors. But there have been times in the past when I've tried leaving constructive feedback, just to have it shrugged off with "oh, it's just a fan fic".
Can't believe, by the way, that you are not a native English speaker. Your writing is remarkably fluent.
A good beta is definitely the key. Mine has been working with me for a long time now and sometimes she points out things that I can not believe I missed. Sadly I've a bad habit of post-beta tweaking which is when errors do tend to creep in. Sigh.
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What can you do?
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Mind, some are hilarious. I read one story where the flight from Pittsburgh to New York seemed to take about 5 hours. (There was time for a meal service, plus time for Justin to sleep for several hours.)
And one where Pittsburgh had a beach, with sand and everything.
I just wanted to send the writers concerned the link to google maps for US.
I remember the one with the beach did get a comment about how far Pitts is from the sea and they just kind of shrugged it off with "it's only a story". Takes all kinds I guess.
Me, I google restaurant names and locations and flight timetables and all sorts of fact checking before I would dream of even sending a fic to my beta.
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Reply
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Liberty Ave. as the equivalent of Church St. Or Canal St. In Manchester
was pushing it!
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Not to mention (I know we're on the same page here) their bizarre timeline. Guinness Book of Records for longest human pregnancy for a start. (Although, when you think about Mikey, sometimes I think the "human" is questionable.)
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I think it depends. LOL, how's that for skirting around the issue? On occasion, I've pm'd a writer if I found a glaring error (but again, it depended on my 'relationship' with said writer). Most of the time, if I do comment on a fic, I don't mention any errors (especially if there's a beta involved-wouldn't want to get in the middle of that kerfuffle. I'm not that strong. *g*)
I realize I'm on the OCD spectrum of writing accuracy, but if I'm putting a fic 'out there' with my name on it, I want it as perfect as I can make it. I remember years ago, a reader had pm'd me about a SPAG error. I was so grateful that they not only pointed it out, but did it in a gracious and private manner. Needless to say, I corrected it immediately, all the while berating myself at letting it slip by.
Reply
And the criticisms weren't harsh, they were trying to be supportive and constructive.
As I've said elsewhere, when I first started writing I'd often get pulled up for using Brit/ Aus colloquialisms or terms. I have a list which I still reference occasionally. I used to do a word search of each fic to make sure none of them were in there.
I really valued that feedback. It helped me a lot. And I know other writers felt the same. But I don't know ... that doesn't seem to be the case much anymore.
Doesn't seem to be worth the hassle, to be honest. *sigh*
Reply
Absolutely agree with your post, as well as your previous one which I thought should have the additional point of REREAD, REREAD, REREAD, FFS, REREAD!!!!
English is not my first language but my grammar, spelling and obsession with perfection are good enough that, once I find a mistake in a story, I can't see anything else. At that point I don't read anymore, I just jump from mistake to mistake.
I was fortunate enough that when I started writing, I got the absolute most incredible beta in the world. Not only did she take my stories to a whole new level, but she also taught me writing and language skills that I'm still using at work daily (or is that "using daily at work"?).
As for how to respond to the fic? As a writer I very, very much appreciated feedback that enabled me to avoid rookie mistakes, and grow as a writer. I suggest try to find something positive first, even if it's just, for example, to say that the plot sounds promising, and then just add a gentle but straight suggestion that they double-check xxxxxxx before posting.
( ... )
Reply
Can't believe, by the way, that you are not a native English speaker. Your writing is remarkably fluent.
A good beta is definitely the key. Mine has been working with me for a long time now and sometimes she points out things that I can not believe I missed. Sadly I've a bad habit of post-beta tweaking which is when errors do tend to creep in. Sigh.
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