Fic ratings - how do YOU do it?

POSTED BY: mal4prez
UPDATED: Tuesday, October 9, 2007 19:28
VIEWED: 14100
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MAL4PREZ

Wednesday, January 31, 2007 10:13 PM

Who's Simon Cowell? (enquiring minds want to know )

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I'm the president. I don't need to listen.

HEWHOKICKSALOT

Thursday, February 1, 2007 2:42 PM

Here's a quote to stimulate your memory. "That was quite possibly the worst thing I've ever heard. If you ever get the urge to sing again, let it go."

Does that help?

"And I'm thinkin' your weren't burdened with an overabundance of schoolin'."

Rob O.

MAL4PREZ

Thursday, February 1, 2007 3:57 PM

*scratches head*

I got nothing.

Edit: ah-hah!! It's from that new star searchy show. Sorry, I avoid it like the plaque.

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I'm the president. I don't need to listen.

HEWHOKICKSALOT

Thursday, February 1, 2007 4:11 PM

And for a witty commentary, the judges give Mal4Prez........ three and three quarter stars!

Anyway, I hope that everyone considering posting a fic doesn't hesitate just because they might get a little negative feedback. I've read some pretty amazing stuff in the last few months on this site, stories that would translate well to the small or big screen.

So, be not afraid.

"We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural response from either patient."

Rob O.

JETFLAIR

Sunday, February 11, 2007 12:27 PM

I typically only rate and comment on things I have enjoyed, so I tend to leave high ratings. If I didn't enjoy a story, it was usually because:

1: The subject matter was distasteful to me, I didn't like the pairings, or I personally disagreed with how the author had the characters behave. All my problems, not the author's, and therefore not deserving of a low rating.

2: The writing was terrible - poor spelling, grammar, characterizations, or story. A comment telling someone they can't write won't help them learn how to do it well, and it'll just make them feel horrible.

Feedback is really important to me, and I try to remember that when I read other author's fics, but I will freely admit I'm horrible about leaving feedback. Must start doing it more often!

I guess as an author, the high ratings and glowing praise that I've seen some short, poorly written fics makes it hard for me to figure out where mine stands, objectively. Do I get positive feedback and ratings because the story is good, or because people are nice?

The line between taking negative comments constructively and being hurt by them is a very thin one.

The small amount of constructive criticisim I've gotten has helped me a great deal.....without any indication of where I'm straying, annoying people, or wandering out of the believability zone, there is nothing keeping me on track.

But I'm also overly sensitive, and I have to work hard on not being hurt or feeling defensive, especially in the rare cases where I disagree with the negative comment.

These are all things I think about when I rate a fic and comment on it (I dont just rate without commenting). I usually will only post positive comments unless the author is very good and I see some aspect of the story where I think a nudge might be a good idea ("I liked this chapter a lot, but I'm not entirely certain Kaylee would punch Inara...").

"Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you when she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home." .......We love you, captain.

"This is the captain. We may experience some slight turbulence and then.....explode"

www.serenityverse.com - Zoe necklace replicas, Serenity dogtags, jewelry, image gallery w/ custom DVD covers, other goodies!

EMPIREX

Thursday, October 4, 2007 3:27 AM

Yep, I’m digging this ancient thread up. I feel that it needs to be re-examined and I’ll tell you all why. Hopefully this might cause some things to change.

Right now, I’m really annoyed. Earlier today, I was perusing the BSR archives and came across a particular fic. The fic wasn’t *terrible*. It was entirely mediocre. This is nothing new and not surprising, because the author is young. Yet I wondered why in the world it (and all the rest of the author’s fics) had been rated 8s and 9s. I concluded that, because of this author’s tender age, people were cutting him some slack and trying to be nice and encouraging.

That’s fine, whatever, but as I began to read the feedback that was given and the replies that the author posted, it became quite clear to me that we (the collective “we”, as in Those Who Dwell in the Blue Sun Room) had created a Monster.

Yes, folks, a monster.

Like so many others, the writer begged and pleaded for feedback and when it was received, promptly dismissed it. I saw that pretty much the same couple of people had commented on all of his stories (These are the same folks who generally read everything that gets posted in the BSR and always leave glowing feedback, bless their hearts. Some of it is deserved, some of it - not so much - IMO).

One of these kind souls in particular had the nerve to actually post CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. *Gasp!* The author’s reply? Rude and immature. When I read it, my jaw literally dropped. I could not believe than an author, no matter how young, would be such an ungrateful little brat as to snark at one of the FEW people who had actually taken the time to read all of his mediocre work, give it high marks, and post feed-back!

So. I think it’s time we re-examine this whole rating issue/feedback thing. Be encouraging. Be polite. But please, PLEASE! stop blowing smoke up people’s behinds. It’s not helping them be better writers! Rewarding a writer with an undeserved score gives them nothing to strive for. And it just turns some of them into insufferable little gits.

Rant over. =) Feel free to discuss.

"Can you, for a moment, imagine how depressing it is to teach one thousand years of masculine ineptitude? Why do you think there are so few women historians? I'll tell you why. Because history is not such a frolic for women as it is for men... History is a commentary on the various and continuing incapabilities of men. History is women following behind with a bucket and a mop." - Alan Bennett, "The History Boys"

EMPIREX

Thursday, October 4, 2007 3:33 AM

BTW, the Kindly Reviewer, even after being publicly slammed, continued to leave nice, constructive comments. Class. She's goin' to the Special Heaven.

"Can you, for a moment, imagine how depressing it is to teach one thousand years of masculine ineptitude? Why do you think there are so few women historians? I'll tell you why. Because history is not such a frolic for women as it is for men... History is a commentary on the various and continuing incapabilities of men. History is women following behind with a bucket and a mop." - Alan Bennett, "The History Boys"

MAL4PREZ

Thursday, October 4, 2007 2:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by EmpireX:
Like so many others, the writer begged and pleaded for feedback and when it was received, promptly dismissed it.

You're right, this seems to have happened quite a few times lately - beg for feedback, then get all insulted and have a tantrum over it. It's shocking, the disrepect some writers have for their readers.

I'm not sure how to deal with it - on one hand, the beauty of fic is that it doesn't have to be perfect. On the other hand, you're so right about how monsters get created. With some shining exceptions, it seems that few writers really improve over time. It's almost become the norm to defend one's mediocrity, to announce to readers that criticism is not welcome and things will never change.

I just don't get that. One of the more useful things I've learned from writing is how to take criticism. Really, some of these whiny writers would be going out to buy a shotgun if they got all the red ink that I've gotten from one of my betas, and I'll take the risk of saying that I invest more hours in my writing than most anyone here. (No one else is as crazy as me LOL!) But my beta held nothing back. Not easy to take, I tell you. Humble pie, shoved down my throat. But soooo good for my writing, and for me.

Being able to take criticism is useful in more places than the FF fic-verse. I'm guessing that some folks who go ballistic over their writing do it in real life too, and could use a lesson in chilling out. Might make them happier people.

My fantasy is that criticism would be given more often, like maybe readers would say something positive and something negative about every fic, no matter how good or bad it is. Then maybe writers would see criticism as a natural part of the process, and a compliment rather than an insult. Because it is, really.

Rant #2 over.

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hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left

EMPIREX

Thursday, October 4, 2007 6:07 PM

double post

EMPIREX

Thursday, October 4, 2007 6:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
My fantasy is that criticism would be given more often, like maybe readers would say something positive and something negative about every fic, no matter how good or bad it is. Then maybe writers would see criticism as a natural part of the process, and a compliment rather than an insult. Because it is, really.

Rant #2 over.

Bumping this up and adding:

ITA. You know, when I recently posted my first two fics, I got very nice reviews. It was fun and ego boosting and everything, but only 2x2 (who commented on my LiveJournal page) actually gave some constructive criticism. She pointed out the exact place in my story that *I* knew I had struggled with - where it was weakest - and I really appreciated it.

So my stories were both rated 9s here. It's flattering, but are they deserving of 9s? Nope! (I didn't even have a slave-driving beta to whip me into shape, mores the pity

) I was hoping that someone besides 2x2 would take the time to point out the short comings. I could have used that for future efforts.

I think, more than anything, we as a group should focus on craft instead of are we reading our favorite pairing or "Aw, you tried really hard! Aren't you brave for posting in a public forum! Let's give you a gold star!" On the other hand, if a pairing doesn't appeal to you, don't read it. Don't be a jerk and rate it low because it might actually be decently-written. I think all ratings - high and low - should be justified with a comment.

"Can you, for a moment, imagine how depressing it is to teach one thousand years of masculine ineptitude? Why do you think there are so few women historians? I'll tell you why. Because history is not such a frolic for women as it is for men... History is a commentary on the various and continuing incapabilities of men. History is women following behind with a bucket and a mop." - Alan Bennett, "The History Boys"

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