Author has written 4 stories for Battlestar Galactica: 2003, and In Plain Sight. Let's see...what do I think you should know about me... I love reading fanfic. I don't get to write a lot of fanfic because I write and manage grants for a living. It's a bit too energy-sucking for me to write in the evening after writing and working on the computer all day. I think fanfic writers are really brave, and I'm so glad to see a lot of people who might not normally write stories use fanfic as a creative outlet. However, with this said, I see problems with fanfic writers, and it's tempered my love of the genre so much lately. The problem rests with the issue of reviews. I believe every writer who publishes his or her work on a public forum must learn how to handle constructive criticism in a thoughtful and impacting way. Good writers learn how to detach from their work and accept reviews without taking them personally. Good writers are open to critiques, think about them, and then choose to incorporate the suggestions into their writing...or not. They realize the choice is the artist's, and they make this choice based on open and honest reflection of the work, the critique, and their vision. It's possible for a writer and a reviewer to open a dialogue about the critique. This is often helpful providing the writer does NOT debate the reviewer. This is just plain rude. Dialogue is one thing, but debate is another. If someone takes his or her time to review your story, it means that person thinks your writing is worth it. As for me, I like to review worthwhile stories in a meaningful way, not just use the "great story!" review. Nothing irritates me more, however, than for someone to send me a private message about a review to say "I don't agree with you." Really? Is it worth responding to say this? That's another part of being a true writer -- knowing when to have confidence in your work to believe--AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION--that a review has no validity. There's no reason to respond to the reviewer with anything but a "thank you for your thoughtful review." True writers don't need to debate. Speaking of reviews, this leads to my last pet peeve. I won't read stories whose authors threaten to hold their readers hostage for more reviews. We've all seen these notes: "Reviews make me write faster." So...this is why you're writing? For the reviews? Or are you writing because, deep in your soul, you have a story to tell that just has to get out. Please. Check your ego at the door and stop writing for acceptance. Write because it's your passion or it's your hobby. You can write for food, but for God's sake don't write for reviews! |
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