Not sure how I feel about this...

[liz_marcs]

I threw my hat in for Great Write Meme.

I admit that I was (and still am) not too sure about it, but it seems like quite a few people are getting useful concrit over there. I've been impressed that a lot of people have kept it on the mature side.

I'd like to think I'm open to concrit and will take it in the spirit it's offered, but I don't always know how I come across to people. So if you've ever felt nervous about pointing out one of my issues, you can do it here. From what I understand, it's all anonymous (it's actually required that you comment anonymously) and IP tracking is off.

Comments

[4thdixiechick.livejournal.com]

But you are such a talented writer, I don't think you have anything to be nervous about. Your stories have great dialog and action, are well-plotted, and extensively researched. You create the best original characters, that I can't wait for you t start writing original fiction.

Yeah, I'm replying here, because fawning praise isn't really concrit...

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

*blush* Thanks.

I hope people no they can give honest feedback and that I prefer it, but like I mentioned, I can understand if someone is hesitant to do it if they're unhappy with something.

As for well-plotted, I think sometimes I get too nitty gritty for my own good, which was definitely a case in the Africander fic. And other people point out that I cram and awful lot of dialogue in when it's sometimes not necessary. Those are actually fair things to point out and it's something I do try to work on with varying degrees of success.

Right now I'm tearing apart the next part because the shifting story was confusing for me to follow, so there'll be a slight delay.

[4thdixiechick.livejournal.com]

And other people point out that I cram and awful lot of dialogue in when it's sometimes not necessary.

I like your dialog! I can't recall reading one of your stories and thinking, "well, there's just too much dialog there!"

One of my pet peeves of bad fanfic is the writer not using enough dialog--just a series of statements along the lines of 'and then they did this and then they did that.'

I like the showing (with dialog) much more than the telling.

[texanfan.livejournal.com]

You're very good at dialogue. I'd go so far as to say it's one of the best parts of your writing. Given that, it's hard not to play to your strength. I'm not even sure you should change it. I noticed in the Africander fic that you did a beautiful chapter on the Djenne market that was almost all description. I'm not sure how hard that was for you but you obviously have talent for description as well. Dialogue has a flow that's sometimes difficult to interrupt with a long descriptive passage. Long and the short of it? I wouldn't worry about it. :)

[nocturnalista.livejournal.com]

I am not fond of the anonymity aspect. I think that if you feel the need to criticize something, you shouldn't be afraid to put your name on it. The person being criticized should be able to interact with their critic, because how else can you learn? Live Journal is fairly anonymous by nature, so why would this extra precaution be needed?

And just to add to the fawning praise, you really are one of the best writers I've read, fanfic or otherwise.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

I agree. There are a couple of authors where I thought the anon nature made the commenters stupid. It wasn't that they were necessarily wrong, it's just they were unncessarily rude. If they put their names to it, that concrit might've been worded very differently.

I'd like to think I'm open to concrit and no hiding is necessary, but sometimes people might be hesitant to say something because they're afraid I'll go nuclear.

For one example, there was one case where where 'Living History' got recced somewhere and someone from that board let me know. I went over and there was someone who really didn't like it and had read part of the way through it before giving up. She actually made some very, very good points, some of which I actually agreed with. Stupid me. I spoke up and said I agreed with some points, and didn't agree with others, and I was very careful to thank the person for being honest with what they thought. Other people thought it was nice I was honest and that I was willing to talk about the various issues. It was all fuzzy-wuzzy and good.

A few days later, someone else (not the original critic) sent me a nasty email because they thought I was being a prima donna. *headdesk* To this day I'm not sure what the issue was: whether I was supposed to agree with all of the criticism or that I said anything at all. I remain confused to no end. I trashed the email without responding.

By and large, I do appreciate feedback and have zero problems with people pointing out typos and mistakes. That's how I figured out I had a problem with "loose" and "lose."

I have to go kill the next part now, because I chopped it to bits because it wasn't making sense to me. Methinks there'll be a delay until tomorrow.

[rianax.livejournal.com]

You should write professionally-- I would buy your tie novels for any series hands down.

[jgracio.livejournal.com]

Quite frankly I'm not too sure how useful anonymous concrit is, since IMO, concrit is as useful as the person that's doing it. Concrit from someone I respect will always be more valuable than concrit from someone I don't. Having a Xander fan telling me I stued Xander will be more valuable than a Xander hater telling me the same.

So, my own thoughts :

- Your stuff is hard to read in WIP form. Too much stuff going on.
- Your shipping is evil. "Yes, these people will eventually be a couple, but that happens thirty three fics into the future!"

You're well aware of both these issues, and the first one isn't really a writing issue but a medium issue.

[camperx.livejournal.com]

- Your shipping is evil. "Yes, these people will eventually be a couple, but that happens thirty three fics into the future!"

You're well aware of both these issues, and the first one isn't really a writing issue but a medium issue.

Actually, I think that this particular issue is more of an audience issue. There are so many "'shipper-specific" readers out there that it's become expected (and at many archives necessary) to list 'ships at the outset of the story. I don't think that delaying the "payoff" of a 'ship is necessarily a negative. I realize that some authors seem to intentionally drag it out to keep readers coming back (ala "Friends'" Ross/Rachel), but I've yet to see that from you. The progress of relationships in your fic is generally both appropriate and very natural. I see that as a positive, personally.

And as a side note - Oops! I forgot to post anon to the concrit thread.