Headdesk Headdesk Headdesk Gaaaah!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Did anyone vote in the poll I put up in the previous post? Because it somehow got messed up and wouldn't let me see either the poll results or whether anyone voted...

Would you mind terribly filling it out again...? Or for the first time, obviously... *g*

[Poll #2098090]

Comments

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

My three Pros stories are pretty awful (which is why I quit writing Pros,) but I guess if anyone actually wanted to discuss one of them I'd just suck it up. *g*

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Maybe others like your stories, and you would be surprised? ;-)

(but sorry, I don't remember them at the moment)

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I'd be very surprised!

That's because they were totally unforgettable. *g*

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

So let's take a look. ;-)

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Boy, you're brave. ;-)

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

LJ seems a wee bit cranky today - not sure if my 'other thoughts' comment registered!

If not - I was just going to say I'm always uncomfortable talking about fic in a negative or critical way when the authors are probably part of our group. It's not like reading and discussing a book by a mainstream author you buy in a bookstore. So it's good you're asking authors first - and I'm sure most writers like to hear what people think, but I still worry!

And I don't count myself as an author so I didn't fill that bit in, but if anyone wants to have a go at my crappy fic, have at it!

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, but you are an author. I remember your Big Bang story His Maggie May really good. :-)

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Bless you! I don't consider myself a writer, so the first question was making me tilt my head a bit (not trying to lure unfortunate souls to my poor bedraggled fic *g*).

I do worry about feathers getting ruffled, and I'd hate to be guilty of upsetting anyone - especially as nobody gets any reward except the pleasure of sharing their stories. But on the other hand, it's lovely to read together as a group, and chat about our thoughts. I think your idea of asking the author first is a great one - it adds a bit of difficulty trying to track them down, but maybe if they're too hard to contact they won't mind the story being talked about anyway?

Sorry - rambly today! I'll go annoy a hen!

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

I said this in the "other comments" field, but will say it here, too. This has been a question raised over and over again, since even before the days of listservs, I think, but it was especially difficult with listservs. We all love stories and want to discuss them frankly. I mean, I learn a lot, as a writer, but frank discussion about why a story doesn't work for me, for example. Or, I learn that others do like whatever and maybe I change my own opinion. I find that really valuable. But, we are also our own community of authors and even when an author says they don't mind "critical" comments, most of them do mind and do end up getting hurt. So, after all these years, I've opted for caution when I discuss stories in any public venue. I might, in a forum like this one, simply say a story doesn't work as well for me as it might for others, but I would emphasize my own issues rather than faulting the story. If that makes any sense. Caution, though, as opposed to not saying anything.

On the other hand, I haven't participated here in recent years as I have in the past. So, you might just ignore me! *g* But I am hoping to focus more on fandom and Pros in the coming months!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

But, we are also our own community of authors and even when an author says they don't mind "critical" comments, most of them do mind and do end up getting hurt.

I think that's such a good point. If I was a writer and a story of mine was picked I'd be happy if everyone liked it but not if they didn't. Over-sensitive maybe, but honest.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I wasn't sure about how to answer the final section as I was veering between the last two possibilities so I suppose it's a bit of both. I must say that I'm sure I've said some negative things about certain stories in the past, but I think it makes a huge difference if, for whatever reason, the author is no longer involved in Pros and there's no emotional attachment between them and Pros.

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

I think my other thoughts didn't show up either.

My idea is that the host could ask the author if it is okay for her to discuss the story here. If the authors says "yes" she knows that it might be not all good comments she gets. And if she says "no" we should change the story.

I must admit I wouldn't like to host a story I absolut despise, but if someone hosts a story I really didn't like (and have a reason for) I will tell my feelings without being rude. I mean, non of us will write "That's rubbish you wrote there", would we? We would tell why we don't like the story and maybe change our own opinion when we read what others like about it and why they like it or see why they see it in a different way. And all of that should be done in a respectfull way.

I hope you understand what I mean. *g*

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

"My idea is that the host could ask the author if it is okay for her to discuss the story here. If the authors says "yes" she knows that it might be not all good comments she gets. And if she says "no" we should change the story."

Actually that's a good notion - I know too well that at least one of mine sucks!

[ali15son.livejournal.com]

I'm not an writer and will never be one, i have ideas but getting them into some kind of story is something i wouldn't attempt on here so therefore i feel like i have no right to criticize anyone who has atleast made the attempt of turning words into a story. It's like discussing artwork (which i feel more in my comfort zone) if someone were to disect my work then i'm sure not everyone would agree with it but i would have to take the rough with the smooth and it's the same probably for any author (does that make sense or am i rambling *g*) so if a story is good or bad i sometimes feel uncomfortable discussing it out in the open.