ccmalo wrote:
The other thing I want to say, and I know I will be jumped on for this , is that, increasingly, comments on fanfics have become "gushes" and "kudos" only. I perceive a chill on real discussion (pros and cons) of the ideas contained within the fanfic as well as on other aspects of a story.
Is that what writers truly want? (although I do remember how wonderful a "kudo" is )
Now I know negative comments on a fanfic can be hard to take. (just check out all the negative comments on my fic , "the Fact of the Matter", part 1 ) But you also learn from those comments. That was certainly true for other stories I've written as well.
If all the comments on fics are the same, why bother to read them? And more importantly, why take them seriously, if they're all the same?
Now I do agree that no comment should be all "cons". Of course!
While I love all feedback I can't say I love it all equally. It's great to get a kudo and know that someone is enjoying the story. It means even more to me if they comment on some element in the story, even if it's to say "I didn't get this".
I've had a FDK thread that briefly turned into a discussion on Superman II, and while I found it amusing on one level, I kind of wondered what that had to do with the story I was telling. I didn't think anything in my story had really sparked that discussion (but maybe I'm living too close to it to see the bigger picture).
Like cc said, I would love to see a discussion on the pros
and the cons of whatever story I'm writing. Does it mean that I'll change my plot to suit people? I sincerely doubt it. But I would like to know if I got somebody thinking. Even if it was just them thinking that Lois/Clark would never do/say that! I think we all have a our own personal vision of what the characters are. If I'm straying far from what everyone else believes, it would be good to know that.
I confess, I haven't been reading other people's stories (except the ones I beta). I don't want to inadvertantly steal someone else's idea or phrasing. Once I finish my current story I'm going to take a huge break from writing and start reading. I'm going to wallow in it. And I'm going to try and leave feedback that's honest and insightful.
I lost my husband in an accident almost seven years ago, and I can't say that I would ever seek out deathfic. I can't say that I would ever want to write deathfic. I may have to make an exception, though, and read Terry's story. Sometimes a little catharsis is a good thing.
A healthy, respectful debate on the finer points of a story is always a good thing. IMHO.
Sue
