Post by Ilise on Mar 7, 2007 19:36:13 GMT -5
Well, I saw something pretty much like this on the requests board a while ago. It struck me as strange, as this board needs one of these guideline things as much- maybe more than- that board.
UPDATE: Expanded edition!
Lawl. I love these new smilies.
Don't be overly critical...
Unless absolutely necessary... No, seriously. It pains authors to see "This is awful. It could see much improvement," and nothing else... At the very least, provide a simple reason why you do not like the given fanfic. It would be extremely pleasant to see specific examples or something as to why the fic could 'see improvement'.
Side note:
This goes for authors, too. No reader likes to read about you putting yourself down! Confidence is really important for writers that want to improve, because there are a lot of mean people in the real world that will pick apart your work and not be too nice about it. So please don't put in your disclaimer:
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. And I'm a really bad writer, so don't blame me for anything plz!!!
If you're aware of mistakes, fix them before putting them up. And if it's just a self-critical thing, I'm sure you can keep it to yourself. (Somehow I manage to restrain myself...)
Yet don't be overly nice.
Yes. We all love praise. Everyone does. It's a great thing to get. And if you honestly can not see anything wrong with the fic, a 'good job' is awesome.
But if something glaring is staring you in the face, the author would most likely appreciate a small point-out-age of this error. Especially if they would feel stupid to go back and see their own mistakes.
Constructive Criticism:
(n) Where you give helpful hints, advice, et cetera. Some people think that 'constructive criticism' is the act of criticizing. Nuh-uh. Not so.
Thus, the 'constructive' bit.
Anyway. Constructive Crits are not so much spelling and grammar errors and the like, but less specific. They are critiques that help the writer to improve as a whole. Not to mention that they give reasons for the change so that the author can do so in the future in similar situations.
Example: Try and use a little more description. Especially in the paragraph when you're introducing your characters - it helps us to visualize.
Example 2: Maybe you could go a little deeper into characters' histories, etc.
Non-example: Wow, this is really bad.
Non-example 2: You misspelled the word 'mammoth' in paragraph two and you put a fragment in paragraph seven and you put a double capital in paragraph five!!
Be KIND.
Most likely...
hopefully...
Writers have put time and effort into fics. They do not like having their work stomped upon, to speak bluntly. Even constructive criticism is not normally taken seriously if hidden among a horde of 'this is horrible'-s.
Imagine for a moment that you have read a really bad piece.
Do say: I liked how you blah blah blahed, but some improvement could be seen at the blah blah bit. Honestly, I have seen much better fics, but once blah is better, it'll have potential. Make sure to keep adding blah, etc. I'll be interested to see where your story goes!
No: Wow. I can't describe how bad this is. You have a knack for writing stupid things. Really, work on the dialogue, it's horrible. I also hate your description. Seriously.
Not, of course, that anyone would be so brutal... o.o
Try to review!
Most every reader on here has suffered from this disease... There is a fic that is not particularly good. Or bad. It's just middling. So bland that 'reviewitis' occurs and you just, erm, navigate away, without considering reviewing.
Yeah, I've done it too.
The best thing to do is review... I mean, yes, it's become routine for authors to say, 'leave a review!' (which is fine. It's like a tradition nowadays. XD) but if the fic not only asks for a review, but really needs help, it'd be nice to give 'em some advice, eh?
If a fic is magnificent, most people like to leave reviews. But what we all should do is review those that need help.
These are a few things that I just wanted to point out, having seen examples of each around DH. (Not, of course, so grossly exaggerated, but you know.)
Please take into consideration what I've said... I'm sure at least some people will appreciate it.
Authors don't like anything better than seeing that people have read their story. And it's even nicer if the review is in-depth and rounded.
.ArrowedAvatar.
P.S. I wasn't exactly sure if I needed to ask someone or something before posting this, it not being an actual fic. Sorry if I wasn't supposed to...
UPDATE: Expanded edition!
Lawl. I love these new smilies.
Don't be overly critical...
Side note:
This goes for authors, too. No reader likes to read about you putting yourself down! Confidence is really important for writers that want to improve, because there are a lot of mean people in the real world that will pick apart your work and not be too nice about it. So please don't put in your disclaimer:
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. And I'm a really bad writer, so don't blame me for anything plz!!!
If you're aware of mistakes, fix them before putting them up. And if it's just a self-critical thing, I'm sure you can keep it to yourself. (Somehow I manage to restrain myself...)
Yet don't be overly nice.
Yes. We all love praise. Everyone does. It's a great thing to get. And if you honestly can not see anything wrong with the fic, a 'good job' is awesome.
But if something glaring is staring you in the face, the author would most likely appreciate a small point-out-age of this error. Especially if they would feel stupid to go back and see their own mistakes.
Constructive Criticism:
(n) Where you give helpful hints, advice, et cetera. Some people think that 'constructive criticism' is the act of criticizing. Nuh-uh. Not so.
Thus, the 'constructive' bit.
Anyway. Constructive Crits are not so much spelling and grammar errors and the like, but less specific. They are critiques that help the writer to improve as a whole. Not to mention that they give reasons for the change so that the author can do so in the future in similar situations.
Example: Try and use a little more description. Especially in the paragraph when you're introducing your characters - it helps us to visualize.
Example 2: Maybe you could go a little deeper into characters' histories, etc.
Non-example: Wow, this is really bad.
Non-example 2: You misspelled the word 'mammoth' in paragraph two and you put a fragment in paragraph seven and you put a double capital in paragraph five!!
Be KIND.
Most likely...
hopefully...
Writers have put time and effort into fics. They do not like having their work stomped upon, to speak bluntly. Even constructive criticism is not normally taken seriously if hidden among a horde of 'this is horrible'-s.
Imagine for a moment that you have read a really bad piece.
Do say: I liked how you blah blah blahed, but some improvement could be seen at the blah blah bit. Honestly, I have seen much better fics, but once blah is better, it'll have potential. Make sure to keep adding blah, etc. I'll be interested to see where your story goes!
No: Wow. I can't describe how bad this is. You have a knack for writing stupid things. Really, work on the dialogue, it's horrible. I also hate your description. Seriously.
Not, of course, that anyone would be so brutal... o.o
Try to review!
Most every reader on here has suffered from this disease... There is a fic that is not particularly good. Or bad. It's just middling. So bland that 'reviewitis' occurs and you just, erm, navigate away, without considering reviewing.
Yeah, I've done it too.
The best thing to do is review... I mean, yes, it's become routine for authors to say, 'leave a review!' (which is fine. It's like a tradition nowadays. XD) but if the fic not only asks for a review, but really needs help, it'd be nice to give 'em some advice, eh?
If a fic is magnificent, most people like to leave reviews. But what we all should do is review those that need help.
These are a few things that I just wanted to point out, having seen examples of each around DH. (Not, of course, so grossly exaggerated, but you know.)
Please take into consideration what I've said... I'm sure at least some people will appreciate it.
Authors don't like anything better than seeing that people have read their story. And it's even nicer if the review is in-depth and rounded.
.ArrowedAvatar.
P.S. I wasn't exactly sure if I needed to ask someone or something before posting this, it not being an actual fic. Sorry if I wasn't supposed to...
Yesh, I thought that every board needed something like this... the fanart section, too. As stated above, I chose examples that I've actually seen, so it's at least semi-realistic to post this. 
