Reviewing fic

[sg_lab2]

While reading fanfic on a site that shows reviews, I was thinking, "I can't review this." I look at all the reviews and they're just gushing with praise. While there's nothing wrong with praise, I like to balance that out with some constructive criticism. One I read I thought was a very good story, but that there were just some things that would make it better. I was afraid my comments would be received as a downer from other reviewers.


I read one review for a fic who felt the need to qualify their remarks to assure the author they weren't bashing the writting. As far as I was concerned I thought it was a well thought out polite review. Not a single flame to be seen.

Personally, if I write something, I want constructive remarks. If you don't agree with my characterization of a character steer me in the right direction. If I'm switching tenses PLEASE tell me. I hate switching tenses. Uhh, anyway. Polite constructive criticism is always welcome when I write something.

Comments

[xfkirsten.livejournal.com]

I know exactly what you mean - constructive criticism is GOOD. That's how we learn! I appreciate well-thought-out constructive criticism on my work much more than empty "nice job!" comments.

[sg-lab.livejournal.com]

I confess to flaming someone once because of the nasty way they portrayed a certain character. I was just so sick of the way fandom was treating certain characters at the time.

Other than that, I like to be specific and balanced about what I liked and what I thought needed improvement in a polite and hopefully helpful way.

[sg-lab.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I always look at the reviews to see of there's any constructive comments. If not I tend to give it a pass or just say I liked it.

Sometimes I find mechanical errors. Like spelling, tense shifting (which drives me crazy if you hadn't noticed ;)) or putting two quotes from two different people in the same paragraph. I think sometimes this is something that gets a negative response to as being nitpicky sometimes. I may be wrong. It just a sense I get.

Other times it's characterization.

There are some things that I have a hard time explaining what I see as the problem and that makes it difficult too. I read a fic once where the author tended tell more than show. Actually she did both. I tried to tell her she needed to show instead of tell, but I couldn't figure out how to explain how to do that. Thinking back I think she did show, but told on top of that and if she just got rid of the telling she would have been fine.

[sg-lab.livejournal.com]

Yep, I couldn't resist and had to get my own LJ. :D