mean girls vs. cult of nice

[crankylex]

Mean Girls vs. Cult of Nice

I have several thoughts here, but in order to sum up:

1. When you make your private writing public by POSTING IT ON THE INTERNET, you run the risk of having people read it.
2. When people read stories, sometimes they don't like them.
3. When people don't like stories, sometimes they bitch about them.
4. When Laurell K. Hamilton comes out with another whopper, what do we do?  FIRST, WE BITCH ABOUT IT.  Then we dissect it.
5. You are not any specialer a snowflake than the esteemed Ms. Hamilton.
6. Ergo, if you do not feel comfortable with the idea of your work being dissected by critics, please keep it to yourself.  I understand that you might be depriving the world of another truly brilliant HP epic, but that is sometimes life.
   

My other comment is a reaction to statements I have seen repeated numerous times this week.

"But I wrote that fic like 4 years ago and it sucked!!!"

Okay, you're right, it probably did.  But the question remains, if you know it sucked, why is it still available to be read?  Why haven't you either taken it down or done some massive re-editing?  Have some pride in your own damn work.

AGAIN, I REPEAT:  YOU ARE NOT A SPECIAL SNOWFLAKE. 

If you put your work out there, expect commentary on it.  If this makes you uncomfortable, which is understandable, please do not post it online.  Email it to your friends, whatever, but do not post publicly, because none of us wants to hear you complain when someone doesn't appreciate your masterpiece.

Period.  The end.

Comments

[indiefic.livejournal.com]

Just when I think I could not possibly love you more, you write a post like this.

BURSTS WITH LOVE FOR LEX

[crankylex.livejournal.com]

::preens::

[rhienelleth.livejournal.com]

Oh, my. *shakes head*

But you see, most of that ilk of fic writer posts fic to gain an audience of adoring fans, not to have their work dissected. By offering them even the mostly kindly worded constructive criticism, you are straying from the aforementioned audience of adoring fans.

Also, clearly, they expect the reader to just know they wrote that really bad fic four years ago and have the good grace not to comment.

I, personally, think all members of this sort of corner of fandom should post warning signs for the rest of us. Something like WARNING: to read this fic you must first join the Cult of Nicety (to coin a phrase from you), and must only respond with comments of appropriate adoration as feedback. *see addendum for reading older, sucky fics.*

[tangofic.livejournal.com]

I adore you and whole-heartedly agree.

P.S. I am a special snowflake. LMAO.

[crankylex.livejournal.com]

But you're special for an entirely *different* reason.

:-p

[spikesleman.livejournal.com]

Is this more about the Buffy kerfuffle I keep hearing about but know *nothing* about? (Doggone, I'm SO out of the loop with fanfic.)

Heck, when I was writing fic, I was thrilled to get anyone's feedback. I just wanted SOMEONE, ANYONE to read it.

Hmmm. Come to think of it, when I post my original crapdoggerel, um, Brilliant Works of Fiction and Poetry (choke, cough), I'm still thrilled to have someone read it. I sent "Damascus" to a friend who's a professional editor and she ripped it to bits in a constructive way. I think when I finally quit ditzing around with it, it's going to be better than it was before.

In other words, if a person wants to improve his/her writing, criticism is a help. If a person wants a crowd of adoring "oh, that's wonderful!" spouters, well that's another thing altogether.

Uh, in other words, what you said! *groans at own verbosity*

[ladyoneill.livejournal.com]

Guess I'm a special snowflake. *g*

I just really don't like people trashing stories I write for fun. I'd try to get published if I wanted that. I don't really care if I get feedback at all, since I write for myself, so it's not like I'm only asking for nice feedback. I just live by that old sage: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. The caveat being if people ask for criticism, they're fair game for constructive criticism. I'll go to my grave believing no one deserves to be flamed.

Of course I'm a complete hypocrite from the goat days and I know this all started on a private community. It's too bad someone leaked it; it's also too bad someone was hurt by it.

Just my two cents from the fragile ego corner. *g*

[crankylex.livejournal.com]

IMO, there is a difference between dissecting a piece of fiction and personally bashing (i.e. flaming) an author.

There is no reason to flame an author on a personal level. Critiquing their work, on the other hand, is a different thing.

There is a distinct difference between me saying that I don't think that a particular story was creatively written and saying that I think you're a bad person because of it.

I think that these writers whose self-identity is so totally wrapped up with what people think of their writing are asking for heartbreak, and maybe should step away from the internets.

I understand that you don't like people critiquing your work, but you *are* putting it out there, and IMO you kind of have to expect it, given your particular notoriety. :->

[iheartnickcath.livejournal.com]

Some ppl ask for it, everyone knows you post your fic on the net, not everyones going to like it and they also know that no matter what, someones going to tell you what they think. either pro or against it. Don't want ppl to read it, don't post it.