Wrote this on tumblr:
When people share their creative works online and do NOT ask for advice, they are often sharing it because they're excited and wish to share that joy.
Don't shit all over this fellowship of joy, especially when creators have NOT in any way asked for advice/criticism. If you don't like something, it's okay to walk away and not say anything.
This is also pertinent for all creators -- writers, artists, animators, etc... Unsolicited "advice" or "criticism" is frustrating, discouraging, and frankly useless.
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I'm primarily a writer, so the following will discuss what I've encountered as a writer, and the tips are for writers. If other content creators want to chip in with their own tips and thoughts about this relating to their medium, feel free.
Comments are great IF they fit the following:
1. Sharing what you enjoyed about the scene.
2. Speculating on what might come next. (This is always fun to read).
3. If you share what you didn't like, do not provide unsolicited criticism, just state you didn't like it and move on to sharing what you did like.
4. Sharing what emotions you had about the prose and story itself.
5. Asking questions of the author but without the expectation of a reply. (You are not entitled to a reply, but if you want to ask questions, sure. Us creators can decide if we have time/energy to reply or not.)
6. Discussing aspects of the story and/or character arcs and what they mean to you.
This isn't a definitive list, but it's just to give folks an idea.
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I adore getting comments, but what I don't like is people telling me:
1. "You wrote a Mary Sue!"
Mary Sue is a sexist connotation that derives from the idea that it's "impossible" for a woman to be capable of doing many different things well. People hurl this insult when they fail to understand the nuances of a woman character, especially if her faults and/or weaknesses are subtle and/or more nuanced.
If a man character is given the same attributes and written exactly the same, this insult is never hurled at the man character. So a man character can get away with anything, but a woman character cannot. This criticism isn't constructive and is actually a sexist diatribe that really needs to just shut up and go away.
2. "I don't like how you wrote this scene. I think you should do this instead or I won't read it anymore!"
Okay. I am not going to change how I wrote the scene or plot point based on you not liking it. If you don't like it, you can stop reading. No need to announce your departure!
3. "This is too much! This character being gay/bisexual/trans/disabled/etc... is unnecessary for the narrative!"
That is one of the most bigoted things I've ever heard. Bye.
4. "I demand you include these themes!"
If you would like to request a fic, please go to my tumblr ask (only if the asks are open). Don't request it on one of my already written fics. I'm not going to rewrite it just because you are demanding it. There's a place for asks. Already written fics are not that place.
5. "This character never uses pet names or nicknames!" Or "This character would never do that! How dare you!"
Okay? I guess, thanks for the comment.
6. "There's no narrative need for this character to be disabled/lose-a-limb/have-PTSD/whatever-disability-that-actually-does-fit-narrative-if-reader-had-bothered-to-read-it-fully. They should do physio and be done with it!"
Yes. Someone came to one of my fics, where one of my characters had fourth-degree burns (as in the burn went all the way to the bone and destroyed nerve endings making the foot numb and susceptible to rot and gangrene), and suggested that I do not write the amputation but instead have the character do physio.
I really need abled-bodied people to understand that physical therapy DOES NOT CURE ALL DISEASES AND INJURIES. OMG. WTF.
The ableism of this is just astounding.
Physical therapy is a tool to assist the patient with rebuilding strength, endurance, and stamina. It cannot heal anything. That's not how it works, so please stop suggesting that characters with injuries, various diseases, and other disabilities undergo physio to magically be cured of their disability. This is not how that works, and it's a really ableist take.
I could go on and on and on.
Point is, constructive criticism is only helpful when the creator asks for it.
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When we ask for it, that's because we have prepared for the criticism and wish to have help in improving something.
If we do ask for it? Here are some tips:
1. Be specific. Vagueness doesn't help anyone. No one can determine what exactly is meant by: "I think this scene is badly written." That's not constructive, and tells the author nothing. Don't waste your or their time.
Instead be specific: "I notice that this scene uses a lot of adverbs that distract from the flow. Here are some examples of where I saw these repetitive words. I also noticed the dialogue of characters get mushed together, where it's hard to tell who is talking. Maybe give each character's dialogue a separate paragraph to aid in readability." <- That is constructive.
2. Be encouraging. Do not tell the author they are terrible, bad, or can't write/draw/create. Instead be supportive. "I think this is a great start, and here is what I really liked about the piece." By starting with that you build rapport, then you can enter into the specifics of your feedback.
3. Never, ever, ever say that a character's identity is "too much" or "unnecessary for the narration." This is a pretty way to dress up bigotry. A character's identity is crucial to their characterization and who they are. It also provides representation for that group, and we always need more diverse representation.
4. Never critique the work based on what it didn't do. Only critique what it DID do. As in, explore what the piece actually includes and what is actually written/drawn/etc. If the author/creator didn't do something or didn't include something, don't mention it as it's not helpful and isn't really constructive. Focus only on what's actually there.
5. If the piece is blatantly bigoted but they asked for feedback, consider whether you feel safe to share that feedback. Sometimes people don't realize that they've used a bigoted trope, and if one approaches this carefully and kindly, it can turn into a good learning opportunity.
But if the author doubles down on the bigotry, then make a decision on if its safe to even continue providing feedback. Sometimes people don't want to unlearn their unconscious (or conscious) biases. We can't fix that -- it's up to them.
One way to approach it: "Hi, I noticed that this and that is a harmful trope for [be specific about what the trope is and its impact]. A way to repair that could be [be specific on ways to avoid using the trope and what can be done instead]." This isn't easy to do, and if you feel like you don't have the energy to engage in a conversation over this, then don't do it. Be safe, okay?
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When we do NOT ask for it (majority of the time honestly), that's when we are writing what we'd like to read, and we're fine with it as is.
For those writing original fiction, we often have already had our pieces critiqued and edited. We don't need unsolicited advice.
For those that write fanfiction, it's not being written as the next big bestseller. It's written to fulfill a need that the writer has. Often, we are excited and wish to share that joy with the community, in case others will also enjoy what we wrote (or created). It's a fellowship of joy.
Don't go in and muck up the fellowship of joy, okay?
Thanks for reading, and remember to be kind!
#Writing #WritingCommunity #Artists #ConstructiveCriticism #WhatNotToDo #FellowshipOfJoy
#FeedbackAdvice #BeKind #FanFiction #OriginalFiction
Oh yeah, link to the original post: https://www.tumblr.com/thatonebirdwrites/729726362131349504/this-all-of-this-i-have-started-calling-the?source=share
