fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #3042 ]

⌈ Secret Post #3042 ⌋

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Notes:

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Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ever offered to read someone's story, only to realize you didn't like it? Either because it just wasn't good, or you just weren't into that kind of story?

How did you handle it? Or not handle it?

Told them it wasn't the type of story I'm into but I liked minorthing1 minorthing2 minorthing3 about it but it could have done with a little more badthing1. Encourage them to keep up the good or at least not-bad things and mention the bad parts as things that could be improved

I think the best thing to do in that type of situation is to cross your eyes, raise yourself up onto your chair until you're sitting on it like a type of squirrel or confused mantis, and then fling the book as far as you can. Make a high pitched shrieking noise and book it to the front door. Then fling it open and flee into the night.

They'll be too confused/horrified to remember you were reading their story.

The first time it happened, I handled it really badly (by basically not finishing) and I still feel bad it. It wasn't entirely the fault of the writer even - the quality could've been better, but mostly it just wasn't my kind of story.

Focused on the stuff I did like and tried to aim for suggestions that would make the story more successfully like what they were going for and not ones that would make it more like what I would have preferred.

Depends. If they're asking for critique, I don't HAVE to like it. In fact, that can slow me down, because I'll want to experience the story, rather than analyze it.

I tend not to volunteer to read stories that I don't think I'll like, if I'm not being asked for critique. It can be tricky territory, and I don't want to upset anyone.

--Rogan

I told him that I couldn't give proper critique because there wasn't anything bad about the story. It was mostly just flat--none of the usual newbie writer mistakes, no real plot hook, serviceable characters with no depth or complexity, minimal stylistic flourishes . . . The most I could advise him was to figure out what he wanted to use to draw readers in and make them care, then build on that.

Edited 2015-05-03 22:12 (UTC)

This happened a couple times when I was about 14 or so.

One time I was honest. Brutally painfully honest. Like paragraph by paragraph honest.

It was a rather shitty thing to do.

Hell, I wish someone would go through my stories paragraph by pargraph (fanfic and original). I'm at the point where the feedback I need pertains to really nuanced concepts (e.g. scene transitions, pacing, balance of sentence types to keep readers engaged, etc.).

For your original stories this might be something for you:
https://www.scribophile.com/

It's basically a site for writers to give and receive constructive feedback.

Generally when people ask me to read their stories it's either because they're a new writer and need encouragement or they're a seasoned writer and they need critique.

Depending on who they are I give them what they need.

Going off of not liking it, if you are giving a critique then great. You have something to tell them to improve. If they just need encouragement then find something they did well and compliment them on that. Instill in them the love of continuing to write and improve.

Skimmed it and said that it was very good. It was a fic.

Yeah, particular kink-not-my-kink. I basically said it wasn't my kind of thing but she did it better than a lot of people would.

Not that I have read much of that kind of thing outside of her stuff, so maybe I was accidentally insulting her other stories?

My school friend's military fiction. For what it's worth, the concept wasn't bad, but the writing and conjugation was... ehhhhhhhh.

Well, I try not to offer to read someone's story, for starters. If I do and I'm stuck, I try to be honest that it's not my cup of tea but [insert some good points here].

[ SECRET POST #3042 ]

So you offer to read someone's story...

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