fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2660 ]

[ SECRET POST #2660 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2660 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 048 secrets from Secret Submission Post #380.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What the fuck is wrong with you that you are writing seven hundred word reviews? What could you possibly be saying that needs seven hundred words?

Most academic book reviews are not seven fucking hundred words long.

You are kind of weird and blaming fic authors for not fawning over you for it, because I can't see the point of writing a SEVEN HUNDRED WORD REVIEW if it's not for attention.

I say what i liked, sometimes what don't like and usually why.

700 words isn't how much I usually write and more extreme. It takes a long time to write a long review so I only do it for fics I've really enjoyed and are long enough and have enough depth to write that much. But I won't write 700 words for a 2000 word chapter. I do it when someone has written long chapters (+5000 usually) and have clearly put lots of time and thought into it.
From when I used to write I know it's nice when people notice things you've done in the fic, especially when no one else has commented on it. To know that thing you did (maybe it was really small like a play on words) that you were really happy and excited about was noticed and liked. That that moment really affected someone in the way you wanted. It's useful to know when you completely misfired somewhere. When you spend hours writing something then it's nice to have a someone tell you beyond "Nice fic. Write more." Basically I write reviews with feedback on things that I would want feedback on if I was writing something.

9/10 I get feedback from writers who are really happy that I've noticed these things or think the same way or explained why I don't like something and have taken the time to do so. It's nice to know that it made someone happy.

Apparently not everyone does though. My mistake. I'll bear it in mind in the future.

Hey OP, don't listen to the scoffers, most writers would kill to get a substantive 700 word review. I've gotten long reviews before and always appreciate it, especially when the reviewer picks up specific parts or lines or is just expressing how the story made them feel. I write long reviews as well, especially when a story has really affected me. Back when there were lots of fics on LJ, I think longer reviews were more common, maybe because there was a chance for discussions to start between the writer and readers.

Also, I think any substantive review, even if it's just a line or two, probably deserves a thank you, but sometimes writers get caught up in other things or the site where the story is hosted doesn't make it easy to know if you've already replied or not.

Okay, I don't think you understand me.

Reviews for ENTIRE BOOKS are not seven hundred words. Thick books!

Listen, maybe it's because I have to critique students' essays for a paycheck: you learn really quickly that too much feedback is just noise. It overwhelms them and often freaks them out. They aren't going to read that as "this person really cares about my writing." They're going to read that as "that place where I 'completely misfired somewhere?' It was apparently so bad this person wrote a really long review because of it!"

You're not helping, dude. I know you mean to.

OP here.
Actually, I tend to find the worse offenders are for shorter reviews that are only a hundred words or so long. Often they are also people who ask for reviews and comments. In my mind if someone asks for something and someone does it then you should say thank you.
There have only been a couple of times when I've written a long review and the author didn't respond. One these times, it appeared that the writer had left the fandom.
The other times, the authors have been very happy to receive long reviews and seem to be thrilled that someone has thought so much about something they have spent so much time and love over. Had lots of great conversations that came from these.

only a hundred words or so long

Oh Jesus. So you've actually been counting?

There have only been a couple of times when I've written a long review and the author didn't respond. One these times, it appeared that the writer had left the fandom.

You stick to long fics, which are by definition going to have more invested authors who can sink more time in. Ok. Have you not noticed how many secrets on here are about anxiety about how to act in fandom circles, people worried about offending people, people worried the local BNF is going to turn everyone against them.

Your long reviews create obligations--you clearly think that when you write something, you are owed a response. But it's doubtful anyone is asking for reviews that long. When you write 700 fucking words, people are going to freak out and assume that if they don't respond proportionally, you are going to get huffy and perhaps talk to other people about them. i mean, the times you haven't gotten responses--which to most people is just something to shrug over and move on--are memorable! You clearly care a real damn lot about this! You probably come off as kind of aggressive!

Had lots of great conversations that came from these.

Yes, the times people were afraid not to engage with you must have been very fun for you!

Edited 2014-04-16 10:53 (UTC)

Another thing (sorry to add, just ended up back here):

You say there are people you can confirm like these long crits--I was skeptical earlier but let's face it, everyone's different. Maybe it makes sense to limit this effort to people who know you? Otherwise it can come off as a bit aggressive.

Example: I'm a history phD student who is mostly friends offline with other history PhD students. This is a really, really writing heavy field, and most of us (at least in my department) are not only aiming to disseminate research but write well.

If I'm giving a friend crit, I'm going to be incisive and go in depth--I'm going to really pick apart sentences and tell them when they aren't working. This is because we have a relationship, so they know I'm easygoing and like them. I would never, ever be as incisive with a stranger--say, someone at a conference--because they do not know me. I might criticize them for their argument, but I'm not going to go in depth about writing unless specifically invited. That just isn't my place, and it's rather presumptive--not to mention possibly insulting--to presume I am.

I realize online writing communities are a bit different, but one's writing is deeply personal. You'll notice I'm pretty damn snarky and abrasive a lot of the time, but I try not to insult someone's writing--only what they're saying. Setting yourself up as an authority to give long crits--as opposed to shorter crits--to a stranger is deeply presumptive. Please be careful about this!

Edited 2014-04-16 15:58 (UTC)

I hope that you end up doing anything other than teaching for a living; the assumptions you're making about obligation and what other people want and need are ridiculous—and not all students have as short an attention span as you apparently do.

I sincerely doubt you've ever graded a single college level paper. You are probably getting an A average in something and therefore think you understand how to run a class on it.

Edited 2014-04-17 17:18 (UTC)

Reviews for ENTIRE BOOKS are not seven hundred words. Thick books!

Yes they are. You are confused. 700 words is only about three paragraphs. Book reviews tend to be about 3000 words.

Arg. Got lost in grad school again.

I'm thinking about the little ones you see in academic journals--not the essay length ones, the blurbs.

Don't bear it in mind. Chard is (as so often)talking out of her ass.

OP, I don't know if you've ever read my fic, but reviews like yours make my day. KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON.

Wow you're a bitch.

This critique is unhelpful. Perhaps if it were longer?

LOL

Helpful and accurate for anyone who doesn't already know.

And what's wrong with you that it's any of your business?

Why do you need to assume anything is wrong? Short I-can't-frame-a-sentence-because-I-am-so-moved comments are wonderful. Long, detailed, multi-paragraph comments are wonderful.

*shakes head in puzzlement and moves on*

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