I´ve bookmarked the site. It is an incredible exercise in kaleidoscopic perspective, Roshomon-like, almost. I expect you would have experiences to share from both sides of the divide?
I have been very lucky in my experience with fanfic zine editors: espresso_addict was so professional about producing her zine ttba that it meant I had to raise my game to be professional (eventually, I hope!) in return. Which was a good training ground. And the collaborative process with Isabeau has been very important too, I think, in that I always used to be very protective of my ideas and my writing, and writing collaboratively has made me more open about it.
However, one of the truest things said in that post, I think, is:
"What these guys have failed to understand about rejection is that it isn’t personal. If you’re a writer, you’re more or less constitutionally incapable of understanding that last sentence"
Yes, some people are determined to get the wrong end of the stick! I don't mind rejection; what I do mind is editors or publishers taking months to respond and not at least sending a form ack slip saying "we have received your MS". I know they're busy. I'm busy, every bugger's busy; it isn't an excuse for being inefficient and uncivil, which it is, not to acknowledge correspondence
Edblog used to be a slushpile editor, so I printed that out for him a couple of days ago and we were discussing it. He endorses the view that the vast majority of contributions are irredeemably illiterate. Which is kind of comforting. (But don't you feel admiration for the writers who persist in the teeth of their own illiteracy, to write and write again.)
And I thought the writers' comments that she quotes were emotionally illiterate. You could tell that the editors were being professional, and in some cases way beyond professional. I know rejection is painful, though.
BTW - I don't think I've ever critiqued a piece of fanfiction harshly in writing, and to be honest I don't think one should unless the writer really really wants that. I do criticise very dsilly fanfiction in private conversation with a friend though, as part of the general ridiculing of others, which seems to make up so much of my social life :-)
But don't you feel admiration for the writers who persist in the teeth of their own illiteracy, to write and write again.
Yes, very much. Like me and sociology ;-)
BTW - I don't think I've ever critiqued a piece of fanfiction harshly in writing, and to be honest I don't think one should unless the writer really really wants that.
I quite agree: I never critique a piece of fanfic without a specific request to do so, and then never harshly. And I prefer only to offer comments to writers with whom I've built up a good email or, better, FTF relationship, and who are generally the people who critique my stuff in return.
I feel very strongly that if you read (one reads, that is) a piece of fanfiction that you think is bad or poor, just skip over it and move on. The whole 'clean up fanfic' thing is a puzzle to me.
I do criticise very dsilly fanfiction in private conversation with a friend though, as part of the general ridiculing of others, which seems to make up so much of my social life :-)
Important separation of public and private spheres :-)
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momijizukamori
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no subject
Date: 2004-02-05 08:09 pm (UTC)I expect you would have experiences to share from both sides of the divide?
no subject
Date: 2004-02-06 12:00 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-06 01:33 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-06 01:46 am (UTC)However, one of the truest things said in that post, I think, is:
"What these guys have failed to understand about rejection is that it isn’t personal. If you’re a writer, you’re more or less constitutionally incapable of understanding that last sentence"
Re:
Date: 2004-02-06 07:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-02-06 09:31 am (UTC)And I thought the writers' comments that she quotes were emotionally illiterate. You could tell that the editors were being professional, and in some cases way beyond professional. I know rejection is painful, though.
BTW - I don't think I've ever critiqued a piece of fanfiction harshly in writing, and to be honest I don't think one should unless the writer really really wants that. I do criticise very dsilly fanfiction in private conversation with a friend though, as part of the general ridiculing of others, which seems to make up so much of my social life :-)
Re:
Date: 2004-02-06 02:19 pm (UTC)Re:
Date: 2004-02-06 02:28 pm (UTC)Yes, very much. Like me and sociology ;-)
BTW - I don't think I've ever critiqued a piece of fanfiction harshly in writing, and to be honest I don't think one should unless the writer really really wants that.
I quite agree: I never critique a piece of fanfic without a specific request to do so, and then never harshly. And I prefer only to offer comments to writers with whom I've built up a good email or, better, FTF relationship, and who are generally the people who critique my stuff in return.
I feel very strongly that if you read (one reads, that is) a piece of fanfiction that you think is bad or poor, just skip over it and move on. The whole 'clean up fanfic' thing is a puzzle to me.
I do criticise very dsilly fanfiction in private conversation with a friend though, as part of the general ridiculing of others, which seems to make up so much of my social life :-)
Important separation of public and private spheres :-)