Question

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

This is for anyone who writes fic - how do you feel about constructive criticism?  I mean anything from politely pointing out typos or grammar mistakes to more ambiguous stuff like Brit-picking (you might feel, for example, that a British character could plausibly use an American expression in the context you've used it in).  Or in the case of the particular instance I'm thinking of, where a character uses a French expression which, while perfectly correct, doesn't feel right to you because of your knowledge of the specific instances where French speakers use "tu" and "vous".

The reason I ask is because I really don't want to come across as patronising and I know my language abilities aren't unusual when measured against everyone else here.  So if there's anyone here whose response to this would be: "I don't need a beta, thanks" or "I already have one", it would be helpful to know just so I avoid putting my foot in it. :)

Comments

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm quite happy to receive constructive criticism:

1. preferably in private
2. if the person knows what they're talking about - not talking about you, but I LOATHE being 'corrected' on things where I am demonstrably right in the first place, and the person would have discovered this if they'd only google/research/not talk out of their arse before trying to correct others. Yes, I have issues *cough*
3. all that said, I personally would be very reluctant to GIVE unasked-for constructive criticism, because most of the time I very much doubt it'd be appreciated

:)

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

That's the kind of reaction I was worried about. ;) On the rare occasions I've ventured to offer it, I have asked first if the person's happy to receive it.

I also need to be pretty bothered by something before I mention it, precisely because I don't want to irritate people. Examples include glaring typos which spoil the meaning of a sentence, British characters using American phrases where it doesn't seem reasonable that they could have adopted them e.g. Rimmer or Lister using the word "sidewalk" instead of "pavement" and the French usage of "tu" and "vous" as detailed above.

This cuts both ways, of course. If someone offered me constructive criticism I'd listen and take it on board if I thought it was justified. :)

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

So in other words, nobody should ever tell you if they find anything they think is wrong in one of your stories. ;-)

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's not true! I've been given concrit before... and usually it's been helpful ;P