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reddwarfslash2014-11-03 05:20 pm
janamelie.livejournal.com) wrote in reddwarfslash2014-11-03 05:20 pm
Question
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. :)
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. :)
no subject
It's the expression "Tout ce que vous desirez, et plus" in "Lessons In Heroics". It just suddenly struck me how odd it sounds to a Francophone (I'm not a native speaker, but I do have a joint BA in English and French) for the Emperor to address Lister that way. I know it's part of a running theme, but considering he's (a) a brutal tyrant (b) in an obsessive sexual relationship with Lister and (c) the Dom to Lister's sub, for him to call him "vous" even as part of a ritual just sounds odd to my ears. Although I tried the phrase with "tu" on a translation site and it didn't seem to like it, so I'm not saying I'm necessarily right.
Kronette does have a beta but I don't know if she speaks French. My French is unfortunately rusty but the distinction between "tu" and "vous" is one of the things that has stuck with me over the years.
Obviously this only matters if it bothers Kronette - it's not as though that many French speakers read RD fic. I can think of several ways to explain this away, such as the simple and true statement: "He's insane!". ;)
no subject
As for my beta, she's only helping me with the lifestyle issues in Lessons, since I'm not in the scene and she's familiar with it. She's also pointing out odd phrasing that catches her eye, but for the most part, I haven't used a true 'beta' in over a decade. I edit my own shit and I'll gladly own it, mistakes and all. Having said that...never, ever call me out in public on something I've messed up. Not only is it embarrassing, the 'mistake' may have been deliberate on my part and having to explain that may get into other major issues.
I had a commenter mention that I'd made a posting error on another story, and I had no idea I'd posted several paragraphs twice. The story had been up a year and no one bothered to let me know. With AO3, there's no way to contact someone directly, which is the one aspect of it I don't like, but at least I was able to fix the story so it's correct now. I've been an editor for zines and it's always touchy pointing out things to an author, because I don't know their style and I don't know their reasons for their word choices or sentence structure. Just pointing out that it was confusing is usually enough to get the author to look back over their work, but even then, it's still their choice if they want to change it or not.
Some of us writers comb over our stories again and again, trying to catch every little mistake and wrong word, but sometimes they slip through. (I just found 'had' instead of 'hand' in a WIP). I've made little fixes to a ton of my posted stories, because I found a misspelled/wrong word, or the spacing was messed up, or whatever. Also, I agree with
Guess I should ask some Spanish speaking persons to review my little bit of dialogue I've got going on, eh?
no subject
Yes, I remember you asking me about the French phrase. Since you obviously couldn't give context as it would have given away too much, I didn't ask who was addressing whom, so the "tu" or "vous" question didn't come up.
It did occur to me that you might have reasons for deliberately choosing a jarring phrasing and obviously I didn't expect you to get into them.
Again, I'm sorry. I should have private messaged you. I'll shut up now. :o
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I'm not offended, more just curious why this had to be a post with an example to my misinterpretation of French nouns (verbs?), rather than stay a generalized 'how do writers feel about concrit' which is a legitimate question.
I don't know the difference in the French phrases, honestly. Not a smegging clue. If one is more right, then I'll change it, but it should be on the same level as Lister's "anything you desire, and more", as I saw them as equals in that scene. If anyone has opinions on that, PM me.
And I guess if anyone speaks Spanish, I could use some assistance there, too. I only use one word here and there as endearments, though I may have the gender wrong. I used forum boards for research there, so those should be right.
no subject
I'm aware how ironic it is that I started a thread about how to offer concrit and messed up. We live and learn, I suppose.
I'll sleep on it and PM you tomorrow about the exact circumstances in which French speakers use "tu" and "vous" (as I understand them) and what you choose to do with that is obviously up to you. :)