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

[kahvi.livejournal.com]

ALL THE THINGS GIVE ME ALL THE THINGS ALWAYS CONCRIT NOM. *ahem*

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Oh good, I'm glad someone likes the idea that much. ;)

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

I agree. As long as it's done in private and is indeed constructive. For a finale of one of my Ace fics, somebody commented "Is that it? I guess I was expecting more." ...which isn't particularly helpful! But I remember getting concrit re: my rambling sentence lengths. She was right! I now pay particular attention to that.