Something for the Old Scrapbook!

[rusty_armour]

I have now received my first bad review for In the Family Way on Wraithbait. And when I say "bad," I don't mean criticism for a particular scene or aspect of the story because I've received that already. No, I'm talking about a review in which the reader pretty much trashed the whole fic and found very little that she liked about it. I'm now wishing I'd waited until the anger wore off to respond to her review because the situation seems pretty funny now. I mean, I had intended to be diplomatic (in some part of my brain), but writing the following sentence wasn't really an act of maturity on my part:

I could argue the points you brought up, but I think that would probably be a waste of time.

I've really got to learn to develop a thicker skin. I mean, taste is such a subjective thing and people have a right to like or dislike whatever they want. That's kind of the point of a democracy. However, I have a problem with people who make destructive rather than constructive criticism. In this case, I felt as if the reviewer was looking down her nose at me and using this as an opportunity to show off how clever and sophisticated she was -- or thought she was. Her review felt dismissive. Well, your little fic was disappointing and definitely below my standards, but thank you for sharing it anyway. It gave me a few minutes of entertainment when I wasn't cringing over everything else. Well, thanks. I'm so happy that, despite its numerous faults, the novel-length story I spent over three years writing had at least a couple of things you liked about it.

Oh, well. Anyone can write a glowing review in which they praise a story, but it takes much more work to provide a list of everything the writer did wrong. I should appreciate the time and effort that went into this feedback. And, hey, it's the first truly negative review for this story, so it should be cherished. *g*

Comments

[radiogaga80.livejournal.com]

I didn't read this particular story but I do know how you write. I agree with you that the review is quite negative and I can understand why it stings - the reviewer could at least have given some solutions on how you could have improved it rather than just saying "I don't like this and that".

eta: reviewer sounds like someone who reads and reviews just to display to others her extensive knowledge of show and its characters and how she thinks they should be displayed. :(

PS - are the Naz-fans taking over your blog? :P

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I didn't read this particular story but I do know how you write. I agree with you that the review is quite negative and I can understand why it stings - the reviewer could at least have given some solutions on how you could have improved it rather than just saying "I don't like this and that".

Well, that's one of the things I find really annoying. She found it easy enough to point out all the faults in the story, but, for all her cleverness, she didn't really offer any solutions. In the instances when she did make suggestions, it was obvious that she hadn't really understood the part of the fic she was criticizing and/or hadn't really thought her suggestions through in terms of the story's plot, etc.

eta: reviewer sounds like someone who reads and reviews just to display to others her extensive knowledge of show and its characters and how she thinks they should be displayed. :(

I hadn't thought of that, but I think you're right! She does seem like one of those fans who feels she has all the answers and that she's the only person who knows how the characters should think and act!

PS - are the Naz-fans taking over your blog? :P

It's certainly starting to look that way! *g*