Big Bang/Exchange Fic Discussion #1

[spnanonhaven]

Post your threads for Big Bangs and exchange fics here.

Format like so:


SUBJECT: Title [Pairing, Rating] by AUTHOR
CONTENT: Art by whoever

http://url of the master post on the BB comm.

Comments

Re: J2_EA: I Dream of Jensen [PG-13] by queeberquabbler

[(Anonymous)]

As an author, yes, I'd rather have a one-liner than the evisceration of a summary!nonnie. It tells you a lot. It tells you the story wasn't really memorable to the reader. It gives you a quick feel for how your story is being received. A lot of times people really don't have anything good to say and I've seen other authors complain on here multiple times about how they'd rather receive a one-line comment than none at all. Specifically on the meme, sometimes I just want to get a quick feel for if the readers liked a story or not before I start it and a wall of text or 5-part comment isn't going to be able to do that. There are lots of useful ways to interpret one-line comments.

To the other authors, maybe they are useful. But I'm not going to be able to see past my rage and indignity to ever find it funny to have my fic raked over the coals.

Re: J2_EA: I Dream of Jensen [PG-13] by queeberquabbler

[(Anonymous)]

As an author, of course I would rather receive a one-line comment than nothing at all. But if we're doing the "I would rathers" I would much rather have a fully thought out summary that not only points out problematic areas but also does it in a constructive way, acknowledging when those areas may be a YMMV issue as well as pointing out the things I did WELL. On meme, though, you take what you can get.

As an author, I would much rather have a J2!summary--despite the rage and indignity as you put it (I'd also feel those things, yes--it's a rare author indeed that wouldn't (and no, as the author, you're NOT going to find it funny--that's hardly the point))--than a one-liner saying "This is a trainwreck." Speaking from personal experience, I think a J2!summary would be much better than that punch in the gut that the trainwreck comment gives you. Of the two, I consider a J2!summary to be less vicious plus it actually gives you reasons WHY your fic was considered "bad."

I suppose this is a YMMV situation but I would much rather a line by line review instead of that one-line spit in the face. I consider the former to be far more useful for trying to work on any issues I might have.

Re: J2_EA: I Dream of Jensen [PG-13] by queeberquabbler

[(Anonymous)]

SA

Also to readers, the summary!nonnies are always going to be more helpful than a one-line comment. And regardless of my personal feelings on the matter, meme criticism is for the readers--not the authors.

Re: J2_EA: I Dream of Jensen [PG-13] by queeberquabbler

[(Anonymous)]

It's obviously very much YMMV.

If you were the sporked author, please enlighten me as to what parts of the above summary you might find useful and how. Then enlighten me again to how it wouldn't have been more useful for the person that recognizes these flaws to let the author know in private, if they're willing to receive concrit.

Becuase as far as I can see, this isn't for the author at all. It's for the pure enjoyment of meme so we can laugh and mock badfic.

Re: J2_EA: I Dream of Jensen [PG-13] by queeberquabbler

[(Anonymous)]

That would be because it isn't for the author and I don't know where you're getting this idea from. If it did, then yes, you would be sending the author a PM or leaving a comment. Meme criticism, however, exists for readers. If you are the author then you can take from it what you want or you can just not read the thread. Meme has had this discussion a million times over now. Authors certainly don't need summaries of their own stories to decide if they're going to read them or not. You can, however, look at a person's take on the fic and try to figure out why they responded that way. Meme is also--like it or not--generally where people go to leave whatever they like instead of the sanitized version they give the author--letting other readers know an opinion on the fic in order to discuss it. An anonymous book club.

Now, if I was the author and came across this thread, yes, I would be angry and hurt (as you usually are when coming across an anonmeme thread on your fic). From that summary, however, I could surmise logic flaws and plot holes (seeing as how the summary points out quite a few of those). I could assume that I'd be better off using an OC for a villain instead of real life character. I could also assume that "FLASHBACK" is not necessarily a great way to point out flashbacks. And that's just off the top of my head, without looking back at the summary in question.

Now, as a reader, I can read through the summary and decide if I would like to read the fic in question. If I think its flaws would not hinder my enjoyment of the kink, then I can read. If I think that they would overwhelm my reading experience, then I can skip (and consider myself already up-to-date on the events in the fics because of the summary).

Again.

Re: J2_EA: I Dream of Jensen [PG-13] by queeberquabbler

[(Anonymous)]

SA

Whoops. Forgot to end my post: Again, meme criticism is NOT for authors. As an author it certainly can be useful (if not always gentle) but it's not aimed at the author.

Re: J2_EA: I Dream of Jensen [PG-13] by queeberquabbler

[(Anonymous)]

LOL! BUT U GUIZE, SPORKING IS SOOOOO HELPFUL! CAN'T U SEE THAT?

rofl

Re: J2_EA: I Dream of Jensen [PG-13] by queeberquabbler

[(Anonymous)]

LOL! Just like you!

Re: J2_EA: I Dream of Jensen [PG-13] by queeberquabbler

[(Anonymous)]

Awww, you're so totally adorable. I just want to pinch your cheeks. *pinch* Nice troll, nice. There, there.

Re: J2_EA: I Dream of Jensen [PG-13] by queeberquabbler

[(Anonymous)]

You're hysterical.