What sort of feedback/concrit/comments do you leave?

[valis2]

I was thinking about that today as I was leaving a comment. I realized that after two years of having a LJ I've begun to review with a system. I'm like that, of course, because I like to break everything down into categories and organize things.

If I didn't like a story---if I skimmed it and didn't finish it---I don't leave feedback. Sometimes when I see a story like that, I'll keep a tab open with the story in it, and wander back to check on it later to see if anyone else says anything. Sometimes those stories never get more than a comment or two, despite being in active comms, so I have a feeling that I'm not the only one who does this.

If I liked a story, but not a lot, and it had a few problems, but I am wary of getting into it with the author, I usually leave a comment that I enjoyed it, or I thank them for sharing the story.

If I liked a story, but not a lot, and it had a few problems, and the author seems to want concrit, then I'll leave a few thoughts, and make certain to add at least one strength I found in the story.

If I liked a story, I usually leave a comment that says something to the tune of "I enjoyed this". Sometimes I'll add something positive about the story.

If I really liked it, I usually try to leave a sentence or two about what strengths the story had, and how much I enjoyed it.

If I loved it, I usually quote a line that I loved and mention how much I enjoyed it. I also tend to get to glow a bit and add a few exclamation points.

Do you have a system of feedback?

Comments

[zulu]

Heh. I've lost others' respect by leaving concrit in the past, but that doesn't seem to stop me. For me, concrit is about improving the story, not attacking the author, but because I've joked to others that I'm flaming, it's been misinterpreted. (Quite unsurprisingly.) This is immature on my part, and entirely my fault, but that doesn't mean that the crit I leave isn't accurate from my point of view, and politely worded.

If I'm feeling bitchy, I'll write honestly about stories--awesome, indifferent, or eye-achingly horrible--over on my zulu_reviews journal, which I doubt anyone cares to read except for me. However, even there I try to stay positive, pointing out strengths as well as what could potentially be fixed. (Usually, I'm feeling bitchy because of the lack of honesty in fandom, the unwillingness to say, "This story is not so great, and it could be better." That doesn't mean I want to crusade all over lj for others to immediately be swayed by my opinions because I'm all that and a bag of chips. I'm not. I just have opinions. It's nice to have somewhere to vent.)

In smaller ficathons where I'm a participant, I read every story (whether or not I'm in the fandom) and try to pick out something unique about each one that I really enjoyed. I also usually give a line or two of advice or typo-spotting. I always try to end with an encouraging remark. People are usually glad to get these comments.

If fic appears on my flist, either by someone I know and like, or in a community, I'll read if I have the time or inclination. People I know well or am friends with are more likely to get a comment, usually more mindlessly squeeful than when I'm concritting systematically.

BNFs often lose out on comments by me.

I don't crit people I know in real life unless they ask me to. This is hypocritical of me, because I'll crit strangers at the drop of a hat. I'm okay with that.

I don't know if this amounts to a system, but it's my modus operandi.

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

I took a look at zulu_reviews, and wow, am I impressed. I certainly rec with caveats and some discussion, but I (usually) don't bother mentioning stories I don't like with why they don't work for me. I do find those discussions about why a story didn't work for me (or for someone else) really interesting, though, and I frequently have them on the phone or in email with friends.

Of course, perhaps I am sanguine about it because you mention none of my stories. :-)

[zulu]

Well, as I say, sometimes I just get in a mood. But I actually really like trying to figure out why something doesn't work, because I find it helps my own writing. Plus it's interesting to see the ways in which fanfic and original fiction differ in their conventions.

And, hey, watch out: you might show up there at some day. I make no guarantees.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Very interesting. I like that you're so honest. I once had a reviewer say that I repeated certain words and phrases, and I still remember that bit of advice. It was very helpful. Not that I didn't like the other hundred reviews before it that said "Plz wrt more!", but it was a good, solid piece of concrit that I've thought about since. It's rare to find people besides your beta who want to really help and point out what they felt were the story's shortcomings.

I like to end with an encouraging remark, too, the few times I give concrit.

Interesting system! Thanks for sharing! <--encouraging remark ;)

[zulu]

Honesty doesn't always win friends, and it's not always the most advantageous tactic, but I've just never learned to keep my big mouth shut. This is true in RL as well as online. But for the most part, I go with the "if it's out there, I can crit it" philosophy. Usually I try not to shove it in authors' faces, but sometimes I go overboard. The majority of the time, though, my suggestions are well-received, and that makes me feel like overall, I'm doing something right and being helpful, as you say.