They say those who can't do, teach. · 10:15pm Jan 3rd, 2012
I'm hoping to aim to disprove this.
One of the big things I do here and on Equestria Daily is review fanfiction. I do this because I may be one of the few people who really sees fanfiction as something that matters. I see it as basically something of an intro course before someone starts actually writing their own stories and novels. It helps because you don't have to go through the trouble of painstakingly building your own characters and settings (it's why OC's taking main character roles in fanfiction baffles me at times). You can then build a story with a sort of crutch or training wheels. All you have to do now that you have the characters and setting is come up with a situation, make it make sense, and make it work. The first one is easy, the second is a bit harder, and the third is really difficult.
But I review fanfiction to try and help people do better. I review fanfiction that messes up in these regards and I try to give suggestions as to how they can do better. I never try to be destructive or mean when I review fanfiction, though at times I've gotten authors angry at me for what is honestly just me trying to give help. I guess I sorta feel like Yahtzee when the fanboys come around and yell.
And it feels bad, brony. Just today I reviewed a story called "Final Harmony X," which was a mashup of ponies and final fantasy ten. Mind you, I hate Final Fantasy 10 with the fiery intensity of a million exploding suns, but the author had stated that he was hoping to change and tweak most of the bad moments, so I thought that this might be something of an ironic, parodic look at FFX and maybe tell a good version of the story while possibly making fun of all the awful things the original subjected us to.
It wasn't.
Or rather, I couldn't tell. There was only one chapter at that point. It covered Rainbow Dash (replacing Tidus) going to the Blitzball game and the chapter ended with Sin attacking Zanarkand. But the story was so chock full of spelling and grammatical errors, along with past/present tense wavering and a total lack of detail or atmosphere (which appears to be one of my favorite words). It was hard to read, and the fact that Final Fantasy 10 was involved honestly made it harder. I opted to tell the author this. I told the author what I thought, and I gave suggestions on how the author might improve.
A couple hours later, I found that the story had gone mysteriously missing. The author had deleted it.
It actually kinda depresses me when an author does that. It feels like I've crushed the author's hopes and dreams when I review a story and they feel the need to delete it as a result rather than fix it. I suppose if they don't want to take the initiative to make it better then that's their problem, not mine, but really, it feels like I may have hurt someone's feelings, which I actually don't really like doing. I know that people work hard on these things, but if they feel it's worth doing at all, shouldn't it be worth doing well? I like to see authors improve. I like to see ideas that should honestly be terrible made good. I like to see authors really achieve something with their work, and since I believe fanfiction matters, then a well made fanfiction deserves just as much praise as a well written original work. My Little Dashie, for example, got me more emotional than anything I have read in eons. My personal favorite fanfiction, Sweet Apple Capers, had me rolling on the floor in giggle fits. These works deserve praise for getting such a reaction out of me.
But when someone just feels the need to up and quit, it depresses me. Losing interest in your project is one thing. If it's no longer fun for you then it's not worth doing anymore. But just upping and quitting because someone told you your work wasn't perfect? It makes me sad. It makes me sad for the author because they won't let themselves have a chance to shine now and I feel like I've taken that chance away when I was the one to give the harsh review. I know it's not ACTUALLY my fault, but I feel at least little bit responsible.
So I have come to ask myself now... do I have the right? Do I have the right to be taking these peoples' hopes away, or at least indirectly crushing them? And by this I mean, am I such a good author myself? If I can't practice what I try to teach, is what I teach worth a shit? So I've come to an agreement with myself... I'm going to start writing fanfiction. I've got one started already, and I hope to have a few chapters done in a couple weeks. If anybody even takes a look at this page, then go ahead and keep an eye out for it.
In the meantime, though, nobody give up. That's never the answer and it only hurts yourself. Keep writing, reading, studying and trying to get better. Even if it turns out that I don't have this right, then Goddamit I won't stop until I learn enough about writing that I DO have the right. Keep writing, bronies. Keep strong and canter on.
Glad to hear it man. You are one of my favorite reviewers here on this site and I've wondered why you haven't written a fic before now. I am really looking forward to it and hope it turns out well for ya.
As always this is Iron Revolution signing off
Yes, I did notice the quality of your reviews, so I came to your profile page thinking I could lay my hands on some good fanfiction, but... YOU GOT NONE?! That’s a surprise.
On another note, could I request a review for my story, ‘Draconequus’? I’ve received absolutely no critiques so far, so it’ll be cool if you could help me smash it up a bit. It’s horror story (at least the beginning chapters are anyway) , of similar type to the ‘Haunting Nightmare’ fic that you reviewed long ago on EqD.
Boy, I tell you what[/hankhill]--I always appreciate your reviews, or any quality review which delves into the strong and weak points of my writing. I wish more people appreciated reviews like that. It's a shame that simple honesty can wound a person so deeply.
As I see it, there is nothing at all wrong with your style of reviewing. If someone takes it too hard, or too personally, and removes their stories as a consequence, then that has no bearing on you or on what you've written. That's all them.
As a fellow teacher I understand the feeling of "do I have the right?" But you do! As long as anything you put up is good quality (quantity aside), all is right in the world.
I must say that encouraging you isn't my primary purpose for commenting here, though it's sincere. I've noticed your reviews in the past and just now got the thought process of wanting one. Would you review "Crashing The Party"? I would appreciate it, and feel free to ask me a favor in return if you choose to do the review.
And please write your fanfiction and post it and put our fraud fears to rest and prove your worth in the FANFICTION WORLD!
Show us de magicks!
Thank you.
We need people like you in this world. And I agree completely with the 'intro course' mentality of this fandom. I am actually treating this fandom as my intro course before I go to college to learn how to write novels.
But pertaining to your conundrum, I believe that your place as a reviewer is important for those serious about their work. The people that don't take the time to make what they submit the best they possibly can should be called out so they can get better. The ones that don't care about their work will be the ones that give up early. It isn't your fault that when you bring to light possible flaws, they take it the wrong way.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to reading your stuff and learning from how you write. I can trust it will be good, for you have the same love of writing as I do.
The answer, for me at least, is to only help those who ask for it (although I count being good enough to get onto EqD as implicitly asking for it). There are a lot of fanfiction writers who don't want to improve as authors, or even take the time to learn a few grammar rules and proofread their work. That baffles me, and I'm sure it baffles anyone else who loves writing and self-improvement and literature and all the rest of it, but that's how it is.
I've had some less-than-positive responses from folks who didn't really know what they were getting into by asking for critique, but on the whole I've managed to help out my fair share of authors. The people who don't want help? I just leave them. Who am I to spoil their fun, right?
Ever considered reviewing stories in The Training Grounds on Ponychan's /fic/? Despite the reputation that place may have, it's where a lot of good work gets done, and the authors who come there tend to be appreciative.
As for "fanfiction as an intro course", well, I don't know. Before ponies, I saw it as a colossal waste of time, but these days I'm leaning more towards calling it a genre. I wrote original fiction before my foray into fanfiction, and I'll write more of it after I'm done here. I mainly write fanfiction when I have story ideas that I feel would be enriched by being tied to MLP canon.
As for the baffling nature of OCs as protagonists in fanfiction, consider this: sometimes, an author just wants to use a setting that isn't their own. All of my fics have OC main characters because I just love Equestria as a universe, but am a little hesitant to play with other people's characters (growing less so, though).
Ah, the everlasting plight of reviewers...
I know I'm kinda late to this, but I have read quite a few of your reviews on EQD, and I have to say, I am a huge fan of your reviewing style. The way you look at the big picture with the minor details and mechanics is inspiring. Heck, YOU'VE inspired me to not only review other's stories, but also become more aware of a story's elements.
That being said, whether or not you accidentally cause someone to delete their story, it's not your fault. It's the author's choice on how to take a reviewer's advice. They may take it thankfully, acknowledging their mistakes or they may take it begrudgingly and hate you with every ounce of their being. Whatever their choice is, It's their fault, not yours. In fact, most of the time it might be their personal life that's affecting their writing choices, not yours.
It was just one instance that your reviewing caused someone to rethink their writing style, and may never happen again. It's not your fault. And who knows? Maybe said person had found a new source of confidence soon after and decided to start writing again because of your words.
Think about it.
Although, you're probably past the fact already, seeing as I'm seven months late...