Tips & Tricks: Feedback

[pipisafoat]

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One of the hardest things for me as a writer is feedback. I mean, I love a "nice job!" comment as much as anyone else, but it's not particularly helpful. What was nice? My characterization? Plot? Writing style and word choice? By the same note, a "that sucked lol" comment isn't too useful, either. I do like to know when someone doesn't enjoy something I write, but I'd also appreciate knowing why they didn't like it; if it's a clichéd plot or unrealistic characters, I could keep that in mind the next time I write, but if they're against the subject matter, I don't need to worry about it. And there are the pieces with difficult subject matter where readers appreciate the quality of writing but not the subject - how do you reply to that? My usual "Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed" is useless here.

As a reader, it's also tough to give useful feedback. It's much easier as an editor, but when you're just a reader, you're never quite sure how much you can really say. It's all well and good to point out a typo, I feel, but to offer content criticism where it isn't welcome can get you into a right mess, even if it is concrit (constructive critique). On the other hand, if it is welcome and you don't offer it, you leave the author feeling the way I described in the first paragraph.

How do you decide what's acceptable to leave as feedback? If you receive vague comments or feedback that you feel criticizes your piece too harshly, how do you feel about it, and what do you do?

Comments

[mercredigirl]

I like this post; it's really apt. I just read a fic by obsession_inc, called Concession, and I was really blown away by that story (which analysed and deconstructed gender roles in the context of stalking, normative 'romance', and abuse). So I commented on those aspects which I found striking. That's typically what I do if I really, really like a story - I talk about what I like, what I felt worked. I'm not going to do a full-on edit, but if some aspects don't work or could have been fleshed out then I try to include that in my feedback as well.

I don't like to comment on a story if it sucked. If it had its strong and weak points then of course I'll try to give a more balanced viewpoint, but unless it's something that's really awful (like, maybe, rape apologism or Holocaust denial or exotic orientalism, something godawful and offensive) then I try not to leave negative comments.

Similarly, I like people to take a similar approach if they comment on what I write. I don't mind someone writing with their personal feelings; I try to respond in kind; but sometimes if I'm at a loss for words then I'll stick to a 'Thank you' or 'Thank you for reading/commenting' and a passive-aggressive :) emoticon.

[selkath]

I don't like to comment on a story if it sucked.

Same here. If there's nothing I like, I don't think it's worth bothering to point out the multiple/endless flaws I see with a piece.