I don't normally read LiveJournal, but...

[rj_anderson]

I received a piece of feedback this morning beginning with the words: I don't read [this particular subgenre] in fanfiction, I really don't, and then going on to repeat the same sentiment in a different way, before adding some words of slightly bemused, I-still-can't-believe-I-enjoyed-this praise.

Now, I know that some fanfic authors resent this type of approach. I've seen people become quite offended and indignant about feedback of this nature, because what they see in the feedback isn't so much your story is outstandingly good as your subgenre sucks. And if you're already feeling that your subgenre is maligned and misunderstood, you're not going to like the reminder that a lot of people who might otherwise have enjoyed your stories and given you great feedback will never even read them, because they are Of That Kind.

Well, I've written in a number of not-so-well-regarded subgenres. And yeah, it does get on my nerves at times that some people just dismiss my work out of prejudice, sight unseen, because of the ship or the presence of an OC or the fact that I'm archived on a site they hate or whatever. I also feel badly for other authors in the same subgenre whose work is superb, not at all cliched, and deserves wider attention.

Still, when I get a piece of feedback that says I don't usually like X at all, but..., I really can't take it as an insult. Quite the opposite, in fact -- I consider it a triumph.

Because if one person who doesn't normally read X got so far as to at least try my fic, and if they actually enjoyed it (however much that surprised them), then not only does that tell me my fic appeals to a wider and more critical audience than I'd feared, but there's always the chance that this person will be a little more open to giving other fics of the same kind a chance next time around, and perhaps even encourage their friends to do likewise.

In any case, I have to ask myself, what point is the feedbacker really trying to make? Do they mean their remarks to be in any way insulting or belittling of my tastes or my abilities as a writer? As far as I can see, that's not their intention at all -- in fact they're trying to offer what is, in their view, a particularly high compliment. I had some strong prejudices against this subgenre, but I enjoyed your writing so much that I forgot those prejudices. I wish I knew of more stories like yours. That sure doesn't sound like an insult to me.

Anyway, I don't know if the person who sent that particular bit of feedback is on my flist or not, but if you are, thank you again, very much indeed. As I said in e-mail, I'm touched and I'm honoured.

Comments

[yahtzee63.livejournal.com]

I *do* sometimes get offended by this kind of FB, though I certainly don't always. It all comes down to what you said:

what point is the feedbacker really trying to make? Do they mean their remarks to be in any way insulting or belittling of my tastes or my abilities as a writer?

If somebody says simply, "I don't usually read subgenre x, but I read this and I loved it," then I am well-content and happy. If, OTOH, somebody sends a feedback letter that spends three paragraphs talking about why subgenre x/your central character/your pairing of choice/etc. sucks and is ridiculous, then tosses in a line about the story, you have to wonder why this person sent the e-mail.

I have, in the past, received feedback that said, "Couple X makes me want to vomit, but I could get through this." That's verbatim, except for the actual names of the couple. Feedback like that I can live without, and I don't know what person on earth would think this is a good comment to send to anybody.

It's all a matter of tone and of the writer's intent. I'm sure that it is possible to be too sensitive to this stuff -- I know that at times I have been -- but I have definitely been on the receiving end of "feedback" that was just character or show-bashing in thin disguise. IMHO, the difference is usually clear.

[marinarusalka.livejournal.com]

Heh. Practically every piece of feedback I received during my time in BtVS fandom began with some variation of "I normally hate Riley, but..." Like Yahtzee, I did occasionally get annoyed by what appeared to be character-bashing rants disguised as feedback -- really, the fact that I wrote a novel-length fic centering on a sympathetic portrayal of a character should be a pretty good tip-off that I like the guy and don't want to read a ten-paragraph e-mail about how much he sucks -- but overall, I took the comments in the complimentary spirit in which they were intended.

And because my mind makes strange connections, I have to say that feedback like that always makes me think of Darcy's first proposal to Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, and then I giggle madly.

[chrisleeoctaves.livejournal.com]

I personally agree that fb from someone who states that they don't normally read your sub-genre (or pairing) is high praise indeed. I have both sent and received similar feedback. As we all know, I write predominantly B/A dark or angsty fic...and have had fb from people who have told me that they can buy B/A written the way I write it, but normally they don't like them at all. (Sadly, the fics aren't as well received by many B/Aers...*g*) I am sure that I have read pairings that don't appeal to me on some level...Oz/Angel for example, but in the hands of a talented writer, (lj user="glossolalia"> for example, the story is tremendous. I don't think there's anything wrong with telling a writer: "Hey, you know what, this isn't my normal thing, but this was fantastic." It's a compliment; at least I always intend it as one.

[hedda62.livejournal.com]

Thinking about this - I suspect whether feedback like that is viewed as an insult has to do with (as the other commenters said) the language used and how the subgenre is described. The only reviews I got of that sort had to do with not usually reading crossovers, which is something I sort of understand, since they usually suck. However, it's nice to see people overcome their prejudices, and when it's some broad area they decline to venture into (like het or slash or pastfics or futurefics), then as long as they're not singling out your fic as the one and only they'll ever be able to tolerate in that genre, it sounds like an excellent thing all around.

Of course, if the review starts "I don't usually read schmoop, but..." it is not to be trusted. :) But I suspect yours said something a lot more complimentary.

[erinbow.livejournal.com]

RJA, thanks for this post. It helped me sort out my bemusement and occasional resentment over what *I* often hear: "I don't usually like contemporary poetry, but .... "

[chresimos.livejournal.com]

I was a bit befuddled by that post about people giving that kind of feedback, that appeared a while ago. I would take that kind of feedback as a very high compliment! It's not hard to convince a person who loves a character/pairing/scenario to like yours (although, depends on the pickiness of the person, I guess)...but actually being able to overcome another person's preconceived prejudices? Means you got something good. :D

[penwiper26.livejournal.com]

Heh. Dude, if I had to weed out all the FB that included a disclaimer regarding OCs or Mary Sues or long fics or a host of other things, I'd have claim to very little feedback at all! And so far, most people have been extremely kind in their reviews. Actually, what annoys me more than a rehearsal of people's pet peeves in fic is high-handed praise -- like, good girl, here's a cookie. Feh.

But mostly I'm just happy to hear that people are reading, period. It is all part of my evil world-conquest plan. *rubs hands*

[jessanndi.livejournal.com]

I think I came under that style of reviewer when I first read your work. And I agree it's the overcoming pre conceived ideas and prejudices. The Darcy Proposal.

[zoepaleologa.livejournal.com]

Well, for what it is worth, I'd personally like to see more people in fandom reading stories for the sheer sake of good story, instead of fantasy fullfillment, which as a writer in a ship (albeit not committed to that particular ship given the IQ level of many of the idiots in it) I find tiresome in the extreme.

When I started reading fanfic over a year ago, your trilogy was the one that convinced me fanfic was not a pile of pants. Greying ones. Before I read D&L I could not believe the dross some folks were pasting on the internet.

Okay, I should have reviewed, but I was very new and did not know what to say... I was shy (hard to believe, now, but true).

Since then, I've realised the odium that OFC's in particular tend to come in for, particularly when I dared introduce an OFC into a ship story. It is utterly stupid. Good story, good writing is all that counts.

I'm in the ship of good writing meets good story. That's my one true pairing. I do not care who is in it, or what sort of content there is (provided it does not make me feel sick!) if the story is compelling, and makes me keep scrolling down.

I wish more readers would read for the sake of story, instead of this or that ship, slash or het, etc. I'm non-partisan and proud of it. Do I care what happens to the characters? Is the writing good? Those are the questions that matter to me. If the writer can invent original characters who appear to fit seamlessly into the Potterverse, then I can be confident they (those writers) are worth reading.

Let's just hear it for story/.

[profshallowness.livejournal.com]

As other people have pointed out, this type of feedback isn't inherently offensive, and it's better to take it as a compliment, it just depends on the way it's couched (and you make a good point about whether there have been other attacks on the particular subgenre.) What's interesting is that the reader feels the need to put in that as context for their feedback. I can't recall if I've ever felt the need to start fb in that way, but I have spent a lot of time wondering if I want to tell an author how I came to find their work seeing as I'm writing this e-mail, post, well, cold?