Criticizing Fan Fiction is a bad thing to do!

[Memory]

  first DONT GET ME WRONG ALL THIS POST IS MY OPINION

I feel fucked when i see peoples talking that Fanfiction is A trash and critiquizing peoples by Making the things that they like,Doest matter HOW BAD the thing is The people that did that Was trying to make something.

And i apreciate this just i that have this opinion?
 

⚑ Moderators Note ⚑

Please use telling titles for your topics. Thank you.

[PurpleHello98]

I agree that often, people can express unhelpful and rude opinions about fanfiction, but I think constructive criticism can often be great and useful! It's one of the best ways to improve as a writer.

[bugholder's epiphany]

As long as the criticisism is constructive, then I think it would be fine. However, if people are going to be a dick and say shit like, i dunno, "THIS FANFICTION SUCKS BALLS", then obviously anything that they have to say should be quickly considered useless at least and just downright disrespectful at worst.

[rhenn]

IMO unsolicited criticism on the fic/piece itself can be kinda rude sometimes, but if people are talking about it on their own (i.e., not directly to the author) it's not so bad? Obviously straight up bashing is bad, but like PurpleHello said constructive criticism can be useful. (That's the whole purpose of beta-reading after all! Though that's typically solicited.)

Idk, to me it's kinda like book reviews - it's intended for the readers, not the author. I think constructive discussion of why a thing might be bad can be interesting - sometimes figuring that out has led me to insights of how to make my own writing better.

[Memory]

I think that critiques can be useful sometimes but i only don't really agree bashing for any reason this need to be constructive 

[Thorn]

People often criticize fanfiction with the same intensity as they do full on professional works, and that scares people out of pursuing creative hobbies for their own fun. When in fan spaces, you *have* to keep the differences between fanart and cannon art in mind; the people behind "official" art are doing this for a job and at minimum have a good few years of art experience, often full time, backing their skills, while fanartists are often doing this as a hobby around other life events for their own personal fun. You can't hold the two to the same standards.

[invader_gvim]

People often criticize fanfiction with the same intensity as they do full on professional works, and that scares people out of pursuing creative hobbies for their own fun. When in fan spaces, you *have* to keep the differences between fanart and cannon art in mind; the people behind "official" art are doing this for a job and at minimum have a good few years of art experience, often full time, backing their skills, while fanartists are often doing this as a hobby around other life events for their own personal fun. You can't hold the two to the same standards.

Not just fan fiction, but fiction written by ameteurs in general. This includes self criticism. I've been waaaaay too mean to myself about my own work and its why I never finish anything. No more! LMAO. One of the most misguided writing things that I ever did was persuade my friend Zelira to post his in progress story to reddit. Not only did they tear it apart, but they were so mean that he basically swore off writing for a year. He's better now though, as the sheer length of what he has written on my website attests. It says only 7 chapters, but some of those chapters are 10,000 words long!

As an aside, check out the sheer length of the work this unrelated other guy has. It's under "Halcyon Era". This guy has written pages and pages and pages of Megaman Legends fancfiction and I tell you that's inspiring regardless of the quality. Sometimes I look over this guy's website and regardless of the fact that I've never emailed him or communicated with him at all, I find it inspiring. I want my website to have this much literature on it someday too.

Everyone wants to point out how bad everything is, but when I used to be like that I didn't enjoy as much stuff. Now that I focus my energy on creativity I at least enjoy art more than I did previously.



Fanfiction is cool and sometimes I check it out on wattpad.

[Corrupted Unicorn]

Once something's out on the Net/available for someone else's eyes to see, criticism is all but inevitable.

I understand the general sentiment of people being upset because most "criticism" seen in fan fiction (and amateur fanart) is actually trolling or flaming, but I don't think that should be a reason to generalize criticism as a bad thing or try to avoid it.

There's constructive criticism, of course, but sometimes even "mean" criticism hides a nugget of constructivism as well. After all, if someone got out of the way to write you why they don't like what you made, they might have thought of what could you do to improve it.

People being rude will always exist as long as there's free will.

Yes, cringe culture is dead, but that doesn't mean "you can't criticize anything ever again". I see that sentence as more of a permission to express yourself over the Internet, but you have to be ready for when (when, not if) people don't quite like what you do.

Dealing with criticism is as much of a valuable tool as it is making constructive criticism.

[Rosaria Delacroix]

For me, when it comes to criticism of amateur works, (fanfiction or otherwise), the framing around it really matters. Does someone actually want constructive criticism? What is the intent of them sharing their work with me? What am I looking to achieve here, in our interaction? And of course, civility and courtesy is always important, especially with such sensitive matters- it takes a lot of bravery to open up about something you've spent a lot of time on, regardless of whether or not it's 'just' a hobby.

I know very well the value of constructive criticism, and it's helped me grow immensely as a writer and artist. Peer review circles, dedicated writing groups, competitions that specifically solicit constructive criticism for entrants, no matter if they place for a prize or not- all of these are fantastic, and have helped me grow. But that's the thing- I knew and wanted it, I sought it out: and I responded in a pleasant manner thanking people for their time spent with the work and sharing their thoughts with me, addressed any particularly helpful bits, and kept anything else that might be seen as negative or petulant to myself.

Hell, I've taken a moment to step away from the screen, or compartmentalized a reflexive defensiveness (or more often, hurt feelings) until after an in-real life session to go cry about it to some friends after the fact: I don't put that onto the reviewer or critic, because I specifically sought out their input, and I likely had some measure of respect for them in workshop environments, or at least respected the atmosphere of a more generalized competition or rotating writer's group to not throw a tantrum or be fussy in front of others.

Learning how to take even rude, stupid comments with a measure of grace, and then resolve your own feelings about it later, is a skill that you need time to develop as a creative, and is one that is so important but often overlooked- especially in contexts like say, an autobiographical poetry writing workshop, which inherently cuts a little closer to the quick for most people.

At the same time- you don't really have to tolerate those if you aren't seeking it out. The lovely thing about Archive of Our Own, is that it allows you to moderate comments, and if I don't want to see one on my page, I can simply axe it out of existence. I write fanfiction for pleasure, as a silly little hobby I don't take too seriously- and a lot of mine is old and not a reflection of my current writing skills, since I mostly dabbled in it as a teenager. I'm not actively looking to improve, I'm not actively looking to craft a magnum opus: it's self indulgent, silly, and fun.

In that context for me, constructive criticism is misplaced- because I'm not putting my best foot forwards, this isn't something I'm angsting over how to make into the best thing it can possibly be: it's for fun. It doesn't matter if it's not technically competent as it can be. It's absurd to expect every creative's work to be their absolute best, and if I'm writing for damn fun- I don't want someone to randomly come up and give their critical two cents: brother, I brought the cake to the party, and if you don't like the cake, you can go ahead and chow down on another on offer- or be politely quiet, because the cake might not be your cup of tea, but plenty of other people are enjoying it with the understanding it's not meant to be a healthy, well balanced diet: it's a silly little treat!

If someone doesn't want constructive criticism, it becomes a waste of effort to give it. Sure, 'others might benefit from it,' but using people solely to make an example out of, when you know they don't want to have that done to them, is incredibly rude, and can be better achieved by offering constructive criticism to those that do solicit it. It's also a bit self centered, to be honest- when I solicit constructive criticism, I do so from those who I deem qualified to do so: talented writers or artists whose work I admire, credentialed professionals (academically or having work experience), etc. Who the hell are you, and why should I personally care about your opinion? Chances are, I don't, otherwise I would have asked you for your thoughts in particular. (General audience you, not pointed at anyone in this thread.) It just makes sense- if you're going to take advice from someone, why wouldn't it be from someone whose results you're interested in?

If it's not solicited, really, you're just yapping into the wind to hear your own voice, especially if you know the author didn't want it, and might just delete your posts anyway, as is their right to curate comments on their works. You aren't owed a seat at the venue, and if they don't want your input, you aren't entitled to them receiving or responding to it. Bringing a cake to a party does not open me up to random conversations about whether or not someone 'really really really hates buttercream frosting,' because frankly, I don't care- I made it for the people who do, and they're more than welcome to eat a naked cake instead. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but that doesn't mean they're entitled to an audience.

It can become a super obnoxious 'read the room, my guy' scenario sometimes. Like, if someone you know baked you some homemade cookies, and sure, they weren't the most delicious, outrageously fantastic cookies that you'd pay top dollar for at a Michelin starred restaurant- who cares? The intent was not to have the world's most delicious cookies, flawless in execution. The intent in that interaction was someone doing something nice for you, and giving you a little gift. The intent in that interaction may have been someone wanting to include you in their hobby, something they keep private and spend a lot of time on, but they trust you enough that your reception won't be soul crushing and won't be cruel. They want to spend that time with you, to share in the joy their hobby brings them- and look, I've eaten a lot of bad cookies.

But you never get better cookies, if you hurt someone so badly that they're reduced to tears and vow to never give you, or anyone else cookies ever again, because of how mean you were about ripping them to shreds when they literally just wanted to enjoy cookies with you. That's way different from someone who like, is seeking product testing feedback before they scale up a little home bakery, and invest way more money and skin into the game. So what's their intent, and what do you hope to achieve? Do you want to encourage them to continue, are you helping them specifically grow by identifying pain points? Do you even have that sort of relationship where it would be meaningful and helpful?

Kindness and compassion for our loved ones is a virtue. Civility and courtesy is a version of that that we extend to others outside of our cozy little bubble. If people seriously thought about the potential repercussions of their actions, (so many young creatives I knew have been absolutely deterred from any form of creative writing, due to the cruelty of older people who cut them down just because its what they went through, and it 'weeds out the weak,' which is unwarrantedly harsh), and also just considered y'know, time and place- well, things would be a lot better in general.

Constructive criticism is great, there's no doubt about the benefits it holds in creative development, and receiving and giving it well is a skill- but is well placed, wanted? I'd say in a lot of hobbyist spaces, the default is no, it isn't: most people will indicate if they otherwise are seeking it out. But it's polite to make sure your yapping's even welcome, before you go and blast someone's comment section pointing out how much their writing sucks ass to you when it's the equivalent of them going out to eat fast food, rather than trying to craft the most perfect meal in the whole wide world ever. Sometimes we all just want to relax and kick back with some fries, y'know?

[garystu]

Its awesome to criticise fanfic. Why hold back.

Seriously, why hold back. "its amateur" ok. "it was made for fun" ok. ok. ok. yeah ok. all of that is infomation that can inform the critical lens, not reasons that negate it.

Criticism isn't just for the author, but for potential readers and broader discussion. A criticism that doesn't help you can help the lurkers, help the conversation, and has value outside you.

Everyone's over correcting for an 00s flame war they don't even remember. But I remember. The biggest dumbasses on Livejournal have Won, made their own dogwater platform in Ao3, and ended the Flame Wars by placing fanfic beneath criticism.

Oh well!


Have any fanfiction caustic critics survived? I hope so. They're also massive losers, but I want them to survive.

[grubbyfox]

If an author asks me for constructive critique, then yeah, i would try to help them out. but i wouldnt just go "its shit, you should change x and y an z"... I would instead ask what they are unsure of/what parts they want me to analyze/critique.

If I read a shit fanfic, wether its poorly written or problematic etc, I may laugh at it with friends and have a little razz session with them about it.

But I would never leave comments on something if I didn't like it. If I found the dialogue poorly done or whatever, it doesn't matter. They were clearly satisfied or decided this was their final draft. If I dont like it, it was not for me. Ya know? I follow the age old adage... dont like, dont read. Simple as that.

I do agree though with... why should I (in the authors face) critique their work without them asking? What am I gaining for doing that? That I make a person feel like shit and stop doing something they enjoy? Nah. I'll just go my merry way. Didn't like it, didn't read it. 

[petrichoran]

critiquing when someone didn't ask for it can be kinda shitty, yeah. but as a writer, constructive criticism has helped me to improve so much! critiquing a work isn't just about the bad parts, either; complimenting an author on what worked is also pretty commonplace in my experience and is just as helpful. if someone's just writing fanfic for fun and doesn't want feedback, then yeah, don't give it. but sometimes writing fanfic is helpful for starting writers because they can learn the ropes while participating in fandom and can learn to write character, plot, and setting by working with preexisting ones. good, kind critique on those stories can make them even more helpful to a new writer.

[mychemicalvyvanse]

i feel like a lot of the nuance in the points ppl are making here is like.... solicited vs unsolicited criticism, and good faith vs mean spirited criticism.

which i think are all Social Lessons That Suck To Learn for everyone, and particularly so if u have any kinds of wounds around social exclusion/being criticized in bad faith/having a mass amount of people gang up on you. which is true for many of us who went thru our adolescence online, and i think that goes doubly so if you primarily use(d) online spaces as a refuge bc you felt a lack of belonging in your IRL communities.

plussss i feel like we dont talk about how when you're a young person on the internet, criticism frm a source where you dont have preexisting connection (some rando in your replies as opposed to, like, someone who knows you as a whole person) can feel very threatening?

like i know when i was a teen i became very paranoid abt online criticism, because i was kinda interpreting it like i was being judged for a single action by a bunch of people i didn't know and that felt like people were coming into my space and attacking me. and it took a lot of work to build a solid basis of identity and a filter for feedback other ppl were giving me - i think those are things you work on your whole life and you're at the very beginning of that process when you're young.

and again, it becomes that much harder if you then build a lot of your defense patterns around 'random ppl are going to yell at me for honest mistakes' (speaking from experience!!! autism + OCD is a trip!!!)

and ofc that's not to reduce it to "teens are sensitive and can't handle MATURE DISCUSSIONS", i think the point im making is that it's hard to have that layer of compassion when you're not consciously seeing a person and only seeing one thing they've written for fun.

TL;DR i think shutting down criticism solely because it's criticism doesn't work, and also i have compassion for u if u want everyone to leave u alone about something you posted for sillies online when u were 15.

with that being said, u can always respond to a mean comment with THIS bad boy: