Hello. I'm new to this forum but have been busy in the Fanfics section for a while until just recently. Forgive me if this doesn't belong here as I would think nothing but fan fiction belongs in that section of the site; General Discussion seemed like the most sensible place to put this.

I hope this doesn't seem rude but something's been bugging me for some time.

Sitting in my cold dorm room two years ago, something odd happened. I was bored to the point of head-to-desk banging as I'm sure many of us have been, and my insanely overpowered character in Morrowind didn't tear me away from the dismal college setting anymore. So, I started writing a Morrowind fanfic for kicks called The Tale of Gaenor, and decided it wouldn't hurt to post it on the official TES forum so I could get some outsider feedback and maybe discover I had some sort of talent that had finally awoken.

I'm hardly attempting to toot my own horn but the comments I received were better than expected, so I went with it and turned it into a 36-page story revolving around Gaenor and his past. I had lots of fun with it and learned from the others posted on that forum. I find no shame in admitting that I checked my thread for more replies between classes in the hopes of fueling my motivation to continue.

Since then, I came up with two other stories called Trials of the Mad God and Gaenor: Reloaded (the second one posted on the Fanfics section of this site). Perhaps I got too wrapped up in myself but I focused less on others and just wanted to know how people felt about what I wrote. The positive comments kept coming, fewer than before but still greatly appreciated and taken to heart. A mistake, possibly, and here's why.

I noticed the same people who replied to my stuff were commenting on an equal level of praise to other peoples' stories. I read them and thought, with as little self-glorification as possible: Really? Is this really like mine? These guys must be putting on an act for everyone, then.

I'm not looking for pats on the back, but if anyone's read some of the.. (there's no kind way to say this without watering down how I feel) lower-quality works on that forum and noticed this, tell me why.

Thanks.

Well, where I live, there's this thing called "Southern Hospitality". I think this situation is somewhat like that.

Basically, people here in the southern united states are nice to everyone; but it's mostly just to your face. Even if they outright despise you, they'll be warm, friendly, and polite.

And also, who's going to go out of their way just to put a bad comment on a story? (Besides a chosen few immature people) That's a sure-fire way to piss people off and get banned.

Personally, I don't normally reply to stories I don't like. So if I reply to yours, it means I enjoy it.

I would, not with that in mind, but since any criticism is good, no matter what anyone says. If I'm writing a bad story I want to know it, and I shouldn't have to see potentially empty compliments if they aren't true.

Hey! 'Southern Hospitality' isn't just in the southern states it's also in Newfoundland, Canada! You're all our friends up our way...

But anyway, we have to be polite to everyone, and some people really are as good, or better, than you. We compilment everyone so they continue writing! If we dissed thier stories we'd have FAR fewer writers...

But, your writing is top class prehaps (I've said this before) we SHOULD write a Big Book of Neravine (w/e) and see if Bethsada will let us sell it...

I actually read your stories (just never posted anything) and thought it was really good... a hell of a lot better than mine anyways... and I have noticed that as well... when I first wrote a story everyone was so polite and it was kinda encouraging until I showed it to onw of my friends and they are not afraid to tell the truth to me so he flat out told me that the story had some major flaws that I needed to work on and that I'm a horrible speller witch is true... but latley my writting has gotten alot better because just today when I wrote a poem about the holocaust (from a story called night that I read in english class) a lot of the kids actually applauded witch was a big surprise to me... but yeah some people should just say the flat out truth... if you suck at writing then stop writting unless you realy have passion towards it... if you know what I mean...

Oh ShraX! Why so bitter words? You know I´ve been reading your stories for a long time, ever since you started posting Gaenor at the TES-forums! I just love your writing-style and the use of the english language is nothing but flawless!

But just because I love your story, I can´t put other writers down! I actively seek out the good parts in every story I read, there is you know....something good in everyone of them!

Many, if not all of the writers here are young people who try their best and are proud and happy to share their efforts with us, then who am I to put them down??? I just can´t do that, I think it´s important to get positive feedback, it encourage them to improve to continue writing...and believe me, the stories do get bettter and better, the authors try very hard and I think they should get credit for it!

I do comment on paragraphing and other stuff, just to tell how to make the stores more reader-friendly!

In your work there´s no need for me to mention such things, your´s is perfect as it is! I am from Sweden, I can´t really comment on other lingvistic issues, but I can comment on content and flow....which I also do, when needed.

I will also mention that I do pm writers when I find something more serious, no point in hard criticism in public!

Same here.
But then again, I rarely read the fan fiction.

Well this really scares me about my fanfics now. With the few comments I get I cross reference them and they seem exactly the same tone as every other reply to fanfics I think are poor.

I think we should be more honest with writing, and try to give constructive critisism. I would personally like it more.

Alright... but don't blame me if i Blam you sometime...

This is my personal view of why I cant criticize other peoples fanfics. Most of the bad points I see in stories are the way the storyline goes or is set up. This already is a worthless point since its not my storyline to comment on.

For example, of the little snippet I read of yours, I found it hard to grasp Gaenor (a character I found to be little more than annoying) has a long and interesting storyline which starts with him killing the Nerevarine.

This is mainly due to my inability to accept a story other than my own. Id ask myself a stupid question like "well what the hell was the point of TESIII then?". Another example would be the disataste I got reading Viconia's epilogue at the end of BG2:TOB.

Again a question I asked myself was "why the hell would my character, the son of a god, allow it to end that way?". I felt like the whole idea I had built around my characters romance with Viconia was a waste of time.

This probably only shows a possessiveness I have over characters in stories. Like the Nerevarine, not being any other way I want him to (again notice the "him" ), or the ending not going the way I want it to.

Like I said this only shows my own reasons for why I should comment on fanics. And its missing the whole point of this thread. The only thing I can say about that point is that obviously many people feel a similar way I do. That giving bad feedback or mentioning faults on somebody's work is extremely impolite.

This, just like my criticism is probably flat out wrong. But its probably due to my upbringing, Ill always feel uncomfortable pointing out peoples faults. Or what I perceive to be faults, at least.

I want people to comment about my stories often so I will know whats wrong with them... and I agree with Joryn... I have the same feelings towards other stories but hey there not mine... and by the way I was kinda let down when Gaenor's friend was killed... I thought that earlier in the story you sayed something like he had to give up his life in order for Gaenor to live or something... I have bad memory... plus the way that ultimate evil necromancer guy was incredably injured with one stab... and the way he got killed... I thought he would have put up more of a fight than just hurl one fireball... but I'm getting out of topic... so I might as well shut up now...

Mazelure,

I hate Gaenor: Reloaded, and I hated writing the second half of it after I started it again. It's so childish, the way I was writing.. I didn't use the language I normally would use, probably because I saw his adventure as being childish itself. I was racing to finish it because I was just having a dreadful time pulling ideas out of my head for what would happen next. I'm glad it's over, but I could've done so much more with it.

Maybe I should've asked for criticism.. pure criticism, instead of expecting it. I understand politeness is extremely important to most, but to me, it's masking true feelings. For example, I post on the official forums all the time. Most of the time I comment with a stupid joke, and sometimes I give insight to someone's problem or quest help. Depending on what was said and what the argument is, I reply. I never worry about being polite, although I probably should as it's expected, but I find that more often than not, being polite when you feel differently is grossly unfulfilling, and really waters down my personality.

While I still don't have an answer to my original question, I'm somewhat satisfied, and glad you guys gave truthful responses, and I thank you for that. The next time I write something and offer it to others to read, I'll be sure to tell them to give me the verbal equivalent of a cinder block over the head in terms of critique and I mean that in the best way.

Ok ShraX...I´ll give you feedback next time, I promise, but I still believe in giving negative feedback in private and positive feedback in public ok?

'llo there. The 'Southern Hospitality' thing, where everyone smiles and pretends they like you, actually originates from my little part of Europe that is why good ol' Mil despises the Hlaalu, even though he works for them... so, if I'd reply to your work - assuming that I managed to read any of it! - it would be a positive reply; othervise, I woulndn't reply at all. In the end, I'll say it once more: the best critic is the writer himself/herself... and that is why I hate the crap I write

p.s.: off topic, but Minque, was there an update on Serene ? if so, please PM me [and please, do so in any case in the future ]

This post has been edited by milanius: May 15 2006, 05:04 PM

Hell, no. Us Newfie's really do like everyone. Its not an act, it's reality for us, before the mainlanders came over to the island we all left our doors unlocked and everything. Our Buddies would come over in the middle of the night and take a sandwhich (sp) from the fridge and we wouldn't care. But then the mainlander came over to the island from Ontario and Quebec and they took advantage of our hospitality, they took everything. We're still the kindest bunch 'a' people around, eh.

What can I say? I find the good side to every story, each one has its good points and bad points. I apologise for everyone else's stories (including my own) that don't live up to what you hoped for man but nobody's writing can be perfect...

When I comment on someone's work I try to include a comment about something that happened in the story so that they know I actually read it. I read just about everything that passes through the fan fiction section and most of it isn't all that bad...

This post has been edited by Kiln: May 16 2006, 04:56 PM

I agree that most writers can benefit from careful, constructive criticism. I have tended to avoid giving too much criticism as I don't want people to feel they should stop writing. Perhaps those of us who only read the stories here, rather than writing any, should take more care to provide both supportive comments and helpful criticism to the many authors who share their stories with us. It is essential that this be done in an atmosphere of support and encouragement, so that no one feels their stories are unwanted, but are able to use the comments made to improve upon what they have started. In the long run, we may see a return on our investment in the form of even better stories.

I didn't realize that so many people here wrote stories in the Fan Fiction section. I will have to check it out sometime when I feel like reading. Being an artist, I always check the Fan Art section. But must admit that I've never been to the Fan Fiction.

I would guess though that a lot of the people who read the stories there are the same people who also write their own stories there. So, I see nothing amiss with you all giving constructive criticism to each other; but done in a constructive way and with no flaming or making of bad feelings. It could be very helpful to everyone.

I'm back! The computer died on me for a whole week, some sort of virus was involved. I'm gonna have to learn to write again . Anyway, to be on topic, whenever I comment a story I try to be as frank as possible without ofending the writer. I don't want to make him feel as if he's not wanted here. I don't even comment on that many fan-fics to begin with. I also do as Dantrag does, if I don't like something I simply don't read it or post anything regarding it. When I do try to post some positive comments however, I make sure to say something about the story to show the writer that I've actually been reading. Comments like "Brilliant" or "Keep up the Great work!" are to be avoided if you ask me, they're too shallow.

I´m afraid that, if we continue this discussion about what comments are good or just boring and shallow and whatever you like...then ppl just stop commenting at all! If you aren´t allowed to comment in the way you really like...then you probably don´t comment at all!

And I think that is not what was intended!

But I must admit I´m a bit put off by this discussion.....