Talks With Aunt Coffeebuddha
Sep. 5th, 2010 03:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
coffeebuddhaMy darlings, gather round. Your Aunt Coffeebuddha would like to have a little talk with you about summaries and reviews. Now, the thing to remember is that while I am willing to tolerate you being in my general space love you very, very much and only occasionally wish you would die in a fire want the very best for you, sometimes you do things that drive me batshit insane make me sadly shake my head. Let's start with summaries, shall we?
Now, this is mostly for the youngest of you kiddies. Please don't apologize for your summaries. Just don't do it, darlings. If it sucks, then we'll know it sucks by reading it. Apologizing won't make it better or make people want to read it any more. And if it doesn't suck and you apologize anyways? Well, then we're left either wondering if you're faking modesty or if you just have no confidence in your writing, both of which mean I'm going to be less inclined to click on your story.
As far as reviews go? Darlings, believe me when I say that positive, insulting reviews are not funny or cute or clever. They are insulting. Telling someone that they suck because you don't like the way they handled something is rude, even if you do spend the rest of the review complimenting them. Making actual demands for more, which implies you like what's there, while saying nothing about the story you're commenting on is rude. Telling someone you like their story, but your personal preference would have led you to do something differently* is rude. You can compliment someone and insult them at the same time. I know, it's mind blowing, but it's true.
Again, your Aunt Coffebuddhatolerates loves you, but she thinks you could do better is sick of seeing this shit. Now, who wants a cookie?
*Please note that I said personal preference. This doesn't apply to critiques-pointing out OOCness, plotholes, etc. Instead I mean when someone does something like complaining that they just like it better when one partner tops and that's not what you wrote.
Now, this is mostly for the youngest of you kiddies. Please don't apologize for your summaries. Just don't do it, darlings. If it sucks, then we'll know it sucks by reading it. Apologizing won't make it better or make people want to read it any more. And if it doesn't suck and you apologize anyways? Well, then we're left either wondering if you're faking modesty or if you just have no confidence in your writing, both of which mean I'm going to be less inclined to click on your story.
As far as reviews go? Darlings, believe me when I say that positive, insulting reviews are not funny or cute or clever. They are insulting. Telling someone that they suck because you don't like the way they handled something is rude, even if you do spend the rest of the review complimenting them. Making actual demands for more, which implies you like what's there, while saying nothing about the story you're commenting on is rude. Telling someone you like their story, but your personal preference would have led you to do something differently* is rude. You can compliment someone and insult them at the same time. I know, it's mind blowing, but it's true.
Again, your Aunt Coffebuddha
*Please note that I said personal preference. This doesn't apply to critiques-pointing out OOCness, plotholes, etc. Instead I mean when someone does something like complaining that they just like it better when one partner tops and that's not what you wrote.