Hi guys! Ok, I realise that this isn't actually a story, but that's not the point. I thought that it would be important to get this out to everyone as soon as possible. Why? Because I've been banking this idea for yonks, waiting for the right moment to come along for me to post it up. Heather the Writer was the last push I needed. Now. this is my How To Guide. Each week, I'll post up a new chapter, full of tips. Please read them. You'll need the help.

How To...

Give Constructive Criticism

In a Private Message to a fellow author:

Hi. I'm not picking on you randomly; this is me on a crusade to help people get better. Do you know how to recognise mistakes or do you choose to ignore them? PLEASE point them out when you review someone's story! Please?

Let me start again. I came across a story just earlier, and thought I'd take a look at it. I opened it up... and hated it.

The formatting was rubbish; the author has awful spelling and punctuation; and has no sense of dialogue structure. I thought, 'Maybe, just maybe, if someone can point out where she's going wrong, I'd be able to read this story if she fixes it.'

So, I went into her review box and the very first thing that popped up in front of me was YOUR REVIEW. -Remember, I'm not picking on you- I'm sorry, but it slightly peeved me off. I mean, of course, you have every right to enjoy a story if you like it, but could you at least have the decency to provide constructive criticism? After all, that is one of the most important parts of reviewing.

(Hm... now I come to think of it, I'll add this to my guide.)

But, I'm not trying to offend you by sending you this PM. I'm just... trying to help the TP fandom get back on it's feet. Too many people these days are becoming lazy...

Ciao!

KJ

--

Did everyone read that PM? Yes? Still don't get what I'm saying? Read on!

Of course, you're probably thinking, 'She's the Queen of Bitches. Why would she care if we didn't tell someone that they sucked?'

Heh. That's not necessarily true. I'm blunt, not bitchy. And it's because I don't like to waste time. This, however, does not mean that I wouldn't care if a story went down the drain. There's still chance to save it!

OK! Let's get started! First thing you want to do when you see a story is... read it, of course. Right? Yup. So you open the link up and start reading. How fun. No, really. It can be; when the story's written properly, you'll love it! However, you don't always get so lucky... but sometimes you don't realise. (NOTE: I am NOT trying to insult any of you here.)

So, what do you do? Well, some people ignore it and carry on, as the author above is wont to do, as is proved in the above message to her. Of course, this is quite a common reaction amongst the fanfic readers of today. But it doesn't mean it's a GOOD reaction. Besides, leaving a review which basically consists of "OMG!! I freaking LOVE it!!" kinda leaves an impression that you're not very intelligent. Do you really mean to do that?

Other people, like myself, can either choose to flame the story, provide constructive criticism or just leave the story altogether. Heh. While the first and last options both sound rather tempting at times, they aren't always the best option to take. Why? Because do that and you have a disaster on your hands – the writer will carry on, oblivious to the glaring flaws.

So. How would you remedy that? Easy. Constructive criticism. Option B. Don't like the sound of it? Tough. As a writer myself, I understand the urgency of this particular type of feedback, especially on a site such as this.

Look at it this way: FanFiction(dot)Net is supposed to be a haven for writers who want to develop their skills. Now, they can't do that without help. From us. Yes. You may write your own story, but we are a community of authors. It's all about teamwork. Seriously; I really do believe it's up to all of us to help each other improve. There are so many talented authors out there who just need that extra push to be able to shine.

Still reading? Good. I love you too.

Step 1: Read the story. Enjoy it if you like it.

Step 2: Keep an eye out for simple mistakes. These include spelling, grammar and punctuation. You may not be the best beta, but that's ok. As long as you can recognise areas for the writer to improve on, you've done your job as best as it could be done.

Step 3: If you're an older reader, and I mean fourteen or above, you should by now be able to spot the more complex problems in a story. Help the writer out with them – highlight anything which you believe needs work on, be it character development, dialogue, monologues, tenses, use of imagery, etc. This stuff is important. You know these things; apply them to everyday life.

Step 4: If it's a cliché, and an overdone and badly written one at that, tell them at once. There are way too many 'Kel and Dom love each other and have decided to play tricks on Meathead!' stories on this site. Seriously. I mean, it's enough to drive me homicidal. Nor am I the only one who feels this way. They are not, in any way, original and are very boring. I suppose if you're the simple-minded sort, you'd like it though. Heh.

Step 5: Decide how to phrase your constructive criticism. Some people, like myself, may choose to go for the blunt approach. Other people may choose to sweeten their words a bit. But make sure you get your message across. If the person doesn't respond immediately, don't give up. Try again. It will eventually get through their heads and they'll realise how helpful you've been.

Step 6: If needed, advise them to get a beta. 'What is a beta?' I hear you ask. An editor. That is what a beta is. S/he checks over your stories/poems to ensure that you do not lose face by making the most elementary of mistakes. Capisce? They can also help you with your ideas and assist in fleshing out a plot if necessary.

Step 7: Send the review.

Now, I bet a whole bunch of you guys are thinking, 'What a hypocrite!'

Yes, I can be at times; it's only human. But at the same time, please take into account that I have been on this site for the past five years; and I've seen a heck of a lot of fanfiction pass through this site. The earlier pieces in particular, and I'm talking about the Kel/Neal, Kel/Joren and Kel/Cleon pairings here, were, to be completely honest, way better than the majority of today's pieces.

Some of the Golden Oldies are still about (or so I've been told) and they, if anyone, know how to get and give proper feedback. One example would be... oh! PsychoLioness. She's definitely still around. If you haven't ever read any of her stories yet, I suggest you go do so. She is amazing. Then again, she probably wouldn't have gotten to that stage without help from others.

Get my point?

Ciao!

- abyssgirl