When you rec stories, do you feel compelled to point out the flaws in your rec (making it more like a review, I suppose), or do you try to remain positive?
Recs and reviews are not the same thing. If I post a rec, I'm saying "hey, guys, I really enjoyed this and here's why I think you will, too". I only mention negatives if I've got something positive to say about them (like "it's X pairing which I know sounds weird but in this story it really works").
I've written fanfic reviews; that's not something I do any more because I don't have time, but a review should point out the negatives, too. A reviewer isn't a beta-reader: pointing out a couple of typos doesn't serve anyone. But if there are real negatives to a story, a review should include them.
As a reader, do you prefer an honest, "warts and all" review, or would you rather go into a story with a more positive impression in mind?
As a reader (of recs) I want information. I want to know why the reccer is bothering to rec the story. Take most of the recs in crack_impala - they're about the minimum. Mostly, the reccers don't bother to say what makes this fic better than a hundred others posted that week, but at least they say whether it's dark or funny or whatever. Few things frustrate me more than a "rec" post that's nothing more than a links list.
As a writer, do you object to having recs of your stories that aren't all-positive?
Absolutely not. I have no issues with criticism of my stories. I guess I object to misinformation: one of my fics which got a bunch of recs kept getting described as a crossover, which it wasn't. But someone pointing out my grammar is poor or my plot needs work? No. It's valid and they're entitled to say it.
Heer via metafandom
Recs and reviews are not the same thing. If I post a rec, I'm saying "hey, guys, I really enjoyed this and here's why I think you will, too". I only mention negatives if I've got something positive to say about them (like "it's X pairing which I know sounds weird but in this story it really works").
I've written fanfic reviews; that's not something I do any more because I don't have time, but a review should point out the negatives, too. A reviewer isn't a beta-reader: pointing out a couple of typos doesn't serve anyone. But if there are real negatives to a story, a review should include them.
As a reader, do you prefer an honest, "warts and all" review, or would you rather go into a story with a more positive impression in mind?
As a reader (of recs) I want information. I want to know why the reccer is bothering to rec the story. Take most of the recs in
As a writer, do you object to having recs of your stories that aren't all-positive?
Absolutely not. I have no issues with criticism of my stories. I guess I object to misinformation: one of my fics which got a bunch of recs kept getting described as a crossover, which it wasn't. But someone pointing out my grammar is poor or my plot needs work? No. It's valid and they're entitled to say it.