I see your point, and it is of course your board, but I know how I'd feel if one of my stories was presented for criticism here. I'd feel somewhat overwhelmed and steamrollered. My level of skill and self-esteem is such that this level of scrutiny, with no warning, would be scary. There are some darn good writers posting here; my efforts are, at best, journeyman-level.
With warning, I could probably take it. Out of the blue, though, it would seem like a bunch of unsolicited beta-readers setting themselves loose on me. Even solicited, the beta process can be traumatic, but when it is sprung unawares it can be painful.
I speak from some experience, here. I wrote a little SG-1 story and told a friend that I had written it. Not asking for beta or anything, but just sharing the fact of the story. She proceeded to pick it apart for me, in a very constructive manner mind you, but it kinda hurt and surprised me. It might have hurt less, if she had not been such a more accomplished writer than me (she's a published author many times over), but as it was it felt like da Vinci's apprentice being beat over the head with the Mona Lisa. Does this make sense?
On the other hand, if I had asked her to beta, I could have girded my literary loins so to speak and taken my licks. I think. I hope.
This is rambling and I'm not sure I'm making my point at all. I'm not advocating censorship. I guess I'm advocating the right of refusal. It just seems more polite, given the vast variance in people's tolerance for public criticism.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2005-08-22 10:14 am (UTC)With warning, I could probably take it. Out of the blue, though, it would seem like a bunch of unsolicited beta-readers setting themselves loose on me. Even solicited, the beta process can be traumatic, but when it is sprung unawares it can be painful.
I speak from some experience, here. I wrote a little SG-1 story and told a friend that I had written it. Not asking for beta or anything, but just sharing the fact of the story. She proceeded to pick it apart for me, in a very constructive manner mind you, but it kinda hurt and surprised me. It might have hurt less, if she had not been such a more accomplished writer than me (she's a published author many times over), but as it was it felt like da Vinci's apprentice being beat over the head with the Mona Lisa. Does this make sense?
On the other hand, if I had asked her to beta, I could have girded my literary loins so to speak and taken my licks. I think. I hope.
This is rambling and I'm not sure I'm making my point at all. I'm not advocating censorship. I guess I'm advocating the right of refusal. It just seems more polite, given the vast variance in people's tolerance for public criticism.