To Review or Not to Review? That Is the Question....

[dawn_felagund]

Recently, I have been batting around the idea of submitting one of my short stories for archive review at HASA. So why is this a big deal? Just do it, right, Dawn?

The problem is that I have always made such a big loud noise about how I don't agree with processes that claim to judge what is "quality" fiction, something that is made even worse online, where even "blind" submissions are often easily recognized as belonging to a certain author and therefore prone (in my opinion) to greater bias than a review by true strangers.


For example, many of you have stories that I would know as yours the moment I read them or read the titles, even, in certain circumstances. I admit that I would find it hard to separate my feelings for you as a friend or an individual from my judgement of a story. And the opposite is unfortunately also true: I am sure that there are people in the Tolkien fanfic community who would decline one of my stories just because it was written by me. (None of these people, as far as I know, belong to HASA. If they do, they are not active over there.) And it's not hard to know what stories belong to me. Go to my "short story" tag and there's a list right there.

Besides that, I simply don't agree that even a huge pool of reviewers have a right to decide what is or is not quality. Now I've had it brought up to me before: But Dawn, you are an editor for a literary magazine. And you have been a fiction editor before and had the difficulty of actually choosing the "best" stories from a pool of submissions. Yes, but I see this as different. A literary magazine, to me, is nothing but a collection of pieces that the editor(s) find particularly good. It is the editor's opinions, certainly not a declaration of quality at large. Were you to read the same pool of stories as me, you would probably "rate" some differently than I do. And a literary magazine, also, includes a certain kind of fiction. A story from the genre of science fiction might be excellent to readers of science fiction, but I don't think that it would ever appear in The Praire Schooner. Not because it's bad but because they don't publish that kind of fiction.

But archives that require a "review" to get in on the premise of only wanting to accept fiction of "quality" are, in my opinion, assuming that a team of reviewers can make such a judgement. Even the most atrocious blue-haired, purple-irised, unicorn-riding "Mary Sue" would be good fiction to someone. On the other hand, a dense, psychologically-based story dealing with the Elven view of mortality might breeze into most archives...but there would be readers who would hate it. There are doubtlessly readers who hate my stories, who think that I'm long-winded, blathering, and--at times--pompous (they're certainly right on the first two counts...I'm not so sure that I can count as pompous, though), and I know there are people who love my stories. Who's right? Who's to same I write quality fiction...or not?

And so I've always assumed that I would avoid archives that "review" stories for inclusion. But recently, I want to give it a try, for a couple of reasons.

1. I just want to see if it would be accepted. I'm curious. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back.


2. I can't help but feel that I am pompous or prideful to assume that I am making some kind of impact by witholding my work from certain archives. Like the staff of these archives are wringing their hands even as I type this and considering revising their admission guidelines solely because Dawn Felagund doesn't agree with them, and they are somehow incomplete if they don't get stories by Dawn Felagund posted there. Hmph.


3. I want an audience for my work. And HASA is one of the most-read Tolkien archives, so to have my work there would be a good thing. (And eventually other "review" archives as well.)


4. Am I really compromising my principles to submit my work? I do not do reviews, not because I'm lazy or I do not wish to help other authors get into archives but because a) I do not trust myself to be fair in reviewing the work of a friend or someone well known to me and b) I do not believe that I have any right to determine what is quality fiction. But to submit one's work...is that really in violation of my belief that the system is wrong? I also do not agree with using standardized tests for admission into universities, but I have taken both the SAT and GRE, scored well on both, and am proud of my work. It doesn't mean that I am agreeing that standardized tests are appropriate admissions standards. It is simply something that I had to do to achieve a greater goal: getting into the university I wanted to attend. A necessary evil, to borrow the cliche.

So that's where I stand. I'm interested in people's opinions on this.


But if you'd rather give me your opinion anonymously (and just because they're fun and I'm paying for the ability to use them), here's a poll:

[Poll #669291]

Now that it's 3 o'clock and I've done my blathering for the day, I will stop procrastinating and do some writing.

Comments

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

Nice try. I would like to know where the "discriminating, prejudiced and biased" comes from.

I am a reviewer at HASA, OSA and SOA in case you are wondering and I have been working together with people from these archives for the MEFA's in a very pleasant and fruitful manner (which gave me a good feeling to see people from all archives unite for this cause), but this is the first time I see someone tearing down sister archives like this. So yet again, why do you say this? If you cannot identify with OSA and SOA, that's ok, I can understand (each to their own right?), but I am a proud member of OSA and SOA and it feels like you pass on the same judgement to me (and all the members of those archives) because I do submit my work there and review there and participate there.

[juno-magic.livejournal.com]

Let me rephrase: I don't like OSA and SoA because *I* believe that their submission guidelines are discriminating, prejudiced and biased.

That is my own personal opinion about the guidelines those archives are operating with, and it has nothing to do with the authors and reviewers at those archives.

I am happy for everyone who feels at home there and enjoys those archives. I am very sorry that you feel I'm passing judgement on you. That was never my intention. I don't know you and I am sure that every author and reviewer at those archives is doing her best to make them a friendly and creative community (after all that's what fanfic archives are about, right?). Many of my friends archive their stories at OSA and SoA, therefore I know and respect that many authors are very happy there and that many wonderful stories are archived there.

But that doesn't change that I think that the guidelines of both archives, or to be exact certain aspects of those guidelines restrict the freedom of writing.

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

But that doesn't change that I think that the guidelines of both archives, or to be exact certain aspects of those guidelines restrict the freedom of writing.

Whenever you decide to write fan fic, there is an immediate restriction because you choose to write within a certain world. In order to stay true to that world and the creator of that world, there will always be restrictions if it was not only out of respect for the said author/creator.

Both SoA and OSA, are not discriminating and so on in their submission guidelines (actually with a broad concensus of all participants, the almost same set of rules were accepted for an archive I am an admin for), simply because they respect Tolkien and his creations. OSA is an adult het fic archive and operates regarding a philosophy, SoA is more a family friendly archive where the rating goes up 'till R. But both are created with an idea, mission, based on that submission guidelines (and I believe for recent changes, members were consulted (at least at OSA I believe), so that does reflect the wishes of the fans.

If you want true freedom in writing and creativity: write original fiction, because claiming that you can find that in writing fan fic and wanting it to combine with paying outmost respect for the creator of a fandom is just an illusion. You can't have both.

[juno-magic.livejournal.com]

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

np :) life would get too boring if we all agree with another and sang the same song.

[juno-magic.livejournal.com]

For example:

OSA:

MARY SUES AND ORIGINAL CHARACTERS (OCs)

* The OC should not interfere with the canon characters' basic personalities. (i.e. the canon characters should not go OOC (Out Of Character) simply because of the original character's presence.) For example, do not have Boromir (or anyone else) turn into an evil rapist just because the OC is so damn irresistible.
* The OC should not dominate the fan fic to the extent that all other characters and Middle-earth become non-existent.
* The OC should have plausible powers and attributes. There must be good canonical explanations for any powers/hair colour/traits that your OC has.
* The OC must have a solid background. That's not to say you have to spend an eternity describing the OCs childhood - however, the OCs background information (i.e. name, race, family, appearance) should fit in with Middle-earth. Do not invent new family members of existing characters unless the canon is vague on their ancestry. Extensive family trees can be found in the Appendices of RotK as well as The Silmarillion.
* The OC should be realistic and have depth to his/her character. An OC that is too perfect, or has too many powers is not believable and not fun to read about.
* OCs should not cause plot holes. Whatever adventure they get embroiled in - make it reasonable. Why would the fellowship want this 12-year-old girl to join them?
* While it is interesting to have an OC with a detailed background, please try to limit the device of having her abused, raped, sold into slavery, etc. Not only have these been done to death but after a time strains credibility when an OC is subjected to so much abuse and then rises to the occasion instead of being a gibbering wreck.
* Modern Age OCs - If the OC should originate from a universe other than Middle Earth, she will enter Middle Earth with no prior knowledge of it. In other words, no character is going to enter Middle Earth with knowledge of THE TRILOGY. Open Scrolls strives for quality and this reeks of nothing but LAZY PLOTTING. The OC should not be able to speak the language instantly unless there is a very good reason for it. Westron is NOT English. If the OC HAS to join the Fellowship, please provide a reasonable explanation for it. Elrond has been a leader for a very long time, it's going to be a compelling reason that convinces him why an unattached female, with no wilderness skills, who doesn't speak the language, should accompany nine males into the most dangerous place in Middle Earth.

SoA:

# Modern character insertion - Modern day people fall into Middle-Earth
# Mary-Sue's - OFC's, even in romances with canon characters, are not automatically Mary-Sue's. But if she joins the Fellowship or requires you to seriously violate canon, steals lines from canon characters or changes the course of the story.....she is more than likely a Mary Sue. No Mary Sue parodies either, please.

SoA's guidelines are much better than OSA's, in some respects better than HASA's, because they are friendlier in tone. However, I am seriously put off by the long list of what you may not submit there.

I agree - of course - that it is the right of the site owner to ban as many genres for whatever reason from their site.

Nevertheless I think that it is discriminating to exclude so many sub-genres of fanfiction, and it seems to me that this is the consequence of a mindset prejudiced and biased against those sub-genres.

Once more, that is only my own personal opinion about the guidelines that those archives are based on.

It is an opinion that has nothing at all to do with the authors and reviewers at those archives.

As I already said, many of my friends post their stories there, and probably review there, too, and I am very happy if they are happy there.

So please accept my apology if my opinion has offended you.

[ann-arien.livejournal.com]

Er... I don't mean to trash OSA because I've read some amazing stories there and I'm sure the people are great, too.

But reading the submission guidelines about OFCs I have to say that, between the lines, what they really mean is "No OFC please!" I mean, they narrow the possibilities so much that it's almost impossible for someone unwilling to spend an eternity creating a perfectly plausible OFC, only to have her blend in the background. Isn't the point of creating an OFC in fanfic having fun and adding something new to the canon?

And then, after all these restrictions, they tell you that it's a non-slash archive, too. While I understand that not everyone is open to the idea of M/M pairings, what else are you supposed to do is inserting some new character is well-nigh impossible.

Again, this is only my opinion, and I do not wish to insult anyone by expressing it.

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

But reading the submission guidelines about OFCs I have to say that, between the lines, what they really mean is "No OFC please!"

Well than you are very easily discouraged or very negative. They encourage yout to come up with a decent written OC and you really have to take it very negatively to become this discouraged. Many of the, award winning, stories are based on a well explored OFC or OMC and are hosted there, so your assumption that they wanna scream "NO OFC" is very incorrect. I know Nilmandra of SoA though feels very strongly about the whole OC issue, so you are blaming the wrong archive here.

As for slash, I don't mind, as long if it fits to the canon of the said fandom. Since Tolkien never wrote slash, to me it shouldn't belong in the Tolkien fandom, but for Buffy, Will & Grace ect ect.

what else are you supposed to do is inserting some new character is well-nigh impossible.

Become creative, strong character and plot building. Which is tons of fun.