venting -- when terrible writing is praised

[Britva415]

Inn-u-endo, and in their end-o.

It's not An-U, it's An-Us!

 

[Bramblethorn]

With all that said, when you see a written work elsewhere -- a work that has bad plotting, unbelievable characters, a thin (or thick) veneer of misogyny, over-the-top elements, poor grammar, and/or possible hints of LLM use -- when you see such a work getting high praise from multiple other people -- does that piss off anyone else or is it just me?

I recommend taking such things with quiet dignity and grace.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

I've liked so many things that people largely view as "poorly written but just well marketed" that I probably live in that glass house where I shouldn't throw stones (then again, I also don't think my writing is good enough to even remain confident that my work doesn't fall in the frustration zone, so there's that...)

 

[BearNextDoor]

You leave my readers alone. They know what they like.

 

[Erozetta]

I've liked so many things that people largely view as "poorly written but just well marketed" that I probably live in that glass house where I shouldn't throw stones (then again, I also don't think my writing is good enough to even remain confident that my work doesn't fall in the frustration zone, so there's that...)

My whole reason for not wanting them to like my work is to avoid the confirmation of my own thoughts on my work.

So long as people with subjectively bad taste don't actively like my work, I can live in denial that maybe I'm not as bad a writer as I think I am. Once they confirm, I'm done.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

My whole reason for not wanting them to like my work is to avoid the confirmation of my own thoughts on my work.

So long as people with subjectively bad taste don't actively like my work, I can live in denial that maybe I'm not as bad a writer as I think I am. Once they confirm, I'm done.

What about people who both like things that people call "bad" and enjoy the "greats" (think Tolkein, Dickens, Pratchett, etc)?

I just think that sometimes people want to turn their minds off and others - they want things that dive into meaningful issues and are fine and nuanced works of art.

 

[caleb35]

I recommend taking such things with quiet dignity and grace.

This. This right here. I can relate to and appreciate this.

 

[Erozetta]

What about people who both like things that people call "bad" and enjoy the "greats" (think Tolkein, Dickens, Pratchett, etc)?

I just think that sometimes people want to turn their minds off and others - they want things that dive into meaningful issues and are fine and nuanced works of art.

I'd just consider those people who like what they like without concern over how edgy or smart liking something might make them look.

I'd have the same issue with people who largely praise things others consider great as I'd have with those who praise things most other people hate. If they praised my work, I'd be deeply uncomfortable because I wouldn't believe them and it would make me think they were being insincere with their praise.

I'm more likely to believe people with a more balanced view of good and bad who simply like what they like. Especially if they can admit to seeing the flaws in something they like, but like it anyway.

 

[Bramblethorn]

More seriously, I think it can be helpful to look at why they enjoyed what they did.

Some people simply want to read stories about women with giant boobies. Giant boobies aren't something I really care about in my writing, so it doesn't bother me that the Giant Boob Fan Club are lavishing praise on Barbara's Book of Boobs and not on my stories. OTOH I do care about characterisation, and if people are praising Barbara's Book of Boobs for its characterisation (while neglecting my own efforts) that's going to be harder to accept.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

Especially if they can admit to seeing the flaws in something they like

Oh gosh, this is so real for so many reasons.

 

[crookedletter]

More seriously, I think it can be helpful to look at why they enjoyed what they did.

Some people simply want to read stories about women with giant boobies. Giant boobies aren't something I really care about in my writing, so it doesn't bother me that the Giant Boob Fan Club are lavishing praise on Barbara's Book of Boobs and not on my stories. OTOH I do care about characterisation, and if people are praising Barbara's Book of Boobs for its characterisation (while neglecting my own efforts) that's going to be harder to accept.

Who's to say you can't have both?

She breasted boobily to the stairs and titted downward, pondering with every step the subtle creak of the wood, and how it reminded her of summers in Tacoma when she and Bobby used to laugh until they cried trying to ape her mother's walk behind her back.

And so on.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't get pissed off. There are countless examples of stories that reap praise I don't think is deserved, but people have different tastes and people read stories for different purposes.

I accept that it's a big ocean with a lot of different fish. There's room for my fish and room for others. I don't sweat what others do or the response they get. It doesn't affect me.

 

[Areala-chan]

If somebody liked my story enough to compliment it and give it a high rating, that's good enough for me. They're free to like stuff I would think isn't all that great. I'm vanilla as hell, so I don't generally read anything outside of Lesbian Sex and Non-Erotic. What are the chances I'd even see such a comment on a story that is outside of my wheelhouse here anyway?

 

[calmlikeabomb]

Paraphrasing the great man himself: I have no cause to complain, because I hold disdain for their works or the works they prefer.

If anything, I prefer to use it to feed my own 'tortured, misunderstood artist' ego.

 

[cw5523729]

Who's to say you can't have both?

She breasted boobily to the stairs and titted downward, pondering with every step the subtle creak of the wood, and how it reminded her of summers in Tacoma when she and Bobby used to laugh until they cried trying to ape her mother's walk behind her back.

And so on.

That is a perfect example. That passage caused both uncontrollable laughter AND simultaneously an uncontrollable facial tick.

 

[FrancesScott]

Someone told me recently that we take other people’s opinions too seriously when it comes to our stories. I think that’s true. In your daily life, you probably come across lots of people with different opinions to you.

You may have different politics. You may like different types of food. You may enjoy different movies. You may follow different sports or different teams. There are an awful lot of humans and they all like different things.

There is no absolute definition of what makes a good story, it’s a personal choice. How many humans have actually read some of the books that are acknowledged as literary classics? They are not for everyone, the same way that airport novels aren’t for everyone. It depends on your taste. And de gustibus non disputandum est.

While I think most of my stories are somewhat literary, based on my own modest talents, I made the mistake of publishing an explicitly literary story here as my first contribution, and the pushback was visceral. That was my bad, not the readers. I misjudged what was acceptable here.

But to circle back. People loving stories you hate is just opinion. People adoring your stories is just opinion. I think Kipling had something to say about this.

 

[OralAllOver]

just you

dick (or breast) size: THAT'S A COMPETITION

writing, not so much

 

[OralAllOver]

Someone told me recently that we take other people’s opinions too seriously when it comes to our stories. I think that’s true. In your daily life, you probably come across lots of people with different opinions to you.

You may have different politics. You may like different types of food. You may enjoy different movies. You may follow different sports or different teams. There are an awful lot of humans and they all like different things.

There is no absolute definition of what makes a good story, it’s a personal choice. How many humans have actually read some of the books that are acknowledged as literary classics? They are not for everyone, the same way that airport novels aren’t for everyone. It depends on your taste. And de gustibus non disputandum est.

While I think most of my stories are somewhat literary, based on my one modest talents, I made the mistake of publishing an explicitly literary novel here as my first contribution, and the pushback was visceral. That was my bad, not the readers. I misjudged what was acceptable here.

But to circle back. People loving stories you hate is just opinion. People adoring your stories is just opinion. I think Kipling had something to say about this.

nice latin
reminds of those sexy priests ...

 

[caleb35]

All right, I vented, I feel (slightly) better, thank you all for the comments.

 

[AG31]

What about people who both like things that people call "bad" and enjoy the "greats" (think Tolkein, Dickens, Pratchett, etc)?

I just think that sometimes people want to turn their minds off and others - they want things that dive into meaningful issues and are fine and nuanced works of art.

Who's Pratchett??? (That's OK, I can Google. Just sayin'....)

 

[MillieDynamite]

Stop talking about me like that, please!

This is why it's important to have some assholes and bitches around.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Stop talking about me like that, please!

Support your local asshole or bitch.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Who's Pratchett??? (That's OK, I can Google. Just sayin'....)

Do yourself a favor and watch one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made this year.

 

[MillieDynamite]

thanks, I needed that.

Support your local asshole or bitch.

 

[Dearelliot]

No that doesn't bother me...I've been on the other side for most of my life, so it seems reasonable to expect people with different tastes in writing than mine.