neadods: (sherdoc)
neadods ([personal profile] neadods) wrote2015-07-31 10:43 pm

Poll time!

So, there's a fan author I want to send an "I really love your fic" email to.

...only I want to add a line along the lines of "I'm very impressed with your level of detail and world building and I am not easily impressed; I've been reading fanfic for almost 40 years and used to be a book critic." And I can't tell if the natural reaction to that comment would be "Wow. That's really something; I'm flattered" or "Wow. What a blowhard; she's flattering herself."

[Poll #2018444]

[identity profile] redpanda13.livejournal.com 2015-08-01 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
I think I'd phrase it a bit differently (she said, succumbing to the ugly desire to get fingers all over someone else's prose). How about something like:

"I've been reading fanfic for nearly forty years and your level of detail and world building are among the best I've ever seen."

If you were a professional book critic, getting paid actual money, you might mention that; if not, I'd leave it out. (I can't recall what the situation was; blame my swiss-cheese brain.) If you want to compare her writing favorably with good pro writers, go for it.

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2015-08-01 12:43 pm (UTC)(link)
A nominal payment now and then... but at least two of my reviews that are still up on the Reviewing the Evidence have been blurbed on printed books.

[identity profile] starcat-jewel.livejournal.com 2015-08-01 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
^^ That's almost exactly what I was going to say. Consider it seconded.

[identity profile] lil-shepherd.livejournal.com 2015-08-01 07:52 am (UTC)(link)
Thirded. I, personally, would be very flattered to receive that review, but I think the book critic bit does sound just a wee bit off.

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2015-08-01 12:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I thought it might. Some of my reviews have been used as blurbs - I was flattered, but it doesn't work into conversation well, does it?
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[personal profile] purplecat 2015-08-01 12:17 pm (UTC)(link)
fourthed. I'd stop at "reading fanfic for almost 40 years" and not mention the book critic stuff unless you get into a conversation with them.

[identity profile] neadods.livejournal.com 2015-08-01 12:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Fair enough! I just might get into that conversation - we're both going to be at GridlockDC, apparently.

[identity profile] not-hathor.livejournal.com 2015-08-01 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd leave out the bit about being a book critic; while it establishes credentials (as in, 'I have experience and know what I'm talking about, not just a gushing fan-girl'), it also sounds a bit snobbish...