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How to leave constructive comments on podfics
Very long due post that I never got around to writing without overthinking everything. Writing it now and posting it raw before I loose my nerve. Bullet points because I hate typing and the potatoes's nap is short.
1. Constructive =/= negative. Pointing out things we liked is constructive. We are saying "This is good, please continue doing this". If you are a critical person, give yourself the chance to write 100% positive constructive comments first. It's good practice and makes everyone feel amazing.
2. If you've got a negative point to say, make it a sandwich. This means to frame any negative or things you are less sure about with positive or stronger points.
3. Avoid giving orders or passing your opinion on something as a universal truth. What works and what doesn't in a performance will always be subjective.That's fine. (A broken link isn't subjective, but there's a way to not be an ass about it nonetheless. No one HAS to fix it. No one is due infinite accessibility to fanworks. This isn't constructive commenting.)
4. Check if your comment would be the only comment this person receives. Podficcers get horribly few comments, if any. It doesn't mean don't post yours, but it'd be polite to take this into consideration. Same wise, check if this person is new to podficcing or if they are old timers.
5. Stress the positive, and unless the person has asked for concrit or you know them personally well enough to know they'll welcome it, ask the creator(s) first if they'd like to hear suggestions you might have. Respect their hard or soft "no" with grace.
6. Talk about the podfic, not the source fic. I should not have to say this, and yet. Here we are.
7. Some things are best left unsaid. Consider if what you have to say will in fact serve any purpose. If you can't find any way of framing it constructively or leaving any positive note with your negative, strongly consider clicking the back button and leaving well enough alone. It's fine to walk away.
8. Don't know what to say? Try mentioning anything from this list:
Related: Someone please help me make an automatic Podfic Comment generator thingy. I've got ideas but IDK how to code.
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Examples:
--
Ex 1: Don't: "You should really say "the end" at the end of our recording. :/ "
Ex 1: Try: "This was fun. I enjoyed listening to it on my morning commute and cracked a smile several times.
I was a bit confused at the end, because I couldn't tell if the story had ended or if my old media player had died on me (again). In text, the page would give me a visual clue, but audio took me by surprise. Would you consider adding "the end" or something to that effect at the end of your works?
I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. The way you said "Flowers!" towards the middle was just perfect comedy timing.
Thank you for making and sharing this work with us."
--
Ex 2: Don't: "Link broken."
Ex 2: Try: "This looks really great! Sadly the download link doesn't worth for me. Is there an alternative way to listen to this? If you need hosting place suggestions, my friends use a few I can recommend. Thank you very much!"
(and then, when/if they provide an alternate link, make sure you thank them and COME BACK after listening to leave a proper comment about the piece!)
--
Ex 3:Don't: "Downloading."
Ex 3: Try: "Downloading! By the way, that cover looks amazing!" AND THEN COMMENT AGAIN. "This was so greaaaat! Amazing work, as always. I almost cried at work. I didn't know I needed this but you made my day. And now that I've listened, I can restate that I love the cover and how the blue tint of it it matches the melancholic notes you've weaved through the storytelling. "
--
Ex 4: Don't: "I usually hate canadian accents but yours is fine!"
Ex 4: Try: reading up on why I Don't Like X But comments should be avoided, and avoid them. "This topic is new to me", "Your voice is awesome", "I loved this and..." .Just don't diss on others to raise this work up.
---
Is it still a bit clunky? Yeah, sure. But the first ones are often plain rude and the second ones might be worthy of consideration. So that's already a step-up.
1. Constructive =/= negative. Pointing out things we liked is constructive. We are saying "This is good, please continue doing this". If you are a critical person, give yourself the chance to write 100% positive constructive comments first. It's good practice and makes everyone feel amazing.
2. If you've got a negative point to say, make it a sandwich. This means to frame any negative or things you are less sure about with positive or stronger points.
3. Avoid giving orders or passing your opinion on something as a universal truth. What works and what doesn't in a performance will always be subjective.That's fine. (A broken link isn't subjective, but there's a way to not be an ass about it nonetheless. No one HAS to fix it. No one is due infinite accessibility to fanworks. This isn't constructive commenting.)
4. Check if your comment would be the only comment this person receives. Podficcers get horribly few comments, if any. It doesn't mean don't post yours, but it'd be polite to take this into consideration. Same wise, check if this person is new to podficcing or if they are old timers.
5. Stress the positive, and unless the person has asked for concrit or you know them personally well enough to know they'll welcome it, ask the creator(s) first if they'd like to hear suggestions you might have. Respect their hard or soft "no" with grace.
6. Talk about the podfic, not the source fic. I should not have to say this, and yet. Here we are.
7. Some things are best left unsaid. Consider if what you have to say will in fact serve any purpose. If you can't find any way of framing it constructively or leaving any positive note with your negative, strongly consider clicking the back button and leaving well enough alone. It's fine to walk away.
8. Don't know what to say? Try mentioning anything from this list:
- Overall fluidity of listening experience/reading voice
- Dialogues and favourite lines
- Sound effects or music
- Accent, acting and embodiment
- Editing
- Cover art
- Context of the podfic
- Your listening experience context.
Related: Someone please help me make an automatic Podfic Comment generator thingy. I've got ideas but IDK how to code.
-------
Examples:
--
Ex 1: Don't: "You should really say "the end" at the end of our recording. :/ "
Ex 1: Try: "This was fun. I enjoyed listening to it on my morning commute and cracked a smile several times.
I was a bit confused at the end, because I couldn't tell if the story had ended or if my old media player had died on me (again). In text, the page would give me a visual clue, but audio took me by surprise. Would you consider adding "the end" or something to that effect at the end of your works?
I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. The way you said "Flowers!" towards the middle was just perfect comedy timing.
Thank you for making and sharing this work with us."
--
Ex 2: Don't: "Link broken."
Ex 2: Try: "This looks really great! Sadly the download link doesn't worth for me. Is there an alternative way to listen to this? If you need hosting place suggestions, my friends use a few I can recommend. Thank you very much!"
(and then, when/if they provide an alternate link, make sure you thank them and COME BACK after listening to leave a proper comment about the piece!)
--
Ex 3:Don't: "Downloading."
Ex 3: Try: "Downloading! By the way, that cover looks amazing!" AND THEN COMMENT AGAIN. "This was so greaaaat! Amazing work, as always. I almost cried at work. I didn't know I needed this but you made my day. And now that I've listened, I can restate that I love the cover and how the blue tint of it it matches the melancholic notes you've weaved through the storytelling. "
--
Ex 4: Don't: "I usually hate canadian accents but yours is fine!"
Ex 4: Try: reading up on why I Don't Like X But comments should be avoided, and avoid them. "This topic is new to me", "Your voice is awesome", "I loved this and..." .Just don't diss on others to raise this work up.
---
Is it still a bit clunky? Yeah, sure. But the first ones are often plain rude and the second ones might be worthy of consideration. So that's already a step-up.
no subject
Two points in particular that you pointed out that make all the difference to me: putting it in terms of "here's my personal experience of this podfic" and not "here's what is good/bad/you should do", and asking for permission to say it. Yes.
Also, the thing about being bad at commenting at first! I feel like people might avoid writing some of that stuff because they don't want to hurt or offend, but also, commenting is a skill to learn and hone and I'm so thankful to you for showing me that.
Thanks for this guide!!
no subject
Commenting s absolutely a verb that comes with practice. Start at your own pace. Try things out with people you trust will understand your meaning even if your approach is clumsy. Also, if you'e got something to say but not sure how to frame it, maybe engage the creator in a conversation about the topic and see if that thing comes up or if your question gets answered. It'll flow a lot more easily then.
There's also a time and place for everything. Some people will say in their notes that this podfic was done in under 20 minutes while they were sick and has a deep personal meaning to them - maybe let's not point out faulty lines in that one, right?
You've got this, darling. \o/ Big hugs!
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