Work Text:
Introduction :
I am writing this article from a teacher’s perspective: I have worked in education since the age of 18 as a private vocal teacher. I am also a certified P - year 12 music teacher (age 4 to 18), and I specialise with students from age 11 to 16.
I am also someone who deals daily with my own mental health, someone who identifies as an Empath, and someone who considers themself a lifelong learner. In June of 2021, I was diagnosed as having adult ADHD, by my involvement within fandom! There was a post shared by fellow member, Caitlin Cheri, and it was like a lightbulb going off in my mind. I am at my best when I have structure around me—within school, within ensembles, if I was part of something greater and had accountability buddies or friends (which I have always struggled making...I am first and foremost an observer—it explains me lurking in fandom for so long...my point being here is that I thrive within a community that is inclusive, that is kind, that uplifts, and that welcomes EVERYONE.
When I look back at when I was high-functioning (I’m getting better with self-regulating my behaviour...I’ve realised if I am manic, my memory just goes, and I can't remember anything that happened beyond 5 minutes ago, and I make very silly decisions. I also feel intensely vulnerable and I babble; I can’t stop talking at all. Music helps. Music calms me down, and I am able to listen to songs or ambience tracks when I write. I’m not saying this for attention or a woe is me, I’m saying this because my mental health has
improved
because of fandom. I have found a tiny portion of the internet that accepts my brand of weird and embraces it.
I’ve been in the fandom since I was fourteen, I’m now thirty-six, and this group is not something I have created impulsively; these thoughts are not random. Over the years, I have seen so many fandom members leave our community and suffer from burnout. This group strives to be an answer to a critical issue in our community.
The ability to constructively critique is a piece of knowledge I think our fandom needs and a knowledge our fandom is lacking.
If you don’t want to read the following document, think I’m being a wanker, or full of myself, then this is not the group for you.
Mental Health Within Fandom and the Importance of Understanding and Use of Constructive Criticism:
Authored by MissyJAnne85
When chatting with fellow educator MeditationInEmergencies we discussed the following ways to engage with a content creator:
Hits.
Kudos.
Follow.
Subscribe.
Like.
Comment.
Message.
Share.
These are all ways to engage with a content creator.
I remember the SECOND I published one of my first pieces in fandom called “Draco Malfoy and the Magic of Sexting” - I had created an aesthetic for it, published it on both a Dramione Discord Server, every Dramione Group that was accepting recs, and, finally, I published it on Tumblr. Then, I sat back, exhausted due to the adrenaline rush and did the following:
“Click. Refresh. Click. Refresh. No comment. Click. Refresh. One kudo. Click. Refresh. Oh! Four hits.”
This little ficlet blew up overnight, and I was STUNNED. People liked my sense of humour. I never saw myself as a comedic writer at ALL. I didn’t even think it was writing; it was a stream of text messages!
I then published another three ficlets in the series: rare pairings with original covers for each story, all of which were promoted across multiple platforms. Let’s see if I can do it again! I was SO EXCITED! Once again, the adrenaline surged, and I couldn’t stop myself:
“Click. Refresh. Click. Refresh. No comment. Click. Refresh. One kudo. Click. Refresh. Oh! No one is reading it. I don't understand. The joke is the same, it’s just a different set of main characters. What have I done wrong?”
ALL CONTENT CREATORS IN FANDOM ARE SENSITIVE ABOUT THE WORK THEY HAVE CREATED.
Not some? ALL.
It takes tremendous courage to publicly share something you have poured your heart and soul into. Waiting to see if anyone leaves a comment, message, or review can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially as feedback in any form is rarely instantaneous. Leaving kudos or comments is different to publicly performing. Many artists and writers who have established followers have achieved this by actively promoting their work across multiple platforms (such as Tumblr, Facebook, Discord, Instagram etc), in order to generate multiple interactions. Sometimes an author or artist can post a piece of work and have it generate over 1000 hits within twenty-four hours, but for most posters, this is not the case. This inconsistency and uncertainty regarding how an artist or author's work is received – whether or not people “like it” - can lead to a very high level of anxiety. It can lead to comparison and envy, of FOMO. It can be detrimental to the author’s or artist’s mental health.
Fandom is unpredictable and often volatile due to the many different opinions fans have. Toxicity within fandom is usually generated by the public posting of your point of view regarding the characters you love or hate. There are many opinions regarding assumed backstories for different characters, their motivations and their capability of redemption. There are also strong opinions regarding character relationships and who they fall or can fall in love with (OTP/favourite ‘ships’/rare-pairs). It is important to keep in mind that members of the fandom connect to different characters based on their personal life experience, which allows them to empathise and emotionally connect to storylines or circumstances that others in fandom may not have considered .
This is what makes fandom so special! Every fandom member has the right to love and connect to any given narrative or trope based on their own personal experience. The moderators of this group are not asking you to change your opinion regarding your OTP or favourite ship– what I am asking you to do is to respect others opinions, remain open-minded, respond with kindness, empathy and compassion . We are all here due to a shared love of Harry Potter and creativity. Fandom is—and should remain—a safe haven for artists and authors alike.
It is this group's mission to actively provide a safe space for individuals to creatively thrive.
IN ORDER TO DO THIS, RULE NUMBER 10 MUST BE FOLLOWED.
We need to be mindful of the impact our thoughts, opinions, and critiques have on artists and authors who choose to share their work.
We must take ownership of the thoughts we give voice to and how we express them.
Regarding Feedback:
Within this group, mental health and awareness is our number one priority – therefore we ask that members only provide feedback when the author/artist specifically requests it.
When responding to an author’s or artist’s request - ALL FEEDBACK MUST BE CONSTRUCTIVE.
So what does Constructive Criticism mean?
Constructive criticism (often referred to as ‘concrit’) is a helpful way of giving feedback that provides specific, actionable suggestions.
When reading:
Often in the fandom, we see readers disregarding and bashing works of fanfiction due to personal preferences that have nothing to do with the quality of writing. Saying “this sucks – (insert ANY character name) would never do that!” is a prime example of a biased and unfair review that is absent of any form of analysis.
Reading to critique is different from reading for pleasure.
The primary difference is the level of analysis we bring to the work. A review that informs the author of SPaG (spelling and grammar) errors, without offering any suggestions on how to fix said mistakes can be very triggering for a first-time author who is here for fun. If you were to truly wish the author well and to help them improve on these errors, a personal message, rather than a public comment is almost always preferred. If someone asks for specific feedback within this group, we have an obligation to figure out why the fic isn’t grabbing us. As a critiquer, it’s important that you set aside your personal tastes and expectations. You may have preferences as a reader that are not related to the quality of a piece. Within fandom, it should be a mission to uplift and support fellow creators if we wish to encourage them to remain in the community.
When viewing art, digital art, aesthetics, covers, avatars, comics etc:
Our community in the fandom relishes the opportunity to grow and improve. By providing constructive criticism, it allows the recipient the opportunity to learn and develop their skills. It allows the creator to solidify and confirm the things they do well as well as identify areas that may need improvement. If you’re going to be critiquing someone else's work, it helps to know where they’re coming from. Often in the fandom, we are very fortunate to have visual representations of favourite scenes—inspired directly from favourite Fanfictions or directly inspired from Canon and the Harry Potter film franchise. If you are asking for constructive criticism it really helps if you explain your intended goals. That allows the person providing constructive criticism direction when analysing your work: Is what the creator is trying to capture resonating with their intended audience (remember it might not be you!). If their intent is coming through, let them know! You may even think of ideas to help enhance their vision even more.
HOW TO COMMENT CONSTRUCTIVELY:
Start with something positive and end with something positive: The Compliment Sandwich
The ‘Compliment Sandwich’ sandwich method delivers constructive criticism in between specific praise statements. With this strategy, an artist or author will receive feedback opened with praise for something they have successfully achieved—something you liked. This boosts overall confidence, before discussing which aspect/s may need to be revised or workshopped. Be mindful of how you say this, knowing it could trigger self-doubt or anxiety if not delivered with care. The critique is then followed with another positive observation and specific praise, aiming to rebuild and reinforce the artist/author with confidence and motivation to keep learning and wanting to improve.
Praise
Gentle critique or observation
Praise
Artist Example : I think the colour pallet you have used in drawing this piece is fantastic, it is very soft and tactile. If I were to suggest anything, you may want to have a look at creating further volume in Hermione’s hair, in my opinion: The larger, the better! I love her posture and how softly you have captured her expression. I think this is really (add a final positive word/phrase to sum it all up).
Author Example : I absolutely love the banter between your main characters, it feels very in character. You might want to consider reference/reinforcing Ron’s love of food; it’s a great opportunity to reference the canon and amp up the humour in this scene. I love how you’ve described the Great Hall here, you’ve captured the details perfectly! Can’t wait to see how this works within your fic!
Other handy tips and tricks to consider:
-
Use the “I” language strategy – OWN YOUR OPINION. Begin constructive criticism by stating:
“I think…”, “IMO”, etc.
As we have mentioned before—not everyone is going to agree—and that’s okay! By using “I” statements, you are taking accountability and ownership of how you feel. This eliminates blanket statements (a sentence that assumes as truth, something applies to absolutely everything it is discussing – eg: Everyone hates Ron) and encourages open discussion and dialogue rather than conflict and miscommunication.
- Include specific positive praise—artists and authors love knowing WHY you love things so they can do it again!
Author Example: I loved the amount of detail you used when describing the great hall. It immediately transported me back to Book 1 of HP canon, specifically when you mention Hermione noticing the night sky. This was really well done.
Artist Example: I really adore the facial expressions of both your characters. You have managed to capture intimacy and softness—which is also reflected in their posture. Just beautiful.
- Provide actionable feedback – it is impossible for someone to learn, grow, and improve if you don’t or aren’t capable of explaining how.
Author Example: I think your concept/plunny has amazing potential, and by reading this snippet alone – I already want to read more! Have you considered reaching out to an Alpha or Beta to assist you further with your writing? Alpha’s can help with overall concepts and bouncing ideas, Beta’s can help with spelling and grammar. I’m mentioning this because I really think you have a story worth telling and from personal experience having an extra pair of eyes has certainly helped me!
- Don’t obsessively nitpick the little stuff.
Regarding Art - Oddly shaped ears, squarish trees, or an off-color sky. . . Sometimes it’s helpful to point out those flaws, but if there are really a lot of them, focus on the big picture instead. Of course, if the artist asks for a nit-picky critique (and some will) then go ahead. It might not be the best way to help, but at least you know they won’t mind.
Regarding Writing – If someone chooses to share a snippet of work – unless specifically mentioning the need for assistance with spelling and grammar, we recommend you focus on the bigger picture such as: Do the characters work? Does world-building work? Is the dialogue clunky or clumsy? What's the pacing like? In the early stages of drafting, understanding the overall concept of a plunny or fic is often the feedback an author is looking for.
And finally…
There are some moments where we just don’t have or find the words we need – when this happens, GIFS and Emojis are really, really helpful! If someone has already said everything you wanted to say – feel free to agree with them, you don’t need to rephrase or reinvent the wheel. Also, sometimes we all need reassurance we are on the right track.
For example:
Author Example: THIS WAS SOOOOO GOOOOOD!!!!!! KEEP GOING!!!!!!!!!!! (insert 20 heart emojis).
Artist Example: THIS IS SOOOOOOO SEXXXXXXY!!!!!! (insert 20 “water” emojis…also maybe a taco or an eggplant—if you feel the call to do so).
My main goal for this group:
I want this group to be a safe space; a safe haven—somewhere you can meet once a month (if you have time) over the course of a weekend, knowing that you are connected to like-minded people who love creating as much as you do. Being a writer and/or an artist can sometimes be a lonely endeavour. What I am asking you to do, is to build each other up! Inspire others by respecting all opinions, remaining open-minded, and interacting with one another by being kind, responding with empathy. We can all achieve this by offering each other encouragement. I hope that taking the time to read this article and implementing a few of the suggested techniques will help me and the admin team in achieving our goal.
Thank you so much,
MissyJAnne85