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As a writer, I embrace concrit. That's not to say that the criticisms don't sometimes sting, but if I'm honest about wanting to grow as a writer, I need to hear what doesn't work. It doesn't help me to only hear praise. I won't know where I need to focus, and I'm one of those odd people who doesn't want my email address out there for the world to offload their musings onto. I've gotten concrit, and I hope to get more. I'll give it where I think it's needed unless an author asks that they not receive it, in which case, I probably won't review at all.

Why? I'm truthfully curious. Why? I honestly thought that the reason for posting works on archives like this one was to get the feedback of the community, writers and readers alike, in order to improve one's skills. I'll grant you, some writers do state that they don't want concrit. But a vast majority of the writers I've left concrit for have actually thanked me for it. Perhaps we have different definitions of concrit. I'm not just saying "your spelling needs work" - I tell them both strengths and weaknesses in their stories. I thought that's what constructive criticism was. How are you defining it?

In the interests of openness, I can't understand why someone who is of the opinion that any comment on their work that isn't glowing praise is a "personal attack" would post on a public archive. If you just want person-to-person commentary, hand your manuscript off to a few friends. By posting it in a public, open archive, you're welcoming feedback - including that which may be "negative". I take it from your response that you're only considering concrit to be those statements which say "this needs to be done to make this better" - but that's only a part of it. For example, one night I needed a pick me up, and I read one of Melrick's stories. This was practically my whole review: I still consider that constructive criticism. Why? Because I told him what I liked about it. I didn't dissect it line for line, no, but that was hardly necessary. I also consider this and this constructive criticism. Telling an author of a fan work that they did a good job with the character is about the best constructive criticism I think I can provide. Even reviews like what I left here, by what you're saying, would be offensive to your friends? Even though I'm saying I like the story, there's just one little point that could be cleared up a little with re-wording? That review, other than a small suggestion, was entirely positive constructive criticism. Even the suggestion was not negative, but simply a statement that something could be explained more clearly.

I am so glad to hear that!

I don't have a beta myself, largely because my fandom pieces are not in wildly popular fandoms and I do want someone who gets the 'verse in which I dabble. My original works, well, I have no excuse there other than not really knowing anyone I'd pester to beta for me. But I do also welcome concrit and delight in having someone point out where I can improve. I have an inner Grammar Bitch who is relentless in terms of pointing out errors in punctuation, and who has made me twitch for years when I write dialogue that is not grammatically impeccable. Honestly, we aren't all known for flawless exposition all the time, and dialogue can sound stilted if you force the issue. I have manuscripts that will never get out of first draft if I don't reign in my tyrannical inner editor. I'm overly critical of myself, and the fact that I hit the publish button at all is amazing. There should be a fine line between my obsessive self criticism and the blithe disregard for convention that triggered this thread. It would be refreshing, anyway, given that a great many of the people who can't be bothered to try and clean up grammar and punctuation errors are the same people who are upset by the lack of reviews on their stories.

I was reading a fic a while ago and when I went to the link in my bookmarks tonight it wouldn't show up. I believe it was called A Secret Summer At Hogwarts. I can't remember who it was by though. If anyone can find it for me or knows what happened to it, please let me know? Thanks!