(no subject)

[fabrisse]

I have been reading fic. It isn't really badfic and it certainly isn't bad!fic, but the author is almost definitely not a native English speaker and it shows.

But I just had to share my favorite -- repeated -- error. One character touches the other who feels "a fission of desire."

Since I know I have several writers and readers of fanfiction on my friends list, do I let the author know? I have no qualms doing so if the writer is really good or someone I read often which isn't the case with this one.

Comments

[siderea]

There is a really great punk rock love anthem lurking in that phrase.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Yes. Yes, there is. I hadn't considered that. Four chords and strong beat, right?

[siderea]

Probably three would do it. :)

[malnpudl.livejournal.com]

HEE! :-D

[malnpudl.livejournal.com]

I would let them know, but I'd do it by e-mail or LJ private message, not in a public comment to the fic post. The non-native speakers/writers I've interacted with in fandom have all been very appreciative of this sort of thing, often even soliciting it directly. It's different from saying "your story sucks"; it's "I like this and this and that about your story, and by the way there's one incorrect English figure of speech I noticed and I thought you might like to know about it..." which is generally well received.

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

If it were on LJ, it would be easier. But I think I can mail her privately. Thank you.

[innerslytherin]

LOL I once betaed for someone who constantly said "a fissure of desire" and I just out and out told her that I think she meant frisson. You could just comment with something like, "Oops, I think I spotted a typo, I think you meant frisson", and that makes it a little less embarrassing than a vocab error? lol

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

"Fissure of desire" at least makes a certain amount of anatomical sense. *blushes*

I will probably go with "it's a typo" as my excuse.

[riverfox.livejournal.com]

You could do them a favor when you give feedback, letting them know that a nuclear reaction is probably not the best way to describe intense desire. *g* But if they want to use that word anyway, once is enough. Repeated makes me think the fic will blow up any moment. Not the reaction they're looking for, I'm sure. ;)

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Explosive fic is a new threat. *G*

[riverfox.livejournal.com]

LOL Probably good comedy though. ;)

[scarlettandblue.livejournal.com]

personally my all time favourite along these lines was a writer who contstantly used the word nibbles instead of nipples, it was wierd because your mind always did a double take and went huh? I always assumed it was some kind of wierd spellcheck thing. I'd pm them I think,

if you looky looky in your email I left a little pressie for you... happy birthday :)

[fabrisse.livejournal.com]

Wonderful. Thank you so much!

*points to icon*

[tijmetje.livejournal.com]

I'm not up on that bit of the etiquette. Most of the reviews I've written were simple notes of appreciation.
Personally I'd probably appreciate it, especially if mentioned together with some more positive things.