I hope this doesn't double post but I've checked for the first one three times and exited the thread and board and it wasn't here yet:
HI everyone,
Let me say that I love this thread and agree that it could very well use a sticky at the top of the page. It seems to me that it has actually moved past the art of leaving feedback and into the art of writing which is really great. We have had “about writing” threads in the past and they were good but always petered out.
Anyway, there have been quite a few posts since my last and I wonder what I have to say…
Garner wrote:
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Sometimes that leads to discussion or more expansion on some of the points raised in a story. That sort of thing is rare but can be very cool.
I think it’s awesome when it happens. One of the things that I love about this type of forum is that it makes writing an interactive art rather than a didactic one. Frequently readers ask questions or make suggestions that lead me to thoughts that make it into my story. I can honestly say that the idea of Paths leapt into my head on a four hour drive following a feedback and response session with some readers of Y’all. Frequently questions will make it clear to me that what I wrote didn’t express what I wanted to express. In that case, I really think of the readers as being my helper writers or something like that.
UmGayNow wrote:
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it gets boring after a while when all you get for feedback is smiles taking cold showers and drooling
I’m
about this comment because it is just SO true. It happens and it is such a double-edged sword. On one hand, it is nice to think that the reader is so overwhelmed (read turned-on) by what I wrote that all she could manage was a cold shower icon. But on the other hand, most of the time those responses come to my Please series. Now that particular series is not for everyone and I greatly appreciate every response I ever get. I also think that some readers are too embarrassed to write feedback to that story. At the same time, it is without a doubt, the hardest story I write. Not only does it require a great deal of energy to write 11-13 pages of intense sexuality/BDSM and combine it with loving, but I use that story as a writing workshop. I want to use it to improve my writing and attempt to challenge myself. I’m rambling… I guess in that case my request to readers would be: If you read an update (to any story) and it is just darn sexy and all you can think at that moment is cold showers or jaw drop, do that. But then come back and write some more feedback if you would like. What did you like about this sex scene? What was a big turn on about it? The way Tara took charge? The loving way Willow touched her? The words they said?
Umgaynow also talks about deliberately using poor grammar to express an idea. I agree about fragments and ellipses and that sometimes they are very necessary. I also think that in the case of writing dialog, sometimes it will be grammatically incorrect. Xander does not say things like “that is a rule up with which I simply will not put.” He would say, “man. No way!” So sometimes it’s more accurate to the character to use bad grammar.
Ringwaldoeuvre:
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I agree with those that have said that the passive voice is useful for suspense or atmosphere, and I cannot say I never use it, but I believe that writing can be more engaging when it is avoided as much as possible.
You meant that funny right?
I agree with Ring about the proofreading. I try to write my story and then use 2-3 drafts and then proofread and then proofread one more time immediately before posting. And about every 4th or 5th post I get comments that I just left out a word or used a wrong word. Because: it’s hard to catch your own errors. My advice to anyone who doesn’t have a beta: try reading your writing out loud. You may feel silly but you will hear the cadence and timing of your writing and catch errors you wouldn’t otherwise catch. In fact, do this with all your writing whether for class, for work, or for posting. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.
The list is hysterically funny. Thanks for sharing it.
I absolutely agree with Sass about getting feedback privately. While I don’t personally like e-mail feedback, any one can send me a PM anytime. That has happened and I love the effort that the reader puts into it. Great suggestion.
Gaynow (my current level!) talks about going stream of consciousness. Great point. I frequently do that in my feedback and don’t even reread it before posting. I generally try to go back and reread and edit it after the first post but I also just let my fingers go to respond. A very good point.
Oh lovely Watson wrote:
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Some writers who I really admired (read: Debra, who was there from Day 1) started showing up and commenting. Grimmy stopped by. It's like I was a little folk singer in a pub and Elvis came up to say he thought I sang good and we started talking. (I know he's dead, but you know what I mean.)
OMG! Are you saying that I’m like Elvis? Woo hoo I’m metaphorically dancing around the office. I saw him once wearing a white jump suit with a rhinestone phoenix on it and singing in front of the Hi-De-Ho burger. Ok, maybe it wasn’t the real Elvis since he’d been “dead” for about 15 years at that time but it was impressing. Actually I saw him at my brother-in-laws 40th birthday party a few years ago too so I’ve seen him twice. I digress badly.
Garner:
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I think those of us who have been here longer need to remember the show has been done for what, two years now? The number of kittens active per day has dropped, and while there are newer ones joining, the sheer volume from the heydays of season 5 and even sux is over. That was sort of like a golden time, and now things have slowed down. That's too bad, but I think we are lucky to still be here, to have people who are still interested and who want to read W/T fics. Maybe we just have to get used to the newer times a bit.
A great point. I think that one of the outcomes of moving to this new board is that we will have a little better idea about our real membership at this time. While it was 3800 on the old board, I was always aware that some of those were doubtlessly no longer active. Now since people are re-registering it seems like we might see why the feedback is decreased.
Patches:
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However, you shamed my lurking heart into action. I read the first post and moseyed on over to plunk my two-cents into a story I’ve been reading, but not quite finding time to “feedback” to the author.
I think I know what story you are talking about and let me say that I can’t even express how much I am appreciating your posting in my thread. Your technical discussion is fascinating and I hope you are taking my responses as such. Thank you!
I’ll have to go over to Inward Eye and check things out. It’s kind of intimidating. Is there a recommendation or summary thread over there? Since they stories are “anything” rather than W/T, it would be nice to have some idea what I’m getting into before jumping in. Mystery: Forget it. Sci Fi: probably not. Contemporary: sounds good to me. Romance: sometimes. Just a thought on my own lack of wandering over there.
Ok, I rambled and digressed and hopefully said some good stuff.