On Receiving Feedback

[matt_wolf]

OK, so I'll admit upfront that there is a little bit of immodesty in this post, but I just got an anonymous feedback email that made me warm and gooey all over. More to the point having not written any thing in a while I think it might make me pick up my laptop again and have another stab at getting that still elusive red H.

So pardon me while I boast, hell I've even pasted the message below, but please add your own stories about receiving feedback - hopefully all positive like this one although I know from experience that isn't always the case.

"wow... I am wet and trembling just reading your story. I came across
this site because my freaky boyfriend used my computer to go on the web
chat. lucky for me I'm curiously freaky too and started my own journey
on literotica. I also wonder are the men who write stories this detailed
that good in bed. if only I had the courage to really find out.
longing to be fucked like that teacher"

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

"wow... I am wet and trembling just reading your story. I came across
this site because my freaky boyfriend used my computer to go on the web
chat. lucky for me I'm curiously freaky too and started my own journey
on literotica. I also wonder are the men who write stories this detailed
that good in bed. if only I had the courage to really find out.
longing to be fucked like that teacher"

It's always good for the writing ego to get those. But in some ways, I perfer the ones that tell me all the things I've done wrong. I need the belly laffs.

 

[matt_wolf]

best belly laff

So confess then Jenny. Which mistake did somebody point out that made you laugh most?

 

[TxRad]

So confess then Jenny. Which mistake did somebody point out that made you laugh most?

Some thinks she's a black slut and should never be allow anywhere near a pen.

It's not my opinion JJ so put the pinking shears away.

 

[JennK]

Those are great, Matt! I just got my first piece accepted (two more are pending) and was met by an inbox of "gushing" praise. LOL

Oh, and one anonymous response saying that I didn't even know what a story was and to take a writing class before I go submitting any more trash to Literotica!

Um, wow.

For the most part, people really seem to enjoy it and have been very nice.

Jen

 

[drksideofthemoon]

I have my feedback turned off. If I want a real substantative critique of my work, I take it to the Story Discussion Circle.

 

[mjl2010]

The warm fuzzies are nice to get. Especially when a writer you respect says something great about your work. I find that very encouraging and it makes me want to write more.

Drkside, You're missing out on a whole lot of laughs by having that feedback turned off. I never would got the feedback email from the guy who told me he loved my story because of the white panties and it made him shoot all over his screen and he BEGGED me to write more like that.

Thing was, the whole story had nothing to do with panties. It was one sentence near the end when she was getting dressed while he watched. My very first submission. At first I was stunned because I couldn't even remember it. Then I did remember and all I could do was laugh my ass off.

Anyway. I love feedback. The good stuff makes you feel good, which is nice. The trolls make me laugh. That's good too.

ETA: And look. Feedback got Matt to try writing again. I havent' read his stuff yet but I'll just go ahead and assume thats a good thing. *nods*

MJL

 

[matt_wolf]

feedback good, feedback bad

Some good stories there. I've found it interesting how some people engage with the content while others only seem to respond to the grammar and spelling. Not that I mind my mistakes being pointed out, I know I'm the best proof reader ever, although I suppose a wee bit of me had hoped people would be so carried away with the stories not to notice that I'd spelt advice advise...

Worst feedback I received was one that went through all my UK spellings and syntax correcting it to US. That isn't what they said they were doing, just said they were pointing out my mistakes.

 

[tickledkitty]

I have my feedback turned off. If I want a real substantative critique of my work, I take it to the Story Discussion Circle.

Yes, we KNOW. You're way above this sort of thing now, but why try to ruin other people's fun?

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Yes, we KNOW. You're way above this sort of thing now, but why try to ruin other people's fun?

That was rather bitchy. I have no intention of trying to ruin anyones' fun. Feedback from readers is good, especially for writers just starting out.

 

[gauchecritic]

I posted under a female alt the other week and was quite astounded at the amount of feedback I got, compared to the feedback for this name. Plus more than a hundred votes which may have something to do with the new voting.

About 75% of the feedback was "Do you wanna be friends" Half of the rest was congratulatory on my style and the other half was about connections that the reader made.

I can't recall a single one that was negatively critical and I just know I'm not that good.

 

[sr71plt]

That was rather bitchy. I have no intention of trying to ruin anyones' fun. Feedback from readers is good, especially for writers just starting out.

Well, your posting was from out the blue and not prompted by a question or counter opinion, and you do seem to be mentioning it several times a day of late, and it is sort of like when Jenny was noting a couple of times a day that she didn't write sex in her stories even though this is a porn site--sort of a "you should do what I do" kind of assertion when you weren't asked what you thought other submitters should do.

However, I do think it's great that you actually turn these things off on your stories rather than continually moaning and groaning that they don't mean anything but leaving them turned on (as several other posters do). Or repeatedly saying this or that type of accolade here doesn't mean anything to you (primarily because you haven't received that particular accolade yet).

I find it all interesting--and, for the most part, rewarding--the views, the votes, the public comments, the e-mails, the Hs, the Ws, the Es, the top lists, the favorites list. So I leave mine on. If I see a 1 or 2 vote for something I know is at least technically above amateur level, I just assume someone is venting at me rather than the story (and that's pretty much a gauge of the pettiness level some posters here can sink to). If I see a comment I don't think is fair, I just erase it (which doesn't mean I erase comments that legitimately go to the substance of the story). I can usually tell when grudge votes are going to be swept away (and I can just enjoy the thought that the grudge voter is going to see the story go hot anyway in many cases), and I can sweep away any pc comments I want to myself. Lit. is being pretty helpful to its authors on these points.

There, of course, is no reason not to tell authors they can mitigate the irritation if they want to by either using the mechanisms available to them (including thick skin) or, if all else fails, turning comment and voting off -- if they ask -- if they ask (or even seem to be asking).

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Well, your posting was from out the blue and not prompted by a question or counter opinion, and you do seem to be mentioning it several times a day of late, and it is sort of like when Jenny was noting a couple of times a day that she didn't write sex in her stories even though this is a porn site--sort of a "you should do what I do" kind of assertion when you weren't asked what you thought other submitters should do.

However, I do think it's great that you actually turn these things off on your stories rather than continually moaning and groaning that they don't mean anything but leaving them turned on (as several other posters do). Or repeatedly saying this or that type of accolade here doesn't mean anything to you (primarily because you haven't received that particular accolade yet).

I find it all interesting--and, for the most part, rewarding--the views, the votes, the public comments, the e-mails, the Hs, the Ws, the Es, the top lists, the favorites list. So I leave mine on. If I see a 1 or 2 vote for something I know is at least technically above amateur level, I just assume someone is venting at me rather than the story (and that's pretty much a gauge of the pettiness level some posters here can sink to). If I see a comment I don't think is fair, I just erase it (which doesn't mean I erase comments that legitimately go to the substance of the story). I can usually tell when grudge votes are going to be swept away (and I can just enjoy the thought that the grudge voter is going to see the story go hot anyway in many cases), and I can sweep away any pc comments I want to myself. Lit. is being pretty helpful to its authors on these points.

There, of course, is no reason not to tell authors they can mitigate the irritation if they want to by either using the mechanisms available to them (including thick skin) or, if all else fails, turning comment and voting off -- if they ask -- if they ask (or even seem to be asking).

In my writing career as drksideofthemoon, I think I received maybe a half dozen negative comments, or emails. If I were to believe one tenth of the feedback that I had received, I would think I might be the reincarnation of Dickens or Zane Grey. But, I'm not that foolish. I know what my strengths are, and where my weaknesses are.

I don't deal well with compliments on the whole. I prefer to be obscure rather than well known.

 

[sr71plt]

In my writing career as drksideofthemoon, I think I received maybe a half dozen negative comments, or emails. If I were to believe one tenth of the feedback that I had received, I would think I might be the reincarnation of Dickens or Zane Grey. But, I'm not that foolish. I know what my strengths are, and where my weaknesses are.

I don't deal well with compliments on the whole. I prefer to be obscure rather than well known.

Don't most authors who seek obscurity at Lit. just quietly post their stories and probably don't know there's a forum here at all? I sort of see three major division of posters on the forum here--those on the make for 5-level voters for their stories, those playing "let's vote me queen of the board" games, and then a group of bitter sourpusses who aren't writers at all but who post the same "let's argue" discussion subjects on any discussion board they find, regardless of site topic, until/unless they are tossed off.

Interesting enough (although how this relates, I'm not sure)--with the exception of a month or so of attention from a single gay basher a year ago--I haven't received more than a half dozen negative comments or e-mails on my stories here either (well, at least up until now ).

Oh, and the stories of yours I read (while they were still here) were quite good (I thought).

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Don't most authors who seek obsurity at Lit. just quietly post their stories and probably don't know there's a forum here at all? I sort of see three major division of posters on the forum here--those on the make for 5-level voters for their stories, those playing "let's vote me queen of the board" games, and then a group of bitter sourpusses who aren't writers at all but who post the same "let's argue" discussion subjects on any discussion board they find, regardless of site topic, until/unless they are tossed off.

Interesting enough (although how this relates, I'm not sure)--with the exception of a month or so of attention from a single gay basher a year ago--I haven't received more than a half dozen negative comments or e-mails on my stories here either (well, at least up until now ).

Oh, and the stories of yours I read (while they were still here) were quite good (I thought).

I'm not sure what the forum has in relationship with posting stories. I was submitting stories at Lit for almost a year before I poked my head into the forums. I've never advertised my work in the forums, with the exception of submitting two or three stories to the SDC.

So which division of poster do you fall into?

 

[sr71plt]

I'm not sure what the forum has in relationship with posting stories. I was submitting stories at Lit for almost a year before I poked my head into the forums. I've never advertised my work in the forums, with the exception of submitting two or three stories to the SDC.

So which division of poster do you fall into?

Pretty naive, I think, if you don't see the relationship between posting stories and posting on the forum. But you can certainly claim that, if you like.

Speaking of which -- I'm definitely here to foster 5-level voting of my stories, of course. And before you come back with how well I'm doing with the forum regulars, I'll point out the obvious humongous number of forum readers who feel too intimidated to post here (probably by those self-same "friendly" regulars) but do have their opinions. Evidence BOSTON's catipulting up the Favorites list after his recent dust up (more of a mud down) here. I've done well on that list since starting to post here too. (Like you, I didn't participate here until I'd been posting stories for a year.) Do love those silent masses.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Pretty naive, I think, if you don't see the relationship between posting stories and posting on the forum. But you can certainly claim that, if you like.

Speaking of which -- I'm definitely here to foster 5-level voting of my stories, of course. And before you come back with how well I'm doing with the forum regulars, I'll point out the obvious humongous number of forum readers who feel too intimidated to post here (probably by those self-same "friendly" regulars) but do have their opinions. Evidence BOSTON's catipulting up the Favorites list after his recent dust up (more of a mud down) here. I've done well on that list since starting to post here too. (Like you, I didn't participate here until I'd been posting stories for a year.) Do love those silent masses.

I must be naive. I didn't see any difference in my scores, or the numbers of views for my work after I started posting here.

My reason to coming to the AH was to improve my writing, I was under the assumption that writers may be there, and might even be discussing writing...

 

[gauchecritic]

I must be naive. <> I was under the assumption that writers may be there, and might even be discussing writing...

You said it. Don't try denying it.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

So confess then Jenny. Which mistake did somebody point out that made you laugh most?

What gets me laughing most often are the morons who don't get the joke. I had one clown tell me "Dick don't talk. What's wrong with you?"

What's wrong with me? Nothing. I suspect 99% of all the guys in the world talk to their cocks. Harry's just happens to answer back.

 

[sr71plt]

I must be naive. I didn't see any difference in my scores, or the numbers of views for my work after I started posting here.

My reason to coming to the AH was to improve my writing, I was under the assumption that writers may be there, and might even be discussing writing...

And you've been well satisfied, I'm sure.

Always up for a discussion on writing.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

And you've been well satisfied, I'm sure.

Always up for a discussion on writing.

Overwhelmed would be a better term...I've never been comfortable with the number of readers Montana Summer gathered...and the amount of feedback...sometimes as many as 600 emails for a chapter.

 

[sr71plt]

Overwhelmed would be a better term...I've never been comfortable with the number of readers Montana Summer gathered...and the amount of feedback...sometimes as many as 600 emails for a chapter.

That's the advantage Lit. gives to the erotica writer. If there's another erotic story site with this volume of readership, I haven't found it.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

That's the advantage Lit. gives to the erotica writer. If there's another erotic story site with this volume of readership, I haven't found it.

Yes, I agree with you there. The funny thing was that the last few chapters weren't erotic, but were just as popular.

 

[LoquaciousLady]

Don't most authors who seek obscurity at Lit. just quietly post their stories and probably don't know there's a forum here at all? I sort of see three major division of posters on the forum here--those on the make for 5-level voters for their stories, those playing "let's vote me queen of the board" games, and then a group of bitter sourpusses who aren't writers at all but who post the same "let's argue" discussion subjects on any discussion board they find, regardless of site topic, until/unless they are tossed off.

Does this mean I should just turn right around and leave now? I came to the forums because I submitted my first story about a week ago and although it's gotten a lot of hits and people are voting, there's been no actual feedback of a substantive variety. I was really looking forward to feedback to improve my work so I thought maybe the forums would be the place to look. So if I'm not getting it just by having comments open on my submission and from what you say I won't get it by becoming active in the forums, where the heck do I get critiques so that I can become a better writer?

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Does this mean I should just turn right around and leave now? I came to the forums because I submitted my first story about a week ago and although it's gotten a lot of hits and people are voting, there's been no actual feedback of a substantive variety. I was really looking forward to feedback to improve my work so I thought maybe the forums would be the place to look. So if I'm not getting it just by having comments open on my submission and from what you say I won't get it by becoming active in the forums, where the heck do I get critiques so that I can become a better writer?

I certainly hope you don't leave.

If you want substantive feedback on your work, you can start a new thread and post a link to your story here. Another option is to join in the discussions in the Story Discussion Circle and then offer your work up there.