FAWC 5: Line, Please!

[Aynmair]

Anybody want to discuss Desperate Times and Measures, the six page juggernaut with the perfect score? I'm guessing Tx, I think. It's a great story. Daunting,
But worth the effort.

Actually I found it an easier read than some of the short ones - it just sucks you in and pulls you right along. Terrific story, perfectly paced, believable and compelling characters. Not particularly high in erotic quotient.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Actually I found it an easier read than some of the short ones - it just sucks you in and pulls you right along. Terrific story, perfectly paced, believable and compelling characters. Not particularly high in erotic quotient.

Its a clichéd mess.

 

[PennLady]

Breezing through a couple stories...I'm a little embarrassed by my submission. I kind of mailed it in, and it shows. The subject matter doesn't seem to be a real popular one either. Lesson learned.

Remember, though, you're getting a different and/or smaller audience for your story here. There's not much to specify, so people don't even know what to expect. I'd bet if your story was in its "real" category, it'd fare better. And it's only the second day, so things will change.

Fear not, brave Swilly.

 

[AMoveableBeast]

Remember, though, you're getting a different and/or smaller audience for your story here. There's not much to specify, so people don't even know what to expect. I'd bet if your story was in its "real" category, it'd fare better. And it's only the second day, so things will change.

Fear not, brave Swilly.

Absolutely. A lot of authors in this are red H magnets, and what do we have so far, three, two? FAWC is a tough crowd.

I get no respect. *adjusts tie*

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Breezing through a couple stories...I'm a little embarrassed by my submission. I kind of mailed it in, and it shows. The subject matter doesn't seem to be a real popular one either. Lesson learned.

Without exception this FAWC harvest feels mailed in. Cutting corners was epidemic. Checking facts, creating cohesion, and culling the clichés is too much toil for most. And it shows. I fault ambition. It looks to me like the gang went for word count and forfeited quality. The absence of merit is stunning.

 

[stlgoddessfreya]

I've been thinking that nobody who doesn't already know what FAWC was and check in with this thread regularly would know that new stories were up, which is narrowing our possible audience. Would anyone object to me posting in the New Stories thread for each of the stories with a brief description of each, an explanation of what FAWC is, and a link?

 

[_Lynn_]

I've been thinking that nobody who doesn't already know what FAWC was and check in with this thread regularly would know that new stories were up, which is narrowing our possible audience. Would anyone object to me posting in the New Stories thread for each of the stories with a brief description of each, an explanation of what FAWC is, and a link?

I think that should be to up to each author to post later if they want feedback on their story, not as a lump request by one person.

 

[sheablue]

I've been thinking that nobody who doesn't already know what FAWC was and check in with this thread regularly would know that new stories were up, which is narrowing our possible audience. Would anyone object to me posting in the New Stories thread for each of the stories with a brief description of each, an explanation of what FAWC is, and a link?

I've been meaning to put a link in my signature. I think I'll do that now. Because I have a league of followers, you know.

 

[PennLady]

I've been thinking that nobody who doesn't already know what FAWC was and check in with this thread regularly would know that new stories were up, which is narrowing our possible audience. Would anyone object to me posting in the New Stories thread for each of the stories with a brief description of each, an explanation of what FAWC is, and a link?

I put a link on my blog, although I don't know if it draws much attention, to be honest. I figured it couldn't hurt, and I kept it informational only.

Torn about the new stories link. I don't mind, personally. I wonder if it might be better to just post a link to the FAWCker submissions page, though. That would keep it more neutral and readers could decide based on that list what to read.

 

[patientlee]

I put a link on my blog, although I don't know if it draws much attention, to be honest. I figured it couldn't hurt, and I kept it informational only.

Torn about the new stories link. I don't mind, personally. I wonder if it might be better to just post a link to the FAWCker submissions page, though. That would keep it more neutral and readers could decide based on that list what to read.

I agree that a link to the submission page would be a good idea.

Yeah. I'll add a link to my signature. (But the only people that will see it are already here! )

 

[AMoveableBeast]

Without exception this FAWC harvest feels mailed in. Cutting corners was epidemic. Checking facts, creating cohesion, and culling the clichés is too much toil for most. And it shows. I fault ambition. It looks to me like the gang went for word count and forfeited quality. The absence of merit is stunning.

Man, you got up on the wrong side of the trailer for this competition, didn't you? I agree that they aren't as strong as last time, which was an especially impressive crop, but there are plenty of good stories. To pan them so homogeneously only makes you look like some sort of cranky fogie.

"You call these stories? Back in my day we had FAWCs that were ten times as good! You damn kids with your Zima and your scooters and your new fangled Dan Fogelberg records....Get off my lawn!"

 

[sheablue]

I just added a link to my signature. But it's not showing up. Does anybody see it?

 

[sheablue]

Never mind. There it is.

 

[Swilly]

Man, you got up on the wrong side of the trailer for this competition, didn't you? I agree that they aren't as strong as last time, which was an especially impressive crop, but there are plenty of good stories. To pan them so homogeneously only makes you look like some sort of cranky fogie.

"You call these stories? Back in my day we had FAWCs that were ten times as good! You damn kids with your Zima and your scooters and your new fangled Dan Fogelberg records....Get off my lawn!"

It was reading some of the other stories that made me realize how mine fell short. I wasn't commenting on the work of others.

 

[AMoveableBeast]

It was reading some of the other stories that made me realize how mine fell short. I wasn't commenting on the work of others.

This wasn't directed at you, only our resident curmudgeon.

And I'm not sure which story is yours, this go-round, but I read your entry last time. It was wonderful. I can't imagine that your current submission is "bad".

Edit: Jesus! I just checked the rating on "To Save a Life". That alternate ending--much better, in my opinion--really cost you, huh? Wow. No accounting for taste. I loved the new ending, for my part. Okay, back to FAWC 5.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Man, you got up on the wrong side of the trailer for this competition, didn't you? I agree that they aren't as strong as last time, which was an especially impressive crop, but there are plenty of good stories. To pan them so homogeneously only makes you look like some sort of cranky fogie.

"You call these stories? Back in my day we had FAWCs that were ten times as good! You damn kids with your Zima and your scooters and your new fangled Dan Fogelberg records....Get off my lawn!"

I'm the most valuable asset FAWC has. Any fool can kiss your ass but when I score your story 5 you can believe its really OK. Besides, all of you already have 25 reasons to hate me, this episode changes nothing. I aint getting laid for a high 5. I devoutly wish a house would fall upon LYNN and PATIENTLEE but I expected some decent writing from both. Their talent has nothing to do with their basic worthlessness as human fucking beings. And I don't ambush with secrets one bombs and shitty comments. I bet Willie buys new ONE keys every week.

 

[FAWCker]

The submissions page is a chaotic mess. The number of votes range from 4 to 38, and the views are all over the place as well. One of the stories with the most votes has some of the least views, and vice-versa. A few others would have that magic red H if they earned just a few more votes.

As we get to the weekend, I expect the disparities to even themselves out. I'll probably ask for a sweep sometime around then.

 

[AMoveableBeast]

I'm the most valuable asset FAWC has. Any fool can kiss your ass but when I score your story 5 you can believe its really OK. Besides, all of you already have 25 reasons to hate me, this episode changes nothing. I aint getting laid for a high 5. I devoutly wish a house would fall upon LYNN and PATIENTLEE but I expected some decent writing from both. Their talent has nothing to do with their basic worthlessness as human fucking beings. And I don't ambush with secrets one bombs and shitty comments. I bet Willie buys new ONE keys every week.

Easy there, Drama-Queen-Dan. I don't hate you. As a matter-of-fact, I've gone on record a couple times that I do believe that you have value, and you are right, upon occasion. Particularly when you note that we sometimes have too much of a mutual admiration society going here. For instance, you'll notice that no entry has a perfect rating--Desperate Times and Measures is coming damn close, however--yet most of the top rated pieces have no negative comments or constructive feedback, which is sort of the point of this competition. It certainly isn't the high views or vote counts.

Personally, if my story is pulling a 3.50, I want to know why. Presumably, I thought it was pretty good, that's why I posted it. Hypothetically, I'm too close to see what is going askew. That's where my peers come in.

I'm not about to get my feelings hurt when people explain to me what they didn't like. That's why I'm here. To get and give feedback. I'm not going to be a jerk, but I'm not going to blow smoke up your cyber ass, either. I'm going to tell you what I think. Of course I could be absolutely wrong. I haven't gotten my "literary god" merit badge yet, and I assume most of the other folks here still have a missing spot on the vest there, as well. Still, all I can offer you is my opinion, and I'm going to give it. I assume that is what people want.

You (clearly) aren't afraid of hurting people's feelings or ruffling feathers, and we could use a bit more of that around here. But if you think these stories universally suck, and you want to go all Jay Sherman "It Stinks", you're just being silly. Can you honestly tell me you've read every story, and you think they are all unredeemable garbage?

If you want to critique, by all means, do so. But this, "I'm very disappointed in you class, I expected more" bullshit is pointless and unbecoming of a gentleman with such an awe-inspiring mustache.

 

[FAWCker]

I've been thinking that nobody who doesn't already know what FAWC was and check in with this thread regularly would know that new stories were up, which is narrowing our possible audience. Would anyone object to me posting in the New Stories thread for each of the stories with a brief description of each, an explanation of what FAWC is, and a link?

I went ahead and posted in the New Stories thread on the SF. I often forget it's there, so thanks for reminding me.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Beast: Hear, hear.

More comments, constructive ones, are always welcome.

 

[Swilly]

This wasn't directed at you, only our resident curmudgeon.

And I'm not sure which story is yours, this go-round, but I read your entry last time. It was wonderful. I can't imagine that your current submission is "bad".

Edit: Jesus! I just checked the rating on "To Save a Life". That alternate ending--much better, in my opinion--really cost you, huh? Wow. No accounting for taste. I loved the new ending, for my part. Okay, back to FAWC 5.

I knew who you had directed that at. I just wanted to be clear.

Lol on To Save a Life. I started an entire thread on that. Clearly, story ratings are multifaceted affairs, and a good rating seems to be affected by factors other than the quality of writing.

I'm not saying I'm a great writer, just that the writing quality in the original and changed story were the same, because 95% of the story remained untouched. As I'd noted in the thread, the change elicited much stronger feelings one way or the other than the original. I'd say that makes it a successful story, even though I took a hit on ratings.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Easy there, Drama-Queen-Dan. I don't hate you. As a matter-of-fact, I've gone on record a couple times that I do believe that you have value, and you are right, upon occasion. Particularly when you note that we sometimes have too much of a mutual admiration society going here. For instance, you'll notice that no entry has a perfect rating--Desperate Times and Measures is coming damn close, however--yet most of the top rated pieces have no negative comments or constructive feedback, which is sort of the point of this competition. It certainly isn't the high views or vote counts.

Personally, if my story is pulling a 3.50, I want to know why. Presumably, I thought it was pretty good, that's why I posted it. Hypothetically, I'm too close to see what is going askew. That's where my peers come in.

I'm not about to get my feelings hurt when people explain to me what they didn't like. That's why I'm here. To get and give feedback. I'm not going to be a jerk, but I'm not going to blow smoke up your cyber ass, either. I'm going to tell you what I think. Of course I could be absolutely wrong. I haven't gotten my "literary god" merit badge yet, and I assume most of the other folks here still have a missing spot on the vest there, as well. Still, all I can offer you is my opinion, and I'm going to give it. I assume that is what people want.

You (clearly) aren't afraid of hurting people's feelings or ruffling feathers, and we could use a bit more of that around here. But if you think these stories universally suck, and you want to go all Jay Sherman "It Stinks", you're just being silly. Can you honestly tell me you've read every story, and you think they are all unredeemable garbage?

If you want to critique, by all means, do so. But this, "I'm very disappointed in you class, I expected more" bullshit is pointless and unbecoming of a gentleman with such an awe-inspiring mustache.

Odd how no one ever admonishes me for a High 5 yet sulk when I don't blow smoke up their skirts. I seem to be a LIT god with the 5's and shit 4 brains with less. I'm over it. I get an opinion, like I said, folks already have a hard on for 4 me. Don't read my posts if you cant handle the message.

DESPERATE TIMES aint nuthin to write home about, not really. The minie ball story is better tho hopelessly fucked up with the facts. Pissing on the readers fictive dream earns no brownie points.

 

[FAWCker]

We have a fan!

* * * *

This message contains feedback for:
This feedback was sent by: *******

Comments:

hey you dumb fucker get lost

* * * *

Aw, how sweet. But at least this one can spell. Now all they have to do is work on capitalization and punctuation . . . .

 

[AMoveableBeast]

We have a fan!

* * * *

This message contains feedback for:
This feedback was sent by: *******

Comments:

hey you dumb fucker get lost

* * * *

Aw, how sweet. But at least this one can spell. Now all they have to do is work on capitalization and punctuation . . . .

That's so sweet. He sent that to you? On a particular story, or just to you?

Also, oh ringmaster, do you comment and such or does knowing the authors preclude you from such festivities? Are you perhaps waiting to do so?

 

[stlgoddessfreya]

Comments:

hey you dumb fucker get lost

FAWC 6: All's Well That Ends Well

Anybody can use a prompt to start a story, but can you build up enough bad will in your narrative to end this way?