Anyone want to read some Fawcking stories?

[Saxon_Hart]

As you may or may not know, a bunch of us who frequent the Authors' Hangout ventured to hold the first FAWC, Friendly Anonymous Writing Challenge. The premise of the challenge was simple. Authors would write stories based on a theme, and have all stories submitted by a general account. The actual writer of each story will not be revealed until June 22nd. There is no prize at stake, just kudos, bragging rights, and a few of these, .
If you'd like to check the challenge entries out, they are on the Chain Stories hub or you can go here. All comments are greatly welcome.

 

[Tyro999]

It probably would have helped if you had mentioned the theme the stories in the current FAWC are following.

[For those of us who aren't following/have abandoned the FAWC thread in AH.]

 

[sr71plt]

Each of the stories in this challenge is centered around the common theme of the main character being an author who then experiences the erotic and/or unusual events he or she writes about.

 

[Saxon_Hart]

It probably would have helped if you had mentioned the theme the stories in the current FAWC are following.

[For those of us who aren't following/have abandoned the FAWC thread in AH.]

oops...my bad. What pilot said.

 

[Tyro999]

Thank you both.

 

[Dream_Operator]

Okay, I've read a half-dozen of these, and I'm not sure what to make of this.

Most of them are written first person and the narrator (generally) comes across as self-absorbed.

"Why should I care?" was the thought that repeatedly crept into my mind.

Are any of these any good?

 

[PennLady]

Hmmm. The scores are lower than I expected given the names of the authors I know to be involved. I wonder if that has to do with the topic, the chain stories category or (more likely) if it's just one of those Lit things that you can't quite explain.

 

[sr71plt]

To Dream Operator:

Well, the assigned theme is a writer experiencing what he/she writes. That's a little hard to accomplish in anything but the first person perspective. And the act of being absorbed in what you are writing pretty much cries out for self-absorption. So, it would seem you latched in to folks following the theme as assigned.

Did you absorb what the assigned theme was?

Perhaps you could write an example for us in the third person and without the self-absorption but following the theme? (It can be done. I see a couple that managed it.)

(Incidentally, ahem, MOST of the stories are in third person [8], not first [5])

 

[Dream_Operator]

To Dream Operator:

Well, the assigned theme is a writer experiencing what he/she writes. That's a little hard to accomplish in anything but the first person perspective. And the act of being absorbed in what you are writing pretty much cries out for self-absorption. So, it would seem you latched in to folks following the theme as assigned.

Did you absorb what the assigned theme was?

Perhaps you could write an example for us in the third person and without the self-absorption but following the theme? (It can be done. I see a couple that managed it.)

With all due respect, the request was for feedback, and honest feedback is what I gave. I'm not sure why you and others are so defensive.

 

[sr71plt]

Hmmm. The scores are lower than I expected given the names of the authors I know to be involved. I wonder if that has to do with the topic, the chain stories category or (more likely) if it's just one of those Lit things that you can't quite explain.

I think it's mostly a combination of the remote category, with limited ability to see what category(ies) the story really is without opening it and that the writers' fan bases can't discern the author. BUT, some force is keeping the scores awfully close together and below hot. It isn't the views that's doing it; there's a wide range of view numbers. The comments, in general, belie the low ratings.

 

[sr71plt]

With all due respect, the request was for feedback, and honest feedback is what I gave. I'm not sure why you and others are so defensive.

Just giving feedback to the feedback. (based on more than unresearched kneejerk response)

You didn't count before you declared what there was most of, did you? (Or do any thinking on why that might be.) I'll bet the POV split is pretty much in line with the total story holdings here. And, as I noted, the theme pretty much called for self-absorbed writers--to the extreme of being drawn into the writing themselves. That was the theme.

Why of course I'd give a defense against something that I saw was off the beam.

 

[sr71plt]

Hmmm. The scores are lower than I expected given the names of the authors I know to be involved. I wonder if that has to do with the topic, the chain stories category or (more likely) if it's just one of those Lit things that you can't quite explain.

P.S. Just as with the regular themed contests, it seems to be the kiss of death to be called "the best" by a commenter. Two stories have received that call, and both are now "oh, yeah?" rating down in the middle of the pack.

 

[Tyro999]

In other words, PennLady's last thought, "or (more likely) if it's just one of those Lit things that you can't quite explain." might have been correct.

 

[PennLady]

I think it's mostly a combination of the remote category, with limited ability to see what category(ies) the story really is without opening it and that the writers' fan bases can't discern the author. BUT, some force is keeping the scores awfully close together and below hot. It isn't the views that's doing it; there's a wide range of view numbers. The comments, in general, belie the low ratings.

Yes I should have added that too. Not only is the category not one of the more popular, but not knowing what you're getting into until you read it no doubt results in lower-than-usual scores. I've seen many people rate stories (and movies, etc.) low because of what they are not, rather than what they are.

 

[Saxon_Hart]

After reading about two thirds of them I have to say the writing is generally good, especially considering the fact that most dodn't have time for a second set of eyes to go over the work.

 

[LadyVer]

I'm confused. Are the stories all fiction where the character is experiencing what he/she writes about, or is the actual author writing about something they wrote about and then experienced in real life, and weaving it into a short story? I just read one of the stories and I thought it was really good, but don't want to say more until someone answers my questions. Thanks.

 

[sr71plt]

I'm confused. Are the stories all fiction where the character is experiencing what he/she writes about, or is the actual author writing about something they wrote about and then experienced in real life, and weaving it into a short story? I just read one of the stories and I thought it was really good, but don't want to say more until someone answers my questions. Thanks.

This is the theme instruction. It's included in a note at the top of each of the stories: "Each of the stories in this challenge is centered around the common theme of the main character being an author who then experiences the erotic and/or unusual events he or she writes about."

I suppose either could be done inside these parameters but I think I've only seen one that claimed to be real experience based. Most of them are pure fiction.

 

[LadyVer]

This is the theme instruction. It's included in a note at the top of each of the stories: "Each of the stories in this challenge is centered around the common theme of the main character being an author who then experiences the erotic and/or unusual events he or she writes about."

I suppose either could be done inside these parameters but I think I've only seen one that claimed to be real experience based. Most of them are pure fiction.

ok. Thanks.

I read "Was It Real?" Don't know why I picked that one to read, but I have a slight case of ADD and I skimmed the list from top to bottom, and this one seemed like a story I could relate to from reading the description. Then, once I opened the story and saw where the author stated the category of Erotic Couplings, I felt sure I had picked a good story. But, then I read the first paragraph and almost stopped reading because of the language.

Anyway, I'm glad I read the story because it was about an older couple, each of whom live in separate "retirement" homes, who meet on line and then meet in real life. In a way, it's kind of sad, but it was definitely worth the 5 that I gave it. It would be great if this story could be turned into a series, with a bit less sadness and more humor written in. There aren't enough good stories about mature couples on Lit or anywhere really. I plan to read a few more stories in this chain.

 

[slyc_willie]

Okay, I've read a half-dozen of these, and I'm not sure what to make of this.

Most of them are written first person and the narrator (generally) comes across as self-absorbed.

"Why should I care?" was the thought that repeatedly crept into my mind.

Are any of these any good?

Whether or not they're any good is entirely up to you as a reader to determine. As the moderator of the challenge, I'd ask that you give the rest of them a read and see what you think of the various ways in which the authors interpreted the theme.

Hmmm. The scores are lower than I expected given the names of the authors I know to be involved. I wonder if that has to do with the topic, the chain stories category or (more likely) if it's just one of those Lit things that you can't quite explain.

I think, and this echoes what has already been posted above, that the absence of knowledge regarding who the actual authors are has gone a long way toward minimizing pro-author bias. Sure, some readers who are devoted fans of a particular writer in the challenge may be able to pick out their favorite writer's style. But not many people can.

I won't say who it was or what their guesses were, but I received a feedback from a Lit regular that included who they thought the author of each story was. They got just about every one of them wrong, and this is someone who frequents the AH, posts with its authors, and, I believe, regularly reads the stories posted by other AHers. And they couldn't figure out who wrote what.

Given all that, I think the voting has been a touch more honest and unbiased than normal. However, to echo what Pilot mentioned, I think there has been some across-the-board downvoting. Personally, I expected that from the start.

 

[slyc_willie]

ok. Thanks.

I read "Was It Real?" Don't know why I picked that one to read, but I have a slight case of ADD and I skimmed the list from top to bottom, and this one seemed like a story I could relate to from reading the description. Then, once I opened the story and saw where the author stated the category of Erotic Couplings, I felt sure I had picked a good story. But, then I read the first paragraph and almost stopped reading because of the language.

Anyway, I'm glad I read the story because it was about an older couple, each of whom live in separate "retirement" homes, who meet on line and then meet in real life. In a way, it's kind of sad, but it was definitely worth the 5 that I gave it. It would be great if this story could be turned into a series, with a bit less sadness and more humor written in. There aren't enough good stories about mature couples on Lit or anywhere really. I plan to read a few more stories in this chain.

In a couple of weeks, the true authors will be revealed in the comments section of each story as well as on the "Anyone Wanna FAWC?" thread in the AH. We'll probably list them in this thread, too. So you can then know who to thank for the story.

 

[LadyVer]

In a couple of weeks, the true authors will be revealed in the comments section of each story as well as on the "Anyone Wanna FAWC?" thread in the AH. We'll probably list them in this thread, too. So you can then know who to thank for the story.

I have no idea who the most popular Lit writers are. I usually check the new story list late at night and pick stories to read that way. Sometimes I look at category lists to find stories.

 

[sr71plt]

I have no idea who the most popular Lit writers are. I usually check the new story list late at night and pick stories to read that way. Sometimes I look at category lists to find stories.

I suspect no one knows who the most popular Lit. writers are. The readers are so divergent that those fitting that bill would be just as divergent.

 

[Saxon_Hart]

I suspect no one knows who the most popular Lit. writers are. The readers are so divergent that those fitting that bill would be just as divergent.

Well I thought the most popular writer on lit starts with an "S" and uses a pic of Jackie O to push his own ego....Not saying the name in case it's like Beetlejuice.

 

[slyc_willie]

Well I thought the most popular writer on lit starts with an "S" and uses a pic of Jackie O to push his own ego....Not saying the name in case it's like Beetlejuice.

http://th01.deviantart.net/fs70/200H/f/2013/142/1/b/beetlejuice___geena_davis_zipped_and_bolted_by_hatman73-d664wu9.png

"Sco--!"

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Yes I should have added that too. Not only is the category not one of the more popular, but not knowing what you're getting into until you read it no doubt results in lower-than-usual scores. I've seen many people rate stories (and movies, etc.) low because of what they are not, rather than what they are.

I've read a few of the FAWC posts and, whilst agreeing the writing is generally good, can understand why readers are not turned on by a 13-part compendium which is something of a pot-luck supper.

By definition, Chain Stories is a somewhat introverted category. I have enjoyed many but the problem on Lit is surely what PL says. This is much more for the writers than the readers.