Do you ever comment anonymously?

[Bodington]

There are a whole lot of individual opinions about such as this among the users of the Web site, I'm sure.
As others have noted, most everyone is posting here anonymously. Having an account name like "Liksitbig" doesn't change that.

Again my main point is that if you are replying as ‘Liksitbig’ at least there is a mechanism for the author to contact you via your user’s name.

 

[SimonDoom]

My other point is if you truly find a story truly absolutely atrocious and I would suggest plenty of stories definitely fall into that category what satisfaction does it give you to announce it. Why bother? Especially why do it anonymously?

These are two completely different issues, and you should not conflate them. An anonymous reader is not the same as a harsh or obnoxious one. Most anonymous comments I've received have been nice, and I appreciated the overwhelming percentage of them. I've received some not-so-nice comments from non-anonymous readers, although not too many.

I've never announced to any author that their story was atrocious. I don't use that language, either under my name or anonymously. I think it's a good rule not to be an asshole when you leave a comment. But leaving a comment anonymously doesn't make you an asshole.

If readers want to be anonymous at this Site for whatever reason, let them make that choice without judgment. Focus on the comment, not the name of the person leaving it.

 

[SimonDoom]

There are a whole lot of individual opinions about such as this among the users of the Web site, I'm sure.
As others have noted, most everyone is posting here anonymously. Having an account name like "Liksitbig" doesn't change that.

Again my main point is that if you are replying as ‘Liksitbig’ at least there is a mechanism for the author to contact you via your user’s name.

I accidentally responded to your message, not Bodington's. I had to delete it.

 

[Bodington]

Maybe they don't want you to do that. They are shy and don't want to put their name out there. They have a social phobia. They don't want a dialogue with you. Respect it.

Oh wow! Apparently there then seems to be a plethora of fragile minds out there! Too timid to even speak out in a disguised identity form in the first place. I guess it's just a sign of our times.

 

[rescatooor]

I mean, I don't know about all you but I'd rather have all the comments I can. I don't care if it's anonymous. You don't need to take my word that I won't come after you with a vengeance after you have given me a bad review.

So I am happy that the option exists. I doubt the latest one-bombs have had anything to do with my commenting. Maybe I had just hoped that people would be as accepting or forgiving of critique as I try to be so that I wouldn't even have to sorry about this issue.

 

[rjordan]

Maybe I had just hoped that people would be as accepting or forgiving of critique as I try to be so that I wouldn't even have to sorry about this issue.

Not every author wants or appreciates a critique of their story. Most readers aren't even qualified to critique a story. Some authors just want to post a story others can read. If people like it, fine. If they don't, also fine.

What do you think of the guy at work who critiques everything you do? You probably think he's an asshole.

I have no objection to critiques, good, bad, helpful, stupid or otherwise. But I would still post here if it never happened.

BTW, I have turned off comments on some stories to see what happens. I nearly always get a comment posted on another story of mine complaining about it. The whole Lit experience is very weird.

rj

 

[rescatooor]

Not every author wants or appreciates a critique of their story. Most readers aren't even qualified to critique a story. Some authors just want to post a story others can read. If people like it, fine. If they don't, also fine.

What do you think of the guy at work who critiques everything you do? You probably think he's an asshole.

I have no objection to critiques, good, bad, helpful, stupid or otherwise. But I would still post here if it never happened.

BTW, I have turned off comments on some stories to see what happens. I nearly always get a comment posted on another story of mine complaining about it. The whole Lit experience is very weird.

rj

In my line of work I need feedback in order to do my work properly. Then again, I choose my clients as much as my clients choose me. If the shoe won't fit, take it off.

If someone chooses to turn off their comments, fine by me. If they're open, I think it's fair to assume they welcome feedback, maybe even suggestions, some kind of encouragement. I like to try never point out flaws without offering some kind of a solution as to how to fix them. I believe that's more than any kind of rating can really offer.

But do tell me, why would you post here then? Why not post it privately elsewhere? I am curious as to what drives you here if you do not care about the readers and how your works are received.

 

[rjordan]

li

But do tell me, why would you post here then? Why not post it privately elsewhere? I am curious as to what drives you here if you do not care about the readers and how your works are received.

I don't believe I said anything about not caring about the readers. I write a story and post it if I think others might enjoy it. That implies I care about the readers or I wouldn't share it. It would be kind of pointless to post it "privately" whatever that means. I have it on my hard drive if I want to refer to it again.

Readers experience a story in their own way. It's sometimes interesting to see their reaction, but it's kind of irrelevant to anyone but themselves. The story is what it is at that point. Telling me about it isn't going to change the story, and probably won't change me.


I've been freelance writing in the auto and motorcycle field for 50 years. Signatures on checks still make my heart flutter. Getting a 500 word comment from Harry in VA about how I SHOULD have written some light-hearted smut doesn't move the needle.

 

[rescatooor]

li

I don't believe I said anything about not caring about the readers. I write a story and post it if I think others might enjoy it. That implies I care about the readers or I wouldn't share it. It would be kind of pointless to post it "privately" whatever that means. I have it on my hard drive if I want to refer to it again.

Readers experience a story in their own way. It's sometimes interesting to see their reaction, but it's kind of irrelevant to anyone but themselves. The story is what it is at that point. Telling me about it isn't going to change the story, and probably won't change me.


I've been freelance writing in the auto and motorcycle field for 50 years. Signatures on checks still make my heart flutter. Getting a 500 word comment from Harry in VA about how I SHOULD have written some light-hearted smut doesn't move the needle.

With privately I meant your own website. Nothing pointless about it, I think. The only real difference being that it is difficult to build as much traffic for one's own site, but if numbers don't mean much to you, why not?

It might not change the story but it might improve your storytelling skills. But I suppose you are a professional so you should have that in check already.

 

[dmallord]

I don't tend to comment on a story unless there are the following conditions:

1.) A writer has asked for comments or feedback, either on the forums or in the intro to the story itself in which case I may provide some constructive criticism along with what I really enjoyed about the story

2.) I'm leaving a glowing comment about how much I loved the story.

People are out here sharing their creative work for free. I'm never going to comment on someone's story just to drag it. If I don't like it, it's not like there is nothing else on this site for me to click on.

As such, I think I'll always feel comfortable commenting using my name. I haven't felt compelled to comment anonymously yet, anyway.

Certainly a very rationale approach to reading and commenting! I agree and generally follow this as well. My approach is not to comment to the negative side. People who leave nasty stuff with the anon feature are spineless! dmallord

 

[rjordan]

It might not change the story but it might improve your storytelling skills. But I suppose you are a professional so you should have that in check already.

Writing non-fiction doesn't translate to storytelling skills other than facility with the language and organizational skills. I'm not a professional storyteller.

Thoughtful criticism is always welcome and, you're right, that can improve storytelling. Would you seriously expect to find anything useful from unsolicited advice from anonymous people with unknown motives and questionable backgrounds? There are far more efficient and effective ways to improve your writing. You think Stephen King scans his fan mail looking for ways to improve his storytelling?

Anyway, nice chatting with you. I liked your bio and hope you're getting what you want from your writing.

 

[KeithD]

Writing non-fiction doesn't translate to storytelling skills other than facility with the language and organizational skills. I'm not a professional storyteller.

Sure it can. Barbara Tuchman, for instant, wrote nonfiction, but she put it across in great storytelling.

 

[SimonDoom]

Sure it can. Barbara Tuchman, for instant, wrote nonfiction, but she put it across in great storytelling.

I would say in her case, she brought either innate or already existing story-telling skills to her nonfiction. She is a great storyteller, as well as a good prose stylist, and that's the main reason her books are so popular. A Distant Mirror was a wonderful book -- highly recommended to anyone wanting to read a fun book about 100 years of war and the Black Death.

I disagree a little with rjordan, because I believe that a solid background in writing of any kind can help you write fiction. I've done OK with my stories, and I didn't write fiction until my 50s. I attribute much of whatever success I've had to the fact that I've done an enormous amount of academic and professional writing over the course of my life, and for all of it I was expected to be extremely careful with my writing. Plus, I've read a lot of fiction.

But I would agree that writing good non-fiction is no guarantee at all of being able to write good fiction. We probably all agree with that.

 

[KeithD]

I wrote what would be called nonfiction for some thirty years before turning to fiction. I don't remember having to become a different writer to do so.

Unfortunately, Tuchman is a "was" (died in 1989) and not an "is." She won the Pulitzer Prize twice, for The Guns of August and Stilwell and the American Experience in China. Those, along with, yes, A Distant Mirror, and several others are on a shelf about three feet from my left hand. They all read like exciting novels.

 

[MetaBob]

No, jeez, why would anyone?

 

[KeithD]

No, jeez, why would anyone?

You might find some of the answers yourself if you read the thread.

 

[rjordan]

I would say in her case, she brought either innate or already existing story-telling skills to her nonfiction.
[snip]

I disagree a little with rjordan, because I believe that a solid background in writing of any kind can help you write fiction.

[snip]

But I would agree that writing good non-fiction is no guarantee at all of being able to write good fiction. We probably all agree with that.

Yes, I was going to make the same comment to Keith D. Besides Tuchman, one of my favorite historian/biographers is David McCullough. He also is a great storyteller who uses that skill to bring history alive.

My point was exactly what you said we would all agree on. Years of experience in non-fiction does not translate to storytelling, but it gives you a solid foundation with language, and organizational skills. Whether I'm writing a shoot out review of several motorcycles or a Lit story, there are similar skills for introducing the story, hooking the reader, keeping it moving along to a point, fleshing it out so it has depth and finally making the point. Those skills translate.

No, I don't have to become a different kind of writer when I write fiction, but there are different skills to develop on top of my existing skills. In fiction, you're world building and character building. That's not a skill that is often practiced or appreciated in most non-fiction.

Anyway, I think we're mostly in agreement on the main point so I'll leave it at that. I'm considered a professional in my non-fiction work. I'm a hobbyist in fiction, and that's the height of my ambition here.

rj

 

[BiscuitHammer]

No, I can't say as I do. If I'm going to comment on a story, everyone will know who did it.

Well, that's not a hundred percent true. I once trolled a friend who also publishes on here by leaving a crazed, madcap Anonymous review. But it was so obviously me leaving the review that he called me later, called me a fucker and said he fucked my non-existent sister.

I laughed, he laughed, my non-existent sister laughed... I ran out of the room in terror.

Granted, I hardly ever comment, I'm much more likely to send them a PM or review in their email, which I find to be more constructive overall. I always mention my author name, so that they know who I am on here.

If I comment anonymously ever again, I'm no doubt up to something madcap. But I'll never be negative with an anonymous comment. I don't like it. It ain't me.