I'm back and I'd like to know how you want things done here

[KillerMuffin]

Hello!

I've been on something of a, erm, lengthy sabbatical. I am, however back and prepared to actually do what I've been asked to do.

However, before I go doing anything to this forum, I would like to know what you would like to see happen here.

I notice that Pure has been putting up discussion threads in my absence (thank you!). Would you like that to continue?

One of the things that differentiates the SDC from the Story Feedback forum is that an author must give a critique before getting a critique. Would you like to see that done still or should this become a moderated feedback forum?

In the past, the moderator would put up a story from the archives to discuss in the way one would discuss a published story in a literature class or in a creative writing class. Would you like to see this feature resurrected?

In the rules/sign-up thread, what has been working for you and what hasn't?

Any commentary that you'd like to make?

 

[MLyons]

Hi KM,

I'm relatively new to Lit (I joined during your sabbatical) so I have a lack of personal experience with how things were done before you were gone. What I do want to say is that the SDC has been satisfyingly active since you've been away, thanks largely to Pure and a core group of dedicated others. The only major problem has been a lack of a moderator who has the power to remove errant posts by those who haven't fulfilled their critique swapping duties as of yet. In their defense, however, it's also kind of hard to explain how we've been doing things to those that just poke their head in looking to understand how the SDC works without a moderator with the powers to direct traffic. That all said, of course, Pure has been a FANTASTIC defacto leader in your absence. Without him, I'm not sure the SDC would have been as successful in surviving your absence.

Anyway, I'd be happy to continue my participation within whatever format you choose of course. I will say that I would rather this forum still remain a "swap" situation--where author's are required to give critiques (two at least is how we've currently got it) to others before being critiqued themselves. The Story Feedback board handles other "no strings" requests nicely, I think, and I enjoy the SDC (as it is now anyway) because it helps focus my attention on one story for a week, and usually if people are willing to put their story up here and face the detailed critiques that they will receive, they're inclined to put up the best story that they can. I've read many outstanding stories here, and met many Lit. authors who I'd dare say have become friends thanks to the SDC, and I'm very anxious for it to continue thriving.

I especially enjoy critiquing stories that have not been posted yet (although I'm perfectly happy to do both) because then I feel I might have some small influence in helping to improve the story before it's posted.

Anyway, I'm new... and I don't know the history of the history. I'll abide by whatever rules you see fit to set down. I just want to say that the SDC, even in your absence, has been extraordinarily rewarding for me personally, and I'm very happy to hear that we have a moderator back. I'm excited to see how the this corner of the forum will develop as we move forward.

Thanks for listening.

 

[Pure]

Hi KM, welcome,

This is just a note to the effect that the 'swap' feature of giving in order to get has been in effect, coordinated through the first 'sticky' thread (which for convenience has absorbed the second, sticky, pre-posting related [workshop] thread).

As well

discuss in the way one would discuss a published story in a literature class or in a creative writing class.

has, give or take, been in effect, subject to the limitations--education, experience, etc.--of the critiquer. IOW, both small and large issues to do with the overall quality of writing, and its success as a piece of porn, erotica, romance, fantasy or whatever.

 

[Black Tulip]

Hello KM,

Like MLyons I came aboard during your absence. I find the system of giving before getting a very rewarding one. It ensures that people take it more seriously than the casual "nice story" from the Feedback Forum.

I landed here because that was not enough for me. And what I get here is very useful pointers, slaps or kicks and sometimes a small pat on the back.

Whatever you will decide, please keep this part of the Forum. Giving serious critiques is just as useful as getting them. Besides, I like to think this is a piece of Literotica where one can hone one's skills.

 

[Varian P]

Hi KM,

Like MLyons, I'm also relatively new, and don't have much familiarity with how things were before. Much of what I have to say will echo MLyons's views.

Pure's been doing a fabulous job, and I hope he'll be sticking around (unless he's sick and tired of his whistle and white gloves).

I would like to see the requirement of two posted critiques prior to soliciting feedback continued, since, as you say, this feature (as well as the more in-depth critiques) distinguishes the SDC from the story feedback forum.

As far as the nature of the critiques, I feel that in general the feedback offered here is immensely useful--a good balance, usually, between big picture issues like character and structure and more nuanced examinations of the finer points of language.

I'm grateful that I've been able to submit pieces as-yet unpublished on Literotica, so that I can rework and polish them prior to submitting them for publication. That way they're the best that they can be (or that I have the time/energy to make them) when they go before the broader public. It's also more satisfying as the critic, knowing that the piece is something the author is still actively working on, as it seems coments are likely to be most valuable then.

I think the sign-up thread works fine for the initiated, but it is tough going at first, figuring out how one gets on board.

Thanks for soliciting our opinions--I'm terribly excited to have found this forum, and I've benefitted from it immensely, both as giver and receiver of feedback. I certainly plan to continue participating.

Varian

 

[ShyAzn]

Welcome back!

Hi KM,

I too, am fairly new. I have found the SDC to be immensely helpful for pointing out errors and inconsistencies in my work--as Varian mentioned, the Story Feedback Forum isn't the best place for in-depth feedback. Since I got relatively positive reviews in the Feedback Forum, I couldn't understand why my score wasn't higher and was even dropping. Getting feedback from the SDC helped me figure things out.

My problem was figuring out how everything works, the SDC vs. workshopping. I think as a newbie I found it confusing to have discussions of both workshopped and submitted stories in one forum.

The stickies do explain the two, but sometimes newbies such as myself need a little more help. Thankfully Pure and others have been very helpful. (Thanks Pure!)

I suggested to Pure that the two be split into two sub-Forums. He rightly pointed out that since the Workshopping thread is rather slow these days, there's no point.

Thanks for reading and welcome back!

Shy

 

[hiddenself]

Kudos to Pure for a job superbly done. Not that you weren't missed KM.

I too agree that the current structure (ie, serious critiquing, requirement of giving before receiving) should continue. IMO, one story a week is a good pace for the SDC. The story can be either already posted at Lit or still in the editing/development phase ('workshop').

My only suggestion would be for a revision and cleaning up of the stickies to make things a bit clearer. I also do not know where the Snippetsville efforts fit in here.

Welcome back.

 

[Lying Eyes]

Pure is awesome! This forum would certainly be dead if it wasn't for him. To be honest I would like Pure to be given moderator status.

The two stickies should be combined to one in my opinion to prevent confusion. Also the Snippetville section (is it even active?) seems better suited to the Author's forum.

 

[KillerMuffin]

All right, I think I see how I should deal with this.

These are my ideas since I'm still hanging out here as moderator. I'm of the opinion that if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

1) If he would like to continue to do so, Pure would continue his grass roots work since he's been doing a good job with it.

2) I would be, for the most part, responsible for clearing the chaff out as always.


As for the stickies, I can't delete anything from them, but I can remove the threads to an inactive archive and sticky a new one if that's what you would like.

As for the literary style reviewing, Pure, that's not what I'm talking about. Authors would not choose stories and critiques would not be involved. It's a literary style review, where you look at the literary elements of a story, not critique it. I've had a few emails about re-instituting it, but it fizzled fast when we did it the first time around.


Snippetsville was placed in here because the Author's Hangout is so active and their threads are not. It is still active--a new edition should be out soon. It will not be moved.

Lastly, I will be maintaining moderator status and Pure will, so long as majority rules and he wishes to, maintain unofficial moderator status.

 

[Pure]

IF there is a desire from the participants and it's approved officially by the moderator, I will, for the time being, 'direct traffic' regarding the posting of stories (already posted or in draft) for critique/feedback, including maintaining a queue in the first sticky.

That is conditional on there being a flow of victi---excuse me--volunteers.

If there are other activities KM would like to institute, literary analyses [style reviews], cyberseminars, or whatever, I'm sure some of us would be interested. She has a lot of literary expertise, and the ability to communicate with those at all levels of proficiency.

Her help in minor ways, in 'cleaning up' is surely needed-- capping, moving, or redirecting threads of 'lost souls' who, most often, probably need to go to 'story feedback' with no strings, and lotsa strokes.

J.

 

[Black Tulip]

Hi KM,

What Pure said.

Am I to understand you will do something about the confusing stickies? That would help a lot of lost souls, I think.

I'm easy.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

KILLER MUFFIN!

We've missed you, lady. Welcome back.

As for format, I have no problems with what the other folks have mentioned. That includes your idea about a literary style review to break down and study a piece of writing. However, I've got a hunch it would work best as a special event, something like an online workshop, maybe once a month, perhaps within the overall SDC. But what do I know?

Whatever is decided, I'm glad of two things: that you're back, and that I don't have to make any of the decisions.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Black Tulip]

KILLER MUFFIN!
...
That includes your idea about a literary style review to break down and study a piece of writing. However, I've got a hunch it would work best as a special event, something like an online workshop, maybe once a month, perhaps within the overall SDC. ...
Rumple Foreskin

How about if you make that into a special "Construction Site"?
It should be obvious to everyone that it's a special part dedicated to structural issues/literary reviews and not about advice for stories that are still in the process.

I understand you would pick the piece to take apart? And you would provide the boundaries? Questions? Sounds interesting, but I can't promise to take part in it. LOL
Apart from RL interfering, it's very well possible my English is not adequate enough to participate. I'd be willing to give it a try though.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I'll chip in with my support for essentially keeping the format we've been using of late - it seems to work rather well.

I am interested in the idea of the literary critique, but because the words "literary," "style," and "critique" are each open to a pretty wide variety of interpretation, I'd suggest that we might get best results by posting a checklist of topics to cover and/or a sample of a review. This would make sure that we've all got the same idea of what we're meant to be doing. With that done, I'd be happy to participate.

Shanglan

 

[Lying Eyes]

I don't understand how this "literary critique or style review" differs from a regular critique. I doubt I will be able to participate since I am already out of my league on regular critiques.

"Literary style review" doesn't sound very welcoming for newbies. Most writers that get involved in the Story Discussion Circle forum are already great writers and don't need much improvement on their work, as it stands now the forum might be too intimidating for those writers that could get the most out of this forum. Literary critique/style review sounds like schoolwork and could scare off the few newbies that check out this forum.

 

[TheEarl]

Morning KM,

I disappeared before you did, so I'm not sure exactly what's been happening on this forum of late. From a quick scour, it appears things work just as they always did, which is more than good enough for me.

The Earl

 

[Pure]

Please update!!

Hi Killer M,
I see some welcome signs of your housekeeping, and the SDS is looking more comprehensible. Thanks.

Since I can't connect with you by PM, I'm respectfully requesting that the initial posting 'sticky' be updated to reflect current practice.

I reproduce the whole thing below with my additions [these are suggestions only]in single brackets. These may simply be removed, minimizing your labor. Or rewrite some or all, as you please.

Discussion: Feedback and review of stories that you have posted at Literotica!
Hi, I'm Muffin, moderator of the SDC! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me by pressing the (PM) button below this or any other post I make!

[There are several possible activities in this forum; discussion of literotica authors' work, and a 'swap' basis is one of them, coordinated through this thread; 'pure,' not a moderator, is doing this coordination at present, 10-2004.]

Getting Your Story Into a Discussion

1) In this thread, [post a request to be added to the lineup and] post the title and, [if there is one,] a link to a single story (not your memberpage) that you want reviewed.
[State] any concerns you want to see addressed by reviewers. [Drafts of stories may also be discussed.]

[Be aware that the discussion of your story does not proceed until 2) is fulfilled.]

2) Review at least two other [stories, in their assigned threads]. Please give the quantity and quality of feedback that you would like to [receive].

3) PM [pure] with the names of the authors you have reviewed and the title of the story you volunteered. This way you will have your work reviewed in a timely fashion and [there] won't [be] a mistake. [ The review will be in a designated thread for that one story.]

[4)If you have only a draft, PM the draft to 'pure' when your turn has come in the lineup.]

[5)This thread will always have, among its most recent postings, a notice as to which story is up for discussion.]


The Rules

We're very strict about which stories can be discussed here. There are a few rules, but they're not difficult to follow. For our purposes, a story will be defined as a work in any of the non-poem categories [[(except extreme)]][delete] in a single link. If your story has more than one link--that is chapterized--only one story link will be provided in the discussion.

1) The story must be posted [or eventually to be submitted; i.e., a draft] at Literotica.
2) You must be the author.
3) You may volunteer your story for discussion at any time, first come first serve. Please do so in this thread [which will maintain a lineup or queue, in order.]
4) This is important. In order for your story to make it into discussion you must make an effort to participate [significantly] in no less than two other discussions.
5) There is no limit to the stories that you may volunteer for discussion, however before you can volunteer another story your previous story must be discussed first.
6) You will have no control over the feedback that you receive [, but reading the feedback for other stories will give you an idea what to expect. It is generally not inaccurate, nor uncharitable.]
[[7) If you want feedback on an unpublished draft of your story, please see the Workshop thread in the forum.]][deleted]
8) You may not post your own Discussion threads. These threads will be moved to the Story Feedback Forum.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

What happened to KM? Is she back? Gone again?

I didn't even get a chance to say hello.

---dr.M.