Random Acts of Feedback

[KillerMuffin]

Have you ever heard of "random acts of kindess?" It makes the world a better place. "Random acts of feedback" makes this board a better place. You don't even have to leave this board to do it. Just open a thread that says "feedback please" and respond to it.

How do you give feedback? Read the story once. If it's good, just enjoy it, if it's not start thinking about it critically. Do a second read through to think about it critically. Answer two questions. "What did I like about this story?" and "What did I not like about this story?"

Anyone can answer those questions. You don't have to be me, you don't have to have an advanced English degree, you don't have to know the difference between its and it's. All you have to know is what you like and what you don't like. It's hard to articulate that the first few times, but once you start understanding yourself as a reader, you'll be able to write these things more confidently.

Eventually you can even answer the questions "Why did I like that?" and "Why did I not like that?"

Answering it in the email is a wonderful thing. Read the story, click anonymous feedback. There ya go.

Answering it on the board is just as wonderful. Read the story in a second window, have the reply window open on the board and jot comments as you go through it. Hit submit and you've got a discussion going. More than the author will learn from you.

There is no special trick to feedback, there is no special trait that it takes to give feedback, there is just a reader, a story, and an opinion.

It's easy.

 

[Justin_Thyme]

KillerMuffin, I know you are right on with your remarks and try whenever possible to send feedback. Usually in the anon. feedback box though. And that because I haven't figured how to do feedback without logging out of the stories section and into e-mail or the boards quickly and easily.
My problem is that I can't seem to articulate what it is I like or dislike about a story. I only know I like 'em or don't like 'em. So, it gets boring after a while, saying stuff like "great story", "really loved the story". Still, I know it's important to give feedback and do it anyway. I really love it when there is some facet about the story I can relate to, and remark on.
The thing that really bugs me though, I'm a slow reader and don't have near enough time to read as much as I would like. So I have to scan the story list and read the ones that seem as though they would be interesting. I make it a note to come back to catch the others and most of the time don't make it back.
Oh, if I could go to Barnes and Noble or the library and take out a copy of everything - and read it. *Sighs in dissapointment*
Justin