The Power of PC

[lucky-E-leven]

No. I'm not talking about political correctness.

Public Comments

When I first began writing, I was thrilled to get feedback and/or Public Comments. It was nice to know that others enjoyed something I created. Now, however, I find myself seeing my work through the reader's eyes via PC. The momentary gloat of a great PC is gone and more often than not, I'm compelled to visit the story again and give it a thorough reading. This is odd for me and seems to be the same for many other writers I've spoken to because (paraphrasing Matriarch here) I'm normally "heartily sick of the damn things" by the time I've finished writing, editing, editing, editing...

I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or something like it? Do share.

Question: Your perception of the purpose of public comments.

For criticism (good or bad)?
or
For communication (i.e. I liked it, I hated it, Thank you, Go to hell, etc.)?

~lucky

 

[cloudy]

Yep, I'm the same way.

For me, it's because sometimes several will comment on something in the story that I wasn't aware of it being there, so I have to read it with "new" eyes, to see what they saw. Usually they're right, I just don't write it conciously with that in mind.

Kinda cool, actually.

edited to add: Oops, didn't answer your question.

I think a detailed critique is better in a private message, whether that be here in a PM, or in an email. PC's are a little more general, and I try to be positive in any PC I leave. If asked for more detailed comments, I'll do that privately.

 

[English Lady]

I think the PC shows that someone is very eager to voice their opinion about my work. They have something to say that they want other people to read be that good or bad. I think the PC is more for communication than just criticism,I've had a few crit type PC's but mostly they come via email feedback

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I think of PC's as those little quotes they post in movie ads: "brilliant, two thumbs up", "an incestuous laff riot", "Hot and juicy", or whatever. I intend my PC's to be no more than a quick guide for the browsing reader, although I doubt there are many readers who read the PC's before they read the story.

When I leave a PC, I'm just saying I read it, and here's what I thought. I don;t expect a reply. If I'm going to gt any more detailed than that, I'll send an email or PM.

---dr.M.

 

[Guest]

Ditto, Dr. M

I think I have seen a transition in the way people are leaving comments now. It used to be that I would get feedback and/or a PC and now I'm lucky to get a PC. To me, its all good. I don't really care which i receive, but something...anything is good. Comments are, afterall, our only source of 'income' here on lit.

 

[CharleyH]

Agree with all, so far, on the PC thing. I have actually re-read a couple of my earlier stories, and can see every damn mistake, and every place I need to change them now. I think the benefit in re-reading and re-editing is that you actually see how much you have grown as a writer.

 

[rgraham666]

Very few of my PCs have been critical, in any sense of the word.

Most are, as dr_m pointed out, the 'two thumbs up' variety. Some are more cogent but they've pretty much been supportive as well.

That said, I'm still not tired of reading my PCs. I read them all once a day, simply because they make me feel good. After a lifetime of being told 'Not good enough. Give up', being told I'm doing something good is an enormous boost to my self esteem.

 

[Honey123]

When I first came to Lit, I didn't realize that you could actually have someone edit your work. My first three stories weren't good due to my horrible tense usage. (Which still happens to me) The PC's and feedback I received pointed that out and I was devasted. I think my best "PC" or "feedback" came from my friends here. After discussing stories I sent to them to read, they offered advice on what I should do or how I should do it. Lucky, you held my hand during that time and told me to continue writing and I did. I think you even helped with editing on my next story, which got some encouraging feedback and PC's.

I haven't received any real bad feedback or PC's ~ I think if someone doesn't like my stories, they just vote it down and that's ok because that in itself is telling me something I did was not right.

I will always answer a feedback or PC and I believe that has made readers continue reading my stories.

 

[LadyJeanne]

I view PCs as a quick summary of the immediate reaction a story or poem elicits from the reader - that's what most of the PCs I leave are about. More detailed feedback goes in PMs or email.

I have reread a story or poem with fresh eyes after receiving a comment. Everyone seems to get something different out of them, so it's interesting to me to see what they see - gives me a whole new perspective on something really familiar.

Keep the comments coming, folks!

 

[NoJo]

My PC is a dual 866 Megahertz Dell Dimension 410 with 1/2 a gig of RAM.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I agree with you all. I rarely ever get criticism of any kind, but when it happens it's in feedback form. One thing I like about leaving PC's is that they have the ability to give your story a little more advertisement. The feedback portal shows the most recent comments and tend to garner more views and possible comments. For this reason, even negative comments can bring attention.

I have to echo something rgraham666 said about reading the comments frequently. I don't read mine daily but when I do, normally find myself very interested in the story because of what someone else has said about it. Sounds corny, I think, but I've re-read all but two of my stories simply because of the way someone else commented on it. Fascinating, really, because you'd think that since you wrote it, you'd know it inside out. I'll probably keep doing this because I notice something a little different each time and it endears me to the piece all the more.

Weird.

There may be power in the writing that leads someone to PC, but there is certainly power in a pc. (Especially one as equipped as SubJoe's. )

~lucky

 

[Guest]

My PC is a dual 866 Megahertz Dell Dimension 410 with 1/2 a gig of RAM.

sounds like time for an upgrade