Volunteers Needed

[Rumple Foreskin]

It's been a month since anyone has asked (volunteered) to have one of their posted stories critiqued in a Discussion thread over at the Story Discussion Circle. The poor pitiful poster in question was the old Rumple unit. That story has since appeared in a thread and had five critiques (one on the wrong thread)

In the last two weeks, only one person has asked to have an unposted story checked out in a SDC Workshop thread. That would be the same lonely soul mentioned above.

Now I grant the regular SDC threads have been overshadowed by all the Snippetville activity. But the discussion and workshop threads are still available, I think, and can help anyone looking for serious critiques.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Just_John1]

Hey Rumple

I've been busy, the car had a flat, it snowed in July, ummm the dog ate my key board... Ok enough excuses. I would like to post a story to the SDC but I feel guilty. I spent a bunch of time in the SDC in the past but its been a while since I had the time to seriously critique someone else's story. I feel honor bound to do a review before I post my story but by the time I find a story has been posted 18 people have already said everything my feeble mind can come up with... I hate to post a response to request for critique with ''...ummm what he said"

I'll wait for KM to post the next story and I will dutifully sit down and give my best critique. I'm sorry if that amounts to "what he said" and I'm not sure how to avoid this or how to get back into the good graces of the SDC. Your advice would be appreciated.

a ps here... Your reviews and critiques are typically so well thought out, and it is so obvious how much time you spend on them that it does intimidate some of us less grammatically correct potential reviewers... I learn alot from you and your critiques and appreciate your help. In a periferal way you've helped my writing alot. I guess you can take that as a compliment or an insult depending on what you think about my stories, but its intended as a compliment.

JJ1

 

[ffreak]

I hope there are some more posts, as I understand it I need to participate in a couple of these threads before I can post.

Of course, then I have to write a story that I'm willing to put out there as bait for the sharks to shread? Or is it just minnows nibbling it all over with the occasional barracuda?

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Just John & ffreak,

JJ, you forgot about the check being in the mail.

Both of you should let KM play cop. She runs things on the SDC. If either of you have a posted story, such as the original "Miss Daisy," by ffreak, that you'd like to have critiqued, then go ahead and "volunteer" it for a Discussion thread, then do a few critiques when you can.

If you have a WIP, for instance the sequel to "Miss Daisy" ffreak's now working on, and would like some folks to check it out and give some informal feedback before it's posted, then volunteer it for a Workshop. Then when you get a chance, give some of the other folks a little feedback.

As for critiques/feedback/input/reviews, IMHO, not doing them is as much your loss as it is the other writers. Reading, analyzing, and then writing out your thoughts about other writer's work is one of the best, and cheaspest, ways of improving your own skill as a writer.

Rumple Foreskin

ps: If you just can't shake the guilt trip business, feel free to use any of my stuff on the SDC to "make your bones." Why not? Hell, I ain't gonna pay no attention to anything you two goones would have to say, anyway.

 

[MathGirl]

It's been a month since anyone has asked (volunteered) to have one of their posted stories critiqued

Dear Rumple,
When I first started here, I submitted a story for criticism, and I guess it was at the SDC. It was very deserving of the harsh negative criticism, but I thought some of it was a bit heavy handed; cruel. I have no doubt that the reaction to anything else I submitted would be similar, and I don't need that.
MG
Ps. I write things when I feel like it and for myself. The perv... readers seem to like them. Nothing I submit here is intended to be literary or fit for AH people.
Pps. After that initial experience, I have never returned to the SDC, either to read or submit.

 

[sweetjulia]

what is AH

 

[amsterdam]

I'm guessing you're in it!

Authors's Hangout? Can it be that simple?

 

[MathGirl]

what is AH

Dear Julia,
It's right here, where you at. Authors' Hangout.
MG
Ps. A final note on criticism. I saw some very harsh criticism here on the AH when I first started here. I remember who dished it out. I would never submit something just so that some asshole could make himself feel better by treating someone else badly.

 

[sweetjulia]

thanks i know it sounds stupid in retrospect but i really couldn't figure out what AH meant lol.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Dear Julia,
It's right here, where you at. Authors' Hangout.
MG
Ps. A final note on criticism. I saw some very harsh criticism here on the AH when I first started here. I remember who dished it out. I would never submit something just so that some asshole could make himself feel better by treating someone else badly.

Can't say as how I blame you, MG.

Finding writers who'll give you honest, helpful, but not harsh feedback is a challenge. IMHO, most of the AH and SDC crowd do a surprisingly good job.

Of course, some "harsh" critique writers are simply mean-spirited jerks. Others may have good intentions, but find it hard to give a critique without being abrupt and negative. And then there are a handful of folks who, like KM, can be almost brutally honest at times, but are also fair, know what they're talking about, and give helpful advice.

I probably overuse "IMHO" (in my humble opinion) but I use it more for myself, than the reader. It reminds me that I'm just another old yo-yo with a frayed string, trying to become a better writer and maybe, someday, have a novel published.

RF

 

[cookiejar]

My problem is I don't feel I'm qualified enough to critique other people's work. I'm just a rank beginner.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Re: Re: Volunteers Needed

Dear Rumple,
When I first started here, I submitted a story for criticism, and I guess it was at the SDC. It was very deserving of the harsh negative criticism, but I thought some of it was a bit heavy handed; cruel. I have no doubt that the reaction to anything else I submitted would be similar, and I don't need that.
MG
Ps. I write things when I feel like it and for myself. The perv... readers seem to like them. Nothing I submit here is intended to be literary or fit for AH people.
Pps. After that initial experience, I have never returned to the SDC, either to read or submit.

I always think it's good when the persosn being criticized responds to the criticism. If you feel you're being personally mistreated, let them know.

---dr.M.

 

[amsterdam]

Okay, I'm in...

Alright Rumple, I'm willing to be torn to shreds and have a new story that's a day or so away from being ready to submit. I'm willing to do the critique thing if that what it takes to qualify. I'll go see if I can find the answers over there to exactly what I'll need to do...

 

[Quasimodem]

. . . I'm just a rank beginner.

Sniff, sniff . . . beginner, maybe . . . sniff, sniff . . . but definitely not “rank!”


I’ve tried to do the critique thing, RF, really I have, but I've a malicious impediment in my gravity centre.

And therefor, I'm no fit critic, nor subject, either.

 

[gauchecritic]

My problem is I don't feel I'm qualified enough to critique other people's work. I'm just a rank beginner.

Consider, If your critique of someone' work comes out as "I liked your story and the only thing I thought was wrong was that you used the word 'weird' too many times"

This could well be the single thing that the author finds useful and you pointed it out!

Much better than "Well I don't really go for incest stories but I noticed that you spelled 'wierd' wrong and you didn't once mention contraception. These people could have children and they'd end up with 2 heads and 16 fingers on each hand"

Do it anyway. It really is a great learning experience.

Gauche (who has never dared have a single work critiqued anywhere but once and got trounced [by philistines])

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Re: Re: Volunteers Needed

Originally posted by dr_mabeuse If you feel you're being personally mistreated, let them know.

Dear Dr M,
Like a sincere, "Fuck you, asshole?"
MR (sp?)

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Volunteers Needed

Dear Dr M,
Like a sincere, "Fuck you, asshole?"
MR (sp?)

That'd work for old Rumple. A fine example of pithy, to the point, prose-and it's sincere. What else could the recipient want?

RE (sp?)

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Volunteers Needed

Dear Dr M,
Like a sincere, "Fuck you, asshole?"
MR (sp?)

I think you can't really critique a story without author responses. How can you tell if he accomplished what he set out to do if you don't know what it was he was trying to do? Maybe he wanted his narrator to come across like the kind of oaf who notices a woman's cup size.

If you think someone's being excessively critical, tell them. If you think someone's picking nits or criticising you personally, or using your stuff to show off with, tell them. If you disagree with a comment, defend yourself. If you want to resort to name calling, well, that's up to you. But if you're going to take legitimate criticism of a story as a personal insult, then maybe you shouldn't submit for criticism

I don't know if you're talking about me or not. I'm a harsh critic, but I don't really remember if I ever critiqued a story of yours, and if I did I doubt that I was intentionally mean. I've had stories critiqued and some of the comments were helpful and some I disagreed with and said so. I think it helps a lot to hear what the author thinks of the criticisms.

---dr.M.

 

[ffreak]

Cookie, I love your new AV - it balances Gauche's new AV which is way scary (OK, so I'm talking way too much to my 14yo niece).

MathGirl - I love your stories - 'specially Emergency and your how-to - anyone dissing your writing style is just illiterate.

-FF (wading in slowly to see if the toe really get's wet, or just the head)

 

[cookiejar]

Sniff, sniff . . . beginner, maybe . . . sniff, sniff . . . but definitely not “rank!”


I’ve tried to do the critique thing, RF, really I have, but I've a malicious impediment in my gravity centre.

And therefor, I'm no fit critic, nor subject, either.

Sheesh Quasi...I live in the mountains. Don't you like my "Woodsman's Fly Dope?" Ahhh the joys of country living.


Thanks for the compliment ff...I like her too and I'm steering away from Gauche's av too...

 

[MathGirl]

Originally posted by ffreak MathGirl - I love your stories - 'specially Emergency and your how-to - anyone dissing your writing style is just illiterate.

Dear f(sp?),
Thank you, but it's more likely that anyone who READS my stories is illiterate. That's sort of a contradiction in terms, though, isn't it?
MG

 

[ffreak]

MG: wha you say?

-FF (geeze, and I this site would increase my literacy - well 1 out of 2 ain't all that bad, it is racy)