What Criteria Do You Use?

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

What criteria do you use to score a LIT story?

I recently read a dozen stories, written by one author, and all of them are awful.

My criteria is pretty simple: Does the writing grab me? Is the description abstract when it should be concrete? Does the writer know where to use passive/active voice? Is each paragraph like a stumble stone that leads somewhere; are the paragraphs tangential or connect loosely? Is a paragraph cohesive and coherent and contain a point? Etc.

How do YOU score a story?

 

[Handley_Page]

I have to admit to being a bit of a bif (dunce), but :

If I liked the story, if it hung together, had a beginning, middle and end (or a particular point), I'll give it at least 4.

If it would be less than 3, I don't submit a score (because I don't consider myself to be that much of an expert as to be a judge).

 

[JamesSD]

If I loved it, I give a 5.

If I thought it was just ok, or well executed but not quite what I look for, I generally don't vote. This is the akward range where they don't really "deserve" a 5, but I'm not willing to hit them with a 4.

Something I like in concept more than execution gets a 4. 4s are for mediocrity.

Stuff that is extremely poorly written or just bad gets between a 1-3. I give more 2s and 3s than straight 1s. I like to save 1s for stories that are wrong in every way.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Easy question. I always start with 10
1) Does that writer know how to spell? If NO -1
2) Is there actually a plot? If NO -1
3) Were the characters well enough developed that I could emphathize with them? If NO -1
4) Was the imagry clear and appropriate tot he story? If NO -1
5) Did the main character learn anything or improve from the journey? if NO -1
6) Did the story have a logical movement from beginning to end? If NO -1

Then I divide by 2 and that's what they get.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Easy question. I always start with 10
1) Does that writer know how to spell? If NO -1
2) Is there actually a plot? If NO -1
3) Were the characters well enough developed that I could emphathize with them? If NO -1
4) Was the imagry clear and appropriate tot he story? If NO -1
5) Did the main character learn anything or improve from the journey? if NO -1
6) Did the story have a logical movement from beginning to end? If NO -1

Then I divide by 2 and that's what they get.

This is good. Feedback is much more valuable than plastic strokes, if you want to improve your skills.

 

[Elianna]

I have a hard time scoring people. I like to write, but I'm not well-versed in what is "supposed" to make a good story. I just know what I like. That being said JJ's list is good. I try to follow those rules as I write, so I assume that's what I look for when I read.

There is also something to the "tone" of the writing that I find appealing. I've read some writing that was very beautiful, but I ended up back-clicking because it was ...flat. I don't know how to describe that better. It's not description because I've stumbled through LONG descriptive Sci-fi, but its the color or flavor. That might just be personal preference.

 

[Bianca_Sommerland]

Story has to be interesting or I don't bother rating. If I can't get through a story I say nothing and don't vote. If it's awesome I vote high and praise. If it's good but could be better I give a four and a comment that is constructive but not demeaning. I'm not perfect. I don't expect anyone else to be. But if I see they could have done better, but are lacking due to effort or experience, I say so.

 

[TE999]

If I'm not 'hooked' by the first two paragraphs or so, that's it. Stories are like music, they can be soothing, exciting or jarring. I don't like jarring. Long paragraphs, run on sentences, lame dialogue and misspellings are an immediate turn-off.

I never score below a 4. If I see promise or something I like or thought was clever, I'll leave a PM of encouragement or some constructive comment.

 

[jomar]

Easy question. I always start with 10
1) Does that writer know how to spell? If NO -1
2) Is there actually a plot? If NO -1
3) Were the characters well enough developed that I could emphathize with them? If NO -1
4) Was the imagry clear and appropriate tot he story? If NO -1
5) Did the main character learn anything or improve from the journey? if NO -1
6) Did the story have a logical movement from beginning to end? If NO -1

Then I divide by 2 and that's what they get.

Part of JBJ's criteria is does the writing grab him. That's part of my criteria too - is the writer's style appealing. And that's not necessarily fair since I might like offbeat styles, purple prose or a stark style. I like your criteria because it seems to take the style out of the assessment.

Although I make adjustments for #'s 2, 3 and 5 for strokers.

 

[sr71plt]

If I read a story by anyone who posts to AH, I give them an automatic 5 and run and tell them I have.

(If you haven't heard from me, it's because I almost never read a story at Lit.)

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I really try to divorce myself from the idea of "I like" and "I dislike". If I read a story I stick with my method because it tends to be emotionally neutral. I read lots of stories I don't like, but the vote has nothing to do with it as far as I am able.

 

[DeeZire]

I have a short attention span.

What was the topic of this thread?

Oh, that's right... If I make it to the end of a story, I either give it a 5 or I don't vote. I find pure stroke stories to be tedious and predictable, and I usually bail after the first couple of paragraphs, regardless of how good the writing is. However, if there's a humorous element, or it's a political satire, or the characters are so off the wall I'm caught up like a person watching a car wreck, I'll stick with it. I guess my approach is all about the emotional connection, with no thought at all about the academic aspect.

I'm just curious, JBJ, why would you read 12 stories by the same author if they all sucked? Are you serving some kind of penance at the moment?

 

[sr71plt]

II'm just curious, JBJ, why would you read 12 stories by the same author if they all sucked? Are you serving some kind of penance at the moment?

He likes to tell us every month or so that our stories suck more than the ones he pretends he writes.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I'm just curious, JBJ, why would you read 12 stories by the same author if they all sucked? Are you serving some kind of penance at the moment?

The 1st story sucked so I went to the 2nd one, and so forth. I figure 12 crappy stories is more than a fluke or anomaly.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Except I've never told SR71PLT his stories suck or scored him lower than 5. More bullshit, huh?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I really try to divorce myself from the idea of "I like" and "I dislike". If I read a story I stick with my method because it tends to be emotionally neutral. I read lots of stories I don't like, but the vote has nothing to do with it as far as I am able.

I agree. The specific themes of specific genres do nothing for me, but so what! I ought to be able to judge a dog contest without swooning over every breed of mutt.
The 'like' 'dislike' spectrum is all about me, not the story.

 

[sr71plt]

Except I've never told SR71PLT his stories suck or scored him lower than 5. More bullshit, huh?

I took this to mean that JBJ had posted a story to Lit. at long last--and I rushed to the file. But, alas, it isn't so. We're still stuck on pretence in that regard.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I took this to mean that JBJ had posted a story to Lit. at long last--and I rushed to the file. But, alas, it isn't so. We're still stuck on pretence in that regard.

In your case forever.

 

[oggbashan]

I rarely vote and leave feedback even less often.

If I don't like the story I don't vote. It might be that it doesn't strike a chord even though it might be well-written and well-constructed.

If the story is badly written and the spelling is poor (unless that was deliberate such as DurtGurl) I'll back-click. I can read US and British English without worrying about the differences.

If the story, even badly written, is an effective story I'll read to the end. I might send a PM to the author saying why I liked it but that editing could help make it better.

I prefer stories to submissions that are just sex scenarios. I dislike second person narratives although a few, very few, can be effective. I have no preference for first or third person narration.

I won't vote, nor send a PM, nor leave feedback nor a PC if the author's failings are so obvious that advice would be wasted.

Ever since I had to deconstruct poetry and classic literature in my final years at school I have found it difficult to examine WHY a piece of writing works for me. Deconstruction, or detailed analysis, seem to destroy the magic of that story/poem forever.

If I do vote, I'll vote on the excellence or otherwise of the story. I won't vote on the personality of the author, nor whether I liked other stories by that author, but only on the work I've just read. I know that I can write bad stories and some better ones. I would prefer each of my stories to be judged as a stand-alone piece. I try to do that for other authors' stories.

Og

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

OG

If I posted stories I might score stories, too; but I'm so radioactive plenty of folks would zap me because they dont like me. So I'm not going to invite the abuse. If a story is excellent I'll score it '5,' but I dont score any story thats less than 5 quality.

 

[sr71plt]

OG

If I posted stories I might score stories, too; but I'm so radioactive plenty of folks would zap me because they dont like me. So I'm not going to invite the abuse. If a story is excellent I'll score it '5,' but I dont score any story thats less than 5 quality.

My stories here get zapped down for that same reason. I just laugh because they are already out there making money elsewhere.

You come up with all sorts of reasons why you don't post stories here. I'll go with the "I don't have any" excuse. It seems the most authentic.

 

[jomar]

OG

If I posted stories I might score stories, too; but I'm so radioactive plenty of folks would zap me because they dont like me. ...

My stories here get zapped down for that same reason. I just laugh because they are already out there making money elsewhere.

...

I find that very sad. I think I'd lose all respect for someone if I knew they did so, especially a writer.

 

[oggbashan]

I find that very sad. I think I'd lose all respect for someone if I knew they did so, especially a writer.

But people do that to published authors too.

Jeffrey Archer (Lord Archer) was a very popular and successful author before he was convicted and sent to jail. His stories are still good but his sales have dropped significantly. Some of the criticism of recent and past novels has concentrated more on his conviction than the stories.

Some classic authors were absolute shits in real life. That doesn't make their work any less wonderful but some people think it does.

Og

 

[jomar]

But people do that to published authors too.

Jeffrey Archer (Lord Archer) was a very popular and successful author before he was convicted and sent to jail. His stories are still good but his sales have dropped significantly. Some of the criticism of recent and past novels has concentrated more on his conviction than the stories.

Some classic authors were absolute shits in real life. That doesn't make their work any less wonderful but some people think it does.

Og

I know. And I get that some people can't separate assholiness from writing. The person from the product.

But an author one-bombing another author's stories here just because they don't like them is petty, immature and no better than the voting trolls we complain about.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

My stories here get zapped down for that same reason. I just laugh because they are already out there making money elsewhere.

You come up with all sorts of reasons why you don't post stories here. I'll go with the "I don't have any" excuse. It seems the most authentic.

And there are people here who know the facts. So rave on!