What do you do when your story bombs?

[SpicyPepper]

What is your reaction when you write what you feel is a great piece and then when you read the posted comments you realize it's no where near as good as you thought it was?

 

[Guest]

What is your reaction when you write what you feel is a great piece and then when you read the posted comments you realize it's no where near as good as you thought it was?

You take the constructive comments to heart.

It's difficult, but it's the only way to learn and improve. Ignore the trolls.

Then toss up your story in the Story Feedback Forum.

Ask friends to help edit.

Rewrite. Edit. Rewrite.

Let it sit on the shelf for a week.

Rewrite. Edit. Rewrite.

Ask different friends to read.

Rewrite. Edit. Rewrite.

Submit edited version.

 

[Guest]

But don't stop writing.

 

[rgraham666]

Sadness, a little anger, then I shrug and move on.

Also, please be aware that there are people on Lit we call 'trolls'. You could be the reincarnation of Shakespeare and these people will give you bad votes and nasty comments.

Don't take them seriously.

Edited to add: I checked the comments and the first two comments are trolls. I'll read the story now and leave my own comment.

 

[Carnevil9]

I just figure, pearls before swine.

 

[CeriseNoire]

I pout for a bit. Then, I take what's constructive (if there is anything) and apply it to my next piece. I don't bother rewriting the same one unless I'm really attached to the story; I prefer to move on.

 

[_Lynn_]

I pout for a bit. Then, I take what's constructive (if there is anything) and apply it to my next piece. I don't bother rewriting the same one unless I'm really attached to the story; I prefer to move on.

Ditto for me.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Its the nature of people to attack everything. Grow thicker skin and slap them silly.

 

[oggbashan]

Write another ten stories.

Og

 

[MzSweetCandy]

comments are comments bad and good ones are both good just to see what mistakes u did what u could improve on and that never give up peace mwah xxxx

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I run a round in circles and scream bloody murder...then the meds kick in and I calmly create little voodoo dolls and poke them with pins.

Seriously, some people don't know good from bad, they just know they didn't, couldn't write it so they hate it and call you names and such.

Take it too heart, trolls are with us and will be with us for ever.

I'm rambling here...

 

[DeeZire]

In the real world of person-to-person interaction, local writer's groups are formed. They meet and discuss each other's work. In that setting, it's easy to judge the validity of the criticism, because you know how their personal tastes vary. One person might really like long wordy exposition, another might prefer dialogue and action.

Around here, you don't know the bias of the critiquer, so you don't know whether or not it's worth considering. If you get a dozen comments all saying basically the same thing, chances are you should pay attention to them. But if the comments are all over the map, you can choose the ones that fit your vision, and ignore the rest.

The story feedback forum would be more like the local writer's group, because, at least you're dealing with people who are interested in the craft of writing, rather than just interested in bashing.