Wouldn't you rather have a nice cup of tea?
I'm interested in what kinds of feedback authors are open to receiving on their stories. It seems like a lot of the comments on most stories are generally really positive, and most stories have an average score between 4.5 and 5 (Let's be honest though, a lot of stories don't deserve to be called 'the best'). Personally, as a reader, I'm more likely to adhere to the old 'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all,' unless I'm specifically asked for my opinion, in which case my feedback is generally blunt but hopefully constructive or helpful. But as writers, I think it's some times important to know where we might improve. Of course, we don't always like to hear those kinds of comments, and they can sometimes be discouraging for writers who are less sure of themselves.
So what kind of feedback are you honestly open to?
a) Just tell me my story was great. It will help build my confidence.
b) Give me your honest opinion
c) Give me your honest opinion that my story was great
d) I want constructive feedback to help me grow as writer. Let me know what I'm doing right and wrong.
e) I'm open to anything
f) I hate feedback... no forget it, I'm taking my story down so no one will ever see it.
g) I don't know, something else... I'm not sure why this is multiple choice anyway.
Don't believe everything that you read.
I'm not going to say anything in public comments that's negative. No matter what you think of the end result, it's brave to create something and put it out there for scrutiny. People who are new to the process of sharing their work may not have grown the necessary skin to take criticism and I refuse to be the reason why they put their computer down and stop writing. If I can't find something positive to say, I won't comment.
If someone asks me for constructive criticism, I may give it privately. If they react badly to it, I won't do it twice.
As for people commenting on my stories, of course I love to hear that people enjoyed them. I've gotten several sweet, private messages pointing out problems in my stories that were fair and true. What I don't like--especially when I see it done to other writers--is a mean-spirited and generally unhelpful critical comment designed to make the commenter look pithy and with no intention of helping the writer at all.
I'm cool with honest opinions and constructive criticism and don't mind getting some now and then (and have received some, more through PM than in comments, though). In the end, though, I'm happy to get comments and scores of any kind because it means someone has enough interest in my stories to take the time to score/comment.
I never criticize or tell what's wrong with a story/poem in the public feed. I do that privately. Not all people respond the same or well to public remarks. But a well constructed and helpful message in private to someone usually works nicely. Never mean spirited, as that just announces to the world that the commenter is an egotistical selfish jerk and asshole.
Wouldn't you rather have a nice cup of tea?
I agree. Anyone who wants to publicly humiliate another author by harshly criticizing their work is an asshole.
In my case, I was asked by the author for my thoughts. I don't know the author that well, but I do have some experience and training in creative writing and literature. So if I give feedback, I know what I'm talking about - not that I'm a professional author or anything like that, but I'm pretty confident in my competence as a writer.
There were a lot of things the author could have improved about the story. I didn't comment publicly on the story, because as I said... asshole... But I did write them a private message. I struggled with what to say. They wanted my opinion, but I wasn't sure how much 'truth' they really wanted. The story wasn't good (not that it was the worst thing I've ever read, either - it was okay). In the end I was honest about what I thought of the story (pointing out the good and not-so-good), and suggested ways to improve it. Still, I was uncertain how the feedback would be taken, which is what prompted this thread.
To give an update: The author did get back to me and thanked me for the feedback and asked me to look at a couple of their other stories. So I guess it wasn't too bad.
Don't believe everything that you read.
More and more I lean towards trying my best, if I choose to comment on a story, to say only good things, and save any deeper criticism for PMs, and then only if the author has asked for it, or it's someone I know quite well and who I know wants such feedback. I haven't always done it that way, and there are probably some comments I'd regret (and edit) if I could find them or remember them now.
On my end, I don't mind criticism if offered politely and in a friendly, supportive way. There are ways to get feedback across, especially if the point of the criticism isn't to pad the commenter's ego and show off how acute they think their insights are (as opposed to being actually helpful to the author).
And of course there is always criticism by omission. "Wow, the lead female character certainly is impulsive, isn't she?"
There is always something good in a story - I find what works and point it out. It is constructive in that it tells them what I think their strengths are. I always 5, though I agree many aren't.
That said, personally I am pretty thick skinned, and I don't mind criticism or low scores. Very recently, writing the Shards, I got low scores and a specific reason why: they were vignettes, not stories. Which led me to add the explanatory note at the end (and the Shard # to every title). So their criticism was legit, and made my stories better.
Un-classy nudes in my inbox will do.
I'd rather get honest feedback whether positive or negative. I appreciate the generous scores and comments but I don't think anything I've written so far is particularly noteworthy. Ideally any negative feedback includes something constructive. If someone wants to trash my story that's cool; tastes vary.
Conversely, I do agree a PM is the best route for most. I personally feel no need to bash anyone in public. I usually won't score on a story that I feel is poor and in my experience suggesting anyone's work is less than perfect is often met with alarming rage.
I often privately write scathing comments/reviews of my work to myself. I find the feedback helpful. E.g. "LYFBUZ, your work is sophomoric dreck, completely lacking in originality. My advice is to restrict your work to bathroom walls or erasable whiteboards. Please buy a thesaurus or better yet just stop. Please, I beg you, STOP!"
Maybe I should give up my writing aspirations and become a motivational speaker....
Finally an honest critic....but this Trinket thing...
