Story forum - RIP?

[suikoden]

I love seeing my view count clock up too, but it's not as personal as someone just posting a 'hey, I really liked your story.' That can make all the difference for some writers I think.

THIS!

 

[Phineas]

In response to that sentiment, Phineas, editing is difficult work. It's one of those things where no matter how many times you go over something it'll never be perfect. Anyway, yeah, missing things happens. Editing is rough.

I should probably note that I was referring more to the comics than the written work - stuff that has such little dialogue to begin with that any errors are even more glaring. If you have a small novella, then yes, something may slip by... but even then, I can forgive a few missed commas. I can't forgive full-on Engrish that should beat any native speaker over the head with how utterly malformed it is, especially when it's the only word on the page.

Still, this is my feedback; write more betterer. That's what this thread is about, right? How we don't give enough feedback? I grant you that most people don't buy comics for the text, but I read Playboy for the articles, as it were.

Here's another thing I just thought of; what if the critique you have is for a long-running series that has been doing the same thing "wrong" in your opinion, since day one? Is it really worth it to drop in on something you only just recently discovered and start poking at it? For example, I love (friggin love) the Low Roads series. It's the tickling comic all other tickling comics should want to be when they grow up, IMHO. But there are two things I don't like about it at all, and yet I didn't stumble across it until somewhere around installment #16. I went back and archive-binged the entire series, and the stuff I didn't like was present in the entire run. I honestly don't see a point in telling someone what I feel they're doing "wrong" at that point, especially since at least one of them is entirely subjective. It's really best to just keep it to yourself, at that point. Unless you're asked directly to state it, that is.

 

[suikoden]

I think as long as you stick to 'the decorum of constructive criticism' then you're golden. After all, any comment you make about this series is coming off the back of the fact that you love it so the creator is more likely to consider what you say than if you just rocked up and said - you suck!

 

[prof]

I will write on my blog, because it can be restricted to forum members.

 

[WriterOfSin]

I will write on my blog, because it can be restricted to forum members.

Which cuts down your potential reader base, since A, you're not letting non-members see your work (If they like it they may register just to comment!) and B, how many people go to blogs to read stories rather than the clearly labelled stories forum?

 

[tygoneagain15]

So the Stories forum is dying or dead? I think not...

I look at that forum as a library where fun reading can take place. By fun reading, I mean that you do not have to write a report on what you read that get's graded. As a college student, very little of my reading is done for leisure, and most of my leisure reading is done here. For my part, I go and read the stories that are present, and if someone is asking for criticism, and if I have any to offer that hasn't been offered already, then I post criticism.

I would think that the number of views each story gets is a testament to the popularity of that forum. I don't believe non-member views are counted either, so think about the numbers that aren't reported.

As an author and composer of music, I am well used to people enjoying my work without getting a response from them. I think it is a good sign that they are enjoying it if there are no flame posts present. Also, as such, I believe that if you take from something, you should give back, at least in part. Don't just read there, write there.