About short story sharing

[glenn84]

The whole purpose of this forum is to read a story someone worked really hard to write, and then give your two cents. If you liked a story, or if you didn't like it, please let the author know. A few words can really go a long way.

[Jack of Hearts]

So that's how it works!





J



EDIT: The fun thing about deafening silence is most times you can get it to mean whatever you want it to.

[glenn84]

Amazing isn't it! I've posted 4 stories on here and have yet to get a yay or nay on any of them. Most of my friends and family don't do much reading so I thought this would be the perfect place for someone in my situation to get feedback on their work. But it doesn't seem to work that way.

[Calidore]

Amazing isn't it! I've posted 4 stories on here and have yet to get a yay or nay on any of them. Most of my friends and family don't do much reading so I thought this would be the perfect place for someone in my situation to get feedback on their work. But it doesn't seem to work that way.

Sometimes it's pot luck. Never hurts to mention again that you're looking for feedback, as you did above. I looked back and vaguely remember the first one, but I'll have a go at all of them tomorrow (it's midnight now and I'm too tired to read properly).

I did notice that your last three stories all begin with someone waking up, which will stop a lot of readers in their tracks right there.

[glenn84]

Thanks for the reply! That alone helped me out. Now I'll get to writing a new beginning...or just take it out completely.

[Jack of Hearts]

Most of Jack of Hearts' short story archive (and it's a vast one) has one sole commentator- hillwalker, the dearly departed, may he rest in piece. Potluck is right, but our heavyweight and resident champion is vanquished.






J

[glenn84]

It's hard to find a short story critique forum as busy as this one. I've noticed lots of people coming by but they never stop in and say hello. I figure it's because I'm just new. :frown5:

[Calidore]

Most of Jack of Hearts' short story archive (and it's a vast one) has one sole commentator- hillwalker, the dearly departed, may he rest in piece. Potluck is right, but our heavyweight and resident champion is vanquished.


Not vanquished, really--he just left in a snit when one of our more abrasive members was abrasive to him. He's done that before and returned, so hopefully he'll be back again. His dedication to helping new writers with detailed critiques was indeed invaluable.

[cafolini]

Not vanquished, really--he just left in a snit when one of our more abrasive members was abrasive to him. He's done that before and returned, so hopefully he'll be back again. His dedication to helping new writers with detailed critiques was indeed invaluable.

Indeed invaluable.

[AuntShecky]

Most of Jack of Hearts' short story archive (and it's a vast one) has one sole commentator- hillwalker, the dearly departed, may he rest in piece. Potluck is right, but our heavyweight and resident champion is vanquished.
J

What about yours fooly? What is she, chopped liver?

Seriously, dear Jack, perhaps the reason some of your particular works do not engender much written response is that they do not need any! To this self-styled critic, one who only has a limited amount of time to work on responses-- time perhaps --perhaps!-- better spent on my own "stuff," it's probably more productive to devote this time to beginning writers who most definitely could use a little advice. (This is also the explanation Hillwalker gave to me when I once asked him why he devotes so much time and energy to some LitNutters and not others. I think you know whom I mean by "others.")

To the original poster, you'll find that if you are willing to read and weigh in on the contributions of other LitNutters, they will generally return the "favor." Reciprocity is the key.

As far as yours fooly knows, unlike other Brand X sites, there is no LitNet rule mandating that members post a minimum number of critiques in order to post one's own original work. There is a rule that when you post your own work, it is understood that you might receive criticism which may not be to your liking. That's the chance all of us take. Even so, the rewards in what you may learn from all of this is considerable.

Finally, please take a gander at this one-size-fits-all thread (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?41000-You-Know-I-ll-Stop-Reading-Your-Short-Story-When&highlight=You%27ll+know+I%27ll+Stop+Reading)and see if any of it applies to your posts.

Whatever the case, yours fooly will do a quick check and evaluate whatever works come up. Remember, you asked for it!

[Jack of Hearts]

No, Auntie, you are in fact not chopped liver. Yet another patron saint of the forum. Just wanted to illustrate the point that sometimes you can hear an echo around here, and that you may never know the reason why. As for glen84, hopefully his work gets some of the treatment he seeks for it. Maybe ol'Jack will read one as soon as he gets his head on straight.







J