Negative Feedback Trauma Center

[hmmnmm]

You would dangle such a tempting topic on the day I have decided to seriously curb mental presence in Lit forums. My two, and only bad habits: Lit and cigs. If I could quit those two, nothing would hold any power over me. Nothing.

Others have brought up this about motivation. But I can't start now or I'll never get anything done today. For now though, I don't think I could honestly say it's a driving need. If there is a need it lies elsewhere - to play and dig in fields and along river banks and in woods and any and all sorts of landscapes and textures and colors and sensations, ideas, fantasies, etc... written words are simply one means to try and translate or poorly recreate, and I'm not arrogant enough to assume I will interest anyone else in what I find interesting, but neither am I selfish enough that I wouldn't gladly share or practically give away to someone who might be interested. Because those fields and woods stretch out so far and vast there's no way I'll get to all of it. Of course that's just a skim. But I really have to do things other than Lit. really must.

I love thinking about this stuff though...

 

[hmmnmm]

To add this and then this is it for the day, honest: if I find that I've ended up on a nasty tangent of doubt and worry and all the rest, the root cause is almost always because I allowed hopes and expectations to rise too high, which reality always comes up far short of those. It's the expenditure of time in pursuits that are empty when that time could be spent in the fields, digging in the dirt, walking the river banks, floating on clouds, diving into ice floes, allowing myself to transform into what I cannot do or be, crawl over question marks, and so on... Now, if I could know that the two or three who have ever shown much interest in what I attempt to bring back, are the only two or three that will ever be interested, and I would know to meet up with them, say, once a month and they could pick out what they liked and we'd hang out for a few days and then we'd return to our respective worlds... That'd be pretty sweet. I think I almost have that here. Almost. I know there's two who have read some of my stuff and enjoyed it. Heck, that's plenty for me.

Okay, gotta git...

 

[AchtungNight]

Some anonymous troll gave my first non-fanfic story a one and called me a wannabe writer. I've been writing all my life and my other stories have high ratings. That hardly makes me a wannabe IMHO. Of course, fanfiction isn't as popular and the votes disappear. Some of these stories had "5" ratings, now they got nada. Grrr. It's a disturbing trade-off. Maybe I'll just stick to fanfic. We'll see.

 

[hmmnmm]

I think the most important thing is to have as much fun as you possibly can in what you most enjoy. If anything or anyone succeeds in crippling the enjoyment then they need to be dealt with so you can get back to having fun doing what you enjoy. Really, I was just thinking of this: in the list of an average day's priorities I can't think of anything that should receive the lowest than whatever number a whoever someone out there deems to give out. In fact, I've lately experimented with leaving the voting off. The reason for the voting is mainly for the contests. The monthly contests and the special contests. So if you're not really interested in the contest aspects and more interested in experimenting with all sorts of elements... really, the numbers are just a little flashing button that you can get used to and easily forget that you can just turn it off. Sometimes I flip a coin. For each story. This one comes up heads, turn the voting on today. This other one is tails, leave it off. Kinda mixes it up and really removes what is really a phantom power, so the pure enjoyment of the doing returns to its rightful prominence. Okay, back to the waters.

 

[Domwoolf]

heads or tails

Sounds like a good title for a porn story? I like it.
Dom Woolf

I think the most important thing is to have as much fun as you possibly can in what you most enjoy. If anything or anyone succeeds in crippling the enjoyment then they need to be dealt with so you can get back to having fun doing what you enjoy. Really, I was just thinking of this: in the list of an average day's priorities I can't think of anything that should receive the lowest than whatever number a whoever someone out there deems to give out. In fact, I've lately experimented with leaving the voting off. The reason for the voting is mainly for the contests. The monthly contests and the special contests. So if you're not really interested in the contest aspects and more interested in experimenting with all sorts of elements... really, the numbers are just a little flashing button that you can get used to and easily forget that you can just turn it off. Sometimes I flip a coin. For each story. This one comes up heads, turn the voting on today. This other one is tails, leave it off. Kinda mixes it up and really removes what is really a phantom power, so the pure enjoyment of the doing returns to its rightful prominence. Okay, back to the waters.

 

[hmmnmm]

Sounds like a good title for a porn story? I like it.
Dom Woolf

As I was saying...

Looks like it's got your name on it.

Have at it. Look forward to the results if you do something with it.

 

[AchtungNight]

Thanks for your advice, Hmm. I shall continue meditating.

 

[hmmnmm]

Careful Achtung. Some of my biggest regrets were because of following someone else's advice, being I'm a nice guy and somewhat impressionable. So certainly meditate and find the way that is best for you.

But I remembered something that I'm pretty sure I mentioned it somewhere else, maybe even this thread back in the summer? but I don't feel like looking, so pardon the redundancy.

I was completely ignorant and virginal about the sometimes vicious tone the feedback can take when I first joined and first submitted something, which got royally reamed and slammed and crucified. I pretty much freaked. You know, sensitive and all... Had it deleted asap. Completely embarrassed. The second one did a little better but not much better. Very discouraging. Got embarrassed. Took that one down.

I forget when it was... sometime in 2007 I think... I just was messing around and found those old things. Just for grins resubmitted them. Might've touched them up a little bit. But not much; mostly put them back as they originally appeared. Well, the first feedback on that resubmitted first one was completely opposite from the first time it appeared. Wanting more, to know more, to read more. The other one actually enjoyed one of those red H's, for quite awhile.

That's when I learned that though the good numbers can give you those warm fuzzies and the bad numbers can bum you out, they really really really may or may not mean what they indicate at any particular time.

And I'd say what's worse than the low numbers (because at least it gives room to grow) is when you actually have one of them little red H's, which for some of us haven't come so easy, and then out of nowhere along comes a sweep that plucks out maybe one vote that made that little red H exist. And then poof! it's gone. For no explainable reason. I found that more disheartening than a maliciously cast 1.

 

[AchtungNight]

I know exactly what you mean. The votes that vanish from my stories always seem to be 5s. The exact situation you're describing happened with my Metal Gear Solid tale. This is why I prefer feedback to votes. I wish more people would send it. Oh well, at least my photographic memory retains the votes that exist.

 

[hmmnmm]

I know exactly what you mean. The votes that vanish from my stories always seem to be 5s. The exact situation you're describing happened with my Metal Gear Solid tale. This is why I prefer feedback to votes. I wish more people would send it. Oh well, at least my photographic memory retains the votes that exist.

You were there. You know it. No one can take that away.

Got a good kick out of your Conan interview... A South Park fan. Me too. It's one of the very few contemporary television offerings I like. And I like it a lot.


I also have another anecdote. Not such an old one. It happened yesterday.

Went down to the local store for a pack of bad habits. They have a few paperbacks for sale. I don't often find myself interested enough in them to buy them. But on a whim I decided to take a peek. Picked out one that claimed it had been #1 bestseller. (You know, many advise writers and would-be writers to read a lot, which is probably true in most cases. Sure.) So I'm preparing myself for #1 Bestseller work. Opening paragraph. Opening sentences. My reaction was... well I don't know how to say it. I mean that's no small feat to get to #1 bestseller. I couldn't write that way. Just couldn't. I'm sure I could study it. Could learn a few things. But... then I came back and looked at the latest thing I'm working on. Nope. Doesn't have a chance. If I submitted it to Lit it would tank. Tank big. Bomb. Flop. The problem is I like it. Like it a lot. So that's the choice apparently: study the popular and maybe it'll help gain more readership, or stick with the way you(I) like to do it best, and chase away... well, just about everybody. Hey that's not a bad idea. Hmmm.

 

[AchtungNight]

Glad you enjoyed the interview. This fanfic is one I've had in the oven for a while. I hope you'll like it when it's released.

Another good point on bestsellers. It's usually best to follow your heart.

 

[mzzqt]

Feedback

I've only written a couple of stories, and received excellent feedback. The part that I am having trouble with, is continuing a story to the next level (or chapter). I am finding that I prefer to just write one story, and move on to the next. Anyone else prefer to write like this?

 

[hmmnmm]

Is it somewhat traumatizing to you when you struggle with the continuance of a tale?

The trauma for me as far as continuing/finishing tends to go thus: 1) get an idea. 2) play with it (yes that and the idea) 3) a rough beginning takes shape. 4) throw it out for a test run. 5) if there appears to be even a slim glimmer of interest, then go back to work working on it, look at redoing what's already done, adding to; I'll determine in my feeble mind to stick with this one and only this one, focus focus focus, discipline, get into it, get deep, until it reaches a point that can be called The End. But there's always unexpected new ways to say or move or direct maybe one little part that's already been put out, so then it's like, hard to go further until the other is fixed. 6) A completely new story idea pops up. Repeat the cycle. And none become finished. Then end up with a mess. Delete them. Start over. I think this is an incurable and hopeless condition.

I admire those who can whip out complete tales within short spaces. Really do.

 

[EveAnna]

I've only written 4 stories but I got some good feedback on them - although I was told that my first two stories are 'stroke' stories - not sure if I was supposed to take that as a compliment or not LOL - but the result was that I tried to flesh out my other next two stories and came across a huge writers block.

I love reading the feedback though and have realised that I'm probably a short-story gal and not a chapter after chapter one.

 

[hmmnmm]

I've only written 4 stories but I got some good feedback on them - although I was told that my first two stories are 'stroke' stories - not sure if I was supposed to take that as a compliment or not LOL - but the result was that I tried to flesh out my other next two stories and came across a huge writers block.

I love reading the feedback though and have realised that I'm probably a short-story gal and not a chapter after chapter one.

Then I probably admire you.

 

[hmmnmm]

Slight Correction: a short complete stroker seems to come easier if I go with 1st person. Easier to stick to 'this is what happened and what I felt' and now that I think about it more than one feedback indicated they thought I was telling a true story. Even when I wrote as a woman. But there's always at least one loose end that wants to lead to more.

But 3rd person? Forget it. Want to look at eeeeeverything; check out eeeeevery tangent; get completely and very happily lost. Unfortunately I prefer 3rd because I love to wander down the road of life and take plenty of breaks to just sit and not do much, and I'll guess some of that ends up in the prose, which pisses most people off apparently.

Actually I like to ramble in 1st person too. And sit around doing not much. Which probably ends up in the prose too, just less than it does in 3rd person. Which would understandably put off a lot of people, which I know it does. Add in the element of the internet, where most people want to get from point to point in the most direct route possible... so really everything makes clear sense. Gonna end up with three or four out of a million who actually will read it and if half of those are glad they did and one of them comes forward and says so... that's probably doing pretty good. They're probably people who have plenty of spare time on their hands. , and other things...

 

[hmmnmm]

Again, as I said elsewhere (sort of), between this thread and the Fireside Threadcast thread, it's been heaps of help to sort of think out loud about all this, and if someone gets something out of it, all the better.

But a summation just came, which I think would go something like this:

I think the moment you start to take yourself too seriously, you're fucked. Sometimes you might not be aware that you are taking yourself too seriously. Kinda sneaks up on you, or you walk through the rooms or brush shoulders and it rubs off and gets in your system. It grows and begins to drive you. It eventually comes out in the words you write. It isn't yours. It might look like yours. Maybe the nose. But look closer and see the eyes more resemble the Taking Yourself Too Seriously parent. Realize it's been fucking you all this time. It never really felt that good but you started to get used to it. It's a smooth talker. But now you got all these babies crawling around and they're screeching off-key, and leaving the stench of Taking Yourself Too Seriously piss all over the place. The only way to solve it is to tell it No and to take its hideous brats with it. And then it's a brand new day.

Hm. This could be essay material.

Could be.

 

[Domwoolf]

continuance

I find many of my stories start out as a single idea, then somewhere along the way the damn thing gets a life of it's own and the story just goes and goes. My problem has been trying to find an ending that wraps up the whole damn thing with all the t's crossed and the I's dotted.

Dom Woolf

Is it somewhat traumatizing to you when you struggle with the continuance of a tale?
I admire those who can whip out complete tales within short spaces. Really do.

 

[mzzqt]

Haha! Gotta love those stroke stories!

I've only written 4 stories but I got some good feedback on them - although I was told that my first two stories are 'stroke' stories - not sure if I was supposed to take that as a compliment or not LOL - but the result was that I tried to flesh out my other next two stories and came across a huge writers block.

I love reading the feedback though and have realised that I'm probably a short-story gal and not a chapter after chapter one.

I would have to say that my 2 approved submissions are definitely stroke stories! I went ahead and bit the bullet and popped out another chapter of the one that seems most in demand, and now realize that it was so long, I cropped it, and am working on the 3rd and final chapter to bring it to completion. Then I shall move on to the next story.

Thank you so much for your imput, I appreciate it.

Mzzie

 

[hmmnmm]

Stroke what you can when you as much as you can.

I'd like to announce that I finally found The Room and in this room there is no shred of doubt, anywhere.

So I think I shall no longer need this Negative Feedback Trauma Center. I open it to whoever needs it, and may future caretakers be swell and cool.

It's a great day.

 

[Britease]

Feedback fantastic

I get loads of feedback, but some love my work and some want to find me and murder me. They're all welcome(as long as they don't actually find me), as at least I know I am touching them somewhere.
Also, some of the apparent negative stuff is actually really worthwhile if you read it, and is often genuine critical comment on your work.

 

[Domwoolf]

neg feedback

I have to agree somewhat, negative feedback can show us where we went wrong, either in the story it self or in the way we are writing. One of the best I received pointed out how I wasn't really getting into the heads of the submissive’s in my story. Her comment made the rest of my stories better. It's the asinine bitching by people that either don't get my stories or because it's something (they would never do) that usually pisses me off. I don't mind the, I would never do that type if they don't condemn others just because it's not their bailiwick. I didn't like it in Real Life when I ran a bdsm/party group and I don't appreciate it about peoples writing. You don't like it, fine. You would never do that, fine. But live and let live. One mans ouch is another mans orgasm. Dom Woolf

I get loads of feedback, but some love my work and some want to find me and murder me. They're all welcome(as long as they don't actually find me), as at least I know I am touching them somewhere.
Also, some of the apparent negative stuff is actually really worthwhile if you read it, and is often genuine critical comment on your work.

 

[humminbean]

Dif'rent strokes

I've only written 4 stories but I got some good feedback on them - although I was told that my first two stories are 'stroke' stories - not sure if I was supposed to take that as a compliment or not LOL - but the result was that I tried to flesh out my other next two stories and came across a huge writers block.

The term is new to me. I'm pretty sure mine fall into that category, though. I hope so, at least.

I love reading the feedback though and have realised that I'm probably a short-story gal and not a chapter after chapter one.

I pay more attention to feedback and email than to votes.

And I seem to be a short story writer (or stroker) too. I just can't seem to keep it going more than two of Lit's "pages." On the other hand, that's all I need to say what I say.

 

[XXplorher]

Don't be a dipshit.

Consider the feedback. It's there to make you better.

Dismiss it only after you've dismissed your own ego.

 

[OxfordDon]

double thread

Sorry people - just seen this thread after I posted my query under a separate heading about anonymous feedback.