Recovering from the SDC process

[wishfulthinking]

Post SDC

My story put up a week ago has now been revised and submitted to Lit [Big yay! as I haven't submitted anything in a long while]. It is recognisable, but big changes have been made - but mostly the slant of it has changed.

It wasn't easy going, but I think there were a few things that aided me through this process:

- I submitted a story that was mid-process. It wasn't finished, so the thought of doing more revisions wasn't a hurdle.

- the story had serious problems - it was disjointed and confusing - and it was important to see where people stumbled when reading through it. This gave me a focus, so I wasn't left feeling completely bombarded and left afloat by the critiques.

- This story line was my least popular. I was prepared for criticism [but I must admit, by midweek I was thinking this process is killing me, please end!]

But my thoughts on the process [and not just my story, but others as well]:

- I hate it when people say "I don't usually read this type of story/it didn't make me hot." I know why they say the first, a qualifier as such, but I don't think anyone is asking people to like/love the story, just give their honest opinion as to flow, structure, character development etc. As to the second, if you read a story looking for mistakes, I find it hard [no pun intended] to believe it would turn you on, so this comment seems redundant.

- This is about the good, the bad and the ugly, and none of us are expecting ego strokes, but it isn't just about the bad and the ugly. [But I didn't take this personally, I knew where some people were coming from.]

- What is really important to me didn't much come across in the critiques - when someone says something is wrong, I also expect some suggestions as to how this could be overcome. This is no doubt tied to that 'being a visual writer'/personality trait thing, and I admit to being slightly disappointed in this aspect.

 

[Black Tulip]

Just for the record. I have only last night printed out all the comments I got on my story that was posted and critiqued in February. It has taken me about four weeks and a few other pieces of writing before I felt interested enough to take it up again.

I know it was the toughest discussion I have had so far, and deservedly so. But I'm happy to find out it hasn't killed my interest. Not in writing in general, and not in improving this one story in particular.

 

[wishfulthinking]

BT, you have the makings of a brilliant story - get to it, and start fleshing out the detail!

 

[Penelope Street]

- the story had serious problems

I disagree. I think there were simply grey areas that needed a bit more definition. The concept and the realization were both admirable.

- I hate it when people say "I don't usually read this type of story...

Sometimes I qualify my comments thus. I think it fair to tell an author when I would probably not have read the story outside of SDC or that I'm not part of the intended audience. That said, I believe I see your point. Perhaps it might be best if I simply don't read those stories in the SDC either.

I also expect some suggestions as to how this could be overcome. This is no doubt tied to that 'being a visual writer'/personality trait thing, and I admit to being slightly disappointed in this aspect.

I always waffle on whether to provide suggestions. On one hand, I want to help, on the other I don't want to be presumptuous.

BT, you have the makings of a brilliant story - get to it, and start fleshing out the detail!

Absolutely!

~ ~ ~

As for my SDC experience, I decided that I was being too timid. I've resolved to take more chances with my future stories and not worry so much about failing. My intuition is that this is a classic case of easier said than done, but that won't keep me from trying.

Take Care,
Penny

 

[BlackShanglan]

Hmmm. Interesting comments from wishfulthinking. For the record, I appreciated the "I don't normally read this sort of thing" comments, because they helped me frame the poster's responses. When I put "Letters from the Hesperus" up, it helped me to know that some respondents really didn't like gay male sex, and that for that reason they'd focused more on some aspects of the story than others. (Actually I think that sometimes people who aren't looking to get an erotic thrill out of the story can be the best critics; they're more free to give a detached look at structure, language, etc.)

It's true, one does get a great many more comments on what to fix - but time is a precious commodity, and I didn't mind that much. I was fortunate in that most people were polite enough to frame the suggestions for change in some kind words at the beginning and end that emphasized that the story wasn't a total write-off. I think that was a good idea, but I also think that the author has some responsibilities in the area of balancing positive and negative. I suppose it's true for many people that in a list of five positive remarks and one negative one, I will hear the negative, and that when the ratios are reversed it can be hard to hear the positive. But we do need to remember that people are busy, and that they are more specific with the things that need to change because that's the most useful information. A little determined and willful acceptance of their good will goes a long way.

As for how to fix ... tough one. Sometimes I want it. Sometimes, oddly, I don't; it can nettle me for someone to essentially take the pen out of my hand. But on the whole I try to proceed as above: understand that the poster is attempting to offer aid, resist that little internal voice who wants a page of adoring admiration, and either consider the suggestions for fixing if they are there, or if not, look at it as still excellent advice paired with confidence that I do know how to fix the problems once they are pointed out to me.

Just my tuppence. There were points when I looked at my SDC advice and was frustrated or a little pained, but once I wrangled my sulky inner foal into line, I was able to derive a great deal of benefit from it.

Shanglan

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

Greetings,

How to give and accept critiques is incredibly imprecise and subjective. Just consider two issues Wishful raised about giving critiques. Is it best to let the writer know you’re not interested in or familiar with a particular genre or category? When a possible problem is pointed out, say that a sentence might be awkward, should a suggestion be given or would that be seen as trying to take the story away from the author?

One of the nice things about the SDC, IMHO, is the give and take that often follows a critique. Unlike many “crit boards” it give us a chance to explain confusing items and get others involved in possible changes.

Just for the record, I don’t mind suggested changes, if for no other reason than they sometimes help me see the problem better or some other potential solution. I’ve often used a suggested changes as a springboard that led to revisions far different from the one originally proposed.

I’m also in favor of letting the writer know if the person giving the critique is familiar/interested in the subject. Interest aside, some categories and genres have special conventions. Doc has to deal with this when plowing through one of my romance tales. I face the same dilemma critiquing Sci-Fi/Fantasy, BDSM, or Gay stories. IMHO, it would be neither helpful nor fair to not let the writer know. And as Shanglan pointed out, sometimes it can be an advantage.

Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Now to go beat up and otherwise abuse the Minx maiden. Well, at least her story.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[wishfulthinking]

I am very happy with the process, and perhaps in a years time I might do it again!

- What is really important to me didn't much come across in the critiques - when someone says something is wrong, I also expect some suggestions as to how this could be overcome. This is no doubt tied to that 'being a visual writer'/personality trait thing, and I admit to being slightly disappointed in this aspect.

Sorry this wasn't too clear, and I know this would be expecting too much from the process. I've read through critiques on quite a few stories, and this thought just jumps up at me. But I know this is a personal thing, as I think it is very easy to say what is wrong, and it takes a little something extra to say, well this is how it could be overcome. But, I'm not talking every nit picky thing either, and it would be with the knowledge that 99% of the time the author wouldn't take suggestions on board, but it may get them thinking. But very valid point about perhaps the author might think everyone is trying to take over.

Penny, I hope from what I've said that it hasn't turned you off giving critiques on stories you don't usually read. I sometimes think that this often leads to the best of critques.

 

[Penelope Street]

Penny, I hope from what I've said that it hasn't turned you off giving critiques on stories you don't usually read.

I was already leaning that way, so if I do you can't take all the credit.