Valentines Day Contest Support Thread.

[Priscilla_June]

Honestly Ill take the granularity lol

 

[Voboy]

Honestly Ill take the granularity lol

You might not agree if you read it, lol. I didn't find him useful.

I think of it this way: you know how Fitzgerald put a green light at the end of the pier at the end of Gatsby? And every English teacher since then has been assigning that book and then parsing that light? Gallons of ink has probably been spilled about the "meaning" of that light.

Now, imagine you're Fitzgerald, back from the dead and reading some of the papers those teachers have been assigning. And you're perplexed, because you remember that the only reason you put in a green light is because the hardware store in your town only had green bulbs the last time you'd gone in there, so you assumed the same thing about the Ace Hardware Of West Egg, and the green light has no further "deeper meaning" than that. You'd be bemused.

I was similarly bemused. He was VERY interested in wanting my piece to be something I didn't ever intend it to be, and he seems to have downvoted me accordingly. At least he told me about it; I'll leave his comment(s) up, but I won't say they'll benefit me.

 

[Priscilla_June]

You might not agree if you read it, lol. I didn't find him useful.

I think of it this way: you know how Fitzgerald put a green light at the end of the pier at the end of Gatsby? And every English teacher since then has been assigning that book and then parsing that light? Gallons of ink has probably been spilled about the "meaning" of that light.

Now, imagine you're Fitzgerald, back from the dead and reading some of the papers those teachers have been assigning. And you're perplexed, because you remember that the only reason you put in a green light is because the hardware store in your town only had green bulbs the last time you'd gone in there, so you assumed the same thing about the Ace Hardware Of West Egg, and the green light has no further "deeper meaning" than that. You'd be bemused.

I was similarly bemused. He was VERY interested in wanting my piece to be something I didn't ever intend it to be, and he seems to have downvoted me accordingly. At least he told me about it; I'll leave his comment(s) up, but I won't say they'll benefit me.

Oh i guess the difference is he didnt downvote me, thats I understand lol. Other than that I find it interesting when people find other meaning to a story.

Someone once left a comment on my story: Bikini Blues that made me wish I had that much depth of thought:

 

[Devinter]

I've had some interaction Comentarista

How does one attract this being? I reckon I could use the feedback.

 

[mrs_mackenzie]

How does one attract this being? I reckon I could use the feedback.

I got one today on my Valentine's story, but it was almost universally positive and only a bit granular. I am definitely not complaining!

 

[AlexFourways]

alohadave and voboy. I have submitted my story, but still as part of a series, so I'll see if it gets sent back and I will keep you updated.

It's been rejected as being part of a series as it is numbered. A&C 10: Either need to vandalise it (change the names) and remove series references or just remove it from the contest and remove the stuff to make is 'stand alone'. I'll probably do the latter as I wasn't going to win anyway!

 

[StillStunned]

How does one attract this being? I reckon I could use the feedback.

There's a special ritual. For only a small fee it can be yours!

 

[Voboy]

How does one attract this being? I reckon I could use the feedback.

He followed me as well, so I might be getting a few more. Marvelous.

 

[AlexFourways]

I got one today on my Valentine's story, but it was almost universally positive and only a bit granular. I am definitely not complaining!

Hi, I did an author search and found his page. No stories, but his bio is his manifesto about why he comments, and it has (not that I have read it in detail) some good guidance anyway.
Possibly a 'gentle' PM to him might get him to read a story, but read his whole bio so you don't tread on his toes. He probably won't thank me for doing this research and 'I reserve the right to be wrong.'
Link to his page. Comentarista69

 

[mrs_mackenzie]

Hi, I did an author search and found his page. No stories, but his bio is his manifesto about why he comments, and it has (not that I have read it in detail) some good guidance anyway.
Possibly a 'gentle' PM to him might get him to read a story, but read his whole bio so you don't tread on his toes. He probably won't thank me for doing this research and 'I reserve the right to be wrong.'
Link to his page. Comentarista69

He actually seems quite nice, I think. Although I may be biased as he only found five grammar mistakes in my story. What he says about leaving constructive feedback does make sense.

 

[Voboy]

He actually seems quite nice, I think. Although I may be biased as he only found five grammar mistakes in my story. What he says about leaving constructive feedback does make sense.

Again, I don't hate the guy and I have no wish to pile on. He's more than entitled to do what he does. It's just that I feel as though I released Star Wars and then had an opera critic review it extensively, angry because there aren't enough mezzo-sopranos in the cast: he was looking for something I was not claiming to provide in my story. I'm not sure how I benefit from that.

Indeed, he was very complimentary of the aspects of the story I value. So, thanks I guess. He lost me in the wall of text about Chilean novels and wife-swapping among Mexican immigrants. Neither of which my story had anything to do with.

 

[mrs_mackenzie]

Again, I don't hate the guy and I have no wish to pile on. He's more than entitled to do what he does. It's just that I feel as though I released Star Wars and then had an opera critic review it extensively, angry because there aren't enough mezzo-sopranos in the cast: he was looking for something I was not claiming to provide in my story. I'm not sure how I benefit from that.

That makes sense. I suppose the comments are only constructive if they're actually relevant.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

He provided some good feedback on my Valentines story. I rather hope he reviews a few more of mine. It's always helpful to get an outside opinion, and when someone is willing to take the time to be that thorough I'll always be grateful.

 

[alohadave]

Again, I don't hate the guy and I have no wish to pile on. He's more than entitled to do what he does. It's just that I feel as though I released Star Wars and then had an opera critic review it extensively, angry because there aren't enough mezzo-sopranos in the cast: he was looking for something I was not claiming to provide in my story. I'm not sure how I benefit from that.

Indeed, he was very complimentary of the aspects of the story I value. So, thanks I guess. He lost me in the wall of text about Chilean novels and wife-swapping among Mexican immigrants. Neither of which my story had anything to do with.

His comments read like he's a pompous ass.

 

[Priscilla_June]

. He lost me in the wall of text about Chilean novels and wife-swapping among Mexican immigrants. Neither of which my story had anything to do with.

WOO those last two sentences took me for a ride!

 

[Voboy]

WOO those last two sentences took me for a ride!

I'm telling you, I was totally gobsmacked. He cited William Shatner's long-forgotten literary masterpiece TekWar, too.

I began to wonder what he thought he'd clicked on.

 

[YDB95]

Just checking a rule. It says "All submissions must be stand-alone stories created for this contest theme." I have a story that is set in the context of a Series (same characters and locations) but I have made sure that you don't need to have read any previous. Can I submit is as I notice other submissions that are also part of a Series?
Alex

Happens all the time. My story, if I finish it in time, will be a sequel to a previous Valentine's Day entry of mine.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

So, in case I missed something, people complain CONSTANTLY around here about the lack of feedback, wanting more comments, etc. etc.
Someone comes along and provides a long comment and feedback and... people complain about it.

 

[alohadave]

So, in case I missed something, people complain CONSTANTLY around here about the lack of feedback, wanting more comments, etc. etc.
Someone comes along and provides a long comment and feedback and... people complain about it.

Read the comments on Voboy's latest story.

Not all commentary is useful.

 

[AchtungNight]

Canceling my participation in this. Story isn’t flowing and I don’t think that will change any time soon. I don’t use votes anyway, oh well.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Read the comments on Voboy's latest story.

Not all commentary is useful.

I did read them, and the entire back and forth. There was quite a bit of useful material in there. I think him pointing out that the characters were given Spanish names but then showed no other indicators of being Spanish is useful, and a very valid point. Is it not? That certainly wasn't the only one. You as an author might have made a creative decision that the reviewer/critic disagrees with, and that's fine. But it doesn't invalidate their opinion, and it ought to give you pause to consider why you made the decision you made.
You can take it anyway you want, but arguing that comments are only good if they meet some unknowing level of "useful" is a fool's errand.
For example, the Chilean story that he referenced was to provide an example in literature of what he was talking about, which was questioning a character's motivations. That is helpful.
And this crowd, who brings up Star Wars at the drop of a hat complaining about a Star Trek reference... Seriously?

 

[alohadave]

You can take it anyway you want, but arguing that comments are only good if they meet some unknowing level of "useful" is a fool's errand.

If you found the comments useful, then mission accomplished. I found them to be overblown, excessively nit-picky about trad publishing standards and barely relevant to the actual story.

And this crowd, who brings up Star Wars at the drop of a hat complaining about a Star Trek reference... Seriously?

It's not a Star Trek reference. It was William Shatner's ghostwritten near-future sci-fi crime-noir series from the early 90s. Fun fact, there was even a movie adapted from it, directed by Shatner.

 

[Voboy]

I did read them, and the entire back and forth. There was quite a bit of useful material in there. I think him pointing out that the characters were given Spanish names but then showed no other indicators of being Spanish is useful, and a very valid point. Is it not?

Not even slightly. The names involved were LaPerla (which I think of as Italian, not Hispanic) and Cruz (which I picked because I was watching a news story about a cruise ship). I had no interest nor intention of delving into Hispanic culture or tradition at any level whatsoever. Not even vaguely remotely; I don't think I can find words to express just how little I was trying to make any kind of sociocultural commentary.

But that commenter wanted there to be that kind of commentary. He is a self-described expert, and wanted my choice of names to validate his expertise. Which it didn't. I cannot blame him for that, but I can point out that he's off-base from my perspective.

Besides, I know and work with many, many, MANY people with Hispanic names who don't, after five or ten generations, think of themselves as all that Hispanic. They're out there, regardless of this commenter's "expertise."

That certainly wasn't the only one. You as an author might have made a creative decision that the reviewer/critic disagrees with, and that's fine. But it doesn't invalidate their opinion, and it ought to give you pause to consider why you made the decision you made.

See above. My decisions were predicated on different things than he was looking for. I'm the writer. I don't have to "pause" for anything. Nothing is stopping him from writing his own work as he sees fit; I'll write mine. I have no beef with him pointing it out, but he should have no beef with me replying, "Thanks, but I don't care."

I'm writing for me. I'm not catering to this one reader, nor any other; that's a fool's errand.

You can take it anyway you want, but arguing that comments are only good if they meet some unknowing level of "useful" is a fool's errand.
For example, the Chilean story that he referenced was to provide an example in literature of what he was talking about, which was questioning a character's motivations. That is helpful.

I'm sure it is... if I was writing about Hispanic identity. I wasn't. And I don't intend to.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Not even slightly. The names involved were LaPerla (which I think of as Italian, not Hispanic) and Cruz (which I picked because I was watching a news story about a cruise ship). I had no interest nor intention of delving into Hispanic culture or tradition at any level whatsoever. Not even vaguely remotely; I don't think I can find words to express just how little I was trying to make any kind of sociocultural commentary.

But that commenter wanted there to be that kind of commentary. He is a self-described expert, and wanted my choice of names to validate his expertise. Which it didn't. I cannot blame him for that, but I can point out that he's off-base from my perspective.

Besides, I know and work with many, many, MANY people with Hispanic names who don't, after five or ten generations, think of themselves as all that Hispanic. They're out there, regardless of this commenter's "expertise."



See above. My decisions were predicated on different things than he was looking for. I'm the writer. I don't have to "pause" for anything. Nothing is stopping him from writing his own work as he sees fit; I'll write mine. I have no beef with him pointing it out, but he should have no beef with me replying, "Thanks, but I don't care."

I'm writing for me. I'm not catering to this one reader, nor any other; that's a fool's errand.



I'm sure it is... if I was writing about Hispanic identity. I wasn't. And I don't intend to.

Your choice of names created an expectation in a readers mind, you can disagree with that, but it ought to be worth noting, and something to consider in our naming choices. That's useful.

I'm curious what you would consider "useful" criticism then. If your stock answer is "I'm the writer and that's what I intended so fuck off", then I can't imagine any feedback would be "useful" to you.

 

[AlexFourways]

Happens all the time. My story, if I finish it in time, will be a sequel to a previous Valentine's Day entry of mine.

Just make sure you don't have it as part of a series or any sort of numbering that implies it is in the title.