How Do You Like Your Feedback?

[BeechLeaf]

Writing is hard, even writing comments. I might give a momentary boost to someone with 'I liked this' or 'This is great', but I'd like to do more. I don't want to hurt anyone, but if I didn't like it, I didn't get to the voting and commenting area, so all my comments are praise. Recently I gave a bit of criticism of superficial things to one newish writer who impressed me so much that I hope that the rest of my commenting sugar-coated it. And recently I was so over-the-top effusive that I wondered how embarrassed I would be by seeing it in print, but when it appeared there were lots of us joining in the Dionysiac madness this lady inspires, so that's all right.

 

[SkyBubble]

I like negative feedback. It helps me get better.

 

[SmilingLez]

Feedback! We love it, and sometimes hate it. Over the years, I've noticed people have pretty distinct preferences for what type of feedback they get: how honest it is, how direct, how specific, varying ratios of praise/critique, what have you. There's also varying degrees of how well people take feedback, and critiques in particular.

So, pretty simple question, how do you like your feedback?

Bonus question: How do you like to give feedback?

I love constructive criticism when it comes to the structure of my work. Individual taste varies, so I take subject matter critiques with a grain of salt.

Knowing how sensitive, defensive and angry some people are, I do not give any type of criticism at all. If the structure of a story is poor and it's filled with assorted errors, I will stop reading it and move on. If the story is structured well, and I enjoy it, I always give five stars and a positive review.

YMMV

 

[BladeSeanchai]

Feedback! We love it, and sometimes hate it. Over the years, I've noticed people have pretty distinct preferences for what type of feedback they get: how honest it is, how direct, how specific, varying ratios of praise/critique, what have you. There's also varying degrees of how well people take feedback, and critiques in particular.

So, pretty simple question, how do you like your feedback?

Bonus question: How do you like to give feedback?

I’m probably unqualified to respond to this question, but I am qualified to respond to the bonus question however, I will share my thoughts.

So far in the month, I’ve been here. I’ve posted five shorter stories to the Erotic Couples category. I realize as a brand new author, it’s going to take a good amount of time to have a decent amount of “reads” before the comments even start coming in.

That being said, I prefer constructive criticism versus someone just saying that your story sucked and is unbelievable. I would prefer that the comments would be directed to the whole of the story not just singular pieces. And lastly, if they had recommendations or suggestions that weren’t too far out of line.

As far as the bonus question goes, I’ve been reading and making comments and giving feedback for some time. Most of those comments were anonymous, but as of late I have been signing my username to the comments.

I think I’m pretty honest, I talk to the flow of the story or the pace of the story. I talked to the characters and the story overall how I liked it but most importantly, I will let the author know if I’m interested in seeing more.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Giving useful feedback is a complex art that is difficult to pull off well.

I speak as one who gives extended critique (on request) in the feedback forum and as a frequent commenter on stories.

Just want to say people like you are deeply appreciated

 

[yowser]

Give it to me straight, Doc. I can take it. No anesthetic.

OK, you asked.

Read your latest, which was quite good, and here's the comment I just left on it:

Raw, daring, different, maybe too grandiose but well executed.

The story is both plot and character heavy with some strong elements: vivid descriptions, complex narrative, twisting (and twisted) story.

Here's how it could be better: too long. You could cut 10 maybe 20% of this without missing any key bits and you'd have a tighter tale.

Sex is super, far above the usual here, but would be better by minimsing the vocalisations: too many 'aahhs!' 'urrnghhh!' etc. Dial it back.

Writing is confident and competent, but I wish you'd do commas better. I am at the 'too-many' end of the comma spectrum, you're a the other end. Use them properly, separating two independent clauses in a sentence, and in places where the natural breathing breaks occur (which will help your readers get the rhythm.)

Characters are good, I get a good sense of their motivations and personalities. I could do without such extensive costume descriptions, but then I am a guy. Nice work.

****

I can give you a longer critique when I take a second pass at it and send you a DM, or can post it on the Yowser Yelps thread in the feedback forum if you'd like your thrashing in public.

 

[Belegon]

Honest and often. I almost always learn something from negative feedback, so I don't disparage it. and of course, positive feedback just increases motivation

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Read your latest, which was quite good, and here's the comment I just left on it:

Yes, I saw that. Thank you so much!

Sex is super, far above the usual here, but would be better by minimsing the vocalisations: too many 'aahhs!' 'urrnghhh!' etc. Dial it back.

I do like my onomatopoeia. It makes the characters more real to me and it's part of the sensual immersion. However, I've always wondered how readers take that. I will consider this going forward. And thank you. I do try quite hard to make my sex scenes unique in some way.

Writing is confident and competent, but I wish you'd do commas better. I am at the 'too-many' end of the comma spectrum, you're a the other end. Use them properly, separating two independent clauses in a sentence, and in places where the natural breathing breaks occur (which will help your readers get the rhythm.)

This one I find odd as I consciously use tons of commas (to the point where I wonder if I might be driving some readers crazy) and am very aware of my subordinate clauses and such in my sentence structure. I'll have to review and see where I may have missed.

Characters are good, I get a good sense of their motivations and personalities. I could do without such extensive costume descriptions, but then I am a guy. Nice work.

I get that, but when I write erotica I just feel that body esthetic is a crucial part of the world created. We are writing about bodies and attraction, so physicals are important. On the other hand, a courtroom drama would not require all of that, absolutely agree. Furthermore, in this particular piece, the goth look was part of the setting. It would have been a crime to take the reader into the early 80s goth scene and not describe makeup and clothes. If it were two teens drunk on a camping trip and fooling around, then jeans, shorts t-shirts would be fine - much shorter descriptions - I get that for sure.

Thanks again. I owe you one.