Overly critical feedback from non-authors

[Jugg_Head]

This thread gives me comfort. I’m a first time writer dealing with my first negative feedback and it was messing with my head until I saw that it’s common for the majority of writers here.

 

[dondd]

This thread gives me comfort. I’m a first time writer dealing with my first negative feedback and it was messing with my head until I saw that it’s common for the majority of writers here.

One anonymous comment thought I was a "weirdo" or "oddball" for writing about my fantasies of being the first penis inside a sweet Christian girl's pussy.

 

[Tigersman]

I don't left negative comments. If I find the story has problems such as grammar, spelling or consistency, then I will leave a message for the writer's eyes only. On occasion I suggest the writer might consider using an editor.

 

[KeithD]

I don't do much reading in the file. I'm here to write, not read. On top of that I'll only give encouraging comment of what I read unless the author has specifically asked for critique. This is a sharing site, not a critique site. I don't assume the writer wants criticism unless he/she has specifically asked for it (and, no, leaving comments on isn't ipso facto asking for critical comment). I think those giving unsolicited criticism are serving a need of their own to play expert, often with no justification, and superior more than trying to be supportive to the story writer.

 

[oggbashan]

It's an interesting discussion re cultural sayings and spelling. ...

In 1948 a small book was published listing all he books an 'educated gentleman' should have read. (They were sexist in those days. What they meant was any educated person, male or female). It listed 1,400 books, some of which would not appear on a modern list which would be much longer.

In the 1980s, in a literary magazine, they had a long-running discussion on what references and ideas an educated person in the UK and US would expect to have in common with fellow country people and what differences there would be between the UK and US.

For example, Americans would be expected to know USS Constitution 'Old Ironsides', 'Tammany Hall' and the amendments to the US constitution. Brits should know about the Popish Plots, John Wilkes, and the Dutch in the Medway...

What we think we know in common and therefore references we can make in our stories without explaining them is limited even between US and UK readers. If you consider everyone who reads English? The list of commonly understood concepts is very small indeed.

 

[KeithD]

I If you consider everyone who reads English? The list of commonly understood concepts is very small indeed.

Especially when you consider that most English-language readers probably are living in India.

 

[oggbashan]

Especially when you consider that most English-language readers probably are living in India.

Or China where they are not allowed to access many Western sites.

 

[autoplot]

I got one piece of feedback recently that went something like "I've read hundreds of stories over the years, and given almost all of them four or five stars, because I am so generous and compassionate that I can see the value in anything, but your story I gave one star because it was so irredeemably bad."

Anonymous, of course.

I was just like.... okay thanks for the construcive criticism lol

 

[Squeeze_Tight]

That’s hilarious autoplot.

I think a lot of the criticism I’ve seen on stories here can be divided into two categories: those who see it as porn and those who see it as literature.

Those who see it as porn seem to be 2 dimensionally negative about anything that challenges them at all, but I’ve only written one story so what do I know

 

[Norman_Altair]

Does anyone else get irritated by overly critical feedback from non-authors? It compares to food critics who can't cook. I feel the voting/comments system should be altered. One should have the choice of allowing everyone vote/comment on their works. Or allow only fellow published authors to vote/comment.

Writers don't write for writers. They write for readers.

Cooks don't cook for other cooks. They cook for eaters.

Those are the people who's opinions matter.

 

[KeithD]

Writers don't write for writers. They write for readers.

Cooks don't cook for other cooks. They cook for eaters.

Those are the people who's opinions matter.

The fallacy here is that writers usually value the opinions of other writers over just any old unknown reader and cooks usually value the opinions of other cooks over just anyone who turns a stove on.

 

[standingstones]

I follow one rule of thumb whenever I receive a rude reply. I answer them back. I tell them not to read my stories if they are so offended. I remind them that they are reading all these stories for free. It is rare I ever hear from these people again.

 

[SimonDoom]

I got one piece of feedback recently that went something like "I've read hundreds of stories over the years, and given almost all of them four or five stars, because I am so generous and compassionate that I can see the value in anything, but your story I gave one star because it was so irredeemably bad."

Anonymous, of course.

I was just like.... okay thanks for the construcive criticism lol

It's always nice to be told by someone who doesn't know you that what you do is beyond redemption.

Gotta love social media.

Recently, somebody on Twitter called me "vile." I'd never been called that before. Wasn't sure how to respond, so I just blocked them.

 

[Norman_Altair]

I follow one rule of thumb whenever I receive a rude reply. I answer them back. I tell them not to read my stories if they are so offended. I remind them that they are reading all these stories for free. It is rare I ever hear from these people again.

I would rather just say "thanks for reading." and perhaps little else.

 

[Emirus]

I follow one rule of thumb whenever I receive a rude reply. I answer them back. I tell them not to read my stories if they are so offended. I remind them that they are reading all these stories for free. It is rare I ever hear from these people again.

After them reading your story and leaving a rude comment it’s a waste of your time responding in kind because they’ll never read it. They’ve done what they wanted, which was to annoy you, and moved on. It is a rarity if they ever come back to see if you’ve responding.

On the other hand by replying in such a way you run the risk of annoying your other readers. If I do respond to occasions such as you describe I will always write a nice response, with underlying sarcasm, because if they do return it will annoy them whereas an angry response pleases them.

 

[JJA122]

I had someone provide feedback saying that I should only write in American English and that I had spelt the word colour wrong throughout my work...

I would have thought my username would have given them a hint...

Disgusting.
In highschool we were taught not to correct American spelling when quoting text. For him to say that about a creative work makes me angry.

 

[oggbashan]

Disgusting.
In highschool we were taught not to correct American spelling when quoting text. For him to say that about a creative work makes me angry.

Until I went to Australia I spelled Pearl Harbour with a u. But when in Australia I learned to take the u out.

But languages are odd about place names. There is no place in Italy called Rome - it is Roma. And Venice? Is Venezia.

London is Londres if you are French, Londra if you are Italian.

 

[MimiRay]

This is an interesting thread. I've been submitting stories here for less than a year, and so far they've been trickling out slowly. I'm suffering no delusions of literary adequacy.

For now, I still consider myself more of a reader than an author, and I've left more comments than stories. The fact that my favorite categories to read are a bit different than the ones I've submitted stories in probably doesn't help.

I usually only leave positive comments, and then only when a story has resonated with me in a special way. I'll critique grammar and structure, but only when the story is good in spite of the technical flaws.

Since I began contributing my own work, though, I've been mortified on a couple of occasions to see that I had missed errors of my own making of the same kind that I had pointed out in the works of others.

If nothing else, writing stories that I consider interesting and sharing them here for others has been a fine exercise in humility. The fact that I have almost no total comments of either kind, positive nor negative, may be even worse than a consistent batch of negative feedback

 

[KeithD]

Since I began contributing my own work, though, I've been mortified on a couple of occasions to see that I had missed errors of my own making of the same kind that I had pointed out in the works of others.

Virtually every writer fits in this category. No written work is "prefect." Don't sweat it. Certainly don't let it stop you from writing.

 

[DarkWhispers2U]

On another site where I submit free work, I had a comment posted to one of my stories that said something like: 'You're story sux. Their were spellig and grammer mistakes in it.'

Since he/she used a username to comment, I replied, "Yeah, I had a few. So did your comment, but does that mean we can't be friends?"

To this day, he/she still reads my stuff on that site and leaves me feedback.

 

[ChasPHX]

Up above someone said this: "I usually only leave positive comments, and then only when a story has resonated with me in a special way. I'll critique grammar and structure, but only when the story is good in spite of the technical flaws."

I think this is a great approach and one I try to follow. I believe it can be a little harmful to the writer to shy away from offering at least one or two little constructive bits (assuming you can find some).

I've seen posters say you need a thick skin to write in an exposed public forum like this and I agree. But most people aren't just born with a thick skin. It takes time to develop one, and the best way to do it IMO is to read and consider constructive criticism of your work. This is a healthy, stepwise development process that most creators need in order to improve. Once you've grown a thicker skin in lockstep with increasing confidence in your abilities, you're in a much better position to ignore or at least not be overly concerned about rude comments.

 

[dontcallme82]

I accept my position as a very amateur writer and it is possible I will only write one story. I am currently in the middle of my series. Annoyingly I had to take a break due to flat problems and no internet for ages. But am not back on and hoping to finish my story by the end of the year.

I don't worry too much about negative feedback. The internet is full of hateful trolls, and it is important to just dismiss these people. Easy for me to say as so far I haven't had negative feedback. I don't think this is due to my story being particularly good but it is probably innocent enough to not rile people up.

Ultimately I write for me but I put the story on here as I hope someone gets enjoyment out of it.

 

[Norman_Altair]

On another site where I submit free work, I had a comment posted to one of my stories that said something like: 'You're story sux. Their were spellig and grammer mistakes in it.'

Since he/she used a username to comment, I replied, "Yeah, I had a few. So did your comment, but does that mean we can't be friends?"

To this day, he/she still reads my stuff on that site and leaves me feedback.

That's the spirit!

 

[Ringil]

irritated, ...?.... well, ... sorta, ...

Originally Posted by fantaseeboy :
Does anyone else get irritated by overly critical feedback from non-authors? It compares to food critics who can't cook. I feel the voting/comments system should be altered. One should have the choice of allowing everyone vote/comment on their works. Or allow only fellow published authors to vote/comment.

Yeah, it used to just kill me and I'd look up each identifiable commenter and see if they had any posted stories and then fume about them if they didn't. However, I usually publish in, "Loving Wives" and on studying a lot of comments, it seems that that particular category has developed its own unique comment culture. Not so bothered anymore.

I now realize that, just as I publish story content that meets some needs within me, some of those "comment trolls", are posting comment content that meets some personal need that comes from inside themselves. Let them roll. If I get a lot of negative comments, then I have to consider adjusting. If it's a few that are balanced by other positive comments, then, it may be a case of "you like yoga pants, I like nylons".

I wouldn't like to see LIT Administrators start constricting the wonderfully free and open culture we currently enjoy.

 

[Kim34DD]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one in this situation. I've only written two stories (back in May) and am slow to wrote any more after the feedback I got.