Sharing my work

stuckupmyownera · Apr 18, 2008

I wasn't really sure where to post this question so sorry if I got it wrong.

Desperate for feedback, I've recently posted some of my writing in the SYW section, and though it's been viewed several times, no-one has commented yet. Now I know I have to be patient - it was only a couple of hours ago and people are busy and all that - but I just wondered if anyone could explain why people are reading it if they're not going to give feedback. I mean, feedback's the whole point, isn't it? It just makes me a bit nervous knowing so many writers are reading my work in progress but not knowing why.

Sorry, I'm probably being oversensitive or neurotic or something - I'm always nervous about sharing my work with anyone but online's particularly scary, you know what I mean?

Siddow · Apr 18, 2008

Patience, dear.

I'll go take a look, but I'm warning you, if it's hard SF, fantasy with 'na'mes', or 5000 words long, I won't be leaving a crit either.

geardrops · Apr 18, 2008

You posted today. Scant few hours ago.

stuckupmyownera · Apr 18, 2008

I know I know. It's not that people haven't read it; it's that they have.

I'm not having a go - just wondering why.

sassandgroove · Apr 18, 2008

sometimes I print out what I am reading and such. I put thought into my crits. Worry if its been a couple days, not a couple hours.

geardrops · Apr 18, 2008

Well, for starters, a good critique takes awhile. I personally take upwards of an hour to lay a crit on anything 1000+ words.

Maybe people are clicking, saying "I'll crit this later."

Maybe they are, at present working on their crit and going to post in a few hours.

PS - So you don't get let down, I'm not critting your work. Neither of your posted pieces are in my genre.

stuckupmyownera · Apr 18, 2008

All right, thanks guys

geardrops · Apr 18, 2008

Also -- it helps if you've critted other people's work. Share and share alike.

I notice you haven't. That's a little silly to expect people to jump all over your work when you've offered nothing in return in that department.

Mr Flibble · Apr 18, 2008

Well they aren't my genre, so I doubt I'll be critting ( shame, I'd have made sure to, seeing as we are close neighbours

)

But often, I'll read a piece and either think - hell thats better than I could do, and a crit that says 'Great stuff' doesn't actually help. Or if I have trouble with it I may not be able to put my finger on the problem, so that wouldn't be helpful either.

I only post a crit if I thoink it's actually going to to be useful as a general rule.

Siddow · Apr 18, 2008

Well, I posted you a crit, some general observations, and you haven't thanked me yet. It's been, like, five minutes!! Where's the love?

stuckupmyownera · Apr 18, 2008

Boy am I sorry I asked!

Thank you Siddow for your comments. Surely not every story has to have big action though - surely sometimes it's the smaller details that are important?

sassandgroove · Apr 18, 2008

Dempsey does make a good point. Whenever I post in SYW I also crit at least two for every one I post.

I just posted for your screen play.

stuckupmyownera · Apr 18, 2008

Thanks. I don't really feel qualified to start critiquing other people's work already, especially being so new here, though I'm sure I will in future.

Siddow · Apr 18, 2008

stuckupmyownera said:
Boy am I sorry I asked!

Thank you Siddow for your comments. Surely not every story has to have big action though - surely sometimes it's the smaller details that are important?

If you'd posted in Literary, sure!

*ducks*

HeronW · Apr 18, 2008

Give folks time, crit others stuff and keep writing.

sassandgroove · Apr 18, 2008

I think you'd find you are more qualified than you think.

Monkey · Apr 18, 2008

My SYW, posted yesterday, has over 20 views and only one crit. It's not at all unusual, especially if your excerpt is on the longish side.

My advice is to be patient and be thankful to those who take the time to give you a critique, whether or not you like what they said. In the meantime, crit others. You can crit as a reader...just tell the person what you'd think if you picked their book up in a store.

There's no point in arguing with critiquers; if something isn't working for them, you aren't going to change their mind by saying, "Oh, that's explained in Chapter Three..." Just take the good advice, ignore the bad advice, and thank everyone for their time.

And hey, I'll crit you if you'll crit me.

geardrops · Apr 18, 2008

stuckupmyownera said:
Thanks. I don't really feel qualified to start critiquing other people's work already, especially being so new here, though I'm sure I will in future.

Pending that you are unqualified -- which I doubt, but I play to worst case scenarios -- there are two things you do to improve: read crits and practice critting.

And when I say read crits, I don't mean the ones you receive (although you should certainly read those!). Read a piece that has a few crits lain down already. Then read what the other crits had to say. Do you find yourself agreeing or disagreeing? Why? Look for the specific problem and think on it. Eventually you'll start seeing those problems for yourself.

Things like grammar and spelling are easy to crit for. It's like correcting someone's algebra homework. But when you get to a point where you have multiple ways to solve a math problem things become challenging. Likewise in writing with critting characterization, flow, plot, story, et cetera.

But just like writing, critting requires practice. Hop to it!

Mr Flibble · Apr 18, 2008

stuckupmyownera said:
Thanks. I don't really feel qualified to start critiquing other people's work already, especially being so new here, though I'm sure I will in future.

The first time is scary. I actually posted my first ever crit here, and I was thinking 'why the hell should they listen to me'

But I'm a reader above all, and you may see something in someone elses work that they can't see because they are too close to it. Plus, it benefits you at least as much as it does the person you critted.

Monkey · Apr 18, 2008

In the end, the work of the most accomplished authors will be critiqued by anyone and everyone who happens to step into a bookstore and stumble across their book.

And in the end, it's the opinions of those people that matters the most.

You are a reader, are you not? If so, then you are a valuable critter indeed.

Edit:
I critted your screenplay. I tried to envision everything playing out in front of me as a movie and go from there... but don't take my commentary too seriously.

BlueLucario · Apr 18, 2008

stuckupmyownera said:
I know I know. It's not that people haven't read it; it's that they have.

I'm not having a go - just wondering why.

Well, I'd be happy to help out a fellow member.

Welcome my friend!

You have to keep in mind that us writers have lives too. We have school and work. Some members have children. Critiquing is very time consuming. It took me an hour to critique a 1000 word story.

But, I'm still happy to help, even though I should be writing, I can't resist.

See ya'll in SYW!

czjaba · Apr 18, 2008

stuckupmyownera said:
Thanks. I don't really feel qualified to start critiquing other people's work already, especially being so new here, though I'm sure I will in future.

There's nothing to qualify for. There is a place in SYW that lists some critting guidelines, but everyone has an opinion. And that's basically what a crit it, to me anyway, other's may have different view points. When I do a crit, I always let the OP know that this is just my opinion.

BTW - I checked your posts and neither of them fit in my preferred genre.

BlueLucario · Apr 18, 2008

No qualification required. THe more you critique the better yu get at it. And critiquing can benifit you just as much as the critiquee. Do your best, it's really up to the writer which advice he takes anyway, even if he chooses ego-stroking feedback

.

L M Ashton · Apr 18, 2008

stuckupmyownera said:
Thanks. I don't really feel qualified to start critiquing other people's work already, especially being so new here, though I'm sure I will in future.

You've already received great responses to this comment. They're right.

If you read, you're qualified to critique. If nothing else, you can comment on where you stopped reading (got bored) and what grabbed your interest. You can comment on what confused you, what didn't make sense, what sections you particularly like. You are absolutely qualified to comment on any of those things as a reader.

And as others have said, you can read the critting guidelines and learn how to be a better critter - that would be best. As has been mentioned already, when you crit someone else's work, you benefit. As you learn how to recognize what can be improved in someone else's writing (which you do through critting), you learn how to improve your own writing in the same way. As you edit your own work, you learn how to write better first drafts, and so on. By you critting someone else's work, you actually benefit far more than the person receiving the crit.

Learning how to give a good crit is in your own best interests.

Birol · Apr 18, 2008

Critiquing doesn't help just the writer being critiqued. It also helps the person giving the critique. That said, even an overview critique, rather than a line-by-line, can take time. Oftentimes, people like to read the piece once through, without making comments, then go through it a second time to mark it up or summarize their thoughts. Well-thought out critiques aren't just a matter of slapping one's thoughts down. They take time and careful consideration.

You say that you're not qualified to critique? What do you think makes someone qualified to critique? What image of a qualified critiquer do you have in your head?

Sharing my work

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