I had a Critical comment left for me and I read it just a while ago. I honestly thought in my mind 'How dare you call my baby ugly" sort of thoughts. I read and re read the comment and eventually saw the commenter's point... all very good critiques and I'm sure very reasonable... I replied without heat (or not too much) and tried not to be Snarky... but I felt like someone had attacked me... now I think... who am I writing for... Me first of course... I write what I want to read... in this case, comic book stories with comic book science and physics... I'm not a scientist or engineer... I'm a fictioneer and proud of it.
Diana
P.S. I am Iron Man
Comments
Go for it girl!!
A Nice ride around Manchester to finish off the Sparkle weekend.
Your happiness is naturally the most important thing to you but a happiness shared is a happiness doubled. If your stories please you that's all well and good but if your stories please others (And they bother to comment favourably,)then your happiness is increased.
Keep on writin'.
XZXX
Bev.
your story
some people take this way to seriously. i'm really enjoying your story.
the characters and to some extent their powers are just based on marvel and dc or whoever.
its a retcon universe where you get to play as you want within the retcon rules. and comic book physics and science is what you make of it.
keep up the great work.
I'm right with you
Over the last nine years, I have published dozens of stories, first on Fictionmania, and now here. Over that time, I have developed my own style, which I enjoy writing, and quite a few people seem to like.
I spend a lot of time on each story, reading and changing, reading and changing, and am a fanatic about spelling and punctuation.
So I really don't need anyone to tell me how I can make my stories better. Firstly, it's my personal opinion about what makes a good story, and secondly, if anyone feels they can do better, then they go ahead and do so.
Yet I am very sensitive to every criticism - each one sticks in my mind for ages, far longer than does a compliment. What I find annoying is that a criticism takes only a few minutes to write, but sticks with my story, which I've spent months working on, forever.
For my last story, I turned off comments, and asked readers who enjoyed the story to give Kudos or PM me, which many did. It was marvellous - no worry at all about what people publicly write about me. I would recommend any writer to do the same.
Charlotte
The downside of turning off comments ...
... is that there are some of us who find stories by seeing interesting comments pop up in the commentary section. I've found many good stories that way.
Also, as a writer, i enjoy getting public comments, even from those who have issues with my work. How am i going to fix problem areas or misconceptions about what I wrote if i don't find out that I pointed someone in the wrong direction accidentally regarding a plot point?
Finally, at least for me, deciding my opinion is actually worth the effort of writing a PM makes me feel like i left the keys to my psyche in the dashboard and ego decided to steal me and drive me around for a while. Why the hell should anyone care what I think? At least in a public comment, I'm no better or worse than anyone else when it comes to speaking my mind. I'm just another voice in the crowd. Writing a PM makes me think I must believe whatever I said is important enough to the person I wrote it to for them to want to read it -- and that's WAY too much ego for me to stomach without some form of intestinal distress. *grin*
And for the record, i LIKE Magnetic Personality. So there! *smile*
Randa
I agree
with Randa, I enjoy reading the comments, even the occasional negative one - which does tend to make more impact than positive ones - at the same time most of my stuff is express production - write it and post it: so I do make the odd typo.
I'm also happy to receive PMs commenting on my stories or pointing out an error. It's then up to me if I agree, to fix it.
I enjoy interaction with my readers, even if two of them are cats.
Angharad
Angharad
And how do you know?
And how do you know that even more of them aren't cats?
Or even dogs?
Kris
{I leave a trail of Kudos as I browse the site. Be careful where you step!}
Kris
{I leave a trail of Kudos as I browse the site. Be careful where you step!}
hm...
Or even a few dormice!
Abigail Drew.
What IS the best way to offer a criticism?
I generally prefer NOT to offer any negative comments. (And I know I am woefully short of my positive comment quota, too.)
For the record, I'm still very much liking the story! (+1 to positive quota :) )
*IF* I had some suggestions to make on the story, I'd probably say something like, "I see how handling the physics thing can be tricky with these kinds of stories; I have some ideas if you're interested." Then the author can choose to follow up, or not. If you DON'T have some positive suggestions to offer, then DON'T bother to criticize, you're tearing down, not building up.
I NEVER criticize spelling or grammar; there's no point in calling out accidental errors, they happen (and I know better than to cast the first stone), and if the author truly cared about mistakes arising from their own unfamiliarity with expressing themselves with the written word (lack of experience, English not their native tongue) they're free to seek out an editor. I don't deny that these kinds of mistakes do tend to turn me off, in which case I'd tend not to comment at all.
How Dare Them
How dare them to send comment like that , like I always say if you don't like the show change the channel and there is always the delete button. Why is it the ones who leave negitive comments don't write any stories ? SO I like your responce and I will say THANK YOU--KUDOS-- for taking the time to write the story that 99.9% of us enjoy reading
BIG HUGS -- RICHIE2
Well, of course
Well, of course, who'd want to listen to anyone with a different opinion? Better to keep on cranking out the same ole stuff.
And, if the read or kudo count goes down, that's a great time to complain about lack of readership.
Sorry for the sarcasm. But I have seen numerous examples of good story idea with awful execution. And, yes, I vote with my feet.
As a writer, I appreciate constructive comments. As a critic, I have a problem sometimes of being too critical and have had my comments rightfully removed.
I applaud Erin's efforts at keeping this a friendly place and have no problem at all of being stomped on for losing my cool.
Still, can't this also be a friendly place where we can help each other become better at our craft?
And, if you welcome comments, be prepared for those who don't see your children as any more than above average.
My tuppence for their dubious value.
Janet
Mistress of the Guild of Evil [Strawberry] Blonde Proofreaders
To be or not to be... ask Schrodinger's cat.
Janet
Mistress of the Guild of Evil [Strawberry] Blonde Proofreaders
To be or not to be... ask Schrodinger's cat.
If you ever read any of my stuff...
And feel like tearing me a new one, go right ahead.
Someone who used to go by the nickname Mushroomblue cured me of thinking too highly of my own craft ages ago. I know I write crap. I'm still going to write it.
Some folks on a writing site oriented more around science fiction writers trying to get published later taught me the true value of criticism. While shroomy cured me of getting angry about it, these folks proceeded to teach me how to assess the comments and find out what was REALLY meant by them, and what to correct in my writing to make my intent more plain.
Abigail Drew.
Slicersv...
I will accept honest helpful criticisms. I welcome them in fact. but straight up 'you suck cause..." comments will be dealt with, with extreme snark... be warned...
*grin*
Diana
Oh, I still know what it feels like...
When I get pure criticism with no attempts to make it sound constructive, so I myself try to be as constructive as possible when I feel the need to criticize another writer.
I also know how to properly read the other kind... It's not easy, jeesh, do I know it's not easy. But it is definitely worth it. It can not only improve that particular instance, it can also improve your overall writing skills.
Now, I don't know what sparked this particular... blow-up, haven't been reading any CRU stories at all to be reading yours... Sorry, but I -AM- thinking about it, just haven't quite gotten around to it yet... Anyways, as I was saying, I don't know what happened in this case, but I highly doubt the author of the criticism directed towards you, the author of the story, was made in spite. It very seldom is. So you do need to try to figure out what caused them to lose their suspension of disbelief, since that's what sounds like what happened. It's ok in CRU stories to not obey all scientific laws, from my understanding, but it's never ok in any story type to allow your readers to lose suspension of disbelief. They have to want to allow you to bend and break rules.
Now, if this reader has been reading CRU stories, and following yours in particular, for a while now, and only now lost their SOD, you really should probably ask yourself why.
If it's a new reader, on the first chapter of your story, and they've never said anything about any other CRU stories, it's probably safe to ignore them. They just got lost.
Abigail Drew.
Slicersv...
Check out the comment section in 'Magnetic Personality part three'... you don't have to read the story, just the crit and my reply... let me know if i was out of line...
Just want you to see if my rant was justified :)
Diana
Hm.
Well, he did seem to be trying to be constructive, but he was responding as though you had to follow natural/scientific laws. You responded to him by explaining how CRU works and that no, you really were allowed to bend and break the rules. These are definitely both OK.
Your later rant I suppose is your prerogative, I'm not going to say it's WRONG to do so, I don't myself respond in such a way anymore, but as I said, I've had experiences in the past that have taught me how to keep my cool, at least to appearances, even if I'm seething underneath.
BTW... the reader did appear to be lost. That comment was the first one he ever made to any CRU story - period. If I was the author of the story that comment was aimed towards, I'd have simply ignored him and kept going. I probably wouldn't even have had to hide any anger or frustration, in that case it wouldn't have even been there.
But that's me, I've had my own experiences in my life that have made me into what I am today, you have had yours. We're all individual, and that's what makes life so interesting! I'd hate being alive if everyone was just like everyone else.
Abigail Drew.
BTW...
When I am seething and hiding it, I usually make bad jokes about the subject of the criticism. It helps me relieve my tension, and, I hope, helps relieve it for anyone else who happens to read the comments.
Abigail Drew.
On Criticism
Hi Janet, please don't get me wrong, i appreciate constructive criticism, that being said, the critique in question was just a complaint about my lack of scientific accuracy. This in a story where the main character has been electrocuted, changed sex, has metahuman abilities etc. sorry... as i said in my reply to them, i am not a scientist, an engineer or physician... i am a writer of fiction... no apologies. if the critic had offered assistance with the science, i would have taken it... *shrugs* c'est la vie.
Big Hugs,
Diana
Hi Moongoddess!
Sort of off the topic, but....
I'm Wiccan. You don't know how many times I've chanted/prayed to You.... actually, not all that frequently; you know, I'm kinda lazy and all.... 8)
Anyway, I'm glad you're here! I'm enjoying your story.
I, uh... often comment on physics, etc., but I haven't felt like I needed to with you!
Big, Big Hugs and Brightest of Blessings,
Renee
Ready for work, 1992.
Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Renee
Hi Renee!
I follow my namesake as well, glad you're enjoying the tale...
Hugs,
Diana
negitive comments
can sometimes be really helpful - "you changed the name of your major character halfway through", "The story needed to be longer", those kind help me grow as a writer. I try to remember its a criticism of the STORY, not my worth as a human being. For the record, I'm liking your story very much.
Dorothycolleen
Hi Dorothy,
If i make any HUGE mistakes in my continuity or leave plot holes unfilled... Tell me...But i cannot understand a critic who points out "i didn't like this because" and leaves no constructive comments... *shrugs*
Just who i am, i guess.
Hugs,
Diana
Well ok, I can understand
Well ok, I can understand that this sucks... I'd probably just ask them what exactly you did wrong and how to fix it and still make the story work.
I don't really know which comment this is about, but maybe the person just figured you forgot rechecking your power explanation and it didn't really fit.
I remember a story of a guy who wrote a story about 50 years in the future and was stupid enough to actually tell his reader what speeds his projectiles would fly with. Well... the result was that his space machine gun would fire projectiles where each had the tripple energy of the hirochima bomb.
Calculating the used physics always is a good idea ^^
If I read a story and something doesn't really fit, I tend to write it in the comments. I have written some not so nice comments, but they were well deserved. I hope I haven't pissed off too many writers :/
However, on this site people tend to be pretty nice in their comments. The problem is that most won't comment a crappy story at all. In most cases the ideas are not too bad, but the execution sucks. Sometimes it is just a stupid stylistic problem, that makes a halfway decent story about unreadable. In other cases a well written story lacks a plot - sucky too imho.
The good thing about this policy is that it keeps basher asholes away.
Thank you for writing, I guess I need to catch up on your story since I somehow missed them after the first chapter ;)
Beyogi
Edit: Just saw your answer to slicer... I'm going to look at said comment.
As i have mentioned Beyogi
I willingly accept criticism of a constructive sort, but please please please, offer me up something I can use. just telling me that I'm wrong isn't enough... give me information I can make use of, that's all I ask.
Diana
Ah ok, I hope I did. In your
Ah ok, I hope I did. In your case it is looking at wikipedia before writing about something you don't know. If you think I didn't explain enough, or you don't understand, just pm me and I'll explain it too you.
If you really have no idea how something works, just make a blogpost or post into the forum to ask. I guess here are more than enough people who can explain it.
The comment you were complaining about was pretty constructive. You would only need to replace the unit Herz with the unit Watt. It would make some sense then.
The rest is just future technology.
Beyogi
See! That's the kind of input i need.
I will take critics that give me important bits of information that i need.
Thank you Beyogi.
Diana
Oh, A quick postscript, isn't electromagnetism measured by frequency rather than wattage?
I'll give this my best shot to explain :)
frequency is simply velocity of the wave / wave length(wave length is the length of the wave through a complete cycle).
wattage is simpley voltage*current. i.e the amount of energy that a circuit is consuming at any given Time.
As for your question, it's a bit hard to answer since electromagnetism is literally everything in EM theory. The term electromagnetism comes the unification of the electric field and the magnetic field. so both measures have meaning. For example a DC circuit is very different from an 60hz AC circuit in the way it acts.. thing only get more crazy once you reach radio frequencies.
There also a big relationship between frequency and power, i.e. your amplitude drops at a given power as you ramp up the frequency. A simple example would be an actuator connect up to a 30hz signal. what you would see would be a little flipper or piston oscillating up and down with some amplitude pretty slowly. as you increase the frequency it would oscillate faster but the deflection you get will slowly drop.
it the same for a signal powering electric 3 phased motor, if you drive it at 30hz at a given power it will go pretty slowly, but you can put a heavier physical load on it. as you increase the frequency it should move faster that is until the friction of the load stop it from picking up anymore speed.. driving the frequency even more will like slow it down.
If you have any questions you can PM me if you want.
Writing is a work of art
I left this comment for Picasso saying he'd got the eye in the wrong place and he flew into a rage about it - he reckoned he knew more about art than I did !(OK, I'm not really that old, but you get the point)
Every writer produces what they believe is a good story - sure some stories are rubbish and some are brilliant, and probably most are somewhere in between. But if they put their all into doing it, I don't hold with this approach that says it's good to tell them they should have done it differently, just because you think so.
If someone really wants to know why they're not getting the thousands of Kudos that some popular writers get, then fine (in the same way that self-flagellation is fine), but otherwise, I feel criticisms discourage more than assist.
Use comments to build the writer and make them feel writing was worthwhile, not to tell them how your story would have been so much better, if you ever got off your arse to write it!