I am a new member here, but have been a reader for some time. I recently wrote PRIVATELY to an author here. She alerted me to the number of negative comments she had received for one particular story and we discussed the pain such negativity can cause in the mind of the writer. Can I make a suggestion? There is a management tool called the 'Praise Sandwich' in which the first paragraph is something positive or praise-worthy; the second and third (if necessary) can be something negative or critical, and the final paragraph again something positive. This will leave the writer in a better frame of mind, even though some criticsm has been received.I expect people will say 'Who do you think you are, to tell us that?' Especially in your first blog! All I am trying to say is 'Think before you write'. Just reiterating what Erin says, that's all.
BigCloset TopShelf
TopShelf TG Fiction in the BigCloset!
The Hatbox
Checks can be made out & sent to:
Joyce Melton
1001 Third St.
Space 80
Calimesa, CA 92320
USA
Note: $6000 is the operating, maintenance and upgrade budget. Amounts received in excess of the $6000 will be applied to long term debt accrued over the last 19 years.
If you prefer, you can donate through Patreon:
Become a Patron!
Thank you!
Comments
Thank you Kate,
Very well put and I agree wholeheartedly with you----and I have never met a 'Kate' who was not a nice person.
ALISON
ALISON
So what you're saying is...
The person who put up the negative comment should have his or her name changed to Kate? ;-P
But seriously, I don't think anything is wrong with the posting of negative comment if they're constructive. The story might actually become better in the process.
If it's a general "This sucks/blows/, etc." let them post it. If, in a couple of postings, they keep doing it everyone will start ignoring it, including the author. Trolls get ignored when they start flamebaiting very soon.
Criticisms should not be posted like graffiti!
I have turned off comments on my most recent stories, because I do not believe a public noticeboard is the correct place to put criticisms. We have a private message system, which is ideal for sending sensitively-worded criticisms. To me, entering criticisms in the public comments area is too much like writing on a graffiti-covered wall.
Incidentally, since the criticism is the "filling" of the sandwich, I have always known the term to be called a "critics' sandwich".
;)
I do SO love sandwiches!
Wonderful idea, Kate. Thank you.
Bobbie's stories -Â
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/14775/roberta-j-cabot
Bobbie's blogs -
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/blog/bobbie-c
A couple of old but good
A couple of old but good rules for readers:
Praise in public, criticize in private.
If you can't find anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Kris
{I leave a trail of Kudos as I browse the site. Be careful where you step!}
I'll Accept ANY Comment
Good or bad...it's better than the indifference of silence. You can always try to engage the commentor in a PM and see if there is any common ground....and if they plain don't like what you write they don't have to read your next offering.
I can look at the hits/kudos count to see if I have made some connection with the audience, but comments that do not kill me make me stronger (to paraphrase Nietzsche), and I'm not dead yet,
Your Comment Junkie,
Joanne
Wasn't it Ophelia Wilde who said...
...the only thing worse than being commented on is not being commented on?
Love, Andrea Lena
Not sure who
FIRST said it, but I would certainly agree. I would also mention that the BEST sandwich is a PRAWN sandwich. ^_^
Yumyumyum. :)
prefer tuna
or salmon and cucumber, myself.
Angharad
Comments
If I have enjoyed a story I will leave a comment, though this has not always been the case (covering my butt here, I do not want hurt feelings). You may say it is a new and enlightened policy for me.
If I can leave constructive criticism (beyond I didn't like it) I do so, with the intent to help.
If I can not do either one I say nothing, it isn't indifference. It is possible to write a good story that I don't enjoy, though from my point of view it may be better to say a well written story, not necessarily the same thing.
Negative Comments and their effects on Authors
Me, I know how negative comments can hurt when the commenter is really vicious. At another site, a member there caused such a ruckus that I no longer post there.
May Your Light Forever Shine
Uhhh, hmmm, okay, so,
never mind Brahahahahahahahahaha
S*** sandwhich
I always knew it as the s*** sandwich approach you deliver your nasty criticism between two sweet pieces of bread.
Of course,I think I like Praise sandwich I was never really comfortable with the other.
Have delightfully devious day,
Legitimate constructive criticism
If you feel that you must make a negative comment on a story, in addition to Kate's excellent sandwich method try to remember these three guidelines:
1) Ideally, the point of a negative comment should be that you want to help the writer improve her craft. If you found a story to be utterly deplorable with no redeeeming qualities, and the writer was such a hack that years of practice are needed before she could make anything worth reading, your comment helps no one. But if you enjoyed 80% of a story and only had a problem with the other 20%, go ahead and comment. (And like Kate says, mentioning that 80% in your comment is a good thing.)
2) Make your negatives about you, and not the story. Say "I didn't understand X," instead of "X is confusing." Say "I had a problem with this part of the story," rather than "This part of the story was bad." Don't state your opinions as facts, and make it clear that your emotional reaction to a story is coming from within you.
3) Open a dialogue with the other readers. If you're going to make a comment that's solely directed at the author, send it as a private message. A comment is posted in an interactive public forum, so have a reason. Say something like, "Maybe it's because I had a similar experience in my life, but this part of the story made me very angry. Was it just me, or did anyone else feel that way?" Sometimes it is just you.
You are so right, Kate
There are some of us in here that don't get affected by negative things..... but i know it must be hurtful to others. Myself, I can take it on the chin but don't dish it out...... if I don't like a piece (say, if it's got violence or humiliation stuff) then I leave it alone. I crave the feedback from other writers and your suggestion, about the sandwich, should be adopted by everyone. Thank you. Love Ginger x
Brutal comments are one
Brutal comments are one thing, honest criticism another. I don't condone flaming someone's story (or the author themselves) but feedback is necessary whether positive or negative. I've seen stories on this site that are the equal of most anything published today and others that look like a 5-year old got access to mommy and daddy's computer. The authors who write well, whether the storyline is our cup of tea or not, should be praised for their craft. On the other hand, if a story is a disjointed mishmash of the author's fantasies, if the dialogue bears no resemblance to something anyone would say, if the spelling and punctuation looks like the cat walked across the keyboard...well, they need to know that their writing needs work. Gently, sure, but they need to know. If that's too much for their ego to bear, then having their story criticized is the least of their concerns.
hence
Hence, the "Praise Sandwich" approach. You can offer up criticism and stroke the writer's ego at the same time. You're right that there are some pretty poor writers, but there's no reason to be cruel.
Have delightfully devious day,
One aspect about comments.
Dear katie,
One aspect about comments seems not to be have been considered here.
For some authors, comments are the life blood of their endeavours.
I for one, turn first to the comments column every time I go to BC just to see what has been written (if anything at all.) Whilst I always prefer supportive, positive comments I accept that some comments are bound to be destructive.
If the comments function has to be more formally structured at the instigation of the commentator, that duty might deter some commentators from bothering to make a comment at all.
I have no idea how many authors are similar to me insofar as comments are what I look for first but if the comments are reduced because of what might be deemed by some to be an unecessary burden, then I would feel less fulfilled to receive less comments. (They're few enough as it is! ... Well, I think they are.) Fortunately, I don't receive too many negative comments so perhaps I'm being unfair here but for me, comments, any comments are better than none.
Give me comments or give me literary death.
Bev.
I'm ambivalent about this subject...
I'm so grateful in general to the people who invest their precious hours to write stories and then take the huge leap of courage to share them with us here. At least from my point of view, I partly measure how good my day was based on how much I enjoyed reading what was posted on BCTS.
As has been observed elsewhere, comments are about the only coin with which we as readers can reward the authors who share themselves with us. In that light, leaving any kind of comment that is negative grates on me. Even wretchedly written stories are expensive gifts given to us as readers and we would do well to respect the givers.
However I've noticed that in general negative comments which are at all pertinent (bashing comments don't even make it through my reading filter) tend to be more honest and useful than complimentary ones. I'm curious about how others feel. Would you rather receive a thoughtful butt-chewing, or a vague, general compliment? Which has more value to you?
** Mischief **
Authors should ....
... grow thick skins or not post at all.
On occasion I get "What &^%$ drivel - you should had been aborted!" reviews.
Does that affect my life? No :)