A Note on Feedback

[Eminence]

I think that here, we aren't giving each other enough feedback. That's the situation.

 

I don't know why it is, really. Maybe people are intimidated. Maybe they simply don't know what to say. Well, I guess it's time to change something.

 

I'll hold my hand up and admit I've campaigned vigorously for feedback to be as detailed and helpful as possible, and if you have nothing of the sort to say, then not to post at all. I'm going to change this unwritten rule.

 

I think the key thing, in general, is to just get as much feedback going as possible. The more detailed and in-depth the better - and I'm sure people will notice where effort has been made in feedback, and it will be acknowledged by the authors. However, not everyone can or will make their feedback so vivid and detailed, so from now on, anything goes in feedback (to a reasonable degree) - as long as you're making any sort of comment, it's okay.

 

So what does this mean? Well, if you really want, you could just say you enjoyed it, and maybe pick out something in particular you enjoyed. You don't have to be in depth, you don't have to say something other people haven't picked up on - just say what you thought. That's the main thing.

 

I fear that a lot of things are actually getting read by people, and then the readers aren't leaving any feedback. It's very true that writers love to receive feedback, but even if there's no meat to it, they just want their work to be acknowledged by the readers.

 

So please, please, no matter what it is you have to say, if you read something, reply to it, even if all you can think to say is 'well done'.

[Omnia sunt Communia]

I think something as simple as the "feedback sandwich" is good enough, in most cases. It only needs to be three statements long and is quite simple to pull off, especially if you have actually read the piece in question. Start off with someone nice, something you liked about the story; then suggest somewhere they could improve and then close again with another compliment. Something like this:

 

I really enjoyed your story, it had a good narrative and the characters really spoke to me. However I felt like it lacked description in some places. Though I did enjoy the way you described the character's clothes, that was spot on.

 

How hard is that? I think if we could all aim towards something like that, at the minimum, this place would turn out to be a lot more active and friendly. I mean after all, you cannot expect to recieve feedback if you don't give it, can you?

[Abel.]

I agree, Em, after seeing work with little to no feedback (other than that posted by myself or another single individual alone) I believe something must be done to increase the amount of recognition and advise concerning work. Additionally, after posting two pieces that have received no feedback, I understand how frustrating it is to have no constructive or positive comments on work.

[Exclusiv3]

What is feedback but mere materialistic pandering? But...

 

If you want more feedback, there's this method that has worked in the past. "No one can post a story of their own, or even a thread of their own, without commenting on at least 3 stories". Of course, I paraphrased but this is the gist.

 

--And try to steer clear of your characters eating meat in any of your stories. Why not have them eat fresh fruit and water instead?

[Abel.]

I am still seeing many pieces with Zero replies and about thirty views, come on guys, if you see something and wish to comment,

don't be afraid to bloody do it!

[Oxidizer]

Who cares if they're nervous to leave feedback or not?

 

If you've read it, comment.

[The Unvirginiser]

I brought up a points system a while ago, but I think that it might be a step too far in this case, especially since we get so many one time posters. Really, if any of us have a story on the front page, then we should all have posted in every other topic. So i'm gonna' try and aim for that as much as I can over the next few weeks, and hopefully we all will.