We stayed on the path. The light seemed to drip down from the canopy of the woods like rain. The going was easy, especially if we didn’t try to look at the path but let our feet find their own way.
Then through the trees I saw their fire…
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The Drabblecast Forums
And often, the old accept change better than the pretending-not-to-be-old.
Posted: January 30, 2012, 3:35 pm
tbaker2500 wrote:
And often, the old accept change better than the pretending-not-to-be-old.
Except on the Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Posted: January 30, 2012, 7:32 pm
strawman wrote:tbaker2500 wrote:And often, the old accept change better than the pretending-not-to-be-old.
Except on the Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Doesn't Housewives of Beverly Hills pretty much imply being part of the latter category?
Posted: January 30, 2012, 8:53 pm
Yes, I misunerstooderated.
I know which category I belong to.
I know which category I belong to.
Posted: January 30, 2012, 9:20 pm
This story was okay. I think I'd heard it somewhere else a while back (StarShipSofa?), but it had passed from my memory so thoroughly that I had no recollection of it other than the catchy title. It was an interesting idea, but... I don't know, it seemed overwrought or something, like it was trying so hard to be profound but didn't really feel profound. I'm not exactly sure why, but for me it missed the mark it seemed to be aiming for.
How's that for useless criticism?
How's that for useless criticism?
Posted: February 6, 2012, 5:40 pm
Unblinking wrote:
This story was okay. I think I'd heard it somewhere else a while back (StarShipSofa?), but it had passed from my memory so thoroughly that I had no recollection of it other than the catchy title. It was an interesting idea, but... I don't know, it seemed overwrought or something, like it was trying so hard to be profound but didn't really feel profound. I'm not exactly sure why, but for me it missed the mark it seemed to be aiming for.
How's that for useless criticism?
Er, when is criticism useful?
Posted: February 7, 2012, 1:35 am
tbaker2500 wrote:Unblinking wrote:This story was okay. I think I'd heard it somewhere else a while back (StarShipSofa?), but it had passed from my memory so thoroughly that I had no recollection of it other than the catchy title. It was an interesting idea, but... I don't know, it seemed overwrought or something, like it was trying so hard to be profound but didn't really feel profound. I'm not exactly sure why, but for me it missed the mark it seemed to be aiming for.
How's that for useless criticism?
Er, when is criticism useful?
It can certainly be useful in some contexts, though probably not this one. When I started writing a spent a lot of time on Baen's Bar giving and receiving story criticism, and learned much more in a few months about how I wanted to write then I had for the 18 months I'd gone solo before that.
Even in this context, thoughtful criticism could be useful for a writer who wants to know what kinds of things people tend to like and people tend not to like and decide for themselves how their own views compare.
But generally it's not much use for this kind of thing unless there are more specifics.
Posted: February 7, 2012, 2:46 pm
It depends so much on tone, and your specific definition of criticism. I've always found it to be much more effective to suggest to someone how to do something better, than tell them what I think they did wrong. People don't dig their heels in as much and resent you.
Posted: February 7, 2012, 3:44 pm
tbaker2500 wrote:
It depends so much on tone, and your specific definition of criticism. I've always found it to be much more effective to suggest to someone how to do something better, than tell them what I think they did wrong. People don't dig their heels in as much and resent you.
Really? Maybe I'm strange, but I prefer exactly the opposite. I prefer criticism to be more open-ended, so that it does not imply a solution. I'd rather be told what didn't work for someone and be allowed to figure out a solution that works for me, because usually whatever solution is proposed by someone else is not one that I like, it doesn't feel like my style. Taken to an extreme, I've had people rewrite scenes for my story which drives me nuts--they never work well with the original, and although I know I should give the benefit of the doubt about the intentions, it always comes off as arrogant to me when someone does so.
Posted: February 7, 2012, 5:12 pm
Within the realm of writing, I understand what you are saying. I was not referring to writing.
BTW, you and Mr. Tweedy would get along real well. Are you sure you aren't his sock puppet?
That being said, nothing gets my goad like someone presenting critique when it was not asked for. If somebody is looking to improve, ask for constructive criticism. But criticism unbidden just makes the critic seem self important. Sometimes people just want to present something they are proud of, even if it could be better.
There was a great article on it a while ago, "Why didn't you ask ME?" or something close to that floating around the interweb.
BTW, you and Mr. Tweedy would get along real well. Are you sure you aren't his sock puppet?
That being said, nothing gets my goad like someone presenting critique when it was not asked for. If somebody is looking to improve, ask for constructive criticism. But criticism unbidden just makes the critic seem self important. Sometimes people just want to present something they are proud of, even if it could be better.
There was a great article on it a while ago, "Why didn't you ask ME?" or something close to that floating around the interweb.
Posted: February 8, 2012, 1:18 am
One assumes that in Drabble, Short Story, and Twabble posts, requests for criticism are implied, right?
I mean, otherwise, a lot of us...
I mean, otherwise, a lot of us...
Posted: February 8, 2012, 11:44 am
strawman wrote:
One assumes that in Drabble, Short Story, and Twabble posts, requests for criticism are implied, right?
I mean, otherwise, a lot of us...
Absolutely, if its submitted on the forum then the forum members are invited to criticize. I’ve also only ever seen constructive crit on the forums… and personally I would value your comments – you are so wise.
Posted: February 8, 2012, 12:51 pm
tbaker2500 wrote:
BTW, you and Mr. Tweedy would get along real well. Are you sure you aren't his sock puppet?
Not that I know of. But that Mr. Tweedy is a crafty one, and I wouldn't put it past him to be so secretive about his sock puppet, that said sock puppet would think it was an individual. I guess I'll never know for sure unless I meet him at a convention or something! If I do, I'll be certain to post a photo, though the authenticity of such a photo would probably be questionable too...
strawman wrote:
One assumes that in Drabble, Short Story, and Twabble posts, requests for criticism are implied, right?
I mean, otherwise, a lot of us...
I would certainly make that assumption. And anything that gets published on this podcast or any other is open for criticism I'd think. That's why I hang out here and at the Escape Artists forums, after all. I have visited other podcast forums where criticism is not well received, it gets a reaction of defensiveness and outrage. Those are not forums I care to spend time at. The critique and discussion of what makes one story good and another one not are the whole point, to me.
Posted: February 8, 2012, 3:15 pm
Unblinking wrote:
The critique and discussion of what makes one story good and another one not are the whole point, to me.
Well, since you are a writer who is constantly aspiring to be better, that makes good sense.
I'm not, and so for me it's about enjoying stories. I'll rant when I didn't enjoy a story, tho. *cough morrisandthemachine cough*
Posted: February 8, 2012, 3:45 pm
strawman wrote:
One assumes that in Drabble, Short Story, and Twabble posts, requests for criticism are implied, right?
I mean, otherwise, a lot of us...
I really hate it when people end a sentence with an ellipsis...
Posted: February 8, 2012, 5:52 pm
