Ooh - I have a question for writers and readers:

[leethet]

I've gotten the impression that it's considered kind of bad manners to admit you think your story isn't good. If you agree, what is the reasoning behind that? Note: I'm not here to attack anyone's position. I don't even have one myself except that if this is a thing, as I've kind of gleaned, I'm not sure I understand why it's a thing.

As ever, any sort of response and discussion is welcome in my LJ.

Comments

[venturous1.livejournal.com]

there is the fishing for reassurance thing, and then there is asking for what you need - sincere feedback, opinions, places to improve.

as much as I love fandom's code of positive feedback, it s sometimes difficult to get helpful suggestions.

my favorite writing coach and friend encourages us to 'ask questions' - if something doesnt scan right, if something is vague or confusing, address it in the form of a question. maybe that's a way to ask for constructive input.

[leethet.livejournal.com]

as much as I love fandom's code of positive feedback, it s sometimes difficult to get helpful suggestions.

Is it ever! Although even if a person might have good feedback to offer, I respect that they might not have the time or the energy at that point to favor me (the writer) with their assistance. I'd value it, but really, they probably have better things to do with their time, and I don't blame them! That's why it's such a treasure when an intelligent informed reader offers critical feedback. And why it irks me so that such folks have been slapped down by self-absorbed special snowflakes so often that they've STOPPED offering it.

I mean, am I the only writer who has ever profited personally from someone's comments not only on her own work but on other people's work? More than once I've look at a comment on someone else's stuff and gone "Oh - I do that too! Good point!" This is why discussion of the craft is so valuable, and fun besides.

Or, as elmey mentioned ... I need to get that some people don't care to improve, or believe they don't need it (or somehow imagine that the world thinks they're perfect, hence public criticism is somehow revealing some tragic secret that will result in disaster? Who knows how such folks view that? Not I).

Sigh.