Thread: Getting noticed

I seem to be having trouble getting feedback for my work in the writing sections (fiction/workshop forums). I see most of the other threads getting loads of replies, but mine get few. Is there some way I could make them more attractive so that I can get more feedback? I really need feedback.

One thing to try is to critique others' works. This will get you known for your helpfulness and you stand a better chance of having them reciprocate on your threads.

Okay, so I checked out all the posts you've started. Many of them do have replies, so it's not like you are actually getting ignored. (For the purposes of this thread, I'm ignoring everything in the writing discussion forum, and just focusing on original work you've posted).

The two longer works of fiction that you've posted don't have spaces between the paragraphs or indentation. I see how that happened -- you had it indented in your word processing program, but the internet doesn't deal well with indenting -- here we prefer blank lines between the paragraphs. Since you have neither, everything blurs together and I have no interest in working my way through it.

Your poems are fine, if a little vague, but I'm just very picky about what sort of poems I care enough to comment on.

I am also, to be honest, less interested in giving feedback to you because you're choosing to spam the world with your religion in your signature. Don't think that I'm offended, but also don't think that I'm going to be endeared to you and extra helpful because of it. In my experience, people who feel the need to spam that specific message to strangers have tended to be closed minded and unwilling to listen to suggestions -- which makes me wonder if putting my effort into a full critique is worthwhile. I realize I'm playing very heavily with biases and stereotyping here, but, well, I'm being honest. This has been less of a conscious decision and more of a subconscious habit that I'm only realizing as I write this.

[edit: I want to stress that I'm really really trying not to be offensive here, just completely honest. I don't know you well, but I hope you can understand where I'm coming from.]

Also, of course, there's the very valid point that Foxee made. I'm not sure how much critiquing you've done, but that's fairly critical if you expect others to give critiques back.

On a side note, if you ever want me to critique something of yours, just send me a PM and I'd be happy to help. I'll never turn down a personalized request if I have the time to spare.

i personally don't find her sig line in any way relevant. i mean...you have quotes from 2 communist sympathizers
in your sig-line. should i take that as you spamming the board with your political inspirations?

To echo jw's comment, presentation of your writing matters. Reading a large work on the screen is hard enough on my eyes, and large blocks of text are even more difficult.

Off Topic:

Originally Posted by dale

i personally don't find her sig line in any way relevant. i mean...you have quotes from 2 communist sympathizers
in your sig-line. should i take that as you spamming the board with your political inspirations?

You're right that his signature shouldn't be relevant -- he asked how he could get more responses, however, and I'm trying to be honest about my own subconscious discriminations that may have prevented me from giving feedback previously. Not offended, not saying it should be removed.

I probably shouldn't take the bait, but... two communist sympathizers? My quotes, if you read them, have nothing to do with communism. I'll admit to spamming my musicals tastes -- if that's preventing honest discussion, I'll consider removing them.

The site works on a system of reciprocity. If people see that you don't give many critiques, they'll ask themselves why they should give you one in return. You get nothing for free in this world, unfortunately, not even a critique. The problem may be that you need to give more.

Your replies to past critiques may also factor into the equation. If people have (and I'm merely speculating to make a point here) given you a critique you didn't like and you made a point of stating this, or arguing with them, they may extrapolate that you aren't seeking constructive criticism. Sometimes it's best, if you disagree with a certain critique, to thank the person and take what you need from it. Discard what you don't.

I hate to turn this into a religious debate (every thread eventually does that) but I'm inclined to agree with J.W.. Whether you believe in God and Jesus is your business, but your signature is a little too preachy for my taste. With the greatest of respect, I don't like proselytising, and it strikes me that way. I apologise if I've offended you or your beliefs, but I hope you take this in the spirit it's meant.

Originally Posted by dale

i personally don't find her sig line in any way relevant. i mean...you have quotes from 2 communist sympathizers
in your sig-line. should i take that as you spamming the board with your political inspirations?

I have to say that when someone attempts to force something onto me I'm not interested in by means of propaganda messages, I'm much less likely to want to help them.
I simply wouldn't help somebody who bashes the bible over my head, which is what the sigs do. It's so typical of Christians to disrespect us in this way, and then say that we should help them. Sorry, but it's not going to happen.

So yes, propaganda sigs are relevant.

Originally Posted by Rustgold

It's so typical of Christians to disrespect us in this way, and then say that we should help them. Sorry, but it's not going to happen.

It's interesting how one person's signature can lead to such incredible insights about the whole, rusty. You're a very gifted individual.

Originally Posted by j.w.olson

Off Topic:



You're right that his signature shouldn't be relevant -- he asked how he could get more responses, however, and I'm trying to be honest about my own subconscious discriminations that may have prevented me from giving feedback previously. Not offended, not saying it should be removed.

I probably shouldn't take the bait, but... two communist sympathizers? My quotes, if you read them, have nothing to do with communism. I'll admit to spamming my musicals tastes -- if that's preventing honest discussion, I'll consider removing them.

it doesn't. i was just making a point. and i like dylan's music, regardless of what he stood for.

I'll make a note to remove anything in my signatures if I come to a point where I want to get any of my work critiqued.

The only point there should be is that if you don't give critiques you won't get them. Period.

Edit: I haven't read any of your work because I don't generally read sci-fi/fantasy/horror. Mysteries and historical fiction are my genres of choice.

Hi Cadence. I like that name. "Cadence". Pretty, and musical.

So here are my tips to get more responses..

1) Keep your pieces brief, as many internet users today suffer from decreased attention spans (myself included). I've noticed 2,500 and less word counts tend to get more responses than higher word counts. Your writing could be amazing but sometimes people will look at the length of it and move on, because they aren't willing to spend so much time reading something.

2) Double space between paragraphs, for ease of reading. Very few people are willing to trudge through an endless block of text. Spaces between paragraphs give the reader time to "breathe" and allows poignant pauses for comprehension and retension.

3) Give constructive feedback to others. Other writers are just as eager to be read and commented on as you are, and if they like your feedback, they may want to return the favor.

4) If you do want specific advice, give simple, open ended questions so people know what to look for and reply to. Example: "What can I do to make the opening stronger?" or "What do you think of the ending?" The more specific your questions, the easier it is for the reader to formulate a response.

Sometimes an open-ended "What do you think?" can be ignored, because, while the reader may think many things, he/she may not wish to put in the effort to type them all out. But if you narrow the focus a bit, the feedback becomes more managable. "What do you think of my main character?", for example, is something much easier to respond to.

5) Look at the most responded-to pieces and identify the characteristics that make them so popular. Does the writer ask for specific feedback, vague feedback, or none at all? How long is the piece? How is it visually structured? How does the writer respond to feedback? etc..

Best of luck!

OFF TOPIC:

Originally Posted by dale

it doesn't. i was just making a point. and i like dylan's music, regardless of what he stood for.

He didn't stand for much of anything. His fans imagined he did based on a few of his songs -- and those were mostly inspired by his girlfriend's ideas and politics. He was perfectly happy to leave all that behind when it suited him. I don't fault him -- he made a lot of great music. But some of his reputation as a poser is deserved.

Originally Posted by JosephB

He didn't stand for much of anything. His fans imagined he did based on a few of his songs -- and those were mostly inspired by his girlfriend's ideas and politics. He was perfectly happy to leave all that behind when it suited him. I don't fault him -- he made a lot of great music. But some of his reputation as poser is deserved.

To bring this back some distance towards relevancy, I'll go ahead and mention that I quote a line of one of his songs in my signature because it captures the attitude I take towards talking about fiction. I can be polite and complimentary in my critiques, but if someone needs to hear something to improve, I'd rather they hear it now rather than struggle on through years of pleasantries and praise before learning the same lesson and having wasted time. Not that all struggle is a waste, but working together benefits from honesty.

I (and apparently several others) find Cadence's signature distasteful. And we're allowed to, just the same as he is allowed to keep it as a signature. I would have said nothing, but he asked how to get more critiques. Fair or not, removing the signature would remove a variable pre-biasing me against his work. I realize this is a volatile issue, but I figured my input might help. I'll certainly be more generous toward someone who is respectful towards me in the first place. (Though you'll notice, if you check, that I've also given several critiques to him already.)

That said everything that has been said and condensed wonderfully into a list by KyleColorado is the most important advice. My apologies to everyone for stirring the pot.

cadence is a man? by the name, i figured it was a woman. knew a stripper who called herself cadence, once.
sounds like a female name. who knows.