Non-threaded

Forums » Writing Workshop » Read Thread

Find proofreaders here, useful resources, and share opinions and advice on story crafting.

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

No, I'm with Steve here. They've demonstrated they have no idea how to write or even define a story on the most basic level, or communicate clearly in a forum post. They've had difficulty understanding other people's words multiple times, and not even acknowledged the excellent advice given by Bucky, the only serious poster in this thread. If this has all been done sincerely then they are, pretty objectively, terrible. 

Not saying that means they stop writing, because if this is for real then they're mostly terrible because they're young and dumb, but they're definitely not at a skill level where posting anything on this site would lead to anything but tears and almost immediate deletion.  

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

Well you're not exactly being supportive, Mizal. The great thing about this site is that it's a great place for noobish writers to come and share their ideas, receive constructive criticism, and improve. Whether they're good or bad, you need to at least give them a shot. Straight up telling them that their idea is stupid and they shouldn't even attempt to write it, is not helping them improve. So I'm sorry that this site isn't the land of perfect writers. But you have to deal with talking to newbies about their stories. How do you think children learn? They make mistakes, and learn from them. Do not shut people out.

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

She gave a scrap of a shitty idea, and Mizal asked her to make a case for her story, and she said "Why should I?". I criticized her game and she insulted mine. She claimed she was being bullied for criticism. Not only has Mizal been more than supportive, Spirit reacted like a spoilt brat and child. She has rejected all attempts at help and criticism. If someone acts like this, we shouldn't hold their hand and chide them. At that point, they need to fuck off and come back when they've grown up. Someone like that is beyond help, and deserves to be shut out.

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

The first thing Mizal said in this thread was "no." Just straight up no. Didn't ask for extra details or anything. Sure they could've given more to start with. Beginner mistake. But no matter your first impressions, that isn't how you start a conversation with someone you don't know. It puts them in a pissy mood.

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

Yeah, and when the OP is "Here's the name of a storygame I want to write with my friends. Should I?" then no's the only possible answer. Spirit gave no information other than the name. If you're going to put that little effort into asking people about this, then no, they should not make the storygame. If you think that as an OP is acceptable, then you have no business writing for the time being. That's only followed up with a vague summary of a premise so idiotic and child-like it tells us that Spirit has no place writing until she matures, and it's not the duty of Mizal or anyone here to hold Spirit's hand when she's putting in shit all effort and is clearly not ready.

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

May I ask what OP is first?

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

Sorry, it's "Opening Post".

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

I have some mixed emotions on this. I'm not entirely agreeing with either side. Yes, I fully understand what you mean, she opened with a horrible opening post. But I still feel that the response was sort of ignorant. Mizal could still have opened by asking for further details other than just shutting her out. But I see exactly where you're coming from, and yes, I agree that if the story were to be made, it would be nothing good. Probably complete WC shit level, who knows. But CYS is still a place where new writers are welcome, and new members should be respected when they first post. Otherwise, it is off-putting and makes them not want to write.

Hopefully you can understand my side of things. :P

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

I can understand your opinion that we should nurture new writers, but I think an incredibly important qualifier here is effort. If someone puts in the effort and makes a shitty game, then yes, it's our duty to have respect and try help them out. If someone has made something shitty and NOT put in the effort, then that's entirely their fault. In this case, Spirit has failed with any effort. It's not like she made a big post that Mizal just shut down with a simple response. Spirit put forward no effort at all in telling us the idea or the concepts she wanted to make. At that point, no one can be expected to put in effort to find details about this game when Spirit isn't going to give it. Writers only deserve to have effort used to help them when they themselves put in effort.

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

Yeah, no, sorry, there was no other reasonable response to the OP than a simple 'NO'. That's the only sensible reply anyone can make to this kind of thread.  

Asking for more details at that point wouldn't have made any sense. That would be showing more interest in the story than the author was, and that's just silly.

In fact, it was asking for further details that just made it all worse. She really should've quit when she was ahead. 'Yet another wolf story, you can play as a male or a female and choose your fur color' is not an idea anyone here is going to get behind.

Discussion of critique

9 years ago

Hmm, pretty sure I specifically told her she shouldn't stop writing? I even said the ideas could be made to work.

But the apathy (or I guess laziness if I'm being unkind...or, well, let's just call it a complete lack of passion) and level of spelling, grammar, and what seems a real failure to grasp of what makes a story a story is a real problem. I gave my opinion (in this thread where that was the exact thing she was asking for) that she shouldn't publish it on the site. Or are you seriously arguing that the story as described wouldn't be immediately savaged and deleted? Again, not saying writing it is a bad idea. But posting it here is, pretty objectively.

Have a look at the OP again why don't you. She's asking whether people think she should publish the story. That was the entire point of this thread. My response was no. This is a perfectly valid response to the yes or no question that was asked.

Bucky, by the way, gave exactly what you'd consider the 'right' kind of advice, in the 'right' kind of tone, and was completely ignored.  

But anyway, since I apparently do have to specifically go and point this out for some reason, I can respond to an open question asked on an open forum any way I like. I'm not shutting anyone out or making anyone do anything by expressing my opinion. You're not under the impression I'm physically restraining her from writing her story somehow, I hope? 

If random internet strangers giving you crap about a story idea is enough to immediately and completely kill all interest in writing it, you never cared about it the first place. Which is exactly why these kinds of threads are so pointless.