http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ Web Fiction Guide Forums » Tag: feedback - Recent Topics en Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:48:55 +0000 http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/a-definition-of-success#post-7368 Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:28:06 +0000 M.C.A. Hogarth 7368@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>Since this has come up a few times in the past few weeks, I thought I'd offer a link to my post about definitions of success:</p> <p><a href="http://haikujaguar.livejournal.com/989051.html" rel="nofollow">http://haikujaguar.livejournal.com/989051.html</a></p> <p>If you are too busy to read the whole thing, the takeaway is probably the last line: Because if you have ever made a single thing that touched another person, you too, have succeeded. </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/desparate-for-feedback-from-this-enlightened-community#post-7344 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:36:49 +0000 SamNye 7344@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>I am a little concerned that Chris is the only person who has reviewed my online novel, Small Town Ravaging (www.smalltownravaging.weebly.com). I am just wondering, if anyone has been there and been turned off by something in particular that kept you from coming back, could you please let me know? I am having trouble securing feedback, and so I have almost no sense of whether or not my story is just rubbish, or if there is something about the setup of my site that sends people away. (One thing I know for sure is that the chapters are long, as I wrote them long before deciding to make my story available online, thus they tend to run a little too long for just casual weekly reading.)<br /> Just a polite enquiry. If I am jumping the gun after only a month, feel free to tell me that as well :)<br /> Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read/reply to this post. </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/review-request-awakenings-awakeningsembklitzkecom#post-7104 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:40:51 +0000 Erin Klitzke 7104@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>I've been listed on Web Fiction Guide for a few months, but I still haven't gotten any reviews (looks like I went up in a batch of works that for some reason didn't get any, which is okay).</p> <p>I apologize, because I'm eight and a half chapters in now, so it's starting to be a monster work. Folks have given me blurb feedback, but I still haven't gotten any actual reviews. One or two would definitely be appreciated!</p> <p>Thanks in advance, guys, both for any potential reviews in the future, but also for all the advice I've gotten from the community since I went live back in April. </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/review-request-grigors-amazing-adventure-part-zero#post-6980 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:19:47 +0000 GrigorsAdventure 6980@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>Hey, </p> <p>I wrote this novel to be compeletely over the top in manliness and completely outrageous to boot. So I was wondering if people could tell me what they think of it? Does anyone want to see the actual story emerge or is that a lost cause? should I try to tighten up the writing style to make it more focused, or does it being a bit crazy work?</p> <p>Thanks loads guys </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/which-is-the-more-compelling-description#post-6862 Sat, 18 Jun 2011 10:51:22 +0000 Erin Klitzke 6862@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>I have two different teaser descriptions of <em>Awakenings</em>, one here and one at Muse-Success. I figured I'd ask folks to see which they found more compelling (I haven't gotten reviews at either venue either way, but I thought I'd ask).</p> <p>Description #1:</p> <blockquote><p>On the campus of a small Michigan university, a small knot of survivors struggles to survive the end of the world. When everything they have ever known is spiraling out of control, these few survivors begin to awaken to supernatural gifts they were born with, gifts and sensitivities many of them were not aware of before the end of everything. Now, their newfound senses may mean the difference between survival and death in a new world struggling to be born and forever changed.</p> <p>As technology dies, the things that modern society has taught us not to see become seen again, become more potent and more dangerous than ever before. A few of these survivors already know that. In the birthing pains of a new world, a new humanity, many more will become painfully aware that the things that go bump in the night have teeth and a toehold in our world as well.</p> <p>Denial is not an option. Acceptance of inborn gifts, of mystical abilities and energies, is a key to survival in the days and years after the end of everything.</p></blockquote> <p>Description #2:</p> <blockquote><p>Marin Astoris saw the world ending a few years ago, but she thought it was going to die in a nuclear war. She was mercifully wrong, but now she and her friends have been left on the shattered campus of her Michigan university alone to face the birth of a new world. Many of them slowly awaken to inborn metaphysical abilities that may mean the difference between life and death for these survivors of the world's end as they struggle to survive the death of the modern world.</p> <p>Thom Ambrose's relationship with Marin has been on the rocks for the better part of a year. He sees what she sees, but he can't allow himself to believe in the visions he has. If he dares to believe, he's going to lose the one thing in the world he loves the most: her.</p> <p>It's thirty-some college students and one professor trying to survive the end of the world they knew and the birth of a new reality. If they can survive the first year, they just might have a shot.</p></blockquote> <p>Thanks! </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/how-do-you-define-your-update-schedule-thinking-about-changing-mine#post-6696 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:44:53 +0000 Erin Klitzke 6696@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>I started my fiction serial <em>Awakenings</em> earlier this month with the original intention of doing updates every Monday and Friday. In keeping up with this and keeping myself ahead of my update schedule, I've realized that I probably produce enough material week to week that I could go ahead and do three updates a week rather than two, which would mean that I'm getting up full chapters <em>slightly</em> faster than I am right now.</p> <p>How has everyone here come to their decisions on how frequently to update their fiction on the web? I'm looking for some thoughts and advice on whether I should increase my update schedule to three updates a week rather than the two I'm doing now. </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/review-request-the-surprising-life-and-death-of-diggory-franklin#post-6154 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 08:57:34 +0000 Gavin Williams 6154@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>"The Surprising Life and Death of Diggory Franklin" has been on the WFG since 2008, so it might seem funny that I'm requesting a review. However, timing is everything -- there were editor reviews in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and they helped me to put the story in perspective and see how well it was working. Now, I've just finished Book 9 (The Shocking Trial!) and it's an excellent point for a retrospective look, as it brought back almost every character from all 9 books and it's building towards the inevitable September that Calla Wiley predicted would see the demise of Diggory.</p> <p>Book 10 leads up to those events, and then the story is going to be drastically different -- I don't want to give anything away other than my writing is exciting me lately, so I've been updating daily out of sheer enthusiasm. So I feel this is the best time to ask for people to take a serious look at the entire series to date and share their thoughts, even if it's just to update an old review. I'd love to see new viewpoints on the story as it takes a new direction as well.</p> <p>In addition, we're running a bonus story incentive that for every 5 reviews on WFG I'll explore side stories through the other characters, deepening the story mythology, so you'll be helping my readers get more of what they enjoy! </p> <p>Thanks in advance,</p> <p>Gavin </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/new-reader-interaction-ideas#post-6011 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:15:14 +0000 Gavin Williams 6011@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>So I was surfing the net and a little while ago I came across this great Novelr guest article by Cecilia Tan:</p> <p><a href="http://www.novelr.com/2010/10/28/passing-the-hat" rel="nofollow">http://www.novelr.com/2010/10/28/passing-the-hat</a></p> <p>I really liked her idea for inspiring donations from her audience by setting targets for specific storylines and plot twists, so that readers got to get involved in shaping the details of the story itself. That's a lot cooler than just asking for random donations, or just having say a three update a week schedule and giving a bonus chapter. </p> <p>So for anyone who's following "The Surprising Life and Death of Diggory Franklin" I challenged my readers to submit storyline ideas, and after I've had a few I'll do a poll for what the audience finds the most interesting, and set donation goals for that target. The blog about it is here: <a href="http://gavinwilliams.digitalnovelists.com/node/805" rel="nofollow">http://gavinwilliams.digitalnovelists.com/node/805</a></p> <p>I think inviting your audience to tell you what they'd like to see in a plot is a little risky, but also fun for interaction -- especially since they're mainly asking for greater detail on things they've already seen hinted at. It gives me as a writer insight into the corners of the story world that I might have a blind spot for, but that readers want to see.</p> <p>Anyone else have their own ideas on reader interaction? What's working for you? </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/review-request-cold-ghost-1#post-5874 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 07:18:47 +0000 intergal 5874@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>Hello all.</p> <p>I'm re-requesting reviews of 'Cold Ghost', as we're now much deeper into the story (14 chapters and 1 side story so far) and I've also been doing some tweeking around the site. I wasn't sure if should create a new thread for this, especialy since I think I changed links since my first review, but I'll close down this thread and re-open the old one if need be.</p> <p>I've been debating whether or not to add on a 'Recommended Viewing/Reading' as well, but I don't know what people would think of this. (Not related to linking to other web serials) I'm mainly looking for web novel feedback, but comments on the site are fine as well. Thank you very much for your time, and I look forward to your feedback.</p> <p>Link to main site is here: <a href="http://evashandor.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">http://evashandor.wordpress.com</a> </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/the-noble-pirates#post-5840 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:37:56 +0000 Fiction Chick 5840@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>Hello all!</p> <p>I am inviting everyone to visit my serial fiction blog, The Noble Pirates (<a href="http://thenoblepirates.com)" rel="nofollow">http://thenoblepirates.com)</a>. Book One is finally finished, and while the story isn't over yet, it's a somewhat satisfying conclusion. ;) Let me know what you think, and if you like it, rate it!</p> <p>Thanks,<br /> Fiction Chick </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/website-makeover-necessary-or-not#post-5539 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:11:57 +0000 eikasia 5539@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>Hello all!</p> <p>So I've been looking to expand my site and hopefully my readership--the thing is, I dunno what else to do!</p> <p>Months ago I revamped my site to be more user friendly. With time I've tweaked things here and there, only I'm still certain there's more that I can improve upon. My main concern is readability; is it too overwhelming/cluttered with text, links, and images, or does it need more obvious navigation? My second concern is professional appeal; does my site look like it takes itself seriously, and does it look good doing it? Does the warm, brown scheme seem dull? Should I go with a cool-colored theme? Maybe pay for a pro-wordpess theme that seems befitting a fantasy novel?</p> <p>I've been trying to polish my website in preparation for the new installment set to begin by this Fall at the latest. As I begin that, I was going to make an ad push on webcomic sites, and (hopefully) begin offering premium content to my readers. But with premium content and serious advertising, it stands to reason that I should have a serious website, right?</p> <p>So whatever feedback I can get, that'd be extremely great!!</p> <p><a href="http://eighthcirclestudios.com/eikasia/" rel="nofollow">http://eighthcirclestudios.com/eikasia/</a> </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/lucky-monday-review-request#post-5517 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:56:20 +0000 Robert Rodgers 5517@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>So, it's up for real, now (thanks to the mods!). Any and all reviews would be appreciated. Webfiction Guide link is here:</p> <p><a href="http://webfictionguide.com/listings/the-last-skull/" rel="nofollow">http://webfictionguide.com/listings/the-last-skull/</a> </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/the-last-skull-informal-review-superhero-fiction#post-5445 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:59:53 +0000 Robert Rodgers 5445@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>I submitted a new story (which is an old story that I've been working on for some time) to the web fiction guide a few days ago; while I'm waiting for its approval/disapproval, however, I thought I'd ask some general opinions on both the layout (which I'm hoping is an improvement--visually and mechanically--over Arcadia Snips) and the story so far (which I'm somewhat concerned with, as it's a bit of a departure from my usual fair).</p> <p>The story's opening is located here: <a href="http://the-last-skull.blogspot.com/2010/06/beginning-1.html" rel="nofollow">http://the-last-skull.blogspot.com/2010/06/beginning-1.html</a> &lt;-- I'll be posting thrice a week. My idea right now is to create a few 'Arsenal' and 'Biography' posts--'in character' posts about the main superhero's various tools-of-the-trade, adversaries, and allies--to fill in on the few days when I can't make the deadline for some reason.</p> <p>Anyway, any suggestions, advice, or criticisms--about the page's set up, color scheme, or the story's content itself--would be much appreciated! </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/review-request-mirrorfall#post-5317 Sun, 16 May 2010 18:18:25 +0000 Grace McDermott 5317@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>As I mentioned in another thread, I just finished Mirrorfall Book #3 (Mirrorshades), and in the little break before I get back into Book #4 (The Grey Edge - basically a "masochistic love story between a magpie and an angel"), I thought this would be a good time to get a few more reviews, and a few more readers. :D</p> <p>Mirrorfall, for those of you who haven't heard of it is basically an urban fantasy written for geeks - the main character is a code monkey, who gets recruited by what amounts to the supernatural-MiB, there's a department full of gamers who spend all of their off-hours playing WoW, designing games or making alarms that go off when certain webcomics are updated. </p> <p>At the moment, there are three completed books (Mirrorfall, Mirrorheart, Mirrorshades), with the fourth already ten chapters in (as there was a little crossover with the second half of Mirrorshades), a handful of short stories, and a lot more updates to come. </p> <p>Oh, and you'll need the link: <a href="http://requirecookie.com">Mirorfall: The Series</a> </p> http://forums.webfictionguide.com/topic/thanks-for-the-review-fiona#post-5302 Fri, 14 May 2010 07:27:22 +0000 Gavin Williams 5302@http://forums.webfictionguide.com/ <p>I wanted to say thank you to Fiona for her review of Diggory. Your insights, as always, are much appreciated. I think that you particularly hit the nail on the head with your closing sentences:</p> <p>"No matter how confusing, frustrating, and senseless life can get, a person doesn’t have to just sit back and take it. Maybe that’s the message of Diggory Franklin." I think that is indeed Diggory's theme -- as the writer of his story and the creator of his reality, I have put him in an impossible and difficult position. He is aware of his own impending demise. Some people would crumble, and Diggory somehow soldiers on.</p> <p>The thing I like about the story, and Diggory as its protagonist, is that he doesn't mope around long. He finds something proactive to do. I think this is the direct result of a lot of soap operatic elements on television, where characters wallow in small dramas and take little action. "Reality" television also seems to be filled with whiners with high expectations and a sense of entitlement. </p> <p>I also appreciated hearing "Gavin has a varied imagination, and here’s his chance to exercise it freely and see where it takes us." I agree that, being in serial form, the story runs the risk of having too many hanging threads. "No Man an Island" was a complete novel long before I was posting it online, so it had a defined beginning, middle and end (even if they weren't in the usual order :P ). "Diggory" is a true open-ended serial, with cliffhangers and "the story so far" along the way. I try my best to balance making today's chapter interesting, and giving hints of more to come.</p> <p>I approach it like the X-Men comics my father let me read growing up. Chris Claremont wrote the X-Men for twenty years, and he took it from relative obscurity to Marvel's bestselling title. He did that by making this month's issue interesting, and giving you something to come back for next issue. But he also hid small sub-plots in scenes, in characters' speeches and thought bubbles, and in mysterious appearances by shadowy figures, or random encounters. He laid groundwork for future stories constantly, and he'd follow up on them over the course of a year, or five years, or ten, and sometimes twenty. He tied together all the loose ends before he was finished, but it was a decades-long project.</p> <p>I don't intend to leave my threads hanging quite that long, but I do worry about ever slowing down to the point that I reach that "Tales of MU" glacial pace. I've guarded myself against it by collecting each "Book" around one central conflict or plotline. Each "Book" leads us closer to his coming doom, and has its own surprises on the way. By concentrating on making individual chapters interesting, and individual Books complete in their own main conflicts, I'm doing my best to keep the serial interesting and not dragging. So, I'm saying I appreciate that your review is aware of the risks of the serial, and that I'm worried about the same thing -- so hopefully I'll guard against it better in the future.</p> <p>So again, thank you for noticing the things I'm proudest of, and highlighting the things I worry about too. Hopefully with those things in mind I can continue to craft a better and better story. It was a great review -- and I didn't even have to bribe you for it! ;) </p>