I’ve been on this site for a little while now, and I’ve noticed a lot of people talking about editing or needing help editing. When I see this, to me, it means someone is happy with their story and they just want to make sure all their commas are in the right place, and there isn’t any embarrassing grammatical errors. For the most part, every story I’ve read on here hasn’t had a grammatical error that distracted from the narrative the author was trying to create, but... I have seen a whole lot of structural and technical issues that were distracting. What is a structural issue? Story pacing, characters saying or doing something that seems out of character, holes in the plot, and so on. What are technical issues? The most glaring is usually telling instead of showing, but it can include dialogue that lacks fluidity among others. A critique looks at the arch of the story. Is there enough tension? Is it self indulgent. That is a big one. If you’re writing and posting for others to see that means you are writing for an audience, not just yourself. A lot of times an author is blinded by the fact she has all the info in her head, and sometimes she forgets to tell the reader. This is why we all need critiques. We need someone to be an asshole and tells us when something is boring or dry.
I’m not an expert. Everything I’ve ever written could benefit from a million critiques. And everything that has ever been written could be better if the right person gave the right critique. Making sure the grammar is right in a story before you’ve dealt with everything else is like painting the walls of your house before it has walls. So, ask for a critique. I don’t mind doing one occasionally. And it’s not because I like any of you or because I want you to like me. I like critiquing other people’s writings because it’s one of the best ways to improve my own. You should try it.
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Editing v. Critiquing
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Wouldn't you rather have a nice cup of tea?
I think this post could have been far more economized to improve the pace flow of the writing.
J/K
Actually, I agree. But there's a kind of unwritten culture here where if you don't have anything nice to say, you don't say anything at all. There are a lot of authors here who could definitely use that kind of critical feedback to improve their skills, but many of them aren't looking for it. They just want to be told that they're great writers. If criticism is provided, it's usually done privately to avoid embarrassing the author.
I'm not a story mod but I think that mostly what they're looking for is whether the story is readable (in terms of grammar, spelling, etc.) and that it meets the standards of the site (no , or underage, or forced sex, etc.). It's a pretty low bar to get over (and even then, from what I understand, there's a fairly high rejection rate, which I'm grateful for), but it keeps things fair, and less subjective in terms of what gets published/rejected. But, if that's all it takes to get published, that's what most authors are seeking from editors. Those who would be most open to critical feedback are probably already of a higher caliber of writer, because they take the craft seriously.
J/K
Actually, I agree. But there's a kind of unwritten culture here where if you don't have anything nice to say, you don't say anything at all. There are a lot of authors here who could definitely use that kind of critical feedback to improve their skills, but many of them aren't looking for it. They just want to be told that they're great writers. If criticism is provided, it's usually done privately to avoid embarrassing the author.
I'm not a story mod but I think that mostly what they're looking for is whether the story is readable (in terms of grammar, spelling, etc.) and that it meets the standards of the site (no , or underage, or forced sex, etc.). It's a pretty low bar to get over (and even then, from what I understand, there's a fairly high rejection rate, which I'm grateful for), but it keeps things fair, and less subjective in terms of what gets published/rejected. But, if that's all it takes to get published, that's what most authors are seeking from editors. Those who would be most open to critical feedback are probably already of a higher caliber of writer, because they take the craft seriously.
Don't believe everything that you read.
Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know
I'm not a story mod but I think that mostly what they're looking for is whether the story is readable (in terms of grammar, spelling, etc.) and that it meets the standards of the site (no , or underage, or forced sex, etc.).
I used to be one and you are pretty much on the money. The mods are NOT editors in the classic sense. Their job is to make sure the stories that get through meet a basic standard for quality and don't break any rules. They are volunteers and if they started doing more than this, it would become a huge time suck and the queue would be even longer than it is.
As for critiquing, I'd love to see more of it but it has to be meaningful, useful criticism delivered in a spirit of helping someone improve. If you are being seen as being an "asshole" for your criticism, then the problem is quite possibly how you are delivering the criticism or you are being critical for the sake of being critical rather than actually giving helpful advice. As Just_A_Guy_You _Know suggests, PM is the best way to do it, too. Public comments don't really lend themselves to the back and forth such criticism requires. And, yes, there are some people on here who have tossed me the odd useful critical comment from time to time (Rumpleforeskin is good at it for one).
Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know
Actually, I agree. But there's a kind of unwritten culture here where if you don't have anything nice to say, you don't say anything at all. There are a lot of authors here who could definitely use that kind of critical feedback to improve their skills, but many of them aren't looking for it. They just want to be told that they're great writers. If criticism is provided, it's usually done privately to avoid embarrassing the author.
Lucky these people weren’t in my college fiction workshops. 2.5 hours straight of ripping apart your writing, line by line. Every little detail was questioned and mulled over.
Bug
I am far, far better at critiquing than editing. I read right over mistakes, but pacing, structure, characters, consistency... those I'm good at.
I was part of a small writing group that absolutely ripped writing to pieces. It made the writing better but that approach isn't for everyone and especially not for new writers.
I was part of a small writing group that absolutely ripped writing to pieces. It made the writing better but that approach isn't for everyone and especially not for new writers.
At times, I'm frustrated by my mistakes. Knowing I could have done better. I respond more to helpful hints, than a wrist slap and suspension. I take full responsibility over errors and understand the mods are bowled over by silly writers as me. My style at times wavers between dark and doom, but has recently seen the dawn. Hopefully I will improve and pass the acid test of being a 'fair' Lush writer
Gentleman Stranger
Quote by LovingSadist
Lucky these people weren’t in my college fiction workshops. 2.5 hours straight of ripping apart your writing, line by line. Every little detail was questioned and mulled over.
Bet that was fun!
Thing is, Lush is not meant to be for experts and professionals. For the most part we're a bunch of amateurs and hobbyists that like to tell (and read) dirty stories, and we don't mind doing it and donating the time necessary, all for free. It's a community of people that read and write erotica for fun, not to become pros.
Some are open to critiques, and constructive criticism is helpful, but most readers and commenters (with a few great exceptions, like Rump) are no more qualified to give useful critique than most of us are to write award-winning prose.
We just enjoy sharing our smut, some of it obviously better than others. If it gets too hard or too demanding it stops being fun and becomes work. Who needs more of that?
Gravelly-Voiced Fucker
It's nice to see Rump's name on here more than once when it comes to critiquing. He's a master at it. I've also been helped by CurvyGalore (most recently!), Layla, MollyDoll, Ravenstar, Shannon3K, a few others.
I agree that the site is not designed to encourage critiques and extensive rewrites. The mods make sure spelling and grammar and basic story-telling are correct. Most people just want to hear good things about their writing, and there is nothing wrong with that. I would rather not score than give anyone under a 5. And while I try to critique most stories I read, I stick to the things in a story that work the best and try to point them out.
If you want a critique with constructive criticism, you might need to reach out and ask (that's what I do, though not often, as I am a bit of a control freak when it comes to my writing). Someone you know and trust, someone whose writing you enjoy.
I agree that the site is not designed to encourage critiques and extensive rewrites. The mods make sure spelling and grammar and basic story-telling are correct. Most people just want to hear good things about their writing, and there is nothing wrong with that. I would rather not score than give anyone under a 5. And while I try to critique most stories I read, I stick to the things in a story that work the best and try to point them out.
If you want a critique with constructive criticism, you might need to reach out and ask (that's what I do, though not often, as I am a bit of a control freak when it comes to my writing). Someone you know and trust, someone whose writing you enjoy.
Bug
Quote by Verbal
It's nice to see Rump's name on here more than once when it comes to critiquing. He's a master at it. I've also been helped by CurvyGalore (most recently!), Layla, MollyDoll, Ravenstar, Shannon3K, a few others.
I agree that the site is not designed to encourage critiques and extensive rewrites. The mods make sure spelling and grammar and basic story-telling are correct. Most people just want to hear good things about their writing, and there is nothing wrong with that. I would rather not score than give anyone under a 5. And while I try to critique most stories I read, I stick to the things in a story that work the best and try to point them out.
If you want a critique with constructive criticism, you might need to reach out and ask (that's what I do, though not often, as I am a bit of a control freak when it comes to my writing). Someone you know and trust, someone whose writing you enjoy.
Agreed about Rumpleforeskin. This is one person with a SHARP insight to storytelling.