I don't score stories and recently chose to disable scoring on my own writings. I don't believe that 'scores' tell me anything substantial about my own writing or about the quality of others works: is X better than Y because one has an average vote of 4.8 and the other 4.7? Not in the slightest.
Votes of 1,2 and 3 are demoralising and dispiriting to authors who receive them and most 'voters' tend to avoid them which produces a real voting range of somewhere between 4 and 5.
As an author I am always interested in chatting about writing and enjoy comments and PM's. I am happy to discuss the minuteae of story and sentence construction, language, imagery, rhythm, cadence and even erotica with those who are interested ... what score a story warrants is, at it's very best, no more than a shorthand for more considered and detailed conversations.
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CumGirl
2 days ago
Bi-curious Female, 53
United Kingdom
Forum
Attention Whore
Mostly I tend towards the simple and self-evident in my title selection (usually for me, the title is born before the story) and I do feel it should be relevant to the story content ... all of which means my titles are dull and uninspired.
However ...
A friend (cocokisses) was struggling with a title and asked for input; we chattered throught the story and mentally I saw the central character as Shirley Temple ... it seemed to fit her both visually and in her general exuberance ... I suggested "Corrupting Shirley Temple" which fitted the tale and is intriguing enough for the casual reader (as long as they know who Shirley Temple was).
Oh and the story is excellent, so do take the time to read it.
So I would suggest something central to the tale ... though perhaps a little lateral thinking wouldn't go amiss.
However ...
A friend (cocokisses) was struggling with a title and asked for input; we chattered throught the story and mentally I saw the central character as Shirley Temple ... it seemed to fit her both visually and in her general exuberance ... I suggested "Corrupting Shirley Temple" which fitted the tale and is intriguing enough for the casual reader (as long as they know who Shirley Temple was).
Oh and the story is excellent, so do take the time to read it.
So I would suggest something central to the tale ... though perhaps a little lateral thinking wouldn't go amiss.
Attention Whore
At any one time I have 5/6 different stories running around in my mind. Before beginning to write I will spend a week thinking exclusively about a single story until its voice, structure and narrative flow are clear in my mind. Once I start, I normally can't write for more than 45 minutes before sufferring 'brain freeze'. Generally a 2,000 word story will take me about a week to produce a 1st draft. I usually do four edits that will focus on word usage and alternatives, narrative flow, the rhythm (most of my stories accelerate as they progress), punctuation, balance, characterisation and dialogue ... often this will include writing additional paragraphs or completely re-writing existing ones. The editing process will take a minimum of 3 days and often takes a week.
At its worst this is an exhausting process; The Stalker Series (8 Chapters) was started in August 2009 and finished in April 2012, so I have developed a couple of 'blitz' styles where I am capable of 'churning out' a story in 24 to 48 hours (Attention Whore & Blog Series).
Recently I decided to write a Sonnet to celebrate the 450th Anniversary of Shakespeare's baptism ... his birth date is unknown ... to do this I spent 2 days researching Sonnets and reading some of Shakespeare's so that I could appreciate the complexity of the form. The actual 14 lines of poetry took a mere 4 hours including edits and re-writes.
But then, I can be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to what I write.
At its worst this is an exhausting process; The Stalker Series (8 Chapters) was started in August 2009 and finished in April 2012, so I have developed a couple of 'blitz' styles where I am capable of 'churning out' a story in 24 to 48 hours (Attention Whore & Blog Series).
Recently I decided to write a Sonnet to celebrate the 450th Anniversary of Shakespeare's baptism ... his birth date is unknown ... to do this I spent 2 days researching Sonnets and reading some of Shakespeare's so that I could appreciate the complexity of the form. The actual 14 lines of poetry took a mere 4 hours including edits and re-writes.
But then, I can be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to what I write.
Attention Whore
Quote by MorganHawke
----- Original Message -----
A story ends when you prove your point. Seriously. It has nothing to do with whether your characters live on or die at the end.
What matters is that:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monsters are faced.
Emotional hang-ups are dealt with.
Problems end up solved.
What was begun - finishes.
Whereas, Melville, leaves us with a dead scrivener, rumour and an analogy between Bartleby's life and the fate of dead letters. Nothing is truly resolved and what the reader is left with is an inconclusive narrative and questions.
Which was the point to my post, that actually writing can do more than simply find resolution it can leave the reader seeking understanding.
Attention Whore
Quote by sprite
Tom was exceptionally tall and with chunky build. He reminded me of the sea, his hair sandy, his eyes ocean blue. His wife, Tammy, despite being of average height, looks small beside him, her crimsons curls offsetting emerald eyes and spilled over her large, ripe breasts.
comments or opinions are welcome!
Which is all very nice, little sprite, and far more developed than a list of numbers but it is still 'telling' rather than 'showing'. Showing involves placing a character in a situation and leaving the reader to make a reasonable deduction from the information given ...
And if anybody is uncertain as to what that involves then they should read the opening chapter of 'Pride and Prejudice' where Jane Austen exposes the characters of Mr & Mrs Bennet almost entirely through directly reported dialogue.
And here is a link in case you are interested ...
http://www.austen.com/pride/vol1ch01.htm
Attention Whore
Quote by sprite
but dammit, the major characters and story thread had BETTER be tied up (unless, of course, it's the first of a trilogy where it's understood that it's only the first third of the story).
So this isn't a good place for me to mention Herman Melville's "Bartleby The Scrivener" ... though he does die, so I guess that is an ending of sorts.
Attention Whore
Quote by nicola
Curiouser and curiouser...
Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English). ’Now I’m opening out like the largest telescope that ever was! Good-bye, feet!’
Aren't rabbit holes and one's inner-self such wonderful places to get lost.
smiles
Attention Whore
Quote by nicola
If the member deletes their story comment, a warning should pop up telling them their score will also be removed.
Authors can't remove individual comments on their stories. Or do you mean something else CG?
Can they not ... oh that is most disappointing ... and what should I do with any comments that aren't as perfect as I would like?
Well I have adjusted, it is working well and it is interesting that I am receiving more comments rather than less votes.
One slight issue (very minor); one reader ended up double commenting as they commented first and then voted and had to comment again ... maybe at some point in the future the Comment and Vote function on this option could be linked both ways to prevent inconveniencing the reader unneccessarily.
And thank you, Gav for all your lovely work.
Attention Whore
Quote by nicola
In your settings, we've now added:
Comment on Score: A comment must be given when my stories are scored.
I recommend leaving your settings in the default state.
And will that comment be irremovable?
Because currently, both the commentor and the author can remove the comment.
And if the voter can then return to remove their comment, it would leave this amendment redundant ...
Settings no longer left on default, I'll let you know how it goes x
Attention Whore
Quote by beowulf69
I completely understand and agree with you.
I sent out a notice to all of my friends too. I also like to receive them when someone on my friends list writes a new one, and I will do my best to read their story as soon as I can. But if they ask for my support (vote & comment) and I ask them as a friend to also to do so for me in return and they don't, then they are not a friend.
And let me present you with the other side of the arguement, Beowulf.
I for one am not a reader. I never, ever visit Lush to read stories ... it is not something I derive pleasure from and I have never read an entire story from start to finish without feeling a personal obligation to the Author to do so.
For you reading stories is something you undertake voluntarily for your enjoyment, whether that is solicited or not ... that might not be the case for others on your friend list.
Mostly, as an Author I have avoided sending out notifications (excepting February 2012) and would never make them a friendship issue ... of course it is lovely to have your friends comment on your stories but if I deleted my Friend List on that basis I'd have about 1,200 fewer friends.
Anyway, yours was a good first story as I've said elsewhere, and I will always appreciate any comments you care to make on my efforts.
Attention Whore
Oh well this is just too easy ...
Delicious, delightful, delectable, but too easy ...
Because really, adorable little nightfox, you wont be going anywhere for a very long time ...
Not until that gorgeous body is sheened in sweat, cum coated, dribbling, panting, moaning, whimpering and begging not to have to cum anymore ...
Endlessly repeating "Please CG" as you pulse lost in adoration and pleasure ...
And would you like to try now?
Blindfolded, bound, begging and pulsing endlessly x
Delicious, delightful, delectable, but too easy ...
Because really, adorable little nightfox, you wont be going anywhere for a very long time ...
Not until that gorgeous body is sheened in sweat, cum coated, dribbling, panting, moaning, whimpering and begging not to have to cum anymore ...
Endlessly repeating "Please CG" as you pulse lost in adoration and pleasure ...
And would you like to try now?
Blindfolded, bound, begging and pulsing endlessly x
Attention Whore
Quote by naughtyannie
Congratulations CumGirl - very well done! It was a great contest, and you were a deserving winner!
And congrats also to Angelslut, Sprite and littlesister, who made up the rest of the Top 5!
I couldn't be surrounded by a dirtier and sluttier bunch of reprobates!
I'm already planning my campaign for the next contest!
And thank you, naughtannie ...
Ah ... next year's contest ... and to paraphrase the NRA
"I'll give you my tiara when you pry it from my cold, dead hands!"