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When, Where, How To Get Feedback

Printed From: NYC Midnight : Creative Writing & Screenwriting
Category: GENERAL DISCUSSION
Forum Name: Creative Writing Corner
Forum Description: Discuss NYC Midnight Creative Writing Competitions or Creative Writing in general.
URL: https://forums.nycmidnight.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13998
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Topic: When, Where, How To Get Feedback
Posted By: plkphoto
Subject: When, Where, How To Get Feedback
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 8:18am
There are a lot of in depth posts out there telling people how to post their stories, and how to do signatures, and how to give feedback -- but I thought I'd bring it all into one spot. Feel free to link to other "how to" guides in the comments. Sometimes different people click with different explanation styles.

1) Wait until NYCM sends out a personal confirmation email specifically saying it's okay to post.

2) Put your story somewhere on the web (not the forum):
  • GoogleDocs / GoogleDrive are a good option. You will need to have a Google account. You can upload the file as a pdf in GoogleDrive or copy/paste your story into a GoogleDoc.
    1. Select "Share" then "Get Shareable Link"
    2. Set privacy settings to "anyone with link" and "can view"
    3. You can also turn off copy and download options if you wish (in advanced settings)
    4. You will get a link to share.
    5. Log out of Google, and test the link. Can you still see it when you're anonymous? If you can, then it should work for the rest of us.
  • A Personal Blog is another option
    1. You can use a "password protect" to keep the post from being public. 
    2. A Warning: If you do post a story on your blog without password protection, it is considered previously published.
    3. Get the link that goes to the specific blog post -- not to your general blog.
3) Make a New Topic on the sub-forum for your story
  • Go to the sub-forum Short Story Challenge 2017 Review (which will appear after they send confirmations); DO NOT post in the main Creative Writing Corner.
  • Select "New Topic" (from inside the sub-forum)
  • In the title space: R1 H# Title (Genre) == Round 1 Heat (your #) and your title and genre
  • In the main message, mention your prompts (we don't have them all memorized) and post the link to your story. If password protected, tell us the password there too.
  • To create a link: click on the globe with the chains, paste in the link (minus the http:// or https:// -- choose this from the drop down menu); If you want to link to text, highlight the text before you click the globe, then do the same thing.
  • Tell us anything else you want -- is there something specific you want feedback on? Are you able to reciprocate or are you super busy right now? etc.
  • Click on "Post New Topic"
  • Open it and make sure the link works Ask if you're having trouble and someone can help.
4) Link to your sub-forum post in your signature
  • Trust me -- link to the forum post, not the story on GoogleDocs or your Blog -- if you want people to give you feedback. If you leave feedback on someone else's story, they can just click in you signature to return the favour instead of searching for your post. Also, signatures show up on the main page, which is public so anyone can view it.
  • Go to your new topic that you just created. Beside the first message, you will see a little blue dot. If you click on it, you can get a direct link to the first post -- the one with your story link in it. Copy that link.
  • Optional step: you can put that link into tinyurl.com to shorten it if you want. This allows multiple story links to fit in your space limited signature.
  • Go to your Member Control Panel (link near the top left of the site page)
  • Click on the Profile tab and scroll down to the signature box.
  • To put a link in your signature you will need BBcodes; use the following line, but substitute the red information with your own.
    1. [URL=http://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic13426_post157275.html]C1H68 Stanley's Fortune (Hist Fic)[/URL]
    2. or basically: [URL=http://yourforumlinkhere]TEXT YOU WANT HERE[URL]
    3. Note that there are no quotation marks around the link
  • Preview your signature to make sure it worked. Set it to show up as default if you want.
5) Get added to the master list -- this can only happen after you've done at least through step 3 above.
  • Go to the Master List post, which Suave will have pinned to the top of the review sub-forum.
  • Comment with your Heat #, your Title, and the link to your FORUM post.
  • Go back later and check that the link Suave creates works 
6) Give lots of in depth feedback -- if you want to receive in depth feedback.
  • Really… the best way to get feedback is to read other people's stories, and try to really get into the nitty-gritty of what you liked and didn't like. You don't have to be a pro editor, you're a reader with an informed opinion.
  • If you've got your story linked in your signature, most people will be happy to leave a return review.
  • Give CONSTRUCTIVE feedback -- both positive and negative -- that can help the person understand not only where their story needs work, but also what is already working well
  • Don't just nitpick minor errors, really get into the meat of the story. We were all under a time constraint writing, some errors will slip through (more as the rounds get shorter). Point them out if you want, but make sure you also comment on story, character, plot, etc.
7) PACE YOURSELF!
  • There are going to be hundreds of stories… most people can't read them all. Pick the genres you're interested in, or the people that left you reviews on your own story, or writers you admire… focus on those first… and read others if you have time/energy left.
  • Don't focus on speed and getting through heaps of stories… focus on quality. You will improve your own writing by spending the time to really critique other's; Think of this as a giant writer's workshop -- and take advantage of it. 
  • By taking your time, you can give and receive better quality feedback.
  • It's a month and a half before we get results from NYCMidnight… you have time. Don't burn yourself out reading too many stories the first week and run out of steam.
  • Pace yourself.
Looking forward to seeing what you all produced!


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Replies:
Posted By: Reez
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 9:16am
Well done PKphoto!

This is so helpful and will avoid a lot of confusion.

I remember trying to figure this out myself and different writers coming to my aid, so it's wonderful to have it all in the one place for Newbies and for regulars if they need a reminder.

I agree with the feedback. Please give considered feedback. It gets me down sometimes to see feedback coming in from a writer that is posted every 5 minutes on a different story. I wonder how someone can read, digest and comment on a story in any detail if they are in such a hurry.

Sometimes life gets in the way and even with the best of intentions writers can't return feedback to all of their readers. I still think that in this case just say a blanket sorry I can't get to you on your post and read if and when you can, rather than trying to rush them all in.

Also, once you've read all in your group, your pals and those who caught your eye, if you have the time give a few with no feedback a read. It takes guts to post and it's disheartening not to get replies especially as a Newbie. That said, the best way to get reads is to read and comment on the stories of others.

Having had a tough time last year to stay up to date on the forums, due to house moves and illness, I for one, can't wait to get reading the intriguing and fabulous stories I've come to expect on this forum.

Best of luck to all and thanks PK for this!


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Posted By: plkphoto
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 1:17pm
Thanks, Reez!

Hopefully the directions clarify rather than confuse -- but any newbies should feel comfortable asking if they can't figure out one of the steps listed here. Just post a comment and someone will step you through it! Big smile


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FFC 2018

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Posted By: justmel
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 1:41pm

Thanks so much for posting this, plk!  This is my third year in SSC, but I remember struggling to remember everything last year, so I'm very happy to have the refresher!  Hug



Posted By: angelagilbert
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 4:30pm
Sorry I needed a test for my signature.  Yay!!!  I think I figured it out!!!



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Posted By: stephenmatlock
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 5:12pm
I found that it's important to set aside some time to read and comment on a story. I would recommend that you either keep notes on paper, or copy/paste the lines you want to copy on, because it helps to tell the author the parts you liked or felt needed work or that you had questions about.

I love this line "When the wind in the willows were met by the billows of waves that came crashing ashore..." It made me feel / I thought / It seemed to me...

I was confused by the change in the title of the protagonist from "Corporal" to "Major" with no sign of a promotion. I feel like just a bit more on how this happened would have helped me. Or maybe there were two officer Smiths, one Corporal and one Major?

What impressed me most was the way you took a genre ("Sci Fi") and turned it into a dark mystery. You kept all the elements but you made a story that was unpredictable.

As a reviewer myself, I find that I need your insights and your comments on what worked/didn't work the most.

And while you might not like every story, in my opinion you can probably find at least two good things to say about it, so attempt to sandwich any criticism between slices of praise or positive observations.

You do not have to go to any great length or to a depth you're not comfortable with. This is supposed to be the fun part of the contest, where we get to read interesting stories, some that enchant us, and some that seem chancey.


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Pithy sayings are for the apt. For a longer message, you need a condo.



Posted By: plkphoto
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 6:06pm
Originally posted by angelagilbert angelagilbert wrote:

Sorry I needed a test for my signature.  Yay!!!  I think I figured it out!!!


Your signature link works -- but it goes straight to your GOOGLE doc… You should make your link go to your FORUM post.

Two reasons:
  • We can comment in the forum post, but if we go straight to the doc, then we have to search to find your forum post to comment. Lots of people won't take the time. You'll miss out on feedback.
  • Your signature goes EVERYWHERE -- including here in this public forum. That means anyone browsing on the web can click on your signature and get to your Google doc. If you put the link to your Forum post, it's private for forum members only. Anyone else will click the link and get an error message. 
So switch out the URL in your signature to be your forum post.


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FFC 2018

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Posted By: Tricksie
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 6:24pm
Anyone have any clue why my signature has a random > in it, when that is not visible when I look at editing the signature?

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R1 G109 PolSat https://forums.nycmidnight.com/topic57815_post623167.html#623167" rel="nofollow - Not Much Will Actually Change


Posted By: stephenmatlock
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 6:27pm
can you paste the code here, and put spaces before and after any "[" or "]" characters? Or PM me?


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Pithy sayings are for the apt. For a longer message, you need a condo.



Posted By: plkphoto
Date Posted: 31 Jan 2017 at 11:02pm
Sometimes your browser automatically tries to transform http://... into a link using html code. The problem with this is that the signature box only recognizes BBcodes. Usually, stray < > or " are from a partial conversion to html followed by the BBcode link creation.

I recommend typing it out again, but select "paste and match formatting" rather than just paste when you go to paste the link (you might be pasting the html code without realizing it).

Hopefully this will cure it! :)


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FFC 2018

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Posted By: topangarose
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 12:24am


 PlKphoto!

Thanks for this post!  It really helped me with my confusion in google docs which is why I don't use it myself, but still get was getting really confused by it  confused  when beta-ing for people who do!!

Tops


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Posted By: plkphoto
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 2:12am
No problem Topanga! Glad I could help. 

We'll entice you over to the GDoc-side yet… Wink


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FFC 2018

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Posted By: casadega
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 11:03am
Thanks so much for this helpful guide, for a complete n00b like myself this is really useful. Looking forward to getting to know folk and discuss the stories. Hopefully I'll have time to read a few this weekend!

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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 11:12am
It would be great if this thread could be pinned for future reference, and not just for short story.


Posted By: plkphoto
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 6:05pm
There are a couple of posts like this floating around. In some ways, I find it's helpful to make a new one each time because it gives people a chance to comment additional suggestions, and then these can be incorporated into the new post… But I pinning would definitely be easier than searching them out and bumping them back up to the top each time. :-)

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Posted By: Laurel
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 10:13pm
I am just bummed that no one else in my heat has posted! I wanted to review the stories and get feedback. Come on heat #84,

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Laurel


Posted By: plkphoto
Date Posted: 01 Feb 2017 at 10:25pm
Originally posted by Laurel Laurel wrote:

I am just bummed that no one else in my heat has posted! I wanted to review the stories and get feedback. Come on heat #84,

Since there was a little glitch in sending out confirmations, it might take a bit longer. Stories will continue to flood in through the weekend I'd guess, then it will slow down to a trickle. Hopefully more from your heat will show up soon. :)


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FFC 2018

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Posted By: plkphoto
Date Posted: 04 Feb 2017 at 7:35am
Bumping back up to the top -- in case there's a rush of new stories being added this weekend.

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Posted By: plkphoto
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2017 at 6:35pm
I'll bump this back up to the top as well -- hopefully we can get everyone posted into the right forum.

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FFC 2018

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Posted By: plkphoto
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2017 at 9:01pm
Bumping for round 2. Got some newcomers. :-)

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Posted By: plkphoto
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2017 at 3:21am
Bumping this back up to the top...


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FFC 2018

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