[Is it over]

Regretfully, it is not over and won't be for many months.  Why?  Because people who fear what they don't understand will always be with us.  And people who hate being told what to do more than they fear the unknown.  Basically, two traits we often ascribe to bratty immature children.  

[Criticism and Stories]

Perhaps using more specific terms would be helpful?

Criticism and critique have similar roots and meanings (to judge), but what they imply are worlds apart.  A criticism is, primarily, a negative judgement and often includes commentary on the author of the piece being criticized.   Critique, on the other hand, is still a judgement, but includes positive as well as negative comments - i.e. "The story contains too many commas for a casual reader (-), but most of them boost clarity of the piece (+)."

If you've ever worked through a creative writing class, a journalism course, or any other formal classwork for just about any art form, you probably never want to see/hear another critique of your work, but they really can be helpful for any level of experience.

Public critique(s) of a story:

1. Can help the writer improve it and point out stumbling blocks, best avoided, to other authors.
2. Should avoid personal pronouns. 
3. Critique the story and not the author.
4. Do not use comments similar to, "...check out the AP Style Guide..." or other reference material - see #3. & #5.
5. When pointing out technical errors/problems, it is always good to supply a reference (i.e. ...only one space should be between sentences and after colons... The Chicago Manual of Style para. 2.9) This is one of my greatest failings because it was how I was taught to write in 7th & 8th grades by Miss Kerstetter.
6. Not all references agree one with another, but give what you have or know - one never knows what might help someone else.
7. Don't nitpick - that is what Beta readers and editors are for.
8. Don't repeat what someone else said.

 

 

 

 

[First Diaper Dimension Story]

What was the first Diaper Dimension story?  Who wrote it/invented the DD??  Is the story available on the 'net?

What are the guidelines, if any, in which a DD story must fit?

Is there a map of the DD world(s)?  Or a description that would help a traveler navigate from one place to another?

Is there any other information about the DD a writer might find useful in constructing their own DD stories?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Blackmail realism]

Writing fiction is telling a story about imaginary events and people.  Even if based upon real events/people, the operative term is "based", not "about".  The writer's goal should to be to guide readers through the process by explaining the reason for the blackmail and why the target would fear the consequences of not surrendering to it.  Not a data dump, but enough information readers willingly suspend their disbelief.

 

[What Makes a Good Story for You?]

It is easy, sometimes fun, to find and reveal our pet peeves and dislikes, but I wonder how helpful they are for writers.  I think it is easier to do it write (so shoot me, I like an occasional pun ?) the first time rather than constantly trying to edit out the unacceptable.  

With that in mind, what makes a good story for you as a reader?  Here's what I like to read:

• More show than tell;  70/30 works for me.
• A story that starts at the beginning and ends at the end.
• Technically correct.  It doesn't have to be perfect, but a story is much more fun to read if written with good grammar, sound syntax, accurate spelling, and correct punctuation.
• A plot.

How about you?

 

 

[What Kills A Story For You?]

On 5/21/2021 at 9:45 AM, ValentinesStuff said:

This isn't so much a story problem, but a Kindle problem. I have noticed more and more Kindle books that are 30-50% links and ads and other stuff that isn't story. When I find that, I reduce how many ever stars I was going to give the book by how much they wasted my time. So if half your "book" is ads for other books, your 4 star rating is now 2 stars, and I am not getting any more of your books. I also leave a review with why I gave it that rating. 

What do you think of forum (ANY forum for ANY topic) posts that include links to just about everything they've ever done as part of their signature?

[Thoughts on naming diaper brands in stories]

Because many brand names are trademarks, using them without permission of the brand owner could be costly should the owner(s) take exception to the use.

Based on discussions with an attorney:

• Brand name use in personal and online conversations is OK because the parties involved are not using it in trade
• Brand name use in a story posted here or elsewhere with no expectation of payment is OK because it is not being used in trade
• Brand name use in a book, song, story or other publication, without the brand owner's permission, that is sold is not OK because it is used in trade.

Caveat:  I am not an attorney nor do I portray one on TV or the internet.  For valid information on legal issues consult a licensed attorney.

[What Kills A Story For You?]

Lack of the basic components of story-telling puts me off.  What do the characters, especially the protagonist and antagonist, want?

• Why do they want it?
• What is preventing them from getting it?
• How do they try to reach it?

Technical problems such as poor spelling, grammar, etc., I can deal with, but the lack of a story in a story is a time wasting endeavor for the reader as well as the writer.

Edit:  Add these  to my list:

• Improper contractions such as gonna for going to, wanna for want to, etc.  Yes, we, including I, use them in our daily speech, but for me, readability drops below sea level when they are used outside of quotation marks, and if used more than a couple times within QMs.
• Excessive use of contractions, "proper" or otherwise.  
• Stories that ramble round and round and are not stories.  With no beginning, middle, and end, how can it be a story?

 

 

 

 

 

[Software based writing "assistants"?]

Pro Writing Aid is an excellent package for improving one's writing.  Prices range from free through several levels of monthly subscriptions to a one-time payment that lasts a lifetime.  It integrates with most word processing programs/apps including Word and Scrivener.  My personal and professional recommendation is to to check it out

Caveat:  Using any writing aid does not replace careful proofreading.

[Because You Asked For It (Chapter 25 posted 10/18/19)]

Nice story but for me, difficult to read due to the use of two different styles of paragraphs - indents and line-space. Might be improved for readers by choosing one style.