xie_xie_xie
15 June 2006 @ 08:23 am
Feedback: The Reality  
If you ever wondered if you should leave feedback for a writer, yes, you really should. I don't care if they wrote the story in 2003, I'm sure they'd love to hear that it, ummm.... moved you. In whatever way.

And in case you're wondering if it makes a difference in how much they write, that I can't say for certain. Right now I couldn't stop even if no one was reading it at all. But I'll tell you one thing I know for sure: Feedback makes me write faster and for longer periods of time.

Oh, and virtual roses from [profile] _alicesprings? They make me stay up all night writing. *thanks her*
 
 
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[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_alicesprings/ on June 15th, 2006 03:42 pm (UTC)
Aw, no need to thank me. Thank you!

And omg writing all night!!!
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[identity profile] agneson9.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 04:27 pm (UTC)
Q: What should you say when you don't know what to say?
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[identity profile] xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 04:30 pm (UTC)
What should you say when you don't know what to say?

Fair question. Considering I almost never gave feedback to writers, and when I did it was like one line, half the time something inane like "Guh," I am not one to talk.

It's just now I know what it feels like to GET feedback, I'm thinking... maybe people like I used to be, just don't know.

But if you CAN'T, well, that's different! Just saying you like it is good. :)
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[identity profile] agneson9.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 04:59 pm (UTC)
It's true about leaving feedback on old fics.

For me, Sometimes I gush and give elaborate feedback, and then sometimes I don't, and usually someone's already said it already (and more articulatly/enthusiastically). LOL. I don't want to add to the... glut, if it's not going to be different, especially if the piece is getting a lot of feedback already, with a lot of 'guh', 'wow', 'omfg' or 'asdkljfalkdj'.

I'm not a reader that delves deep into characterisation, theme, message and meaning etc. etc. I'll read a lot of fics(/books) that vary in "quality", "plausibility" or just because I've committed to it. I have a really big grey area. It has to be pretty terrible (and my mood at the time) if I didn't even like it a little. So, it's not conducive to (extensive) feedback.
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[identity profile] starspider.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 04:31 pm (UTC)
I left feedback for your fic earlier, but how do you feel about getting a reply to your comment about feedback? I mean that's gotta be worth about another 500 words of Plans. Right?
:)
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[identity profile] xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 04:34 pm (UTC)
LOL, yes, at least. Plus my beta says that one of my sections is PWP and we might pull it and post is separately. So, who knows what wonderful things might come if you continue to feed my feedback addiction with feedback to my response to your feedback?
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[identity profile] epicallytired.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 06:38 pm (UTC)
if i didn't get instant gratification in the form of feedback... i'm not sure i would have bothered with half my fics...

so i'm just saying
ITA (also on the roses from AS she rocks.

and it's never too late to read a fic and thellt he author WOW...

PS... it's hard to leave feedback for really crappy fic...and that's why YOU get so much really intense feedback. PLANS rocks.
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[identity profile] epicallytired.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 06:39 pm (UTC)
ps wait til you finish plans and we all start nagging you for a sequel....

it'll happen.
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[identity profile] theiax.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 07:05 pm (UTC)
Ha, I feel well and truly scolded and so took myself off to comment on your last post! :)

I will say that when I like something and I see that very few people have left feedback, I am quite diligent about leaving encouragement and thanks. However, when particular stories, authors or graphics makers regularly get enormous amounts of feedback with every post, I don't always bother commenting, feeling that my little 10 pence worth won't be missed. That is especially true of those people who reply to less than a quarter of the comments they receive. They may read every one, but if they don't bother acknowledging them, even with a simple "thank you", I won't always bother leaving them! LOL

Of course, these are simply my feelings and I know lots of others who feel differently. *shrugs*

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[identity profile] justinlovesart.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 10:06 pm (UTC)
I feel exactly the same.
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[identity profile] theiax.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 10:57 pm (UTC)
Ah, the revered beta, hello! Thanks for commenting, I am truly pleased to know that I am not alone in these feelings.

Also I must say what a wonderful job you are doing helping Xie bring such a beautiful story to us. Thank you. :)
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[identity profile] justinlovesart.livejournal.com on June 16th, 2006 06:08 am (UTC)
You are welcome :)

But I am really just the lucky girl who gets to read her amazing story first.
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[identity profile] paddies.livejournal.com on June 16th, 2006 08:52 am (UTC)
However, when particular stories, authors or graphics makers regularly get enormous amounts of feedback with every post, I don't always bother commenting, feeling that my little 10 pence worth won't be missed.

I WOULD MISS YOUR FEEDBACK DEARLY, OKAY?

No matter how many comments I get... I treasure each and every one of them as if they were the only one I got, seriously.

And I'm especially happy if I get a comment from one of the people I consider "friends" (in a more specific way than just LJ friends, you know what I mean?).

That is especially true of those people who reply to less than a quarter of the comments they receive. They may read every one, but if they don't bother acknowledging them, even with a simple "thank you", I won't always bother leaving them! LOL

I absolutely agree with you. If someone take the time to live a feedback - any kind of feedback - the least you can do is acknowledge it and say thank you.

If people systematically don't answer my feedback (or my replies in general), I usually stop posting them.
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[identity profile] theiax.livejournal.com on June 16th, 2006 10:47 pm (UTC)
Ha, thank you, Gio. Believe me it is no hardship leaving feedback on your posts, and I'm really glad to know that you feel the same way.

You know I think it's probably you, and one or two others, who have influenced my view point on this, for no matter how many comments you and those few others receive, normally going way into the hundreds, on your posts, you always reply to each and every one of them and let us all, individually, KNOW how much our feedback is appreciated! I think it is important to remember that it works best if it works both ways. ;)
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[identity profile] paddies.livejournal.com on June 18th, 2006 07:26 pm (UTC)
*adores* ♥
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[identity profile] xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com on June 16th, 2006 11:28 pm (UTC)
I love EVERY COMMENT I get, and it all makes my heart sing, and no one minds having good things repeated endlessly. *G*

Thank you for commenting and for giving me so much to think about.
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[identity profile] theiax.livejournal.com on June 16th, 2006 11:43 pm (UTC)
I am really glad to hear that and believe me it is a pleasure reading your posts - all of them. Please don't misunderstand me, I was simply putting my own viewpoint, this was in no way meant to be a lecture! :D
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[identity profile] harka.livejournal.com on June 15th, 2006 07:32 pm (UTC)
I have the same problem - if at all I can say to that it's actually a problem - as Potentiial: I can't express my impressions properly. Sometimes I write the whole feedback and after re-reading it, I think how everything sound so miserable, especially in comparison with other comments left by "faster and deeper" readers. Usually, I delete "the real" feedback and write a "normal" response in the end or nothing at all.

Feedback makes me write faster and for longer periods of time.

So, write, my dear! And eat, too!!!!!!
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[identity profile] court1429.livejournal.com on June 16th, 2006 02:14 am (UTC)
If you ever wondered if you should leave feedback for a writer, yes, you really should. I don't care if they wrote the story in 2003, I'm sure they'd love to hear that it, ummm.... moved you. In whatever way

This is definitely true. Last fall, in my newbie days, I read and read and read and read and read, and naturally much of what I read was several years old. Can't tell you how many times I'd comment on some older fic and get the nicest respones back from the authors saying my feedback had come at just the right time and they'd been thinking of stepping back from the fandom since the show was over, couldn't believe anyone was still reading their old fics, etc.

Really, it's just like your Mom told you: If someone is generous enough to give you a gift, the least you can do is acknowledge it with a response of thanks. And that's what all this fic is. Big, fat, highly anticipated, and much beloved presents!
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[identity profile] paddies.livejournal.com on June 16th, 2006 09:10 am (UTC)
In the internet world, feedback (and comments in general) are the only way to "make a connection" with the people "on the other side". You can't see the other person, so the only way to know they're "paying attention" to you, is via feedback.

People who create stuff (but anyone who post, actually) need to know if what they make/write/say "make sense" so to speak...if it's worth posting it or not.

It's not a matter of keeping making it...I'd keep making icons even if I didn't get any feedback at all, but I probably would stop posting them if I didn't get any feedback...if people aren't enjoying them what would be the point in posting them?

As for leaving feedback to writers, I try really hard to always leave feedback to my "friends". Sometimes they're long articulate feedback and sometimes are just a one word squeeing mess...it all depends on my mood, how much time I have, if I'm at work or home, etc...
I'm always a bit timid about leaving long feedback, because my English still sucks like a very sucky thing, so the more I write, the stupider I tend too look (not that I'm a genius or anything, but still) so I usually just happily squee.

In conclusion... yay feedback!!
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(Anonymous) on June 16th, 2006 10:38 am (UTC)
you are wonderful
Hello,

I am a professional writer (mostly People Magazine) and I find myself spending way too much time on your story, when I have my own work deadlines to meet. You are a great story teller - keep it up!
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[identity profile] xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com on June 16th, 2006 10:20 pm (UTC)
Re: you are wonderful
THANK YOU! I'm so thrilled you liked my word and that you appreciate my story-telling. I'm loving writing it. Please keep reading. :)
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