Discouraged and Frustrated

[Shann]

I've been thinking about this a lot Lillian, especially you. I feel sad that you don't feel as comfortable leaving comments because they will be there forever. I have learned quite a bit from your comments. You're quite intuitive. Many of your comments that helped me were on other entries. If not for people like you, Graham, Theresa, Jan and Geoffrey who are willing to leave constructive critiques my writing would never had improved.

I understand you don't want the gold box to be there for strangers to see especially if one of the stories that were blessed by your comments turns out to be an EC. I already mentioned that it is possible that the suggestion you gave could be one that the editor will make before publication. My other point is that it's your opinion if you say something like that sentence seemed awkward. Whether it wins or not it doesn't change your opinion, and again it could help the editor if the book is selected.

My last thought is though I understand that you were about the general public seeing you made a suggestion on a piece that is a winner. Now this is just my opinion, but I don't think people who aren't members won't go through old stories. It's not easy to find past challenges for people familiar with the site. So people may read the current stories, but once it gets archived, unless someone gives an outsider a direct link or a link to someone's profile page, I don't think people will really see them. Not to mention, EC entries tend to get the most comments because members leave congratulations so it is quite likely that even if an outsider stumbles across a story, it will have so many gold boxes that the chance they will read all the comments probably isn't very high.

So this is me imploring people like you and Graham to get back in the comment horse. We need you to help us become better writers. If you can handle the occasional curmudgeon who might get upset by your comment, then I pray God will give you the strength and wisdom you need to pick up that pen again. We need you more than you ever know. I love you and your honesty. Hugs, soap box now tucked under my bed and since it's 5 am I should get to bed

[Colswann1]

So this is me imploring people like you and Graham to get back in the comment horse. We need you to help us become better writers. If you can handle the occasional curmudgeon who might get upset by your comment, then I pray God will give you the strength and wisdom you need to pick up that pen again. We need you more than you ever know. I love you and your honesty

Well said Shann!

[lish1936]

I've been thinking about this a lot Lillian, especially you. I feel sad that you don't feel as comfortable leaving comments because they will be there forever. I have learned quite a bit from your comments. You're quite intuitive. Many of your comments that helped me were on other entries. If not for people like you, Graham, Theresa, Jan and Geoffrey who are willing to leave constructive critiques my writing would never had improved.

Shann, dearest, please think about getting better and not about my silly opinions. I feel your concerns, and I'm grateful that you're there for all of us. Please don't take my thoughts to heart. I love Faithwriters, and I recognize its inability to please everyone.

And by the way, I need you, Jan, and so many more to make ME a better writer.

So this is where I am right now...

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."



Lillian

[tomoral]

I just thought of a funny one I got. It was on one of my story "Just Breathe, Jesus Said." It wasn't a bad review but the theyr added that having an imagination such as mine "can also be painful." I was like, Duh now.! Your're telling me! I don't think they meant anything bad by it, it was just kind of strange.

[chrisg]

Wow! After reading all of these posts...maybe I shouldn't get "too excited" over my first Challenge entry! I guess it is better to be prepared for not making the grade the first time, and hope to be pleasantly surprised later! Hang in there!

[Deb Porter]

Hi Chris. Welcome to the Challenge, and keep on being excited. Placing (or even making it into the highest rankings) is always great, but just rising to the Challenge and honing your skills is a big plus as well.

You know, some of the people who are winning now have taken quite a while to get there (not mentioning any names ... cough, certain Aussie winner from this week). I'm sure they did feel a bit of discouragement now and then, but they kept pressing on, fine-tuning, learning from others, and entering.

So enjoy the fun of the Challenge (including the throw a brick time when you can point more readers in the direction of your entry and get some more feedback), and when wins come along (and they usually do eventually), then that's the icing on the cake.

Love, Deb

[lish1936]

You know, some of the people who are winning now have taken quite a while to get there...I'm sure they did feel a bit of discouragement now and then, but they kept pressing on, fine-tuning, learning from others, and entering.



Love, Deb

Amen! Some of us who are winning now and then, continue to wrestle with discouragement; but like you say, we keep on pressing. I've concluded that skilled in coping with discouragement should be included in every writer's resume.

Lillian

[Deb Porter]

I've concluded that skilled in coping with discouragement should be included in every writer's resume.

Lillian, you are so right. If a writer can't handle critique, discouragement and even rejection, they are not going to cope in the long run. Anyone with a book on Amazon (with unsolicited reviews) will attest to that.

Basically, we need to develop a very thick skin, while maintaining a heart that is soft and open.

Love, Deb

[Shann]

Hmm now this may be off topic, but i was bemoaning my tough skin this past week while in the hospital. I'm very difficult to get an IV in my veins, partly because of my illness and lousy veins, but also because I have very thick and tough skin. It will even bend the IV needle. So the point is, the next time I'm whining about how it hurts to have an IV inserted, I'll have to remember that God gave me that tough skin for a reason!

[deb]

This may be off topic, but I share the frustration at the lack of constructive crit.

When I was on FW many years ago, they made the challenge anonymous and I was glad, as it seemed fairer all round. Yet, it strikes me, that people still appear to know the identity of some authors and they in turn, seem to get a lot of feedback on this basis. Others meanwhile, who in my opinion, seem to do an equally good job, get minimum critique on their submissions.

I do not mean to be harsh, just wondered if anyone else found this frustrating or could give an explanation, or maybe those who do, do not frequent the boards, which could be part of the problem.

I was thinking of becoming a non subscribing member again and just submit articles, but then again, I need improvement and regular article submissions generally generate zero feedback.

I hope this does not come across as inflammatory or highly critical, it is certainly not intended that way.

Deb

[glorybee]

The Challenge entries that get the most feedback are usually the ones by writers who have "tossed a brick" once the all-clear has been sounded. The judging is already complete by that time, so it's fine if anonymity is gone. So if you read a comment that seems to indicate that the commenter knows the writer of the piece, no doubt that commenter has followed the writer's link to that piece. Here's a link to the "toss a brick" thread, so you can see how it works:

viewforum.php?f=56

[deb]

Thank you Jan, that is helpful. I didn't realise this or that they judged so soon after the entries were posted. I will go take a look ...

[Deb Porter]

Deb, the entries are being judged as they are submitted. The judges work from the time the first entry is in the list for a topic. We have a "behind the scenes" area for the judges where they can see the entries, but without knowing who wrote them. That's how the judging is able to be completed so quickly.

As Jan said, anonymity is maintained until after the Challenge winners have been found for the week.

Love, Deb

[Shann]

Deb, I have found another good way to get more feedback, along with throwing a brick. I try to comment on as many entries as possible and find people like to repay the favor, so I find the week after the winners are announced I will receive a handful of gold boxes as a thank you for leaving comments.

Another thing I'll try to do is instead of sending a PM to someone who clicked on my comment, is to click on their name and then comment on one of their stories. It really does work, plus I find that by reading and commenting on other stories helps me learn what I like or don't like in other stories helps me fix things in my stories.

[tomoral]

It seems a lot a people who get more comments hang out in the "Throw a Brick room" Maybe that's why . I know I don;t get much feedback until I go in there.