I Made a Mistake · 2:03am Jun 14th, 2014
Well then, I got a bit cocky about my second work to where it didn't turn out well. At all. I'll post this to remind myself to proofread what I'm writing before I hit that irresistible submit button. Next time I'll go slow and steady instead of full steam ahead and flying off the rails in a fireball of horribleness. After all, I'd hate to waste the time of anyone who could be reading something that's actually worthwhile and as fun as writing is, if I want to show off my works to the world, they had better make some sense, or else embarrassments galore.
Edit: Since I seem to still be lacking in talent, as the ratings on the story I've tagged show, I want to know two things. First, how do you get a proofreader? I know there are groups, but actually getting one looks tough. Second, how do you know if your idea for a story is good? I feel like I can't think of anything good, so how do you guys do it? I'm so lost. :(
How do I know if an idea for a story is good? I don't. In my opinion any idea works as long as the execution is well done. While I'll admit that I tend to avoid darker stories, that doesn't mean that others can't like them, or even that I feel they bad stories at all. Even if the tale told isn't to my liking, I can at least understand why it's considered good.
Whoops, I don't hope it was my comment on the Octavia story that made you delete it.
(It was a longish one about places where the point-of-view failed to stick to Tavi. I got a notification that you had replied to it, but the actual reply seems to be lost).
I was trying to be helpful by pointing out something it would be good for you to work on in future stories -- not to say that the story itself was bad, which it really wasn't. It wasn't a masterpiece, I'm sorry to say, but there's plenty of space to occupy between "masterpiece" and "fireball of horribleness", and your story wasn't even close to the latter. I'm just not good at peppering my comments with the "you did this and this and this right" that the stories possibly deserve.
I did debate whether to include the bit about the story lacking a punchline. It wasn't really actionable, and it's something I struggle with a lot myself, so please don't take it too hard that you (in my personal and subjective estimation) missed that target.
Sorry if I accidentally ruined your day.
2206076 The Octavia one I deleted was way too crappy, it had nothing to do with you, so don't sweat it. Besides, constructive criticism can help me improve, so thanks for the tips.