Loose Poll · 2:57am Jul 8th, 2017
If you've read at least a couple of Unhinged entries, I would be much obliged if you'd consider taking a moment to provide some feedback.
I know there's a handful of about four or five names that show up quite consistently in the comments, but it seems the variety of voices (such as it is) has dropped a bit as I published more entries. This, of course, makes me question if I'm doing something wrong, or at least not doing something as right as I had been. I'm also curious if any of you are willing to come out of the woodwork when I ask for help (or otherwise). So, here's what's on my mind regarding quality:
1: What are your favorite (or least favorite) entries in Unhinged? (Kudos if you tell me why.)
2: How do you think the relatively more recent entries compare to the earlier ones?
This I ask because complacency doesn't bode well for my continued improvement as a writer, and I'd like to avoid that.
Now, I have another couple of questions pertaining to my next prospective entry. I have published a contest entry in the collection, but that was still a standalone story. Currently, I'm looking at a likely crossover/side-story to another story entirely (but no promises until a draft exists, and then I still don't expect to publish it unless I get the owner's permission/blessing). Still, regardless of if that happens next or later, there are a few questions raised by the idea:
3: Given the probability of spoiler content – or just the nature of referencing external material that you are less likely to have seen – do you think it would it be appropriate to publish it as an Unhinged entry?
4: If "yes" to #3, how would the spoiler warnings best be handled?
I only get one official "author's notes" box, but nothing's stopping me from putting one at top/bottom and calling another standard quote box "author's notes"/etc. in the other position. In this case, the box at the top would presumably warn away people who don't like spoilers (as would the chapter title) and likely provide a link to the source material, while the bottom box contains the usual RoboFoME card and potential commentary.
I don't have anything but fake internet cookies that require imagination to exist to give directly in return for a response, but if you happen to enjoy what I write, you can think of each response as shoveling another heap of coal into my self-esteem engine.
I, uh, read the entries because they're nonsensical, funny, and don't last long enough for me to accurately judge quality and determine if I made the right choice in clicking.
Then again, seeing as I've kept reading since the start, there's probably some inexplicable thing you're doing right.
The fact that the entire collection is a tremendously flattering ego boost for me doesn't hurt, but more than that, I love seeing you turn procedurally generated word salad into rich and engaging stories. I honestly can't tell you which ones are my favorites, but I feel the quality has been consistent throughout.
As for the follow-up entry, I'd say you'll be fine with the double-note system. See Never the Final Word for a good example of an in-house crossover collection.
1. I like Explode Twice because the humor is brilliant, Daring Do and the Flawless Horseshoe for its down-to-Earth portrayal of Daring Do, and Mass Squade Balloon because I like stories where ponies play games.
2. I haven't noticed any increase or decrease in quality, I think they're all great.
3. I think it's fine as long as you preface it with a spoiler warning.
4. I think you should- oh wait, I just answered it
I'm in Japan right now so can you please send my cookie via express drone to Taito City, Tokyo 東京
1. Never ask me to pick my favorite anything; I'll be hemming and hawing over it until the heat death of the universe (and probably a bit longer)
2. Nothing stuck out as being of markedly greater or lesser quality than the rest (but, importantly, they're consistently good)
3 and 4 I have no strong feelings on
Thanks for the input, guys.
4595287
Well, based on what you said before that, it sounds like I've hit the sweet spot for "what just happened?"
4595484
Bugsy did point out to me after you said this that it's only emulating your style of Magic card based stories, based on a card generator that runs off of your own Magic cards.
Never the Final Word is definitely a good example of what I'm looking to do here. Amusingly, the next Unhinged entry would probably qualify for that collection, too.
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Fortunately, #1 is posed mostly in the event that #2 didn't turn up "consistent". You don't have to worry about it.
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Your cookie will be sent via express cat bus.