Writing Section Etiquette

I have noticed a few things that consistently happen in this section that I would like to address and hopefully allow the forum to grow and improve.

Note that these are not the official rules of the forum, and there is no official penalty for breaking them. They are just suggestions on polite and reasonable conduct in this section, that would be appreciated.

1. If you are posting a bunch of threads in close proximity to each other, please just make a single "Collection of my work" thread and put them in labelled spoilers in there. This isn't a problem on other forums so much, but here in this section, when you consider the lack of traffic, and the amount of work people put into each story, it becomes extremely rude to bump 3-4 stories off the front page (almost a death sentence in this forum).

1a. (for clarification) Therefore, I only propose that if numerous one shots or poems are to be posted within a week of each other, that they should be in the same thread.

Long running series with multiple chapters can/should keep to their own thread, and need not be put into a collection thread.

If you only write/update stories infrequently, then you can give each one its own thread.

1b.

2. If you have the time to read a story, you have the time to give a bit of feedback. It doesn't have to be a commentary on how their story employs the common tropes of the mainstream fantasy genre to great effect. It can just be a small thing, like one thing you liked/disliked about it. (EX. "The main character was really interesting. Good job!" Or "I felt that the description of the setting left too much out, maybe clarify it a little?") I am tired of seeing only 3-4 consistent reviewers/feedback givers on every thread. They shouldn't have to carry this section on their shoulders.

3. Spelling and Grammar. This is for your own benefit. This is the writing section after all. A few typos in a story are completely understandable, but when you post a story that is almost incomprehensible, it lowers the chance that someone will give you serious feedback, since they may be stuck on the pile of small mistakes you made. Either that, and the replies you get might be just reviewing your grammar instead of your story. (NOTE TO NON ENGLISH NATIVE SPEAKERS: If getting feedback on your grammar is something you want, to improve your english, then keep on keeping on, Ignore this point. I would not want to discourage any of you who don't speak perfect english)


That is all I can think of at the moment. If Jericho, Xenon, Mibu, or any other Writing section frequenters have any tips on behavior to share, now is the time to add them.

Mod Edit: I have decided to sticky this thread after some discussion with the thread starter, GroverCleaveland. The above points are good suggestions and recommendations for users intending to present their work, but at the same time, one may bear in mind that they are not official rules for this particular section.

Thank you for your kind understanding. - Gambler

Jerry's Input:

1: If you post a story and would like a review, do not bump yourself to stay on the front page. Provide reviews for others and ask for compensation. Being able to read and review will more often than not make you a better writer.

I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be agreeing to that, because I have three series after all, I feel that its best to have their own threads and simply links those series' threads to the "collection of works", thread.

On topic;

Rise's input:

As Grover said, that its best if you make some kind of a comment on the story after you read it. Writers enjoys gaining comments, even if its just, "It was nice", the writers gains somewhat confidence or motivation from just that. THey feel that their piece is actually being read by someone until they get at least one comment, although, this is how I feel at least.

And well, this is just my opinion, so please don't mind it when I say it but... try not to be too sarcastic when giving feebacks. You can always make someone understand things nicely with well mannerisms right?

If you update one at a time, then I'd say it's fine, but if you release an update for all three at once, then simply post the update in your portfolio as a general "hey, x, y, and z are new."

Understood, although release update all three at once only happened once and it was kinda planned out, I doubt it will happen again though.

Yeah, note the "in close proximity to each other" bit. I personally have had like 6 different writing threads, but at most I think there was only ever 2 on the front page at once. Keeping multiple threads is fine as long as it isn't:
Poem A.
Short Story A
Poem B
Poem C

All by one person on the front page.

This makes sense to me. Allows more things to stay on the front page where they'll actually be read.

Also, although a response is always nice, I think it's better to lean away from just saying "It was good" or "I liked it". At least saying why you liked it or what you liked specifically would achieve the same purpose while also helping the writer to know what they did right.

@Toxic If it's your thread, even a little thing like that (although it may not help you improve as a writer) helps your confidence, and bumps the thread, so anything is appreciated.
More detail s helpful of course, but we take what we can get in this section.

I'm not sure I understand (or agree) with this collection thing. I have multiple stories that update. If they all happen to do so at the same time, why waste ANOTHER thread saying so?

I'm confused.

What I am suggesting is that you keep all of your collected stories in one thread, so that you don't have to deal with bumping multiple threads off the front page if you update multiple things. You would ask a mod to delete your old threads (or just stop bumping them with updates, same thing really, as long as they stay off of the front page.)

For those who have a lot of stories, wouldn't this just get very confusing or messy?

If you have a bunch of one shots, no. Just spoil your stories, put the title over the spoiler, and you're done. It's not that complicated.

If you are a user with multiple chaptered series, then odds are you don't have enough of those being updated close to each other for this to be an issue, and so this doesn't apply to you.

... Then this doesn't apply to me at all. Carry on.

EDIT: Or it does when I have outdated shit that needs updating.

Even if it's old, post in your collection thread that it's updated and provide a link.

So basically, I need to start a one-shot thread. Is this what I'm hearing correctly?

I personally believe a story, one that has chapters, deserves its own thread. That may push back other stories accordingly, but if the author wants attention, they may say so in their sig. A collection of translated joke short stories should be in one thread, no offense meant to the author. Also, poems and the like should probably be compiled in one thread if the author intends to submit many on occasion. However, I see very little point for portfolio threads of all general writings. You have a signature, heaven forbid you use it for your collection of accomplished written story threads instead of that precious waifu claim-to-Fakku-fame. Any updates could be included within your sig with a date to let people know when you post.

QFT is really all I can say about that.

Did you write series or one-shots is the first question that comes to my mind.

@Xenon If I remove my waifus off my sig then I'll cry... ;_;

Haha, that made me laugh. You don't have to remove it, just have in that spoiler containing your portfolio thread your stories and their current chapters with dates and just update that instead of a portfolio thread.

Isn't it fine the way it is?

?_?

Also, my sig actually reached the limit of the 200 characters... ^_^""