(no subject)

[louiselux]

Well, after yesterday's misery post, I am feeling much better today! (Thank you nym and iibnf for saying nice things). Still a bit nervous about going to hospital, but I can live with that. I went running last night, and afterwards felt properly relaxed for the first time in weeks and weeks. I also sent some feedback to snaples for Like Clockwork. Go me!

Why is sending feedback so hard?
One reason is that I'm always worried about sounding like an idiot if I only send a few lines of feedback. (But it's never stopped me yet). Or, more precisely, that I won't get across to the author why I liked their story. I read some advice once about sending LoC's, can't remember where or who by, but it did give me very useful tip that makes fbing much easier. I try and pick out a line, or one thing about the story that I particularly liked, or if I read it 3 times I'll say that. I think what's most useful about doing this is that it gives me somewhere to start, as I often don't know what to say about a story other than it struck me as being very good indeed.

Comments

[luthien.livejournal.com]

Glad you're feeling better today! One thing to keep in mind when you're feeling down because you're not well is exactly that - that sort of depression is linked with your current physical state. Like the pain/immediate bad health stuff, the depression will lift. It doesn't *feel* like it will ever go away when you're in the middle of it, but hang onto that thought and it will make it easier to deal with.

As for feedback, I find that some stories are easier to write feedback for than others. The tip to concentrate on one or two things that stood out about the story for you is a good one. That's usually my starting point. With some stories, even that is hard to do, though, because it's all the story together that I reacted to. Those are usually the stories that I give up trying to write feedback for because it's just too hard to do them justice - and then I feel terribly guilty. Sometimes you just can't win!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I do try and remember that feeling ill makes me also feel depressed - but I love being reminded (and need to be), just because it makes me feel more positive about things, so thanks *g*.

[amptowl.livejournal.com]

Glad you're feeling a bit better :)

I don't so much worry about the length of feedback, but I fret endlessly over the content. Half the time I write something and it reads like 'me, me, me'; my reaction, my feelings, and I find I haven't said anything much about the story. I wouldn't mind that, if I could be less ... gushy ... about the feelings and reactions part. I sound like a virgin on a first date, when I'm really mad about the story. And then I feel silly. *g*

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I don't think any author woud be upset to receive a LoC like that though. I'd guess that most would be proud to have had that effect on you!

But I do know what you mean. I don't often worry that my LoC's are self-centrered, because to me that's the nature of them. They're about my reactions. But I tend to agonise over content, too much. I generally have two modes of feedback writing:
1, very quick, don't worry too much how it's going to sound as long as I make the author understand that I loved their story
2, not at all because I've thought about it for too long and sunk myself into a hole.