Looking for writing feedback -- yea or nay?

[Smacktard]

Disclaimer: I don't normally write about this sort of thing, but I feel like the backstory helps me to explain why I'm making this post.

My aunt recently passed away. It was extremely sudden. Her doctor said she was suffering from post-Covid syndrome and kept telling her she would be better in a few weeks. Then, out of nowhere she was diagnosed with kidney failure and given one month to live. Less than a week later she was dead.

My aunt was one of the few family members outside of my immediate family that I was very close to -- one of the only people in my life who asked about my travels and was genuinely interested in my stories. That's not to say my friends and even parents aren't interested or excited to hear about my trips. They just never really ask -- at least, not in the way that gets my best stories out of me. And when I'm finally together with my friends after being years apart, I don't want to dominate the discussion with the story of a really good poop I took in Serbia. When you're with people in person, you want to relate to them, not distance yourself from them by situating yourself mid-conversation on a mountain side 12,000 kilometers away.

The way people ask me about my travels is sort of the way that you ask people about their kids: out of politeness, but lack of really giving a shit. Apologies to any parents out there, but I'm sure your eyes would glaze over too when people would talk about their kids in your pre-parental days. Kids are kids and will continue being kids, and therefore do nothing really noteworthy or funny or interesting enough to talk about for quite a while. So I get it. I get why people don't talk to me much about my travels.

But I also get why people would be interested in reading about my stories, in the same way that you watch your friends' Instagram stories of them reading bedtime stories to their kids or taking them to the library, and you think to yourself, That's nice, that gave me the good-feels, I'm glad I saw that.

Anyway, all of this to say that I always had in mind to publish a collection of travel essays. Probably like most of you who grew up geekin' out on the GW forums in the early 2000s, I'm better with the written word than oral storytelling, and I've had encouragement from friends, family, and former English professors to publish my stuff. My aunt was a huge motivator for that, and I always kind of just took it for granted that I would eventually publish them, and that she would eventually read the stories I always promised her I'd eventually write. In reality, I hadn't really written much over the past 5 years, and now it feels both too late but also the right time to get back into it. So I've started writing again.

Now, the poll question: if I posted short travel essays (300 words - 4000 words), would you be interested in reading them and/or providing editing feedback/suggestions? I'm not talking about comma splices and run-on sentences, but rather feedback about what parts to cut, what parts to expand on, which word choice is bland, what darlings I need to kill. I need honest and upfront feedback -- I don't get offended or defensive about these things, but that doesn't necessarily mean I will take 100% of your suggestions on board if I feel there's a good reason for me not to.

I want to make a few things clear:

• The stories are all true, and more action-driven than the contemplative slush I spilled above.
• Writing style (unlike above) is humorous and playful, but also sentimental.
• The stories are less about "I stayed at this hotel and then I stayed at that hotel and then I sipped this mediocre mimosa" and more like "So, this one time I found a human skull in the forest".
• Don't say you would like to read these stories if you don't actually ever intend to read them or give feedback. I'd prefer people be upfront now and be like, "Yeah I'm not gonna read that shit" and save me the time and effort.
• Whether or not I get willing readers here, I'm going to continue writing anyway, so please don't feel like I'm emotionally manipulating anyone into helping me. This poll is only about posting my drafts on GW.
• Voting is (and will remain) anonymous.
• Maybe I could throw out a few ideas for stories and let people vote to decide which one I write next???

Okay go vote now, chop chop.

 

[Mark]

I’m a fan of long-form writing for storytelling, condensing a story was never easy for me. With that said, I’d certainly be interested in reading about your travels. I’m interested in learning perspectives from people, and as someone who’s admittedly not well-travelled at all, this would be a good opportunity to learn about what life is like in other countries.

I say go for it. Turn it into a whole thing if you want, pictures, slideshows, whatever tickles your pickle. You have a unique perspective, and judging by some of the brief stories you’ve already shared… you have plenty of shit to talk about.

 

[Smacktard]

Thanks for the feedback, man.

I’m a fan of long-form writing for storytelling, condensing a story was never easy for me.

I'm surprised. You're a good writer, you always have been. I still remember the quality of your writing from even the "Ask Wicked" threads I remember reading a long time ago, so I figured this sort of thing would come naturally to you.

I’m interested in learning perspectives from people, and as someone who’s admittedly not well-travelled at all, this would be a good opportunity to learn about what life is like in other countries.

I'd appreciate your input then because you might pick up on some things I take for granted, or holes in my stories that could use more description and scene-setting.

I say go for it. Turn it into a whole thing if you want, pictures, slideshows, whatever tickles your pickle. You have a unique perspective, and judging by some of the brief stories you’ve already shared… you have plenty of shit to talk about.

Cheers mate. I'm going to keep it purely written text, but maybe what I'll do is keep the floor open for photo requests if there's any part that people would like to better visualize.

 

[Mark]

Thanks for the feedback, man.

My opinion is always free.

I'm surprised. You're a good writer, you always have been. I still remember the quality of your writing from even the "Ask Wicked" threads I remember reading a long time ago, so I figured this sort of thing would come naturally to you.

I wouldn’t consider myself a good writer, but I thank you for the compliment. I tend to ramble and deviate, so, as you’ve seen even on these forums, it doesn’t really do me any favors when it comes to being brief. My run-on sentences never end.

I'd appreciate your input then because you might pick up on some things I take for granted, or holes in my stories that could use more description and scene-setting.

Absolutely, I wouldn’t mind at all. You can message me privately if it’s anything you want feedback on before you post it, or I can just chime in with my two cents publicly whenever you do post it.

If you plan on using the Writing forum for it, you might want to relay couple details to me that aren’t user editable for whatever dumb reason so you will appear properly credited for your content here. It’s not necessary, but you can see why I’m offering if you view Crystal and Pun Damage’s table.

Cheers mate. I'm going to keep it purely written text, but maybe what I'll do is keep the floor open for photo requests if there's any part that people would like to better visualize.

Well, I only mentioned that because I got the idea after seeing your night sky shots. You have a knack for photography, so I figured you’d be able to utilize that with a header/cover image for each posting since that’s an option for articles. Something like that night sky shot, for example, would do a good job at setting the stage for the words to follow.

 

[Smacktard]

I wouldn’t consider myself a good writer, but I thank you for the compliment. I tend to ramble and deviate, so, as you’ve seen even on these forums, it doesn’t really do me any favors when it comes to being brief. My run-on sentences never end.

I tend to do the same thing and add a lot of unnecessary words and qualifiers. I promise not to wear you all out with bloated drafts though -- I'll post an edited draft that would be tighter and punchier.

If you plan on using the Writing forum for it, you might want to relay couple details to me that aren’t user editable for whatever dumb reason so you will appear properly credited for your content here. It’s not necessary, but you can see why I’m offering if you view Crystal and Pun Damage’s table.

I was planning on using this forum. The idea I had in mind was that every thread I post could have a poll with an option for the next story I write/share, voted on by y'all. But the Writing forum may be more appropriate, yeah.

One thing I don't understand: By the "table", do you mean the appearance of the threads in the Writing forum catalogue?

Well, I only mentioned that because I got the idea after seeing your night sky shots. You have a knack for photography, so I figured you’d be able to utilize that with a header/cover image for each posting since that’s an option for articles. Something like that night sky shot, for example, would do a good job at setting the stage for the words to follow.

Thanks! I'm not that good of a photographer, really. Just got lucky with one shot.

Also, I'd like to save photos until after the story so that any feedback or comments are not influenced by any images I post.

I have a few stories ready to go already, and I also finished a draft last night, and started working on another one today. I may post something pretty soon.

 

[Mark]

I was planning on using this forum. The idea I had in mind was that every thread I post could have a poll with an option for the next story I write/share, voted on by y'all. But the Writing forum may be more appropriate, yeah.

One thing I don't understand: By the "table", do you mean the appearance of the threads in the Writing forum catalogue?

I meant the actual box that their information is presented in on the authors page. Just the byline and stuff like that.

Also, I'd like to save photos until after the story so that any feedback or comments are not influenced by any images I post.

That works, too, but you got the right idea… a simple visualization to go with it.

I have a few stories ready to go already, and I also finished a draft last night, and started working on another one today. I may post something pretty soon.

I’ll keep an eye out for it.

 

[Kat]

I love this idea. Please tag me when you post something. Or maybe PM me if a Wolf game is going on, I miss a lot of notifications during those.

 

[Smacktard]

@Kat @Mark
Posted a thread in the writing forum w/ first story. It's the longest story I've written yet -- 4200 words -- and just about the least likely place on Earth to warrant such a length: Djibouti.

https://gwforums.com/threads/a-boy-abroad-stories-from-me-from-around-the-world.624/

 

[Mark]

@Kat @Mark
Posted a thread in the writing forum w/ first story. It's the longest story I've written yet -- 4200 words -- and just about the least likely place on Earth to warrant such a length: Djibouti.

https://gwforums.com/threads/a-boy-abroad-stories-from-me-from-around-the-world.624/

I’ll be checking it out shortly, gotta get my coffee first and foremost. Thanks for letting me know, dude.

 

[Smacktard]

I’ll be checking it out shortly, gotta get my coffee first and foremost. Thanks for letting me know, dude.

Take your time, it's a hefty one. Cheers!