'Helpful' comments

When I open this site, I usually start by looking, whether there are new stories, and then I look at comments, but here I cannot see, what kind of story except, when it is mentioned in the comment: so when I write a comment, I try to mention, whether it is F/M or M/F.

I agree with Minidancer. And if someone points out a factual inaccuracy in one of my stories, I don't take that as condemnation of the whole story, especially if there is also a positive comment; and if someone points out an inconsistency in the story (for example, one commenter pointed out that the girl had gone from football shorts back into her normal dress very quickly without explanation) I curse myself, not the commenter.

I do correct some factual mistakes - never grammar - but I certainly don't intend it as a "gotcha!".

Yenz - the symbols next to a validated story should tell the reader its orientation (blue square on top of pink square is M/F, pink on blue F/M etc). Try hovering over each symbol.

Personally, so long as I understand that rode was intended as road or then was intended as than, it makes little difference so long as the story flows. Just a little glitch in the story and there have been many where the glitch has made little difference, particularly when the story is a good one. It's really the content that's important to me and especially the conveyance of a thought that hits my buttons, regardless of any nitpicky stuff. What really irks me at times is the simple unbelievable nature of stories. Of course this is probably the nature of the game considering this venue but the object should be to make a story seem as real as possible in the readers mind, IMO. That's all I have ...

Let's face it, there was always somebody at school who couldn't wait to point out to the teacher when he/she had made a mistake on the blackboard.
Strangely enough it always seemed to be the same two or three individuals.
Even at that age I was always of the opinion, "look, you know what she means, so put your hand down and let it go."
I also seem to remember the teachers getting quite irritated at being corrected...wonder why?

On a slightly different not, I recall the footballer Paul Gascoigne picking up the referee's yellow card after he had dropped it during the game. Before returning it to him, Gascoigne held it up as if he was booking the ref'. The official took the card off the smiling player and, with a face like fizz, returned the gesture and actually booked him for real.
It was a Scottish ref' though so that might explain it.

Ooh Sir...Sir....I think you meant 'different note' !!!

Sorry Ty...I just couldn't resist!



XxxxX

I strongly agree. Suspension of disbelief is the task of any reader of fiction, but it is up to the author to make this suspension as easy for the reader as possible. That's our job.

I sometimes wonder about the purpose of comments here at the LSF. We insist that our readers provide them, yet many of us want them to be only praising. Personally, I like a little constructive criticism; it is hard to learn and improve without that kind of feedback. Comments about typos are not generally helpful, unless those typos are too distracting, but if I make errors in plot, continuity, point of view... I do kind of like to hear about them.

When I proof my own work, I have a tendency to read what I meant to write rather than what I actually wrote; another reader can provide more objective input.

Maybe not everyone is aware that the library has a facility to submit a Validation Error Report (by clicking on the tick in the far RH column on, for example, the 'Latest Loaded' list.) It's the perfect way to get a typo corrected without embarrassing the poor author!

Mini...see me after school young lady.

Ty, that has got to be the best offer I have had all week!