On Feedback for Creative Works

[Gelquie]

I see this issue come up a lot in a lot of creative spaces, with wildly varying views on the subject. I was talking with Killix about it and thought it might be nice to discuss it openly. If nothing else, it’ll probably answer some unasked questions from individuals, and help us approach each other!

So let’s take a scenario. You flexed your creative muscles and finished creating a thing! Yay! You decide to publish it to an online platform and show the world... Or at least your social circle.

A few things can happen from here. (Non-exhaustive)

-Absolutely no response; radio silence.
-You get Likes for your post, but no comments.
-You get Likes and comments for your post!
-You get too much feedback, it has become your life, where are you, who are you, aaaaah

Now, here are a few thoughts I know of from feedbackers or people who view works. (Non-exhaustive)

-”Wow, that was nice! *Walks away whistling without commentating.*”
-”Well that was a thing! *Walks away whistling without commentating.*”
-”I liked this! I should express this! But how do words… *Leaves a Like/Favorite.*”
-”I liked this! I should express this! ...ButwhatifI’mbotheringthem orIsaysomethingtheydon’tlike I’dbetter notIdon’twanttoimpose. *Maybe leaves a like, or something miniscule, and hopes that’s enough, aaaah, anxiety.*”
-"I liked this! Here's some detailed thoughts because I'm feeling them!"
-"I liked this! I will try to leave detailed feedback out of social obligation."
-”I liked this! I should EXPRESS THIS! *DELUGE*”
-”I liked this! I left feedback and it sparked a discussion I like! ...Oh… this is an interesting conversation but I don’t want to spam the thread… ...I’ll just leave this where it is so I don’t step on toes ._. “

I feel this can be boiled down to a few feelings.

-Enjoying/Tolerating it but otherwise indifferent on informing the author
-Restrained expressiveness due to social anxiety, fear of imposing, or fear of it going wrong
-(And in that one case, high expressiveness. But I don't feel that's so often a problem.)

Overall, I see different takes all the time. “You should leave feedback and commentary or you are a BAD VIEWER AND YOU WILL BE JUDGED”, “You should leave any feedback you can to help the artists!”, “I’d love to comment but I don’t know how,” “I would comment but I’ve been burned by bad responses and now am afraid of doing so,” “People should not be forced to leave feedback.” Etc etc.

And it seems to me that everyone views feedback on either end in different ways. And that people seem to be following an unwritten social rule, but not everyone is actually in agreement on that unwritten social rule. And sometimes, one’s view of that social rule is not the artist’s view of that social rule. And so the viewer acts on something that is not actually what the artist wants, but because they also assume a social rule, they don’t correct them, or don’t respond in an appropriate manner.

I see a whole wave of miscommunication. Maybe if we discuss this, we can come to sort of middle ground, or at least understand each other and our approaches better. So tell us here! What is your take on the unwritten social rule? How should feedback be done? Is there a way to improve the process on both sides, a way to encourage things without being pushy or without being too restrained?

(There’s also room for discussion on how to give feedback, and how some feedback is taken and is interpreted; we can take that as it comes.)

Basically, what’s your view on feedback, and the whole thing? What do you prefer, on either end?

[Killix]

Hello, I am here to give feedback on this discussion about giving feedback!

I do enjoy feedback, and even getting a single Like or "This is cool" comment can brighten up my day. Total radio silence on my random works usually doesn't bother me, but sometimes with more involved projects... the anxiety sirens start to blare. XD
"Did everyone read this and just not say anything? Did I offend someone? Did they read it and HATE it so much they don't want to even talk about it? Did they not see it at all??" screams my inner mind at me in a panic.

Though whatever the reason, I will fornever know because I am also anxious about asking for feedback! Don't want to seem pushy, don't want to create an awkward situation by asking someone to read/look at something they're just not interested in.
Mary: Hey, have you seen my new Neopets fic? What did you think?
Jill: Uhhh I don't.... like Neopets. Sorry.

*sweats profusely*
(I used Neopets as an example, but you can substitute that for any number of genres or original works for varied levels of awkward)

On the other hand, I am not overly competent about leaving feedback, myself. Oof. I usually smash Like (or +fav or thumbs up or whatever system the platform has) just to let the creator know that I enjoyed/looked at/agreed with their content. Sometimes maybe leave a simple comment.
I am terrible at articulating my thoughts and using words, and this means that I am rarely able to leave in-depth commentary, even if I really really enjoyed the content. (and this isn't limited to things like original works or fanfics or whatever - I recently marathon'd the entire She-Ra final season and LOVED it but simply had no words to say on the fan thread for that series. X'D) I'm much better at joining conversations and answering prompts than I am instigating them, I suppose.

Sometimes I straight up forget to Like/fav/thumbsup/whatever and get too embarrassed to press the button months later in case the pings for months-old content is irritating to the recipient. X'D Honestly, it's a habit I need to snap in half. Sometimes even the smallest feedback makes me happy, so I should make an effort to leave whatever I can for others as well.

[Gelquie]

Okay, here’s my personal view!

I understand the importance of feedback to the self-esteem and motivation of artists. I’m also one of not many words, and sometimes detailed review can require a lot of effort out of me. I personally think a Like is a way to express positive feelings about a work without challenging one to find words for the subject, or leave nothing but a one-word response. Coming up with a detailed response can be a task, and sometimes I don’t feel up for it.
So sometimes I hear people say “Likes don’t mean anything, you have to leave detailed feedback/reblog”. To me it feels… both imposing and kinda disheartening. The latter because my message of “I liked your work!” was not interpreted as such. D= I understand the sentiment of artist outreach. But to say I can only leave detailed feedback (especially if I'm at a loss for words; feelings are hard!) can make me feel pressured and discouraged from leaving feedback on a work.

(It’s even worse if the author reacts negatively to my review because I wasn’t 100% positive even if it’s not negative, or if it's not the Exact Sentiments they were looking for. Which can make me think that I can’t express my true views on the subject. So in response, I often slink back and just leave Likes, because I’m too afraid to say more. Which becomes a vicious cycle if more feedback is demanded. At which point if it’s particularly egregious, I probably just give up on reading stuff from them or giving any feedback (even if I like the work!), because the expectations are too much and I feel any action I do will be judged.)

I feel it’d help me to have my options to what degree of feedback I can express, to be able to be open and honest (within reason; I’m not just gonna pan a work), and to be able to have an easy option if I need it.
It also helps if I know I can leave this feedback at any time. At least on my end, I feel it’s never too late to leave a nice response or a Like. (So if you ever come across an old thing of mine you like, and you’re worried about hitting the Like button for an old thing or several Like buttons or detailed feedback or even a short one-off comment… You can do it. I’ll appreciate it! It’ll hearten me and maybe give me some fun hindsight on an old work of mine. Just so long as it's what you want to do!)

I also feel like feedback should not be the sole reason one works on and posts a work, unless they’re specifically trying to send a message. One should work on something because they enjoy it, and then share it if they’d like. This is because I worry that people who hunger solely for feedback will never feel enough. I’ve seen particularly bad cases where even several highly detailed responses to placate someone will not be enough, for they have other underlying issues that they should address. I’m afraid of leaving responses for those people.
(...I should state my bias. I’ve been burned before by this and expectations of Pure Positive Essay Reviews All the Time Even if I Have to Lie. It’s part of the reason why I may hesitate to give detailed responses now; I don’t want to be caught in that vicious cycle again that only drains my mental health. So… anxiety.)
What helps me in this is seeing how one responds to other feedback (not just from their close friends) and if it’s constructive, so I can gauge on a case-by-case basis how comfortable I can be responding.

When I do have detailed responses in mind, and I’m talking with someone I feel comfortable sharing my full and honest views with, I love doing it! I can get into it and have an honest and fulfilling discussion, and it helps the other person too! I really have to trust the other person first, though. But basically, if I get into a long, nice, and enthusiastic discussion with someone on a work, you can trust that I'm fully into it and not just doing it out of obligation.
Though I may feel bad if the discussion gets long; something that helps me is if the other person gives me permission to continue talking and maybe taking up a thread with it. I guess it’s a matter of consent. Think of me as a semi-benevolent vampire; it’s better to invite me in.

Basically, it’s summed up as. I prefer Likes as a way for me to express enjoyment of a work, and I don’t feel like more should be imposed, merely suggested. If someone politely says “feedback is appreciated!” and doesn’t push the matter and instead responds constructively, I’ll be more inclined to give commentary, even enthusiastic commentary.
In part, it’s a matter of trust for me. That I’ll be able to give feedback without there being repercussions for giving my honest views, provided I’m not saying something actively negative that just tears the work down.

[Killix]

I forgot to mention it in my above post, but I believe that while feedback can be quite helpful to creators and a great way to express feelings or opinions about a work - it is not something I or anyone else is entitled to.

If someone acts like they are entitled to it? Say... demanding comments or throwing a fit if they don't get any? I will very much NOPE out of interacting with them. :X

Demanding feedback is the worst way to get feedback. You alienate your audience and won't get honest thoughts or natural discussion that way.

Jun 2, 2020 17:03:12 GMT -5 Gelquie said:

I also feel like feedback should not be the sole reason one works on and posts a work, unless they’re specifically trying to send a message. One should work on something because they enjoy it, and then share it if they’d like. This is because I worry that people who hunger solely for feedback will never feel enough. I’ve seen particularly bad cases where even several highly detailed responses to placate someone will not be enough, for they have other underlying issues that they should address. I’m afraid of leaving responses for those people.

Indeed. Making a work solely for the sake of attention or "getting the most Likes" is a dangerous road to travel.
I art for my own enjoyment, and I feel that others enjoying my work is a very nice bonus. I don't expect others to care about my original characters or works, but if the project is particularly important to me (or I'm especially proud of it), sometimes I will request feedback when I post it and then... well, that's it. My general attitude is that if anyone who looked at it wants to comment or discuss? Excellent! Otherwise, it is left to the winds.

Creating things solely to squeeze feedback out of others is a road to disappointment.

I have also seen artists and writers fall into the pitfall of creating things not because they enjoy them, but because those subjects/genres are popular. It's a great way to induce creative burn out and just make art/writing/whatever an overall unfun experience for yourself.

Brookes Eggleston has a good video on the topic of building an audience, and mentions the pitfall of creating something just for attention: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGTFZEiTYOQ

[June Scarlet]

I mean, you don't want to create something just for attention, but you don't exactly want to be ignored either.

I think it depends on the piece. A little something you've put together for fun? Any comments, or even likes is just a bonus. Something you worked on very hard for a month for a very specific and tight-knit community getting ignored completely? That stings a little.

I'm going to show some concrete examples, because I love concrete examples.

A year ago May I drew a character from my sketchbook and posted it to the forum in my art thread. I wasn't expecting any comments or particular feedback from it except maybe a few likes. And that's what I got. It wasn't a big deal either way, though, because I probably spent an hour or two on the whole thing.
ntwriters.proboards.com/post/2720181/thread

Last July I started a very involved ten-page comic. It required coordinating eleven characters, getting permissions from other content creators, writing, penciling, inking, scanning, coloring, sending into an editor. Between all that, it took about two months from committing to an idea, to submitting it to be published. People seemed excited about it when I was working on it, when I was asking to use their characters, when I was working on designs. But when it was actually published, I couldn't even tell if anyone read it, let alone liked it.
ntwriters.proboards.com/post/2725142/thread

I actually had an idea for an event that would give such works a second chance, but that's kind of been forgotten too.
ntwriters.proboards.com/thread/53406/second-chance-reviews-interest-check

I mean, though, I guess not every idea you have will stick. And in each of these, I did enjoy the process and learned something by doing it. So it's not like I regret anything.

Anyway, I probably have more thoughts, but it's getting late, so I'll leave it here for now.

[Twillie]

For me, feedback is a two-way street. Since there are so many differing opinions and preferences for creatives on how, when, where, etc. to give and receive feedback, I feel like there's some responsibility to define your own personal preferences, if applicable, when sharing.

For example, If I have a drawing that I want constructive criticism on, I make sure to explicitly ask for this and define what about it I need help with. Even a general "looking for feedback!" message doesn't feel like enough to me as all it does is say out loud that social obligation, but it doesn't take away its ambiguity. How much feedback? Feedback on the contents or the technicalities behind it? Constructive criticism, or just praise? This can lead to vague reception that leaves the creator frustrated and the audience confused on what to say, among other possibilities.

I also make sure to use what I think is the most effective channel. If I have a wip drawing I need feedback on, I'm not gonna post it to my art thread, which has the expectation of being more like a gallery of finished works to peruse. Instead, I may make a new thread asking for advice, I might post about it in the artists chat thread, or I might take it to Discord where people can give more immediate commentary.

I agree that a creator is also not entitled to feedback. If you're wanting it, you need to understand what it is you're looking for, what audience of critics you need, and then understand what they may need from you so that you may provide and receive in return. It's a pet peeve of mine when someone shares a work of theirs, and either they give no indications of what they want/share via an inappropriate channel or they actually do receive feedback, but then criticize their audience for not giving enough or the right kind. I've seen it in all forms from anger to guilt tripping, and it feels really gross to me and makes me anxious whenever they share future work.

On the flipside, though, I do understand the frustration creators can feel when they're not met with the feedback they wanted. Even if you ask for it and give details, it doesn't always work out, and you're left with less than you were expecting. Especially if the work had a lot of time put into it, it can feel like little payoff in the end and be legitimately demoralizing. This happens especially with original works; people in general are more interested in fandom-related content, and original material doesn't get as fair a shake.

I think when it comes to this, something that can help is to have more than one source of reception. Don't rely on the same group of people every time to provide feedback, especially if that group of people is composed of strangers. When I post art to Tumblr or Twitter, I may get a handful of likes at most and no comments. Based on the context and nature of the platforms, this is what I expect, and I can't ask for anything more in the moment as most people on those platforms have no emotional connection to me. They don't have a special interest in giving me what I want, nor do they owe me that as a total stranger. So instead, I may continue to post on social media and slowly build those relationships through time, and meanwhile I have other, more personal, outlets to share my work with friends. And going even further, it can also be good to have more than one circle of friends to share your work. Not only does it give better diversity in opinion, but at times someone may not have time or energy to give the reception you're looking for.

Of course, that's all best case scenario, and not everyone can build that kind of network. No matter what, I think it's important for a creator to reflect on the support network they do have in terms of receiving feedback and recognize its strengths and weaknesses, as well as understand that everyone is a person with their own life going on. This way, they may better expect and accept the kind of feedback they get, and perhaps also seek out ways to expand or troubleshoot their network.

When giving feedback, usually I save my in depth stuff for people I know personally and whose preferences I'm more familiar with. For artists I may follow but don't know as well, usually I leave it as likes and reblogs, maybe a nice comment if they don't have as big a following and I'm not just repeating the same thing as everyone else. This may differ if the artist explicitly requests feedback like I mentioned before. I do it this way because, at least for me, I'm very wary about giving unsolicited feedback.

I've seen social media posts before that really push audiences to leave feedback whenever and however they can, but I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all method to it. I do believe there is such a thing as giving unwanted feedback, or too much, even if what you say is mainly positive. Maybe the original creator made a piece just to vent some feelings, and they're not interested in how others think it turned out. Maybe they're trying to overcome anxiety of sharing their work, and feedback alongside posting could be overwhelming to them. Perhaps they made a piece for fun, and while some nice comments don't bother them, constructive criticism about the piece may feel to them like a misinterpretation of why they created it.

That being said, the unsolicited criticism fear I think does apply more to lengthy or constructive criticism rather than a simple comment. Basically, these days I never give a big paragraph of feedback or break down a piece unless the creator specifically asks, if I know they're expecting it, or if it's in an environment where that's expected (like an art class).

Something simple doesn't do much harm in most cases, although I think that can also fall to personal taste. Like for me, while I appreciate the shorter comments people give for my work, if it's just a quick "That's cute!" or "I liked it!" it doesn't usually leave much impact. It doesn't really annoy me, but I don't take much from it or what they liked about it. But I also understand that those kind of comments typically come when I'm not asking for specific feedback, so really any commentary goes above my expectations and it's nice that they say it x3

I think in general, though, my perception of how feedback should be approached comes from my own personal biases about it. I don't see myself as inherently deserving of feedback, a mindset I likely instilled in myself after negative experiences with creators who act the opposite. It's something I've seen on multiple platforms and was put off by, so I distanced myself from that behavior. I don't think I'm superior to those creators, as it's much more nuanced as to why people may get upset than "they feel they're entitled!" But, quite simply it's just something that rubbed me wrong before and thus I instinctively move away from it.

On the one hand, this attitude keeps me from attaching too much of my self worth into how pieces are received, but at the same time, I feel like it can also hinder my ability to push for feedback when needed x3 Because sometimes you really do need to make that extra nudge or reminder to get what you're looking for, but I'm not as comfortable doing that.

Uhh I can probably say more (haven't even touched on personal techniques to giving feedback), but I probably have said enough already and my train of thought has just about stopped for the moment x3 

[Gelquie]

Hm, June Scarlet, the Zine is an interesting example... Because to be honest, I completely missed its release and have heard idle comments on the release, and wondered where I can see it, but never actually searched for it. ='D

Which could well be my own fault. At the time, I was busy fussing with my computer and wasn't really keeping up on much else. And I could've spent more effort searching. (I guess it was all just nebulous in my head?)
But maybe this could speak to the advertising part of this. I feel like its release could've gotten its own thread, to maximize attention beyond the initial thread. Which could maybe speak to the advertising part of this topic. Not that it wasn't a good post to present the zine; it was! Just maybe there are some things that can be done to maximize attention, for the Zine and other works that may have been missed.

Regardless, now that I see it starkly before me, I might look into it when I have some time! (No time today, alas. I'm multitasking as is.) I'll assume it's not too late to give commentary on the thread, if I'm inclined?

(EDIT because I didn't mention it: I am sorry, Zine contributors, for missing you! D= )

As for the main point of the post, that being the sting of not having a work seen, I think I can only really echo Killix's point. That it can sting, and that' svalid, and that requests for feedback can be suggested. But there is no entitlement to getting feedback; the other needs to consent their time and energy.
But I think compromises can be made.
I think asking (even on your own time) for a second chance at a work is fair enough, though, if it's politely worded. Saying something along the lines of "I'm not sure if this was seen, (link), and I would appreciate feedback if you have any," is an honest and fair enough request. Honesty goes both ways, after all.

That said, maybe encouraging small amounts of feedback could help on the matter, along the lines of "Thanks for the Zine! I liked all the entries. =D " Or something like that. Which could maybe serve as a good starting point for people who lack words (while giving room for expansion) and a compromise.

Thank you for the example, June; this is a good issue to explore, and I look forward to hearing other thoughts and suggestions from all. (And thank you for pointing me towards the Zine!)


EDIT: Oops, posted within seconds of Twillie. xD I'll still read it, just that's why this post doesn't address Twillie!

Read your post now Twillie, and I'm basically nodding along to all of it while considering the points you made! I think you very well highlighted how much of a nuanced issue this is, and less simple than some people would make it seem.
There are so many points, but I don't think I can justify sticking them into a post edit.
I guess the only thing is that while there's a two-way street, I wonder what happens if one person doesn't exactly know what they want. But I think you're right that it is important to figure that out, especially when making requests.

[Killix]

Oof, I really have to apologize to the other zine contributors. I took a look at every entry (including the ones based on forum events I'm not familiar with) and intended to leave my thoughts on the zine... then I became supremely distracted and completely forgot all about it. >_<;

Edit: There we go! Fixed that mistake and left my feedback on the zine. 8D I am glad this was brought up, because it was something I wanted to do, but just plain derped of my own accord.

[Moni]

i personally prefer to give out some sort of short response on why i liked something, if i have the attention span for it. something descriptive like "i liked x about this! (and, if applicable), i think y could be improved!" and that's generally the type of feedback i like getting as well. i honestly try to comment on things when i have read/seen it and feel up to it, because as much as people say that you shouldn't create for attention or whatever, it does feel good when someone can point out something specific they liked or say anything about it--much better and helpful than a generic like or a "that's amazing!" comment, even if it is "only" one sentence long.

this kind of thing is really only sustainable in a small community--on much larger platforms, i don't really have much of a presence and don't post on those, so i can't really speak for that. there's also the role of reciprocity that i think people really underrate because it seems petty, but it's also a Really Big Thing: people are more likely to check-out be invested in the works of those who are invested in them. when that isn't fulfilled, it can lead to a sort of death spiral of comments in the community, which ofc interacts with the local "culture" so to speak.

(it goes without saying that nobody is entitled to comments and nobody has to give them or whatever. seems like a foregone conclusion but, you know!)

[Stephanie (swordlilly)]

*passively leaves a like* >.> <.<

Er, I think Moni's comment covers pretty much everything I feel about the subject xd

[Thorn]

I like 'likes', but I love in addition a simple comment like Moni mentioned, along the lines of...I dunno, 'I liked this! I really liked x bit!' I'm not so fond of being told what I could improve if I haven't asked for that, though. But everyone's different. I equally like longer feedback, I just... appreciate positive feedback in whatever form people want to give, really.

I think my best personal example as to why a small comment can be useful is my (verylong) werewolf project: I almost gave up several times all 'this is silly, nobody is reading it', but I had one friend who sent me nice positive comments every few chapters and it just made me feel so good! And motivated me to keep going so I could finish it. I later found out a couple others had read and liked it as well, but I didn't know at the time (since they didn't like or comment) and so without that one person giving feedback I definitely would have given up. So in my experience, leaving a like or a small comment can mean the world!

It's all very well to say 'write for yourself', but when you hit a low point a little boost can be so helpful (I love my characters deeply, but I do have a tendency to decide my long form projects are bad and abandon them- in fact werewolf exists purely because I wanted to prove to myself I can still actually write long form!)

But yeah I would never, ever demand comments/feedback of people. People don't always have the time (or desire) to read All The Things, let alone comment. In general, I'm pretty chill about feedback. Most of what I post on this forum at the moment only makes sense to my D&D group anyway. XD

I've seen the 'zine mentioned a few times, and I do feel bad I never gave proper feedback on that. I really came to hate my own contribution, and didn't want to look at it or be reminded of its existence (to the point I didn't even know a large section of the story was missing in the final product! Only noticed that today.) Today I managed to finally look at it after Gelquie reminded me, and now I'm past that (it's not even bad, just a bit clunky), I will go back and review the works of you lovely talented peeps at some stage.

I can only imagine the frustration of feeling like your hard work isn't being Seen, and am sorry for contributing to it. I don't think people who weren't connected with the 'zine should be expected to read it- just like when we did our story-swap event, I didn't expect anyone unconnected to the exchange to read mine- but as someone involved with the 'zine I should have properly read it and given feedback. I will do so in the next week.

[June Scarlet]

Jun 2, 2020 21:51:27 GMT -5 Twillie said:

For example, If I have a drawing that I want constructive criticism on, I make sure to explicitly ask for this and define what about it I need help with. Even a general "looking for feedback!" message doesn't feel like enough to me as all it does is say out loud that social obligation, but it doesn't take away its ambiguity. How much feedback? Feedback on the contents or the technicalities behind it? Constructive criticism, or just praise? This can lead to vague reception that leaves the creator frustrated and the audience confused on what to say, among other possibilities.

You raise an interesting point here, Twillie. I'm not sure I know how to ask for feedback. Or what sort of feedback I'm looking for in general. A WIP is easy enough, I guess, I usually have a goal in mind, something I'm trying to get right. But a finished project? I'm not even sure what I'm looking for.

I remember before I was a member of the NTWF, I checked it out. And was terrified by it because a NT review thread was at the very top. And in it was an oddly specific critique of a comic, where the artist was told they needed to work on hands, and the artist was like, "Haha, yeah, I do." And the whole thing threw me off wanting to be a part of the forum because I didn't want people nitpicking my mediocre artwork where I purposefully use mitten hands.

It was a wrong first impression, to be sure. I don't think anyone's ever nitpicked my use of mitten hands. But I gues it just goes to show the odd fears I get about my work sometimes.

I guess most of the time, I'm just looking for a friend to say, "Hey, I saw your finished piece." Likes achieve that. Anything else is just a bonus to me.

*

Also, thank you to everyone who took the time to look at the Zine this week! I appreciate it! And I'm sure the other contributors and editor do as well.

[PFA]

I'm of two minds about this, because on the one hand, I know how frustrating it can be when you work super hard on something and get little to no feedback. On the other hand, mustering up the time and energy to 1) read a whole new story/comic/whatever, and/or 2) give any kind of meaningful feedback on it, can be super difficult for me. XD; I'm definitely guilty of leaving a lot of empty likes and/or "cool! I liked x" comments, because I want to show support but just can't think of anything in particular to say.

I pretty much agree with what everyone's been saying, in that it's best to try and see it from both sides. People have their own lives, and they just don't have the time to sit down and give a detailed review of every creative work they see. Sometimes they just don't have much in particular to say. That's fine, and sometimes it's best just to learn from it and move on.

That said, I don't think it's a bad idea to bring up old stories that you wish got more creative feedback in the right contexts (and without being demanding about it). I'm super bad at that myself, though, and usually feel like I'm being annoying whenever I bring up my stories again or ask for feedback. I'm not sure the best way to get around that?


As for the NTWF Zine, I do remember looking at it and thinking it was cool, but a lot of it kinda went over my head due to my limited knowledge of Wrighton and the D&D roleplays. But I did see it and think it was cool!

[Thorn]

I think this is a good point too PFA- that nobody has engagement with/understanding of every written piece shared on the forum. And that's okay! I don't play Neopets, for example, so tend to not read Neopets-related works. There are exceptions- I'll do it if specifically requested, like in the review circle a couple years back where we all critiqued each other's work. But nobody should feel like they need to read All The Things.

Perhaps if people are looking for more in-depth responses, they could use 'work reviews and advice'? It doesn't seem to get much love, and is perfect for this sort of thing.

If you just want general responses/acknowledgement: "hey, did you see my work?" "Was wondering if someone would take a look at x?" is just fine. As has been mentioned a few times in this thread, communication is a two-way street, and making it clear you want acknowledgement goes a long way (a good example being all these new responses to the 'zine after June made it clear she would like more feedback!)

[Celestial]

Everyone has already said a lot of what I feel so I will just add my own personal opinion so people can see where I am coming from.

On one hand, I totally get how frustrating it is to work on something and barely receive any feedback. It takes a lot of pleasure out of the work and discourages one from doing more. It can also be detrimental to creative progress as you don't know what to improve. On the other hand, I know that feedback, let alone in-depth feedback, takes a lot of time and emotional energy that people might not necessarily have. There is also the question of words: how do you put a feeling into words? "I like it" is simple but it is often harden to psychoanalyse yourself and analyse the creative work to see why exactly you like it. Some people may not even be able to express that in words.

When I get a "like", I am happy with that. It shows people looked at something I did, took the time to examine it and enjoyed it. It tell me "make more stuff like this" and I see that as a perfectly acceptable way of interacting. Comments are great but if people don't have more to add (as I sometimes don't because I cannot put into words why I liked something, or I liked something equally and evenly throughout), a "like" is fine. It's just an acknowledgement that, hey, I saw what you're doing and that's great. Keep doing the thing.