gaffney@iconn.net wrote:
Well, I have an addendum for those writers who *have* been
let know....how about a simple 'thank you' after you've been
given C&C? To at least let the C&C'er know that their opinion
has been received and read, I mean.
Right, Richard? <hint hint!> ;)
Oooh, low blow.
I never know if I've insulted Richard with my C&C or not, because
he NEVER REPLIES!!
Well, here's the thing. When I write C&C to people, I do it to try and
help them with their story. I don't do it so that I can get a
response.
There was a big brouhaha on the DnR ML a few months ago when one of the
authors, after several critical analyses of his story, flamed the entire
ML for providing negative feedback, and lamented about the time wasted
replying to such C&C. I told him that he could *ignore* my C&C, that I
was genuinely trying to be helpful, and that the C&C I offered was his
to do with as he pleased.
I believed that then. I believe that now. I offer C&C to be helpful,
and I don't expect a reply back.
My mistake was in assuming that other people believed this as well.
If people ask me questions in their emails, I always respond. If
there's something I need clarification on, I respond. Otherwise, the
email gets filed away in a folder, and when I'm ready to do a rewrite, I
re-read every piece of email on the story and try to address their
concerns. So I *do* use the C&C given to me, and I *do* appreciate it.
What I did not know was that people expected replies, and were hurt when
none were forthcoming. As I said, I thought everyone believed the same
thing I did. A dangerous assumption. :)
So in the future, I will reply to every piece of C&C I get, even if it's
just a boiler-plate reply.
Now, let me also say something else: I love getting feedback, even the
quick "I loved this story" or "You suck!" kind of replies. I got some
very emotional replies to "Transitions" that moved me deeply. I was
having a bit of a crisis over the quality of my writing - I've barely
gotten any responses at all to "Magic" - and I had begun to fear that I
had lost the passion that had driven me to write "Heart of the Home". I
was uplifted by all of the responses I got, and I felt... reaffirmed.
So, to everyone who responded: Thank you. From the bottom of my heart,
thank you.
I apologize if I hurt anyone's feelings for not responding to your
emails. Such was not my intention. Again, I assumed that it wouldn't
bother you, since it doesn't bother me. Now that I know better, I will
adjust my behavior. Please forgive me.