Dee, that's fantastic news about the interest out there - very encouraging! As for first person present tense, well I've not had it cited as a reason why club_dominion and the Life Beta was rejected by a handful of agents. The most useful feedback just said 'the technique was wrong' but I think that was more to do with the tone of the MC's voice than anything else. I think if it was considered a bad choice, more agents would have mentioned it, especially the ones who took the time to explain - at length - what was wrong with the mss.

Good luck - stick to your guns! You deserve every success.

Tiger

Tiger, sorry to hear yours has been rejected, but it’s good to hear you got some constructive feedback from some of them. They don’t do that for everything that crosses their desks. Good luck with it.

In case anyone is wondering, after I said I was going to upload something yesterday – I posted it up and someone took a hatchet to it, then made some personal remarks about me. I have no idea why, but it would have been awkward after that for anyone else to comment, and I was concerned that further feedback would turn into, at best, a discussion on feedback or, at worst, an argument.

So I've taken it down again. It’s a bit of a bummer because I really wanted some constructive opinions on it, but I don’t have the energy for another heated debate.

Dee

Dee
I didn't get to comment on your work Dee. I was too tired last night and meant to do it this morning, but couldn't find it. Now I know why, sorry to hear that, Dee.

Kat

Bugger - was just about to have a peek. I used to have a gripe about people who receive negative comments and immediately remove work, but I guess this was one or two steps further than that. It only begs the questions, what kind of twat uses the comments box for personal abuse?

Fuck 'em, Dee - post it back up.

Colin M

Dee,

To have criticism on one's work is one thing (however destructive that criticism may be), but to be insulted on a personal basis is quite different. You have been down this path before and I am sure that this can be dealt with by David as in the past.

I did not see the remarks you refer to but there are some 'unfortunate' people out there; just take heart that truly personal criticisms and insults usually emanate from a person whose prime qualities are ignorance, jealousy and a thoroughly nasty personality.

Len

Oh for F**ks sake! What is wrong with people?

Please put it back up, Dee. As Len said, I'm sure David can deal with it. You seemed really keen to get it posted up again, and it would be a great shame if you let this one person stop you.

dont let it get you down, dee.. there's some proper f-wits out there. sounds like s/he deserves to get a splintered piece of wood with a rusty nail poking through it across there backside.

hope it wasnt too traumatic.

sam

<Added>

their, even

Yes De, do not allow suppresive comments to win through. You have a great deal of support here from people who rightfully respect your work, and I know that you're tougher than this, so just ignore the negative stuff ok?

JB

<Added>

Dee, even.

Awww, thanks guys. I appreciate that.

I would like to say, though, that I didn’t take it off because of the negative feedback – I can accept criticism, although it was disheartening in this instance that the person had not a single positive thing to say. The comment was only mildly insulting – that’s not why I took it down. I just didn’t want to see the feedback being sidetracked by a discussion about feedback.

I will put it back up, when the two day rule lets me. The original post, complete with comments, is still on the site – I've just changed the setting so that only I can see it – but I wouldn’t want to embarrass this member by making it public again. I wonder if we should start a new thread on what constitutes ‘constructive criticism’?

Dee

sod the member, dee! if s/he, like you say, doles out negative crit and makes abusive personal comments then they should be able to take any backlash from that too... publish and be damned and all that pallaver... put it up i say...

Dee,

The member wasn't embarrassed to make the comments public themselves, why should you be embarrassed on their behalf? Your call of course, but I say (along with everyone else) put it back up.

Think you're outvoted

Andrea

OK, it’s up again, without the earlier comments. I’d appreciate your views, especially on the tense.

I've had a few off-site comments from friends I trust; one says it’s too sparse, one says there’s too much info upfront, and the other says it’s just right… why am I thinking three little bears? … so any thoughts on that would be welcome too.

Cheers mates

Dee

Just commented, Dee. Hope this was the sort of feedback you were after.

Tiger