Ah, okay. That makes more sense, I guess. I like that idea.

edited 17th Jan '12 3:37:45 PM by kegisak

Applejack Pony said: Totally off topic but I don't post on Ponychan anymore

Good.

@Red Shook me down, then offered NO constructive criticism at all.

It made me feel like I was so pathetic, I didn't even deserve criticism.

... sorry, I'll stop angsting now

edited 17th Jan '12 3:36:17 PM by gingerninja666

CDRW: I might hug her. If it were a pony doing that, I'd definitely hug her.

Ginger: Improving is really slow going without constructive criticism. It's not like he was being malicious or anything like that.

@Ginger: Then don't have him look over it. I'd offer to do it myself, but I have so much stuff going on that I'm stretched as it is. I'm sure there are others who could give you useful feedback.

edited 17th Jan '12 3:38:14 PM by JapaneseTeeth

I'll check in later about the bet stuff, but I just wanna say this now, don't know if it applies to Ginger or not, but it's been weighing on my mind.

There is a huge difference between giving a thorough and well-thought review, and being an asshole. Much as a good many folks on the internet would like to have you believe, you don't have to be an asshole to be a good reviewer. It is also not the reviewer's job to "teach the author to grow a thick skin." Too many people have been discouraged into dropping something great because of attitudes like that, and it needs to stop.

As I said, he didn't even give me THAT

^Like I said, that's Rich. The only reason I've avoided a reaming is because I didn't ask him to look my stuff over.

Don't let it get you down; just because someone doesn't feel like helping you get better doesn't mean the rest of us won't. We're all on the same path here, after all, and it's only right to help each out along the way.

@Rich: you're a good guy, but you can be harsh. (He'll probably thread hop this anyway, truth be told, if he's not on right now.)

I agree with CDRW - stomping on a sapling because you don't like the way it's growing is, to be blunt, a dick move, and so is anything the sapling thing can be used as a metaphor for.

edited 17th Jan '12 3:39:36 PM by RedSavant

@CDRW: I fully agree. I can be incredibly nitpicky about stuff, but I always make sure that everything I point out is in the interest of making the writing better.

@Ginger: Basically what I'm trying to say that you can't let one bad experience sour on writing all together. Just because you get reamed out once (whether you deserved it or not) hardly means that you can't improve.

edited 17th Jan '12 3:41:29 PM by JapaneseTeeth

If you wrote something, Ginger, I'd give it a once-over. I have to give critique several times a week at my school, so I've gotten pretty good at it by this point. I'll make you a nice, tasty critique sandwich. Warm, soft compliments and examples of what you're doing write on the top and bottom, and a hearty helping of constructive criticism in the middle.

Yeah. Criticism. My favorite event was this person who wrote how to write a good critique, emphasizing balance (this is good, this is bad) and how not making assumptions is important.

They then proceeded to break all their own rules when reviewing my own story.

I hate that. My personal philosophy on giving critiques basically boils down to "if you tell them to change something, explain why changing it will improve the work" and "make sure you tell them what they're doing right". A lot of people tend to gloss over the 2nd one because they tend to have a "if there's nothing wrong I don't need to comment" assumption. Always have to remember that critiquing is more than just pointing out flaws.

In B4 somebody points out how all of my reviews don't follow that somehow.

edited 17th Jan '12 3:46:20 PM by JapaneseTeeth

@ Ginger, for the record, your not the only one, i SUCK at writing, probably worse then you think you do. and kinda thread hopping, hooked on trying to finish Fallout Equestria.

Yeah. I actually got really torn up about it too. But now I'm just dredging up old stories for the sake of sympathy. I need to stop that.

edited 17th Jan '12 3:48:10 PM by MrAHR

@JTeeth: Speaking of reviews, has your "Baby Cakes" gone up yet?

Also, the REALLY confused my English teaches in school, I devored books, was always reading, and was smart (probably the only person nearly every teacher in my High School has said the words "Stop paying attention and go back to reading" to) but I could almost never finish an essay for english. Drove them nuts.

Nope, I'm hoping to have it up tonight, although it might get pushed off until tomorrow. I just caught up on school work this afternoon. I've been flailing pretty hard ever since I got sick. I caught the bug last Monday, and this is pretty much the first day that I've felt almost normal. But yeah, it should be up within a day or two. Currently on the fourth page.

edited 17th Jan '12 3:50:46 PM by JapaneseTeeth

You're a saint, JTeeth. A saint that works to broaden the enjoyment of other people. =)

...Ouch. Just moved back in to my dorm room today; none of my flatmates are back yet, and I haven't said a word to anyone for hours. The loneliness just kicked in. =|

edited 17th Jan '12 3:54:52 PM by RedSavant

Don't worry Red,

we're here!

Thanks, Apple. =)

(Incidentally, I'm almost done with the fic. I'll be wrapping it up tonight, I expect.)

JT: That was quite a while ago; my criticisms are much more helpful now ('Not bad, but could worded better this way' etcetera)

And that's not true, Red; I reviewed "Gryphon a Second Chance". I said the characterization was good and I was pretty sure I could see where the story was going.

edited 17th Jan '12 4:01:27 PM by RichReeders

Surely some time away from people can be good, Red. But one way or another, yeah. We're all here for you.

Ah nice! I'm looking forward to that!

On my own writing front...how do you write good Shinning jokes when the Simpsons beat you to it!

edited 17th Jan '12 4:01:55 PM by ApplelightLimited

@Red: That's all it takes to become a saint? I should have started writing reviews sooner. But seriously, thanks. After all the time I put into writing these things it's great to hear that they're appreciated.

Also, upon rewatching the episode, I can safely say that I think the scene where Pinkie loses the babies is the most straight up terrifying scene in the series thus far. I mean, yeah, there have been other creepy things, but eaugh. I don't even have kids and that scene gives me the chills.

@Rich: Uh...I think you might have meant to reply to someone else. I don't recall ever commenting on your critiques specifically.

edited 17th Jan '12 4:03:03 PM by JapaneseTeeth

I really enjoy your reviews too JT!