Fic Talk > I Challenge You....
Let the 2013 Summer Reading Challenge begin!
mare:
Hi gang!
Since we have all picked our stories, let the summer reading challenge begin!
You have until the end of August to finish reading the stories you have chosen for this summer. If the story is not finished by the end of August you are NOT obligated to finish it if it's something you didn't enjoy, otherwise it is your mission to finish reading both stories and commenting along the way.
I wanted to talk a minute about feedback and this challenge.
As far as feedback goes, you all know how important it is and it's probably one of the main reasons you have decided to participate in this challenge, so when you offer your opinions, whether they be good or bad, please give more than a "good job" on every chapter. What was good about it? Be specific because it helps the authors understand what they are doing right or wrong and in some cases, it helps them decide to finish the story or work even harder on making it better.
You don't have to leave feedback on every single chapter but you should leave it on at least every other one. For this, use your common sense. Obviously if something is less than 20 chapters, you SHOULD leave feedback on every single chapter and it is okay for an occasional "good job, I enjoyed that!" if it's just one of those filler chapters or there's not much else to say. If you are reading a long story, it's okay to leave feedback on every other chapter or every third chapter (if it's REALLY long) Just as long as you do remain vocal as you are reading.
There will be times you pick something and find you just don't enjoy it. That's okay too. I think when we signed up for this, we realize not everyone is going to like everything. That is part of the challenge, but when you leave feedback, you want to explain what it is you aren't enjoying. Is it the storyline? Is it the character development? Are there too many grammatical errors? etc... In other words, be honest without being mean about it. An "it sucks!" is not acceptable and it's also considered flaming. Not that any of you would do that, but just in case lol
As authors, we also need to be willing to take this constructive criticism and move on. It works both ways. Obviously if you know someone is reading your story who doesn't enjoy gore and all you have is gore galore, you should be prepared for more critical feedback etc... take what they are saying in but then also realize "They hate gore so of course they aren't going to like this chapter!" lol
This is why I'd like you all to fill out the survey I will be posting in a little bit. It will help us get to know each others likes and dislikes and let you know as the author, what to expect from the person reading your story.
That's about it for now!
I'll post again at the end of this month. Feel free to start reading your stories if you'd like and don't forget to fill out the survey!
Happy reading!
updated 8/29
*carterkid CHALLENGE COMPLETE!*
Us Against the World
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Cinzia
Save A Prayer
Halfway There Survey Complete
Final Survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Steph
*mamogirl CHALLENGE COMPLETE!*
Secrets of the Heart
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Julie
The Other Side of Nick Carter
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Ritz
*DelphinaCarter CHALLENGE COMPLETE!*
Love Story
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Cinzia
Separate Ways
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Mare
*Carter - Orange CHALLENGE COMPLETE!*
To Protect and Serve
halfway there survey complete
Final Survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Mare
Bound by Honor
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's completed by Erika
Falling In Love Again
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Emily
* Mare CHALLENGE COMPLETE!*
Forever
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Emily
Switch
Halfway there survey complete
Final Survey complete
Reader's survey completed by carterkid
My Safest Place
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Erika
[/color]
*RokofAges75 CHALLENGE COMPLETE!*
Crash and Burn
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey by Cinzia complete
Finding Carter
Halfway there survey complete
Final Survey complete
Readers survey completed by Tracy
*emily_michele CHALLENGE COMPLETE!*
Story of My Life
Halfway there survey complete
Final Survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Steph
The Long Road Home
Halfway there survey complete
Final Survey complete
Reader's survey complete by Mare
*Alexgirl_Ritz FCHALLENGE COMPLETE!*
Four Santas too Many
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Readers survey completed by Mare
When We Collide
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by Carter-Orange
*kevmylove CHALLENGE COMPLETE!*
Falling In Love Again
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by emily_michele
Switch
Halfway there survey complete
Final survey complete
Reader's survey completed by carterkid
* means started reading
Slash means completed the story
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Halfway there survey (Only to be completed once you have gotten at least halfway through your story)
Name of story:
1) Are you finding it easy to follow plot wise?
2) So far who is your favorite character and why?
3) Are you getting a sense of how it will end and if so, any guesses? (Sometimes authors get a kick out of seeing what a reader thinks will happen and how predictable they may or may not be)
4) Do you feel like the summary the author gave accurately describes the story you are reading? Would there be anything you would include or omit?
5) Has there been any big surprises/plot twists or just overall observations?
These are the harder questions, but don't be afraid to answer them. Remember we all signed on to this knowing and expecting to get and give constructive criticism.
6) If this wasn't a challenge story and you didn't have to continue reading, would you have stopped already? If so please explain why.
7) Has there been any glaring errors that have stuck out? (I'm not talking about the occasional missed period, typo or spelling/grammar errors but huge mistakes that need to be pointed out that the author might not be aware of)
8) Do you have any questions for the author in regard to the storyline, characters or plot?
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Readers survey (To be completed once the person reading your story is finished)
Story:
Person reading it:
1) When you found out this person was reading your story what were your initial thoughts?
2) Did your reader leave you an adequate amount of feedback and was it helpful to you?
3) Did you find yourself going back to read your story as a result of the feedback?
4) Do you have any questions for the person reading your story?
5) Overall did you find the experience a good one or a bad one?
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Final survey (To be completed after finishing the story you are reading)
Name of story:
1) What was the biggest challenge for you when reading this story?
2) Did you find yourself looking forward to reading as you were going along or did it feel like homework?
3) What was your favorite scene/chapter in the story?
4) Was your favorite character at the halfway point still your favorite at the end?
5) Who was your least favorite character and why?
6) If there was a sequel to this story would you be interested in reading it?
7) Were you happy with the ending?
8) Name the biggest surprise in the story and did you see it coming? (If there was one)
9) What was this stories biggest strength?
10) What was it's biggest weakness?
11) Did reading this story make you want to try another one from this author?
12) Give us one final review that sums up your experience reading this, maybe explain why you gave the kind of feedback you did or if you would have perhaps picked a different story from this one?
13) Did you prefer the way we did the challenge this year or did you like the pairings better?
14) Did the author respond to your feedback?
15) Any final thoughts or questions for the author?
mare:
Reader's Survey
1) What are your three favorite fanfics of all time and why?
2) What genres do you most enjoy reading?
3) What genres do you typically shy away from and why?
4) Which boy do you enjoy reading as the lead?
5) What do you think is the biggest cliche in fanfics?
6) What would make you stop reading a story?
7) What is your biggest fanfic pet peeve?
8) Would you consider yourself a picky reader?
9) What draws you to a story?
10) Do you typically give feedback when you read?
Which do you prefer:
Stories told in present day, or back in the day?
Stories featuring real wives/family or fictional wives/family?
Romance or Bromance?
All five guys, one or some?
Long stories, Series, or shorter stories?
Female centered or BSB centered?
1st person or 3rd person?
More description or More dialogue?
Character list or not (Meaning a visual diagram of what all the characters look like before you start to read)
Blood and guts or fluffy kittens and bunnies?
Slash or Het?
RokofAges75:
Reader's Survey
1) What are your three favorite fanfics of all time and why?
* Cover Me With Dreams by Heidi because it's a realistic, far-from-a-fairytale romance between two strong, likable characters
* Where Can We Go From Here by Whitney because it's a classic, bromantic drama starring all five guys struggling to recover from a horrific bus crash
* Signal to Noise by Bobbi because it's a twisted suspense starring all five guys, a strong heroine, and a great cast of supporting characters
2) What genres do you most enjoy reading?
I love drama and suspense with a hint of romance (usually as a subplot).
3) What genres do you typically shy away from and why?
I shy away from fluffy romance because it tends to bore me; I like tragic romance, but loathe romantic comedies. I also don't read much sci-fi or fantasy because I prefer realistic fiction.
4) Which boy do you enjoy reading as the lead?
Brian and Nick
5) What do you think is the biggest cliche in fanfics?
Backstreet Boy meets girl who has trust issues because of some tragic event or bad relationship in her past and teaches her how to love again.
6) What would make you stop reading a story?
Bad writing or boring plot
7) What is your biggest fanfic pet peeve?
Failure to follow writing conventions (i.e. many spelling/grammar/punctuation/paragraphing errors)
8) Would you consider yourself a picky reader?
Yes
9) What draws you to a story?
An interesting plot driven by characters I can relate to and want to root for
10) Do you typically give feedback when you read?
Yes
Which do you prefer:
Stories told in present day, or back in the day?
Present day
Stories featuring real wives/family or fictional wives/family?
Real, unless it's a romance
Romance or Bromance?
Bromance
All five guys, one or some?
Any of the above
Long stories, Series, or shorter stories?
I prefer stand-alone stories to series and novels (of any length) to one-shots.
Female centered or BSB centered?
BSB-centered
1st person or 3rd person?
3rd person
More description or More dialogue?
I like a good balance of the two. I would rather read something descriptive than something that's all dialogue, though.
Character list or not (Meaning a visual diagram of what all the characters look like before you start to read)
NOT!
Blood and guts or fluffy kittens and bunnies?
Blood and guts!
Slash or Het?
Het
mare:
1) What are your three favorite fanfics of all time and why?
My top three tend to change from time to time. lol
Ground Zero by Chaos because of the suspense, action and incredible writing.
Seven Days by Refuse 2 Lose I just loved the plot, action and interaction between the guys.
Can You Keep a Secret by Kat and Amy because it was a sweet and fluffy story with all the bromantic moments one could hope for.
2) What genres do you most enjoy reading?
Suspense, action, drama with a little comedy thrown in.
3) What genres do you typically shy away from and why?
Romance and AU's. I'm just not interested in guy meets girl fics when it comes to BSB and I like to read the BSB AS the BSB so I tend to stay away from AU unless they are brothers.
4) Which boy do you enjoy reading as the lead?
Nick
5) What do you think is the biggest cliche in fanfics?
Random girl is damaged beyond belief before she meets a BSB and he changes her life or the other way around.
6) What would make you stop reading a story?
If it doesn't seem like it was edited, the plot seems to be going nowhere or the author does not respond to feedback
7) What is your biggest fanfic pet peeve?
When stories are left unfinished without any explanation.
8) Would you consider yourself a picky reader?
Extremely
9) What draws you to a story?
If the summary is well written and thought out and it seems like something that might hold my interest I will click on it.
10) Do you typically give feedback when you read?
Always
Which do you prefer:
Stories told in present day, or back in the day?
Back in the day
Stories featuring real wives/family or fictional wives/family?
Real family, although I like no family best lol
Romance or Bromance?
Bromance
All five guys, one or some?
All five
Long stories, Series, or shorter stories?
Shorter
Female centered or BSB centered?
BSB centered
1st person or 3rd person?
1st person
More description or More dialogue?
More Dialogue
Character list or not (Meaning a visual diagram of what all the characters look like before you start to read)
NOT!
Blood and guts or fluffy kittens and bunnies?
Fluffy kittens and sinister bunnies
Slash or Het?
Neither
FrickingKaos:
Reader's Survey
1) What are your three favorite fanfics of all time and why?
Ground Zero by Chaos, it was one of the first I'd read and it was such a good suspense. I loved the way the guys were written.
Perfection.... I can't remember who it was by, but Nick had an eating disorder. It was such a good angst/drama.
It Stays With You by Mare because it was one of my favorite suspense stories I've ever written to the point where i sometimes look for the word Mine carved into Nick's arm under the tattoos. I can't say enough about this story, it's hands down my favorite.
2) What genres do you most enjoy reading? Suspense, Angst, AU, Drama and Comedy
3) What genres do you typically shy away from and why?
Usually slash and romance. I write romance myself and feel if i read it, i wont be able to write it lol i am weird. As for slash, never got into it.
4) Which boy do you enjoy reading as the lead?
Nick usually. I really love group stories where Nick is the main character, but I like to read him the most as he is my favorite.
5) What do you think is the biggest cliche in fanfics? Bsb meets girl backup dancer and they.fall in love on tour.
6) What would make you stop reading a story?
Bad grammar, punctuation... .not much makes me stop reading.
7) What is your biggest fanfic pet peeve?
The cookie cutter mushy romance type stories.
8) Would you consider yourself a picky reader?
Somewhat. If the summary looks interesting and I've heard good things I will read it.
9) What draws you to a story?
Good summary and first chapter. good writing and storyline. Also if I've read the authors work before i am more inclined to try a new one.
10) Do you typically give feedback when you read?
Always for each chapter!!!
Which do you prefer:
Stories told in present day, or back in the day?
I wish more stories took place back in the day.
Stories featuring real wives/family or fictional wives/ family?
Depends on the story. I have no preference.
Romance or Bromance?
Bromance!!!
All five guys, one or some?
Either is fine.
Long stories, Series, or shorter stories?
I like both.
Female centered or BSB centered?
I prefer bsb centered.
1st person or 3rd person?
I like both.
More description or More dialogue?
an even balance between the two.
Character list or not (Meaning a visual diagram of what all the characters look like before you start to read)
I like no list because I can use my imagination
Blood and guts or fluffy kittens and bunnies?
Slash or Het?
Het
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