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Least favorite alt-history story?

Do these things not get enough engagement? I mean the two titles above are quite popular on the other place, so a lot of people read them as timelines but there isn't enough feedback or there is feedback but it's ignored? I've not read either, picked up enough hints that I'd find it all rather unpleasant, but doesn't the timeline discussion help?

For comparison Agent Lavender had a substantial amount of feedback on the other place, quite a few things altered or small fixes and typos during discussion. I'm sure a huge amount of work went into preparing it for publication, but at least some things were picked up by readers, who authors engaged with.
 
Jared said:
Many self-published titles are dross, for many reasons, though the single biggest flaw in them I've seen is that so many don't seem to have troubled themselves to find a proofreader - or even just got someone else to read over their work - before hitting the publish button. I certainly don't expect any book to be flawless in grammar and spelling - even traditionally published titles have errors, and they usually go through several rounds of editing and proofing. But a typo per paragraph, sometimes per sentence, gets a bit much.
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It's the same thing that's given NaNoWriMo a bad name in some writing circles. You have over-enthusiastic/exhausted writers who get to the end of what really ought to be a first draft and go "DONE!" instead of doing editing or even basic proofreading. I get that both suck and that's time you could be spending working on your next project or whatever you want to get up to, but they're a part of the publishing process for a reason. Or, at the very least, ought to be.
 
Hard agree @M_Kresal , it's the same with technical writing. My first boss this side of the Zambezi used to remind us that once you've signed and sent the report, it's out there forever. He gave an example of some report he'd written as a young scientist about a small mine in Mali, that he got a phone call out of the blue about 20 years later asking for some clarifications.
 
Warthog said:
Do these things not get enough engagement? I mean the two titles above are quite popular on the other place, so a lot of people read them as timelines but there isn't enough feedback or there is feedback but it's ignored? I've not read either, picked up enough hints that I'd find it all rather unpleasant, but doesn't the timeline discussion help?
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My experience is that much of the feedback on forums tends to be dominated by Fanboy Unthinking Uncritical Praise, that's of no value for anything other than boosting the author's ego (which in my case needs no boosting at all).

Then there's the fact that people who don't like the narrative don't read it, so don't give feedback.
 
David Flin said:
My experience is that much of the feedback on forums tends to be dominated by Fanboy Unthinking Uncritical Praise, that's of no value for anything other than boosting the author's ego (which in my case needs no boosting at all).

Then there's the fact that people who don't like the narrative don't read it, so don't give feedback.
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In the case of popular TLs, the problem is compounded by the fan base ganging up on anyone who provides critical feedback. "If you don't like it, don't read it" is one of the most unhelpful statements one can come across on creative writing boards, as it results in every work getting its own little echo chamber.
 
Hendryk said:
In the case of popular TLs, the problem is compounded by the fan base ganging up on anyone who provides critical feedback. "If you don't like it, don't read it" is one of the most unhelpful statements one can come across on creative writing boards, as it results in every work getting its own little echo chamber.
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Yep. So much this.

As an author, I vastly prefer thoughtful critical comments to unthinking praise.
 
Warthog said:
Hard agree @M_Kresal , it's the same with technical writing. My first boss this side of the Zambezi used to remind us that once you've signed and sent the report, it's out there forever. He gave an example of some report he'd written as a young scientist about a small mine in Mali, that he got a phone call out of the blue about 20 years later asking for some clarifications.
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Always double and triple check your work and ask questions about it from colleagues and bosses (if possible)
 
I'm not reading something I fundamentally dislike unless I'm getting paid to do so*. And it's really hard to gauge how someone will respond to constructive criticism in advance. Even someone disagreeing with them very politely can send some otherwise reasonable-seeming people crazy when it's online. Often constructive criticism won't be processed and is pointless.

If you're intending to publish, even self-publish, then you definitely need a second (or third) pair of eyes. But otherwise just writing and self-editing is fine. Also read as much as possible and take note of what mistakes other people make. Be self-aware.

*Well, unless I'm doing so intentionally aware that it's terrible and I don't like it and I'm crossing off the mistakes for review/self-improvement purposes. But that's a bit distinct to any duty of providing direct feedback to the author.
 
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Warthog said:
Do these things not get enough engagement? I mean the two titles above are quite popular on the other place, so a lot of people read them as timelines but there isn't enough feedback or there is feedback but it's ignored? I've not read either, picked up enough hints that I'd find it all rather unpleasant, but doesn't the timeline discussion help?

For comparison Agent Lavender had a substantial amount of feedback on the other place, quite a few things altered or small fixes and typos during discussion. I'm sure a huge amount of work went into preparing it for publication, but at least some things were picked up by readers, who authors engaged with.
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There's a point I've noted, in my career, that there are relatively few people willing to do the hard work of leaving a rating, let alone a review or actual useful feedback such as fact checking, spelling corrections, etc ('Texas City is NOT the capital of Texas' or 'you used THEIR when you meant THERE, which the never-to-be-sufficiently-damned spellcheck won't notice') Proper editors can be expensive, and finding a good one is quite difficult - the really good independent editors already have a large stable of clients and don't always want more, particularly when dealing with someone right at the start of their career and prone to making the normal mistakes as well as deluding themselves about how wonderful their work is (spoiler alert - it isn't.)

Chris
 
I thought we were finally done with CSA wanks, but no such luck. A Short History of the Confederate States is that typical TL that fell from the Lost Cause apologia tree and hit every cliché on the way down. The style, in fact, is so florid, one expects an afterword in which the author explains that the whole thing is meant to be read as in-story domestic propaganda:

Though the modern world as of the time of this writing is haunted by the creeping specters of Socialism, Communism, Irredentism and Dynamism on the edges of civilized and uncivilized nations alike, the triumphant march of the Confederate States of America through history continues on. From the Founding Fathers through the time of Gentleman’s Agreement to the heroes of the North American War and the defenders of the legitimate order of the Global War, the inventors, planters, farmers, workers, soldiers and sailors of all Confederate peoples have come together to create the world’s greatest nation. With the guidance of Providence, the steadfast valor and virtue of our men in arms, the unceasing pursuit of prosperity for all Confederates and the love of justice and righteousness, the Confederacy will continue to shine as a beacon of hope for all of the Western Hemisphere and indeed, the world.
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Hendryk said:
I thought we were finally done with CSA wanks, but no such luck. A Short History of the Confederate States is that typical TL that fell from the Lost Cause apologia tree and hit every cliché on the way down. The style, in fact, is so florid, one expects an afterword in which the author explains that the whole thing is meant to be read as in-story domestic propaganda:
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Oh boy another badass Confederacy Fanfic, I hope the pairing is CSA/France!
 
Hendryk said:
I thought we were finally done with CSA wanks, but no such luck. A Short History of the Confederate States is that typical TL that fell from the Lost Cause apologia tree and hit every cliché on the way down. The style, in fact, is so florid, one expects an afterword in which the author explains that the whole thing is meant to be read as in-story domestic propaganda:
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I stopped reading it when it got to the bit about Harper's Ferry being a naval store, followed by the ineffable wisdom of President Toombs. Erm, no. Nope. The Giant Red REBWANK light came on and I bailed.
 
Hendryk said:
I thought we were finally done with CSA wanks, but no such luck. A Short History of the Confederate States is that typical TL that fell from the Lost Cause apologia tree and hit every cliché on the way down. The style, in fact, is so florid, one expects an afterword in which the author explains that the whole thing is meant to be read as in-story domestic propaganda:
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Ugh. Written by a serving navy sailor or contractor

So clearly I haven't been able to wrap this up in a week due to circumstances beyond my control (I live on an aircraft carrier)
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Hendryk said:
I thought we were finally done with CSA wanks, but no such luck. A Short History of the Confederate States is that typical TL that fell from the Lost Cause apologia tree and hit every cliché on the way down. The style, in fact, is so florid, one expects an afterword in which the author explains that the whole thing is meant to be read as in-story domestic propaganda:
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Don't worry, the victorious Confederacy solves racism by the early 20th century.
 
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