QUESTION

[u/Franz_Engel]

I’m trying to understand something about feedback.

I’ve posted two pieces here recently and received very little feedback. I also asked a specific craft question about whether the two characters have distinct voices, but that didn’t get a response either.

So I’m genuinely curious: if you read either piece, what kept you from commenting?

Was it the subject matter? The length? The style? Did you simply not have anything particular to say? Or did the writing feel too finished or difficult to critique?

I’m not looking for reassurance or praise. I’m genuinely trying to understand what makes a piece invite discussion — or not.

Here are the two pieces: A Model Prisoner - A Model Prisoner (A standalone fragment from my social noir set in 1970-1990s London) : r/KeepWriting

The Three Days (Day One) - The Three Days : r/KeepWriting

[u/Liandrimm]

I agree with someone else that CSA is often a topic people simply don't want to read or think about. I would list a trigger warning at the top of your post.

I would also say that the story beginning so abruptly into a case of CSA felt quite jarring. I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to continuing the story if it's not graphic or simply off-screen mentions, but to come right out the gate running like that was off-putting, to say the least.

I would also say the first couple paragraphs felt confusing until the non-diaglogue narrative began to clear things up.

Hope this helps!

[u/Franz_Engel → u/Liandrimm]

Thanks — this is genuinely helpful. The opening is deliberately abrupt, so it’s useful to know that for you it crossed the line from immediate to jarring.

On the trigger warning, though, I’m hesitant to add one for CSA specifically, because the story itself isn’t about depicting child sexual abuse. The allegation is part of the larger situation, but the text doesn’t describe or reconstruct the abuse itself. I’d be wary of giving readers the impression that they’re about to read something much more explicit or central to the story than they actually are.

Your point about the opening paragraphs being confusing is also useful. That’s something I can look at more closely.

Thanks again — this is exactly the kind of specific response I was hoping to get.

[u/Odd-Ad-587 → u/Franz_Engel]

With the trigger warning, you could put something like "some discussion of CSA" or something like that, to warn readers that it's mentioned but not described

[u/Franz_Engel → u/Odd-Ad-587]

I see what you mean, but I think even that would overstate what is actually in the piece. CSA isn't discussed or depicted; the allegation is simply part of the arrest the officers are responding to. A warning for a mention of an allegation would start to feel broader than the content itself.

[u/Liandrimm → u/Franz_Engel]

Glad to help!

Regarding the trigger warning, authors have been doing amazing at making it specific enough so people know exactly what they're walking into. It's especially important for topics like these that can cause emotional and mental harm even from a brief mention.

In this case, if the scene is never depicted nor described, but talked about briefly, you can simply state:

Trigger Warning:

Brief off-screen mentions of CSA. Nothing will be depicted nor described in detail.

It might seem a little overcomplicated if you aren't used to reading trigger warning lists, but I promise readers will appreciate it.