Any Ideas on How to Evaluate One's Own Story?

Me? I am just plain plumb out of luck.
I have two stories currently on the back burner, waiting to be written further more.
But by Celestia, I cannot see anything but my own work staring me straight in the eyes, not some story that needs to be judged from an objective perspective.

Hell, I already went and got a detailed review from mlpchan in depth as to the problems of my story, down right to the details of how a simple rewording here and there can make all the difference.

But even still, I don't have an autogauge meter to tell me if I am on the right track or not.
Just one of those damned abstract tings that I know nothing about.

So, would you gentlemen be inclined to provide me with some assistance in this regard?

Comments

[Lord Of Dorkness]

Have you tried letting a chapter just sit for awhile? A day or two, just long enough that you forget the details?

It is time intensive, but it works for me. It will never be a completely fresh perspective, but I think it helps you spot the most obvious problems, at least.

Other then that, be ruthless with yourself. I realize that it will not work for everyone, but I try to keep the question "If this was somebody else's work, would I read this crap?" at the forefront of my mind whenever I'm both reading and editing.

It's more then a bit humbling, but I think it has improved my writing immensely.