Apples and Oranges
Unfortunately, the only way one who posts a story at this site has to know how well he or she did is to look at the comments, counts the kudos, and look at the number of hits vs. hits on other stories. There are many reasons to write a story, then post it. Some of us are just getting something off our shoulders, venting. Some are writing to entertain. Some of us are practicing, hoping that someday they may become skilled enough to reach other markets. Some of us are just looking for a figurative hug — so many of us need one now and then. Many who post here write some very strong statements about life and human behavior, its strengths and failings. Frequently, through the use of stories (parables), some authors are able to create some profound illustrations about conducting ones life for the betterment of everyone.
I can’t imagine that an author would post here, and never look at the responses from the reader. I can’t imagine that any of us are so secure that we don’t need to at least check on the feedback. How else are we able to find out how well we did? Therein lies the rub. Two days ago I started posting an ‘improved’ (my subjective assessment) version of a story I first posted here two years ago. There have been many new additions to our fold since then, and I felt some might ‘enjoy’ the story, especially as I had added nearly 10,000 words of additional material. Well, the response has been less than enthusiastic to say the least.
This is when I have to take a step back and do a little evaluation of my own. I looked at the stories posted just before and after I posted, and they were running nearly two to one on hits, and ten or more to one on kudos. Ouch! Wait a minute, I am being hardly fair to myself or the other authors. I am looking at ‘Bike’, Sarah Carerra, Becoming Robin, Football Girl, Sam and Jesse, a number of RetCon stories (hot, hot, hot), and other very nice stories, about young TG girls, intersexed girls, who have great support groups — not without conflict- granted, and boys who are suddenly turned into magically empowered super beings: and for all of whom the world has suddenly become their oyster (I may have the wrong metaphor there). In turn, my story is about a clueless transgendered young man, granted a woman inside, who makes bad choice after bad choice. His parents are totally non-supportive, which doesn’t help. I have tried to illustrate perhaps a more realistic, unsavory approach about what could happen when someone does not have the resources to transition. Needless to say, these first eight or ten chapters are not going to give anyone a warm fuzzy feeling.
Is my story badly written? Compared to some of the efforts I’ve seen, I don’t think so. Does the story have merit? Several people outside this community feel it does. Several people, for whom I have great respect inside this community, think it does, too. I think that’s enough. The stories in the California Saga series are intended to be more realistic, definitely not the best of all possible worlds, and I don’t think that’s what most of the readers here want. It’s probably not what I want all the time when I read, either. I really enjoy those little pieces of fluff that so many good authors at this site write. I love the deeper things, too (‘Drea).
I am very pleased with the reception my fantasy/magic series, The Cynthia Chronicles, has received. The first story has received nearly 4400 hits. These stories fall into the same pitfall my other stories have fallen into, though. The magical world where they exist is probably too realistic within the magical parameters I established. They are definitely not magic stories for children, but they are certainly not pornographic, or even close. The characters that have been endowed with powers magical have to live in a world where they are far outnumbered by the non-magical. It creates huge problems and responsibilities. After all, look at the problems a powerful young witch has playing a sport where the use of even a little magic would give her a tremendous advantage. She could, but she won’t use magic to her advantage. That’s a problem all the witches in the series face. Magic cannot be used indiscriminately.
Enough of a rant for today: the additions to Musetta’s Waltz — Revised Edition are a lead in to a new novel in the California Saga series. The Redhead and the PM is not a TG story; however, Musetta has an important role. Her TG journey is decades past, and she hardly thinks about it. She is just a grandmother. Hopefully, the novel will be ready for posting in November. I am hoping that the editing will be done by then.
Portia
Comments
One other possibility...
Several authors (myself included) have "polled the audience" to see if there was ANY interest in a revised version of stories they've previously published. The response is a resounding NO. That leads me to believe that the majority of folks here don't regularly re-read old stories. The implication is that if you do revise, the greater part of your potential audience is just that body of people that weren't here to see it the first time around or those that missed it. This, alone, could lead to the symptoms you're describing.
Then, add to it that your story doesn't appear to have the popular elements (that you enumerated).
Good Luck,
Anne
I Think That's What I Said
Looking at comments on stories that have been resurrected, I think a lot of readers enjoy seeing some of the classics now and again. Of course Musetta's Waltz is neither a classic nor a stand alone (as it is presented) story. My basic premise is/was I shouldn't be comparing the response to my story to those other stories. Secondly, it is not in a popular genre. I shouldn't expect the same response for that reason, too.
Regardless of the response, I will continue to post, but that was not my main point of the blog.
Portia
Portia
Re-writes
Hi Portia,
Re-writes are, in my opinion a good idea, especially if you believe that the story has not been read by the large number of new friends who now come to the site. It gives one the opportunity to put things right, some aspects that you may not have been happy with on re-reading the original and also flesh out and bring more to the story that would, hopefully get previous readers to have another look.
However, I am not sure the re-writes are very popular for a variety of reasons. I started to re-write Home Alone and had a luke warm response so I know how you are feeling.
It could be the number of new stories being put up now, the type of story, the TG themes and elements not being popular enough and of course the time you put it on. Retro classics are now being shown on a regular basis too, so it may be overkill on older stories. The only thing you can do is try it and see if it works. I myself was not prepared to 'flog a dead horse' and that is why I stopped continuing the re-write of Home Alone.
It might be an idea to hold off until things are quieter around here and then try again.
Hugs
Sue
Re-Writes
Sue,
Home Alone was an enjoyable read, and it deserves its place on the shelf of classics. My main point of the blog was that authors should not compare their stories to others not in the same genre. I could have just posted three new chapters to Musetta's Waltz, but instead decided to post the entire new edition to give those who hadn't read the story before a chance to catch up without having to hunt the old story down, besides, this is the way the story will be presented from now on. There is a story within a story that won't become apparent until the new chapters and added comments are read.
Portia
Portia
The numbers
can vary of hits, kudos and comments. Bike is sometimes regarded as an institution on this site although it doesn't have the largest readership, it does have a regular one. For no particular reason, one day I get twenty comments and the next I might be lucky to get five. Perhaps it depends on who's around on a particular day, or what comment someone makes and starts a discussion theme. As for the kudos, some days I get seventy another day it may be twenty.
I admit I don't read much on any site these days: lack of time not necessarily lack of readable stories.
Angharad
Angharad
Downloads
I oersonally download most all my stories (you should see my closet)and I checked the Cynthia Chronicles and it is very large,but that doesn't mean we don't love you and you writing style please keep writing and don't get frustrated I wish I had half the talent that you have HUGS & KISSES RICHIE
Cynthia
I may have to get my cattle prod out and jump start my muse. I know there are many more Cynthia stories out there. I may start something in the next few months: nothing as epic as Bobbie and the Glass Ceiling, though.
Portia
Portia
dark stories vs. light stories.
For me, it depends on my mood at the moment, but I often gravitate to the lighter, more positive stories because some days that's the only hope i have, since it's hard to find much in my real life to hold on to. But sometimes, I want to be, need to be challenged by a story with a character who, as you put it, makes bad choices, and hasn't got a good support system. I don't get anywhere near the kudos or comments that others do, but i have stopped trying to compare myself to them. I just want to improve my craft, and, yes, use my stories to work though stuff in my head. hugs.
Dark vs. Light
I think your approach is exactly right. We shouldn't take ourselves too seriously.
Portia
Portia
Tastes
A lot of what I would say has already been expressed by others, such as Dorothy's comment about working stuff through in her head. Almost everything I have written for this site has been done for that purpose. It will sound liike egotism, but when I go back and read parts of, say, 'Uniforms', it reduces me to tears. Yes, it's my writing, so I know what is there, but the mental problems I wrote it for are still there.
Now, I can see the clumsiness in parts of the stories I produce, but particularly in the case of that one I am personally proud of my work. It does what it says on the tin. I have, as said before, a number of "fans" who follow what I write, which pleases me and also makes me feel I owe them something.
I have written on this already, but here it is again: I write stuff I try to make real, and current. I don't do US schools because it isn't something I am familiar with , nor interested in. I don't do superheroes or magic, as they don't work for me. Forced fem, etc, is not for me. I don't do pr0n.
Similarly, I don't listen to much pop music, and no rap at all. Many of my music tastes are real niche stuff, such as Swedish punk-folk (yes, really!). The important thing is that just because my tastes in music have a smaller market, it does not necessarily make them more 'refined', and just because the more commercal stuff has a bigger audience it doesn't make it 'better'
Lack of readers just means they have different tastes. Not necessarily better,and just so in the other sense. Could I write something to match a 'market'? Quite probably. Would I want to? Not really.
Does that matter? Not at all.
Schools
My latest endeavor takes place in London, and thanks to you, I was able to do some research to hopefully get it (the schools) right. Concerning realism, I love the links you have put in your stories to the real places. They make me want to go there.
Portia
Portia