This has been an interesting weekend. I posted the final parts of my latest story, Adam and the Three Wishes, and then went through the post partum depression of wondering whether or not it would be received favorably. Being filled with a lot of self doubt doesn't help one bit. Thank you everyone for reading and commenting. I feel a lot better now.
One of the very faithful commenters at this site apparently discovered one of my early stories in the Cynthia Chronicles series, and started leaving comments as she followed Cindy's journey. It was a most pleasant surprise to find comments on something that had been posted more than three years ago. We carried on a correspondence as the reader made her way through more than 200,000 words in the series. I enjoyed the comments that were supportive, questioning, and critical as Cindy and her friends' journeys progressed from pre teens to young adults. It was fun to see questions arise about things that I, as the author, knew would be answered in future chapters and stories. Some of the comments pointed out weaknesses, and questioned if it was necessary to go where parts of the tales took the reader.
All of this was very helpful to me as the author because it will allow me to go back and make the stories better, and it will help me make future stories better. I have mentioned this before about getting comments on past stories. Just because a story has been posted for several years does not mean that it is a dead issue with the author. Existing works can always be improved, and hopefully, authors are trying to evolve as writers, not just repeating the same mantra over and over again. We need your comments.
If you, the reader, come across a new story to you, regardless of its age, please take the time to vote and make comments. Every little bit will help this become a better place for all of us.
Comments
Past work
I noticed a sudden lurch in my kudos count, which was strange as real life has been interfering markedly with my writing, and then comments appeared, to Soething to Declare at first, and then to other stories, as someone had clearly 'found' my little corner. It was a delight to me, that people would still look up the old stuff and have the grace and courtesy to post a comment.
I don't thamk my readers enough.
Old stories
I agree with your sentiments on commenting on older stories, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the 'norm'.
PB
I absolutely agree with the
I absolutely agree with the thoughts on comments on old stories.
I too have been receiving Kudo's on older stories this week, though it can be very difficult to tell which ones, unless you keep track of the totals yourself somehow. Kudo's don't show up as saying new. It just adds to the count.
Comments though always show up as new, and even better, they let me know who is reading, which I always like to have an idea of. And constructive criticism is always welcome, even if I don't fix the old story, I'll remember it for the future.
Not to mention, that a comment even of the sort, "I missed this before, but this was a good story" can drive others to read.
So, yes please, absolutely do not feel silly commenting on an old story!
Hugs,
Kristy
Comments on Past Works
Why I am glad that there is a listing of varied older postings by authors and why I would enjoy seeing more reto classics being posted to honor an author and story.
May Your Light Forever Shine
Adam and the 3 Wishes
Hi Portia,
I'm sorry I didn't put this as a comment at the end of Adam...... Sometimes, I need a bit of time to think.
>> "This is where we found Charli. She was barely sixteen at the time, had been homeless for four years, and was working as a girly boy prostitute to survive on the streets. She lived in a maintenance access under a freeway bridge a few miles from here. She had raised Willie from a kitten. She also befriended Padrona, a junk yard dog to end all junk yard dogs. She's a Rottweiler-English Mastiff cross, and weighs more than Wolf does. She saved Charli's life several years before we found them. <<
In this story, Adam, etc., you mentioned many girls with magic or at least that could talk with animal friends. I guessed that they were all Tgirls that the Wizard helped in your stories. I remembered some of your old stories, in this "universe" at least. Others I couldn't remember very well.
When I started reading the above paragraph, I wasn't thinking or remembering Charli's story, just taking in what I read. However, when you mentioned Padrona, then said more about her, I remembered much of Charli's story! There've been many, many stories here of young Tgirls, their horrible lives (or even good lives) and usually how they came to be who they were inside. My memory's gotten a little faulty and I guess these stories become blurred into each other, but Padrona must have been a distinctive character for me; one that stuck in my mind! It was a very cool feeling, remembering the hero(ine) dog and then the whole story!
Hugs and Bright Blessings,
Renee