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Speaking from the viewpoint of a former "comment whore" I completely understand the feeling that nobody gives A damn about what one writes. I learned, much to my chagrin, that the quality of the writing is seldom an indication of how many comments/hits a story will garner. It's become increasingly obvious to me that the more "hot buttons" a story hits, is directly related to the number of comments/hits it gets. Quite frankly I have seen stories that, I'm sorry, sucked, in my opinion, yet, because they hit the "hot Buttons" they got WAY more attention than stories I consider well written and relatively error free. I guess thats' what makes the world go around. Different strokes for different folks, right?
I've since decided that when I DO write, it will be for myself. If anyone else enjoys what I write, well, thats just gravy as far as I am concerned.
RE:The Ret-Con Universe. In MY humble opinion, the Ret-Con Universe is the best thing to hit the world of TG literature since TG literature began. With RARE exceptions, I am archiving all the Ret-Con stories on my hard drive, just in case the site/sites on which they are archived, vanishes the way so many others have. I archive them for MY re-reading pleasure and NEVER with any intent to use them in any other way.
I kudo each and every one, with the rare exception, as mentioned earlier. I comment rarely any more, hoping that, when I DO comment, it will mean that much more to the author. No! I don't consider myself to be anyone special! As a writer myself, I DO know just how much work and soul searching go into writing and then posting a story, and the anxiety of waiting to see if anyone likes what you wrote. As I once saw the "votes" option as a true measure of a story's worth, I now see the kudoes a serving the same purpose.
So this all leads to this. IF you are a good, quality writer, rest assured that I not only read, but thoroughly enjoy what you write and choose to share with the rest of us. So much so that I SAVE your efforts. If your story has a good plot,good characters, a good premise and a satisfactory ending, it's on my hard drive. Since retirement, I have little to do but read, and I DO read. So much so that there are very few times when I end a day without new stories being read. Again, this is ALL my own opinion being expressed here. J make no pretense and have no intent to speak for anyone else.
TO ALL THE WRITERS/AUTHORS. Let it be said that I DO appreciate ALL of your efforts. It takes courage to put yourself out there and allow yourselves to be judged by others, risking ridicule and other bad stuff.
This whole post will probably be read by some as a self serving, somewhat egotistical diatribe. It's not meant that way, and I hope no one takes offense at what I've written. We are a rare breed, those of us who flaut society's rules and dare to try to be who we truly feel we are. To then put ourselves out there by daring to write our fantasies and dreams for others to read, requires a whole other kind of courage, and I commend all of you for trying, for daring, and I thank you all for being out there, for daring.
Thanks for reading and thanks for writing.
Catherine Linda Michel
Comments
your choice to leave a comment or not
but as an author, it REALLY helps me to receive feedback. For example, the people who waded through my Phoenix story to leave a comment have been a godsend to me. Conversely, when I don't get a lot of feedback, I assume I suck, and I have stopped writing some series I have started because of that lack of confidence.
Dorothycolleen
Archiving even for personal use…
Seems quite objectionable to some people.
Also, Lillith's bout of pique has certainly set a fox among the chickens, hasn't it?
Then those people shouldn't
Then those people shouldn't publish on the Internet, should they? :) If you post it, someone will copy it.
Seriously, like many others here, I've seen too many sites go down without warning. If I find a gem, I archive it. And I won't apologize for doing so. I lost access to some really great stories before I learned my lesson.
- vessica b
Kudos.. and kudos
Well stated, Catherine,
Though my *least*-read story has eight times the kudos of my *best*-read story... and that confuses me.
I have observed that it's really only first-few-day readers that send kudos, and that comments are almost never made after a week.
Three thousand readers might eventually ping a story after that week, but almost none will kudo, and fewer still will comment.
Which means it's *who* is reading that's being measured by kudos and comments... not really what's written - or even how popular it is.
:-)
Michelle
I'll admit that I get
I'll admit that I get somewhat disheartened when I spend several days on one 12 page story, and then I get only about 5-8 comments in the first two or three days. Then I see something else that is just as well written as my work, and yet in the first 12 hours of it being up, there's 30 or more comments. I start wondering what I am doing wrong.
But later, say two weeks or more, I realize that comments/votes/kudos isn't just how the story is rated, it's how it touched people. I guess a better measure would be the "reads", but that is only how many page loads that story had.
I agree, I archive the stories I enjoy on my HD and then convert it to text so I can read it on my ebook reader, wherever I am.
In fact, I have to go back and update some of the stories with new episodes that have come out. I love re-reading stories that I know, and I go back to them many many times.
Plus, I need them for research (to make sure that the story I'm writing fits into the overall storyline I'm working with).
Save Catwoman/Blue Lantern/Black Canary/Other stories all you want. You have my blessings.
----
comments.
I write a lot of stories. Do I get a lot of comments on them? Not always.
I always chalked that up to not being one of the people who write the 'sweetness and light, everything goes perfectly' kind of story. That isn't a dig at the people who do them, just stating that I don't.
Personally, yes, it does bother me at times when my stories seem to lack comments. I'm only human, like everyone else. I like to know that people have read and liked what I do. So yes, Lillith had a valid point. If you like a story at least let the author know you did. Just a simple 'Hey! Good story' would do.
I've been writing for years, and not just in the TG area. In other fields you get a bit of money, or a copy of the mag or book you contributed to, and it is no way to make a living, trust me. But at least you know that your work is appreciated by someone.
Here we have comments.
And believe me, comments on a story that is put up for free, are just as good as getting money. Okay, maybe not that good, but you get the idea.
Good, bad, indifferent, a comment tells the writer that you've read the story and are paying attention. You don't even have to do it publicly. I've given and received many comments on PM.
The point of that diatribe?
Just let the author know you read thier work.
I know, there are privacy issues and all that, but you can comment anonymously, or at least that's the way it used to be.
Then again, I'm guilty, too. I'll read a story, like it, then wait to comment until I can get my thoughts together about that. And like anyone else, I tend to forget I started to do that.
And no, I'm not saying you should comment on every story.
But if you find one you really like, one that touches you, trust me. The Author loves hearing that.
And if you find one that has faults that could be fixed? Any author will accept criticisms that will improve what they do if they're serious about writing.
Find one you read and didn't like at all? Tell the author why you didn't like it. 'That story sucks' just doesn't work.
Okay, I'll stop now. I'll go back on my meds tomorrow, I promise! lol.
But at a site like this, comments are pay. We've had some good ones stop writing because they felt it wasn't worth the effort. Just give a hello and good story at times.
That would keep most of us writing, trust me.
Maggie
As Dorothy said, it's your choice!
I agree that comments are very valuable (but I have always said I was a comment whore). Without comments, it's hard to say what I'm already doing wrong, so I just keep doing the same things incorrectly over and over! I want my readers to enjoy my stories-please, say something! My ego isn't quite THAT big-I can handle negative (and positive!) comments.
I almost always try to leave a kudo, and I try to leave comments as well. Sometimes, when there are a lot of good stories posted, I'll miss a comment or two. I apologize! I'll do better! I know how much goes into (most) of these stories (Chicken chicken chicken, anyone? LOL!).
Wren
PS-I'm still trying to write an Ambush Bug ret-con, but apparently, I'm just too sane!)
Comments
Being a Retcon and Center universe writer, it some times discourages me when I don't get a lot of comments. But I figure the ones I do get are something. I also take into account what else has been published that day...if its a popular story that everyone else reads then I know one of my stories won't get nearly as many comments as I might expect it too. But the great about this site is that these things will be here for a while. They may not get the recognition the first time around but every so often I go to My Stories page and see comments on my earlier stories. That makes me really happy.
So yes I love comments---and the lack thereof used to annoy me---but I don't let it stop me from writing. :)
EOF
What could possibly be wrong?
...when you mention my favorite aunt, Carmella Di'Atribe. Seriously, I value your opinions and appreciate that you've been such an encouragement and support to me.
Oh, and as a comment whore myself, what does everyone think of my newest avatar?
Andrea DiServizio, La Donna de la Notte?
Escuse Maschi...Cari feminina solo, si?
Venite a leggere qualche
Andrea Lena
Love, Andrea Lena
Quality stories must hit the buttons
If a story doesn't hit the right buttons, how can it be a quality story?
Go on any writing course and you will learn the buttons, things such as: Beginning, Dialogue, Pace, Descriptions, Ending.
To me, the Beginning is most important of all. If the first few lines don't hook the reader, or even worse, if they turn the reader off, most will not read on. (At this point, some will comment that they do read on past a boring beginning - I reply in advance to say that simply by leaving a comment they have shown they are not in the "most people" category.)
So many stories on this site begin with their Life Histories - excuse me whilst I yawn and switch to the next story. Background should be cut to a minimum - never more than one or two sentences here and there, and never in the first page. Get the reader hooked into the action - then you can fill in the boring bits, if they are really essential.
Now, my quandry: Knowing how negative feedback hurts many sensitive writers, I never put these words into a comment about a story. Should I? It would mean writing the same words about dozens of stories. I'd become known as the Lindale Butcher!
RE: Stories, comments, and the Ret-Con Universe.
Don't now which is better: kudos or comments.
May Your Light Forever Shine
May Your Light Forever Shine
Apparently I've been doing it wrong.
If I don't like something, I won't upvote it. I only kudo things I like.
This site is huge, and there are tonnes of comments to possibly review—it's like a forum, but worse. If I don't have something meaningful to say, then what's the point?
Mindless approbation has no value.
So both should have their place. Looking at some of the comments here, it seems the laziness or lack of franchise is strong enough that approving readers will not even click a button. Ideally, this would be Lilith's 3-second comment rule.
Actual posted comments (which have never taken me less than a minute and a half) would be to reply or open dialogue with an author.
Muses and motivations
What a sticky wicket eh? Who do you write for? Should you encourage writers you enjoy reading? Writers and Readers are all members of our little community here in cyberspace. Yet we come at things a bit differently. Readers are easy. They're here to find something to read. What they're looking for can vary depending on not only their likes and dislikes but the kind of day they had or even their moods.
Writers, well, that's harder. For myself I tend to write the kind of stuff I want to read. Since I can't find it, darn it!, I have to write it myself. Let me tell you that for me that's not easy. I'm so envious of those who knock out pages and pages in only a few days. For me of late it's like pulling teeth. I still enjoy writing, but I have greater challenges now. To help me overcome those 'problems' I do go back and reread those comments on my old stories.
Mind you I've never gotten oodles and oodles of comments like some here, but haven't done badly all considered. The thought that I helped someone though a tough time or bad day does warm my soul. After all, too many times I've found solace in stories too. So one or two "Oh Gawd" I really needed to read this today means more than those "Hey, I liked this, when is next chapter coming?" comments.
With that said, like other writers have said, every comment does make me feel like Sally Fields, and I misquote "They like me! They really like me!" Feeling positive about writing does help with the whole process. Let's face it. Most of us have more than enough negative things in our lives. I write what I do to reach towards the positive, wish fulfillment or whatever. Like Tinkerbell, those positive thoughts does help me when I'm struggling with a difficult scene and am blocked.
I'm kinda reminded of a scene from the book Starship Troopers. A MI is chewed out when he makes a statement about an Esper sent in to help find the Bugs. "Never ever give an Esper any reason to doubt his abilities." Writers are kinda like that to. It's lonely sitting in front of that keyboard listening to the voices in your head. Even worse is when you argue with them and they win. Having those 'happy thoughts' in the form of comments does help when suddenly your muse stops talking and you're left all alone trying to figure out what happens next. You think, you the reader feels cheated when, Blam, the story just stops, how do you think the writer feels?
Let me put it this way. Think of comments as applause at a concert. When the musician finishes a song to dead silence, how do you think she feels? She's just poured out her heart and soul. Now what?
Hugs!
Grover
Last word
My last word on the subject, for now at least.
I know that I've apparently ticked off a few people with my observation and straight talk concerning the issue of comments. Some people think that I'm simply arrogant or stuck up. The thing is they don't know me, so their opinion means pretty much nothing in that regard. I don't take offense because of that.
Those that do know me, know that I don't mince words in an attempt to make people feel better. That's caused problems in the past for people that have asked for my help with their stories, or my opinion, etc. The way that I look at it is I treat them the way that I want to be treated. If I ask for a critique then I expect there will be downsides as well as upsides. So I give it to them in that form. I warn them first about how I do this, so they're prepared, and most of them appreciated not being coddled.
The same goes with my note recently.
I was straight forward and analytical, in my opinion. They are simply facts. If you take part in something and don't give anything back then you can expect the people that provide to move on or stop producing. I can't count the number of authors I know that have given up posting anything for the simple fact that they don't receive anything in response.
As a reader, you could say that, "well, there will always be other writers out there, screw'um."
All of this is simply human nature, and if me taking the heat for hopefully opening their eyes is what it take then I'll take it.
I'm not looking for pity or a pat on the back by saying this, so please don't. I'm trying to open people's eyes to the prospect of losing their favorite author/s or losing a potentially good author because of simple apathy.
As I noted in today's chapter's notes, it takes me three seconds to write, "I like this story," or some variant thereof. You can't tell me that, if you are online, you can't spare three seconds out of your life to boost the moral of an author that likely took days to produce something for you to read... for free.
~Lili
Blog: http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lilith_langtree
~Lili
Write the story that you most desperately want to read.