I'm feeling a bit discouraged with things as they are. I feel as if the Retcon interest is dying out. There are fans of this universe---I love them to death---but it feels like we're not picking up any new ones. A lot of us write these things and only a few us seem to be getting any real feedback from it. I didn't want to write this but its starting to get tiring writing things that only a handful of people seem to care about.
So the question is: Does anyone care anymore? What do you want from me, from any of us. We write these things, wasting our free time and energy to do so. We don't get paid for it and some of us have fun doing it. I used to have fun when I knew it mattered. I know Lilith got a lot of flack about being a Comment Whore and things like that. Well I'm one too because without feedback there's no ambition to continue. I just talked to her a little while ago and neither one of us want to do this anymore if there's no point to it.
I need feedback or I'm afraid this is the last time an Enemyoffun story will be appearing here.
Comments
Don't throw a fit.
Sure, the retcon stories were fun, and yours are well written, so you get a lot of readers. For me though they are a bit too far into fantasy, and I began to tire of them. The moral of the stories is that things change. You are a great writer, and I am sure that you can come up with other good story ideas.
Much peace
Khadijah
Fantasy?
They're based on comic book heroes. I wasn't shooting for fantasy with this one, I was hoping to keep it as real as I could actually.
I can assure you that my newest one is not fantasy based. If you just take a look at the first two parts of it. Its called I Am the Night, its about Batgirl. In fact, Bruce Wayne is the subject and the main character of the first part.
dont get discouraged
your stories are some of the best coming out. i for one look forward to them. i know i don't comment on everything but i love reading your stuff. i would love to see you try a marvel story is you ever get done with the ones your writing. i think you could do a great job with the FF. you already have experience with a brother sister shift and you get to double it up with a husband wife shift. please don't stop writing retcons or center. thanks
I have some Marvel
Though I haven't gotten around to it yet, I do actually want to write about Black Panther :)
thats sounds good too.
i still think of of the retcon stuff is better than a lot of what is coming out of both marvel and dc these days.
Keep writing
don't stop now. I have been enjoying your work for some time now. The first stories I read after downloading are the ones labeled RetCon well... that is after I read the latest Tester in The Center of course.
Zip
Hmmm don't see it.
Your stuff, especially, receive way higher than the average number of comments believe it or not. Is it a problem with the quantity and/or quality of comments? Is there a standard that should be put forth as an expectation on the site? Remember, not every fan is a follower of the comics in canon either so constructive commenting is a little awkward at times, God knows I've stumbled around like a drunken sailor on leave doing stupid comments.
Both you and Lilith write great stuff and I am sure there are many a visitor who smile in glee when they find a new story by either of you on site. I know I do. Should the site have a commenting reminder as soon as a registered user log in? Rasufelle ( Melanie ) does a reminder at the bottom of her stories to the effect that comment and more will come. Just be matter of fact about it and not wait until it becomes an issue before pushing he whole commenting issue. Folks like jo-anne who do not like to be reminded that they need to comment are mostly in the minority, the remainder just feel guilty for being lazy slobs.
Kim
Retcon
I love the stories of the Retcon universe, But I want to read the whole complete story not in parts as most of them are posted. After waiting for the whole story I put it together and then read it. if the writer never posts that it's final part in the tittle I’m very likely to miss it and never read it.
Love & Hugs
Michell
I like the Retcon stories, I
Don't be discouraged.
Samirah M. Johnstone
You are good people
I like your writing, but I've never been a comicbook fan. Some of the retcon stories I read because they hook me in, some I don't even care to open. Frankly, I get so lost in most of them now I don't even know who the characters are. Like the Lightning girl story, I don't have a clue who the sister constantly being referred to is. And lacking a central reference that matches characters to stories and the time frame, I probably won't ever know.
But I do notice that your latest posted chapter has 17 comments, which seems a pretty decent amount. I said at the time that Lilith's discourse would only have a short term effect before things dropped back to a more ordinary level. And that is starting to happen already. You complained about comments on Lilith's stories going astray, even though Lilith invited that particular side trip. I'm guessing that might be a problem on your stories? Any author can request any comment attached to their story be removed. You don't have to justify it, either. Just PM Erin and say "I want comment xxxxxx removed." There is no need to go to the drastic measures Nancy did or to stop writing.
So in the end you have to decide for yourself what will keep you writing. Are the number of sincere comments too low to motivate you? That is your decision, nobody else's. I might add I've always considered the practice of answering every comment on a story as just another form of ego inflation, padding out the count. I have more than a few stories with less than 10 comments but I know that for the most part those are sincere comments.
Whatever you decide, I support your right to go in that path (even if I don't agree with it). I'll be shutting things down here in a few more hours to prepare for heading to the city for my surgery Friday, and I don't know when I'll be back. I hope you are still here when I do return. I'll miss you if you aren't.
Karen J.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
I agree with this
One of the things that pushes me away from certain universes is when they start to cross reference each other... requiring you to have read this *other* story first.... but then THAT story meantions things that your clueless in unless you've that Other story over there...
in the end Ret-Con would do So much better if each story was a Stand alone story..
Maggie and Lilith are my favorite authors... but some of their stories expect you to have read other stories and WHOLE Paragraphs seem like total Jibberish if your not up to date on what happened. It frustraites the reader to avoid the universe all together. A reader starting late in the stories doesn't even know which one to read first.... i suspect it's Jade (which i haven't read but damn near EVERY story refers to)
So in the end i avoid Ret-con, and as i said in another comment... im not a comics fan anyway. Many of the authors that are writting in Ret-Con have incompleate stories that i'm waiting on edge for.. then i see the authors name listed in the new releases and Jump for joy..... till i see they posted a ret-con *sobs*
but if the authors of my favorite stories need the break, and wish to play in Ret-con.. then they have my FULL support.. i just wont read it :P
~Your only Limitation is your Imagination~
I write in a dying universe
I occasionally write stories in a universe that is past its peak popularity-wise, and when I do post them I understand that the SPELLS R US tag by itself will keep readers away, and that I'm mostly writing for old gray haired die-hard enthusiasts. I couldn't sustain my good spirits about writing if I wrote ONLY SRU stories, and I really wouldn't want to. I mostly write other stuff, and when I do tackle a Spells R Us story it's because I feel I've come up with something truly fresh and original in a universe that's burnt itself out thru repetition, that's succumbing to particle decay, heat death + general malaise, and whatever new little star I've created will burn bright for a while, and make me feel good; But I do so knowing there won't be much interest. My next SRU tale, oddly, is a crossover with a mostly forgotten comix series from half a century ago, and I'm sure MR. NATURAL VS THE SPELLS R US WIZARD will go over like a lead balloon around here; but it will amuse me to write it since the two characters could practically be brothers, but somehow they've never crossed paths before, and I'm pretty sure the one or two people who remember and appreciate Mr. Natural and Flakey Foont will be in stitches reading it. Sometimes it's the particular quality of comments rather than the sheer quantity.
I think the COMICS RETCON UNIVERSE has a long way to go before it's that burnt out, or it may never, because it has the comics and film industry and a whole lot of comics fans to help sustain it. But I know a "discouragingly small" public interest is a relative thing; And so maybe I'm lucky I never was a hugely successful writer here so I never experienced a disenheartening decline in popularity; and can feel appreciated booking my band at the corner all-nite laundromat instead of the sports arena. Not a bad life, at least my friends show up :)
~~hugs, Veronica
What borders on pure insanity?
Canada and Mexico.
.
Have to agree with the others..
When I think of all the story universes I know of on all the sites I hang out at, I can think of very few that have enjoyed the readership, responses, and take-offs (other authors writing in the universe) as yours.
If you feel your readership is dying, mine is cold and in the grave, at the other sites I write for... I think you have much to be proud of, and to feel satisfied about.
You are a great author with the readership and participation to back it up. Keep on keeping on!
Don't stop.
EOF,please don't stop I really <3 your stories(but you probably already figured that out since I have commented on several) growin up I was never really into comic books occasional I'd read a superman comic or a wolverine comic. But the comic's Retcon universe has allowed me to see alot of great comic book heroes I missed and you are one of the greatest writers it has. so please please please don't stop postin retcon stories or center stories.
Oh dear
Please don't do that, (I can make new accounts under different names to encourage you to continue).
But seriously though I think everybody has their set authors. For example, Zoe Tailor does becoming Robin.
I don't think she will get people that are into overly sweet things, I really liked her story but found it hard to get into because she writes about real life events that seem to me to be a tad untrue. Not that she's not a good author. She's really good.
I just think that you'll only find a certain percentage of readers, even those among the fantasy and sci-fi buffs who'll read retcon.
When I first joined this site I was in not such a good place, I love fantasy and sci-fi, but ret-con really hooked me.
This wasn't only because it was similar to comics, but because of the way some of the stories are written showing that even superheroes have problems. that they struggle to overcome
feedback
I am trying to leave encouraging comments on as many stories as I can. I know from myself how much they can help an author. I have ideas for another Phoenix story, so I hope the universe continues until i can get around to writing it...
Dorothycolleen
you and Lilith are the first
you and Lilith are the first authors i look for when i check the site
>>>>>I'm a new soul.I came to this strange world.Hoping I could learn a bit bout how to give and take.<<<<<
>>>>>I'm a new soul.I came to this strange world.Hoping I could learn a bit bout how to give and take.<<<<<
Thank You Very Much
Everyone has helped me so much here in their comments and the PMs you sent. I was really discourage when I wrote this blog but seeing that everyone feels so passionately about what I write makes me feel really good inside.
I promise that I won't stop writing I just felt a little down...and stupid. But its good to know that so many people love what I do :)
EOF
Just me...
Frankly, I've been extremely frazzled, and I haven't commented on ANYTHING lately - other than a couple of the main blog thingies. (like this)
If it helps, YES, I read the retcon stories (most of them, anyway), and I like them just fine. No, I haven't commented on them, or the Center stories (I haven't read more than two other than the first, but that's more time than anything)
Anyway - I have to get back to rebuilding my home network server.
BW
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Look at the Numbers Here
Most of the time only 1 in 4 or 5 that are online here are registered. Among the registered users, there are only a few that consistently comment. I read a lot, but there are still more stories posted here than I could ever read. Retcon stories have gotten really popular. There are lots of authors posting them now. Readers have to choose which ones to read in the available time that they have.
You are a gifted story teller that gets phenomenal response compared to the average here. All your stories are popular, but of course, some are going to be more popular than others.
Those who don't
Personally i see the Ret Con tag and i run away. I'm just not interested in Comic Book's..never was. I hated Bat Man, superman looked retarded in his tights, Wonder woman.. Ick! the few that i DID like were actually the villians i mean, you just GOTTA love the Joker.
BUT!! in no shape or form do i think the authors of those stories should stop. Do you enjoy writting them? THAT is the question. Sure we all enjoy positive feedback on the stories we write, but that's not WHY we write. We do it to see our worlds take shape and evolve. The idea's boucning around in our heads that are just begging to take shape... after we mold them into shape we share it with others so they may enjoy as well. If no one wants to read it then there's no reason to post it.... but the idea that is ratteling around in your skull should come out reguardless for no other reason than ...YOU WANT IT TO
Your only Limitation is your Imagination
Discouraged :( --> Encouraged... hopefully
Being one of those people that's shy already (even as an anon on the interwebs), I don't tend to comment unless I have something meaningful to say (and I admit I'm a bit lazy too). How many ways are there to say "awesome job" really without sounding like a broken record? Regardless, you're one of a handful of authors on this site (Lilith is another, but I'm not going to list them all) that make me do a mini-happy dance in my chair when I see new material. Furthermore, both Retcon and The Center are universes that I enjoy immensely and you've been a major contributor to each. As for people who say actively seeking praise or at least acknowledgment from their peers is comment whoring, I have to say most people (I hate using 'all' when I can't prove it) on this site and in the world in general try to garner that attention for the meaningful things we do. If that makes you an attention whore, then we all are including the people making that claim. So screw 'em in my opinion.
All that said, do what you feel you have to whether that's stop posting here or take a break or branch out into other story types if that's what it takes to satisfy your needs. I can't promise to provide a steady stream of positive re-enforcement, but I'll make an effort to do it more.
To reiterate my main point (I had one?... yeah, I guess I did), you turn out material that's interesting, sometimes amusing, well written, and well thought out and I hope you continue to make more.
now back to my regularly scheduled happy dance...
Seriously??
I just looked at your last piece, 18 comments, which in my mind puts it in the upper level of comment numbers and Liliths recent bits seem to be setting records, 50's and 60's per piece. Most things here do from a few to a dozen or so, including a few replies and now and then something will catch the wider imagination and do 20's or 30's. Not common though and this place is one of the better sites for getting positive feedback.
If 18 disappoints, well... how many things have you commented on of late?
Kristina
I hear this
When I hit 10 comments on a story, I feel I did a good job, and I mean 10 not including my replies.
Keep going, EOF. If people are commenting, people are reading.
He entered the hall to get warm. She left it two hundred years later.
Faeriemage
He entered the hall to get warm. She left it two hundred years later.
Faeriemage
Don't stop
Don't stop, retcon stories in general are pretty interesting. To be honest I have only read a few stories here and there. I'm slightly afraid to get to committed to the retcon universe in general because it doesn't seem to have a strict canon. Hence it subject to falling apart under it own weight. And that type of stuff can break a universe for me even if the stories individually are good the inconsistence will drive me batty
Re Please don't quiet
please don't quiet, one of the highlights of my day is coming online and finding another one of your stories or reading the latest chapter. You are one of the best writers that I have come across in along time and it would be a real shame to see you stop writing.
Cain129