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I am happy to announce that this story is finally coming to an end and there is only one chapter left.
I am, however, sad to announce that I will not be completing any other story, here on BigCloset, that includes (Revenge is a dish best-served cold), (Sam's new life) and (Not so royal).
I believed the community here was different and not toxic but it doesn't appear to be the case. The only feedback I got so far is negative, I was accused of things that I am not including being homophobic.
For those who are reading my stories and waiting for updates, I apologize.
Thank you all for reading my writings so far.
Lajien.
Comments
Re: Announcement
I am sorry to hear that you feel this way. I have not read anything that I would consider being inappropriate, insensitive or plain out wrong.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your stories...
Robyn B
Sydney
Critique or Criticism
There are a few who fail to understand the difference. Did one give comments about the writing, spelling, or the story line? Or did they tear the story apart because it wasn't the way they would have wrote it or told it? Many new writers want praise for their story as it is their baby. They gave birth to it expecting accolades for after all it's the best story in the world, they wrote it.
Pulling up one of your stories I read a chapter to see if there were serious flaws and found none. There are always editing changes in everyone's story before publications to the world. That's the nature of writing and publishing. I try and tell authors they need the hide of a rhino, the stubbornness of a donkey, the patience of Job, and determination of a woodpecker. I've read published stories that were excellent material for the fireplace they were so poorly written. The writer had to be sleeping with the publisher to get their story put in print.
If you wish for readers, you'll find them here along with other places. Your decision.
Hugs Lajien
Barb
Mortal life isn't infinite. Don't waste it searching for what isn't meant to be.
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
>Mortal life isn't infinite
>Mortal life isn't infinite
Agreed.
>Don't waste it searching for what isn't meant to be.
How do we know what isn't meant to be? If Einstein had thought that way, we may not have had the relativity theory today.
Or the radio, or the TV, or iPhones, or Android phones, etc. You get the idea. :-)
I wish it was like that.
Unfortunately, I spend too much time writing the stories, especially this one as it took me more than a year to finish. Unfortunately, I have been receiving any feedback since ch.8, and the one I received in this chapter was very negatively offensive and attacked me personally.
Would you believe one who was an editor
Lajien, I haven't been following your writing. I pulled up the last chapter Abrupt Change ch.29 to look at as if I was an editor and publisher. Honestly like the other chapter I sampled, there is nothing wrong with your style of writing. Think of writing as a movie or stage play. Each must have descriptive, that's the scene or stage setting. Each must have action. The actors and actresses begin moving and or there are supporting actors if the main ones aren't introduced yet. Each needs dialog to enrich the movie, the play, or the story line. Otherwise it's a silent movie. Imagine a silent play.
Your story line has all of the three main elements. You set the scene to the dialog, and or dialog to action, sometimes you mix all three. You shifted first person to third person back and forth smoothly. I had to pay close attention to notice the shift. It was skillfully done.
I'm not going to BS you. It's well written but yes editing should be done if you publish either in dead tree form or electronically. And no, I don't have the time or patience to be an editor.
Hugs Lajien, I wish you well in your life journey no matter what choices you make
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
Ok,
I'm sorry that you are having cutting back your writing. I'm A relative newbie here since I only found this site a couple of months ago. I followed your work and dropped kudos regularly. I've been waiting patiently for more of Sam's new life. I understand the stresses of writing. If you decide to come back to BCTS I know there will be some here to receive you, and I am one.
Ron
I won't stop writing.
Although I didn't post Sam's new life anywhere else, I may release it on Wattpad.
Im sorry....
...your stories are getting negative reactions. I absolutely loved reading everything you have written. I rarely comment because I'm autistic and it's hard for me to gather my thoughts. Heck everything is hard for me and it is the stories I read on BCTS that make life worth living. I understand you have a life too and you don't want to write for people who don't appreciate it, well I do appreciate your writing and will miss it when you stop.
EllieJo Jayne
Homophobic?
I didn't see it. I do enjoy your stories though.
! DAMN ! So very sorry to hear this.
Very strongly suggest "naming names" to the Admins, with details/links.
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I do hope you will resolve problems with "The Problems" and that you remain contributing to BCTS.
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It may be that I have not seen the problems you have seen, because, sigh, I am a "lurking/reader", and am not (yet) an Author...
===
Meanwhile, I am enjoying "Abrupt Change".
A few thoughts
Lajien,
I tend to keep my thoughts to myself, at least on stories here, as my sense of humor can only be described as "quirky" at best, and "dark" or "inappropriate" at worst. So, easily misinterpreted/misunderstood. You have a wonderful gift of creativity, and I will miss one of the stories you wrote and will admit I never really got into the second :( Mea culpa/ That said, you should write the stories for yourself first, and find what others like and share those stories with them. Just as some people will eat anything, there are those that despise onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc. (all perfectly nasty little things, er tasty foods :P), and this the same with people's tastes in reading. There are also those that sometimes forget it's just a story and the things they dislike may just be plot devices. But hey, what do I know? I'm just a reader :D
What I am trying to say, Lajien, is this:
I hope that your future is as bright as you can imagine, and you have already proven your imagination. Be well,
Hugs
Diana
In the end, I write for me, not anyone else.
I began writing as a form of therapy and while I'm past that stage, I still write for me. I have a story (stories) inside me and I write them to fulfill a need I have. I don't post anything that isn't complete and I post it in one go. Once it's posted, I don't look at the comments. (Or very rarely do. I made an exception when I posted "One Dozen Roses" because it was an anthology with seven authors contributing.) After it's been up for a few months, I might go back to see how well it was received. But then it's only to gauge as to whether I'd bother writing something along the same lines.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann
Don't let the Trolls win
I am saddened to hear that you have received negative comments. I am surprised as the comments I have seen are positive, for all authors and not just yourself. I am guilty of not giving much written feedback but I do leave kudos on the stories I like. Judging by the Kudos count on most stories against the number of comments, I suspect I am not alone in this. I find with serialized stories especially, it is difficult to write meaningful comments on each chapter so I am more likely to kudos each chapter and leave a comment until the last is posted.
So I'm sure you would find that your stories are more appreciated than you realise, and that the Trolls are but a tiny section of your readership.
One of the scourges of our times is how a minority of miscreants can spoil things for the majority. It would be a shame to see them drive a talented writer leave this platform.
Profoundly Sad
Hi
I'm really sad that some person has made a comment which made you feel bad. I've read the comment, and other comments by the same commentator, on other, equally good stories ( the 12 Days of Christmas, which I loved) and, frankly my dear, you really shouldn't give a damn.
To the person who doesn't like things, and doesn't have the wisdom to remain silent, I offer the wisdom of William Butler Yeats,
. Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
Lucy xx
"Lately it occurs to me..
what a long strange trip its been."
enjoyed your writing
I have enjoyed your stories a lot and not seen anything hateful or inaporiate. I have looking forward to the continueing of sams new life
I am sorry for trolls that have hurt your confidence in this site and people. just ignore them and keep writing good stories.
Say it ain't so
Lajien, I have followed your story from the beginning and have always encouraged you. I don't see the comment you referenced so I imagine Erin removed it. There is one commentator that seems intent on bashing all of the stories, and that is sad for them. Your story is a bit unique in the setting in the future and the virus that switches peoples genders while making them happy with the change. Your protagonist, Rin, is certainly a remarkable young lady and the support she receives from her brother George as well as all of her friends is amazing. Sometimes it is a bit hard to remember who was who and what gender, but I find it refreshing that there is an absence of self pity and when someone is attached either verbally or physically, George leads the charge to protect his sister. This last installment with Rin's father Jeff dressing in feminine garb to support Rin and her cousins is an example of what we aspire to see in society. I hope you reconsider about future stories, but I wish you well. :DD
DeeDee
Really sorry
I too have been the victim of a serious bad mouthing and I did the same thing ....stopped posting.
It's really tragic that someone with that much bile, would continue to pose Problems that can have such an adverse effect on a person, but I'm writing to say a big razzberry to that person. there is no accounting for taste.
Sorry for getting on the soapbox there :)
Thank you for all your past works which I thought were terrific stories. Keep the faith and don't let the basta**** get you down
Danielle_O
Danielle_O
"Life is pain, Princess ~ anyone telling you different is trying to sell you something."
Please, do not give up on your gifts
I have just finished this book & can tell you with honesty that although there are holes open, holes that you could use for the following book. It is an amazing work of art luv.
The characters have all sorts of different personalities, histories, characteristics etc that can be difficult for many writers here to contend with when new to the crafting of a story, especially a story set in a specific world/time frame.
While there may be minor things that may seem congruent with certain concerns, I can tell with all honesty that you are not, by any means subconciously bigotted, in the ways that you have claimed others have claimed you are.
Please, do not give up on your writing because of people being hypercritical & not taking your feelings into consideration, its hypocritical but with honesty I can say I have ALOT of issues with critique.... its why I very rarely permitted any assitance with my works from volunteered editiors here, such as sephrena, years ago & that I believe was only and edition or two.
I absolutelly love this story, you have been writing 'abrupt change', which I completed reading today on Sunday March 19th 2023 somewjere between 12-12:30 AM EST
I know many enjoy the fantasy that the evolution of women will eradicate Masculinity... many/most here would be over the moon about it... to some it seems far fetcher, though a nice idea. The reality you & others have similarily wrote is true, at least if documentaries etc I have seen/read pan out. The Y chromosome is devolving & i dunno which one it was, but they said it would 'dissolve' in about 1 or a few thousand years.... though I dunno where they got those numbers.
Mens fashion is changing, roles are swapping. More & more you hear about househusbands & professional wives. Men are growing their hair longer, women are buzzing theirs off. Fashions are changing in similar fashion etc. It has already begun & as many can see particularily via the rise in the UK, the extreme feminist movement is highly on the rise, that even the US is following suit & there have been a number of attempts here in Canada. So as you wrote, the plausibility of your fictional story bears so much fruit.
Now adays so many people like to throw words of victimization around as if they know Jack**** about it. Kids claiming when a parent says NO that they are being abusive, when someone makes even a slight remark completely out of context & someone hears it they will claim bigotry without even considering the entire thing. I think being 'woke' is a good thing, but going overboard with idiosyncrasies of claiming everything under the sun is one strike after the next, is honestly what I believe is causing an uproar by many people against it.
You wrote a story, a great story. You wrote it in your way. The fact is when a fiction is rather science fiction or similar, joining reality, when people complain about things like 'white washing' or similar I have repeated to people that I do not believe it is intentional & that there is a philosophical quote that relativelly fits into this narrative; If Horses had gods, they would be horses quoted by Xenophanes
When people have a perception of creation, its almost entirely typical to focus on your natural default. It can even be difficult with people to write a character outside of their own race without having some Karen getting in their face claiming 'stereotype', despite the fact that many stereotypes regardless of discomfort, are actually factual, maybe not for all, but they do happen, they are there.
You wrote the story itself that deeply impacts on the topic of many various gender issues... Joshua being evn with limited visibility, a complex situation that you handled well. You are not homophobic, in fact I can clearly see many avenues particularily around Dakota, that hints at a more wide range of sexuality brewing. These, the main young charcters, are minors still elementary school age, so obviously directing a sexuality on them is not something you are gonna do, this does not make you homophobic, its makes you a reasonable & legally conscious person, which is commendable.
We have enough issues going on, that have people very wound-up. Which does make those of us more at risk to become oversensitive & unreasonable.
You are a great writer, please know that, believe that, its true. Dont let others strip away this from you, that makes you feel good about yourself & the accomplishments that warms your heart with pride.
When/if you ever do get a second going, put your heart into it. Sometimes you can use the emotions you get from their critique to fuel the emotions you use to write, stronger the emotions, more passionate the writing.
You have sooooooo much promise, dont throw that away because of some loudmouthed s*** disturbers. Your enjoyment is worth far more, then their callousness. Be true to yourself & be free to do what you want to do. You deserve to be lifted up, not kicked down. Your worth so much more then that.
With Love and Light, and Smiles so Bright!
Erin Amelia Fletcher