I warned everyone I was very reluctant to post here because of the brutalness and dark nature of the story. My original post wasnt to state that, it was offhand stated. It was to question the changing nature of this site over the years and how years ago, many dark stories were posted with good feedback and results.
Well, you all said go ahead. So I posted, and I got a personal message in my box of an insulting nature to tell me that they didnt read beyond the first chapter. Well thanks for informing me of that. I guessed most readers probably did that but thanks for sending me a message personally informing me that you refused to read my story.
I said It was a dark tale so, should I have it taken down?
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Strong emotions
Strong emotions in fiction are not for everyone. I wouldn't take it too much to heart that someone felt it necessary to tell you, privately, that they did not like what you wrote. I suspect that more people did like it than didn't.
Remember Rule Three: It's not about you. This is a warning not to let your ego get in your way but also a reminder that when someone expresses an opinion, it is just an opinion and an opinion is more about the person expressing it than about the person it is expressed to. Don't take criticism personally, it's seldom actually meant that way and can be more useful to you if you regard it as just a light shown on an odd corner.
BTW, this advice is way easier to give than to act on. Believe me, I know. :)
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
I can handle peoples opinion
If they tell me they didnt like my story and reasons even if it is in nasty way. But to tell me they wont even read my story. hmmmm. why tell me that. That is about the most hurtful they can say to an author. Keep that to your self. I saw storys so graphic or other reasons that I didnt bother to read on and avoided any further chapters. I didnt feel compelled to send that author a message stating "I wont read your story anymore"
Screw 'em!
And I've said this to many new posters to the site before: if you're only writing or sharing your work because you want the approval of others, then you're doing it for the wrong reasons.
You said they refused to read it because of content. Not because of your writing style (or lack thereof,) not because of typos or syntax or anything like that. They stopped reading because your story got to them on an emotional level. How is that NOT a good thing, when that is precisely what every author is supposed to strive for?
I write very vanilla, low-impact stuff for the most part, but even I have gotten PMs -- yes, more than one -- telling me that someone was going to stop reading one story or another because they didn't like what I was doing with the characters or what has happening. I've let that actually stop me writing a story all of once, and I've regretted it ever since.
Your story has been up less than 24 hours. Give it another couple of weeks, see what user response is in future comments, PMs, and the like, and then, and ONLY then, decide if the user response is good or bad enough to keep posting here, if you're gonna let that kind of thing affect you at all.
800 reads in less than 24 hours is a VERY commendable first story result. Give readers a chance to catch up and see what you're about, which could take several parts of the story before it happens. You'll find your audience, and so what if it doesn't include a few people who get hung up on their personal problems? It isn't written for them anyway: it's written for YOU, and will reach those who share experiences and emotions with you. And really, aren't they the most important audience anyway?
Melanie E.
Good Advice from Mel E
And a friendly arm around the shoulder. We all need this at times and you struck gold. I always feel it's the same as TV. There is an 'off button' and whilst the graphic detail in the first paragraphs weren't to my taste, if you pardon the pun, I fast forwarded and scanned down sections of the rest of the story to get an understanding of the general theme. I may go back to it when I have more time and this is not unusual for me.
There are so many writing styles and themes and angles to choose on this site and that's why it has had a great following. Not everybody writes and posts stories and some writers rarely read the work of others. Just keep looking at what Mel E said. Wise words indeed and great advice.
Everybody's a critic...
There’s a rather famous quote from a rather irascible German musician, Max Reger:
"Ich sitze in dem kleinsten Zimmer in meinem Hause. Ich habe ihre Kritik vor mir. Im nächsten Augenblick wird sie hinter mir sein"
"I am sitting in the smallest room of my house. I have your review before me. In a moment it will be behind me!"
That’s a fairly healthy attitude to adopt in regard to unthinking critics, and so very many are. I have it committed to memory, in fact, as a sort of mantra, because it allows one to adopt a serene detachment, of sorts, from negative energy.
-----------
We can improve our relationships with others by leaps and bounds if we become encouragers instead of critics.
– Joyce Meyer
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Cheers,
Puddin'
A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style
Without knowning what was written ...
I would suggest you not be to offended. I know my reading selection has change greatly as I have transitioned and matured. To me there is nothing wrong with not reaching everyone on this site. Your audience is specific, so I think you are okay, just know this will likely happen again. I image (as I am not a writer) it must be challenging to read or listen to someone putting your writing down. I am sorry this happened to you.
I am a little amazed that someone who read your work would be that (mean?) or critical of your writing as you did provide a warning. I try never to provide negative feedback. If I do not like something someone has written, I do not fault the author, I just remember who wrote what and try to not read such topics again. Mind you some of our authors are very very very talented and write to multiple audiences so I pay attention to their keywords.
I would like to encourage you to continue to write, often times writings reflect our past and what is happening to us now. I wish you the best.
Kendra Manderscheid
(One step at a time is working)
Anyone who read your story ...
...had no cause to complain. It was appropriately tagged, which means that whoever read it chose to read it after seeing how it was labeled. They ignored the very thing that was designed to let them know that it was not the right story for them.
Your story portrays a brutal world, controlled by some cruel and powerful people, but that is your vision, and there's no reason for you to ever let anyone else dictate what you should write through their disapproval.
They should have heeded the warnings, but didn't. If they read a story tagged the way yours was and didn't like the ride, they have no one but themselves to blame. So be true to yourself, and write what you want.
*soft hug*
Randa
you have a point
Thanks for the hug. But, its not the entire world. its just this little upstart cruel nation. The world is the way it is now.
Hi Jennifer,
I'd say give your story and yourself some time. I haven't read it but then some of my story chapters (which are usually pretty bland as far as I'd say) have garnered some personal messages (and comments) telling me one person or another won't read any further or outright criticism concerning my audacity to post something here which some particular reader didn't appreciate. If I ran away each time that happened then the readers who did like my material would have nothing from me to read.
Some people get their jollies from offering their own biases into the pot and then scream and yell in an attempt to force their ideas down others throats. I'd say, ignore them. Now I'm going to go off and find your story so I can make up my own mind concerning it. That will likely take several chapters as reading just one won't really set up the story enough for someone to make an intelligent decision.
Good luck (and keep writing & posting) live for yourself and the readers who find your story interesting however light or dark it may be. You must be a good writer if you were able to stir someones emotions enough to make them want to write you a message. THAT is what being a writer is all about... causing people to think and emote.
Good Luck again in your endeavors
Anesidora
I've told several authors
I've told several authors that i had to stop reading their story....of course i also explained *why*. Not everyone when they post their opinions try to take the authors feelings into account or try to help him/her. So if a person PM'd you and simply stated that they wont read it anymore, perhaps you might want to write back and ask why? What was it about this story did you not like? If it was simply a story not to their taste, then dont worry about it. No story in all existance is going to appeal to everyone.
Criticism is a great tool when used properly, the problem is that most dont know how to give it. "This story Sucks!" is about the worst criticism you can get.... it doesn't help in any way, and makes the author feel bad for trying to share with the community. Unless the word.. "because" comes after it and a nice (or even heated) explanation of why the reader thought so. The reader may have even been offended by one of your characters. I know i get my panties in bunch when law enforcement gets bashed and generalized.... but then i come from a family who are all cops. My Mother, Father, Aunt, Uncle, Grandfather, Cousins, and even myself... have all served our communities. So yeah, I tend to get a little riled up when when people say "all" cops are bad because i've never personally even met a "bad" cop before. But that's just one example of how easy it is to accidentally offend someone. There could be any number of reasons why a person could respond emotionally to a story, and emotional responses are most often.. not thought out responses.
I can understand
I reread the first few chapters and now I can really see how it can really turn off some readers. It starts off with a brutal forced sex scene. It had a reason and a few more chapters in, she gets the upper hand that she had obviously been planing for months. The scene was to show what the past few years of her life has been like.
But, there are other scenes like that littered though the story but not quite as brutal and on someone witha much stronger and suitably submissive personality. But, squeemish people should avoid it. Now that I am calmer I shouldn't had been so upset at her comment to me. It still feels like a mean thing to say.
I'll be honest
Based on your comments at the time you posted and the tags on the story itself I avoided reading the story. And some writers write the same type of story over and over so I would put them on ignore. (Hopefully that feature will return soon.) After several incidents where I did write the author and hurt some feelings (some very badly I'm ashamed to say) I've learned my lesson not to do that. Perhaps this person has not learned what's acceptable or not acceptable when responding to a story.
It's not your responsibility to educate such people. Probably up two-thirds of the stories here have triggered strong emotions in somebody, we would all be a lot poorer if all those stories were pulled. The same applies to you. Do what ever it takes for you to shed these negative emotions* and keep on contributing. Certain other story sites have come to represent a single type of story. Here on BC diversity is appreciated, all types of stories are welcome.
Keep'em coming, Hon!
*Murder is frowned on, though.
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
you can be very critical of my story. I can take it
Rip my story a new one. Actually with one one comment I might welcome it.
But if all you are going to say to me is you wont read it, then that seems very mean. I hope someone reads it and tells reviews it.
Tags
The purpose of tags is to alert the reader about the contents of the story. I have mine, and I'm not going to explain them. The tags help me avoid stories that may trigger my PTSD (which had got so overwhelming I withdrew from BC for close to year. Or it might be on topics which I find personally offensive. Either way, to provide critical commentary on this story would require me to read it, knowing that at some point it will trigger an adverse reaction. Hard to provide a helpful critique when that's my starting point. All I'm saying is the material you are writing about doesn't suit me. I also don't read murder mysteries, teen romance, horror stories, or comedy stories. There are tons of people who do read them and the writers are minting money. So my saying I didn't or won't read certain stories have everything to do with me and nothing to do with the author. I can neither give you praise nor criticize your writing. To do so would require me to lie, and my personal sense of right and wrong dictates that I can't. And that's all I'm gonna say.
Best of luck!
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
I can only agree with the commentors before me
The only one to blame about reading an appropriately tagged dark story and and being offended because of the dark content is the reader.
Personally I haven't read your story - yet - so I can only comment on the issue at hand. Don't feel offended, Jennifer. Comments like that are nothing but unneccessary opinions. If someone refuses to read your story because of it's setting then that's their decision and they should keep it to themselves. I don't write stories here - but comments like that don't bother me much. I either ignore or just delete them.
So please leave the story where it belongs - here for interested people to read and feel free to post more here.
Saphira
--
>> There is not one single truth out there. <<
Really? One message?
I wouldn't worry about it. Steven King didn't. POST ON!
I Agree with the rest of the Comments.
Jennifer honey it's only been just over a day and you have one moron saying that they won't read your stories again. This is ONE persons view out of the over 800 that's read your story.
I must admit that I read the warnings originally and decided that maybe this wasn't for me then I read your blog and it piqued my interest so I went and read it.
As you freely say it is a dark tale and the beginning is errrrr gripping BUT the story is well written and flows well so I would say keep on with the story.
I write sickly sweet stories sometimes raunchy sometimes not and I've been brought to task over them - remember you cannot please everyone.
Seeing as the person who upset you couldn't even read the warnings I'm surprised that they could manage to read the first chapter! You have to get through the first chapter to get the story into context.
This is a friendly place to post your stories far better than some sites where you need full body armour to post a story so please keep posting and ignore the strange person who contacted you.
And whatever you do Don't take it down the bigots will win then!
Christina
Lets try it this way
No I did not read it due to the tags.
But, let's say you produce a product and you put it on Amazon that does sell. Are you going to stop producing it because of a handful of one star reviews?
Don't let it get to you girl.
I'm an impetuous, thoughtless bitch and some of my writing has caused plenty of offence, not to mention some thoughtless comments I have made because I used to think everybody was as thick-skinned as I like to think I am.
Consequently, I've had plenty of bollockings (Including one from the boss herself) so my advice is simple darling.
It's the same as ole' Abe's.
You can please some people some of the time ---------------- and so on.
My only advice love is - Full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes!
I might get a bollocking for this advice as well darling but it's offered with good intent, that is friendliness!
Bev. xx