Top Author

[Hypoxia]

I think it was Woodrow Wilson, university president, who said academic arguments are so vicious because the stakes are so low. (He also said that after handling academic senates, the US Congress was easy.) Kertuffles abound when pointless. Remember that on LIT.

 

[Blind_Justice]

*sigh* You . . . people . . . just . . . don't . . . get it. You make false assumptions on why others post stories here.

The arrogance of A. assuming that everyone posts stories here to have some unvetted stranger, without being requested to, instruct them on how to write and B. those unvetted strangers assuming they are the ones with the training, need, and "right" to give unsolicited instruction to others posting stories here never ceases to astound me.

So, unless they can prove their "Writer's Guild of America" membership or leave another valid, writing-related resume, people shouldn't be allowed to comment? Explain to me why there are not one, not two, but three direct channels (comments, contact form, discussion board) for readers to get in touch with the authors. In simple terms please, cause I get easily confused.

No idea about you, but I put my stories up here so other people can read them. The moment any artist puts his work in front of other people, he invites critique. It's THE occupational hazard for us creative types. I bet most of the book reviewers out there don't have a doctorate in literature, much less any formal journalistic training. And still they dare talk about books and even tell others which to buy and which to avoid. Round them up and put them out of their misery, right?

 

[KeithD]

I suppose unvetted strangers here also are to determine for others that the stakes are low for them.

Again, I appalled at what people here will do to others to grab a sense of superiority.

 

[KeithD]

So, unless they can prove their "Writer's Guild of America" membership or leave another valid, writing-related resume, people shouldn't be allowed to comment? Explain to me why there are not one, not two, but three direct channels (comments, contact form, discussion board) for readers to get in touch with the authors. In simple terms please, cause I get easily confused.

No idea about you, but I put my stories up here so other people can read them. The moment any artist puts his work in front of other people, he invites critique. It's THE occupational hazard for us creative types. I bet most of the book reviewers out there don't have a doctorate in literature, much less any formal journalistic training. And still they dare talk about books and even tell others which to buy and which to avoid. Round them up and put them out of their misery, right?

Maybe you're beginning to understand (probably not). If someone hasn't asked for critique here, you are being an arrogant so and so to assume they want it. Just leave them the hell alone to enjoy their participation at Literotica at their own chosen level. Not what you impose on them to claim superiority over them. Is that clear enough for you?

 

[Blind_Justice]

Maybe you're beginning to understand (probably not). If someone hasn't asked for critique here, you are being an arrogant so and so to assume they want it. Just leave them the hell alone to enjoy their participation at Literotica at their own chosen level. Not what you impose on them to claim superiority over them. Is that clear enough for you?

Lock the doors, bar the windows and put your works into a locked vault so no one can ever interact with it. That's the only way around unsolicited input on the internet. Or in real life. The moment you put art in front of other people, you invite critique. You probably want the praise and adoration more, but the know-it-alls and smart asses are part of the same package. The boos and cat calls for musicians, the hecklers for the comedians and the unqualified rabble here on Lit.

No one asks for the person insisting you ruined their beloved character in the latest chapter of your epic. But your balls should be big enough to just shrug that off. Ignore it. If you really don't want to be bothered, plaster big "UNSOLICITED COMMENTORS SHALL BE SHOT" disclaimers all over your work.

As long as Lit has a comment/contact functionality, readers do indeed have the implicit right to pester you all they want, with any unsolicited critique or improvements. Last I checked, there were no enforced content guidelines for comments. Free Speech is a bitch, man.

Now, since there's no arguing that there will be people writing/annoying you, even if you may not want it, the last thing to mention is how to deal with them. I'm not a Christian, but I'm a big fan of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." I don't feel every person writing me is out to make me their bitch. Maybe that comes with age. And what's the harm in being nice? Everyone wins.

 

[storm_usmc]

Problems with comments

I am not the most popular author by any means but by scores and comments I write fairly good stories. If you look at my submit dates you can definitely see improvement over the years. However, they are not perfect, typos slip by, mistakes are mad. Sometimes I take them, sometimes I don't. I've had a few catch stuff that I agreed with and it needed correcting. However, at the same time I've had comments that were just stupid or mean, trolls! And some times the corrections were very wrong. It cracks me up when people try to correct spelling or grammar and are wrong. Some people don't know certain rules.

One example is numbers, I write stylebook rules, numbers 1-10 are spelled out. After that it's by number. I've had people blast me for going back and forth and to choose one. However, this is not correct.

My point is, were you right? Was it really needed to point out. And by your words it seemed like maybe he just had a bad day because he did try to make amends. We've all been there.

 

[sethp]

Interesting. If it was indeed the top author on lit, that would have been me, and I didn't receive any emails today nor replied Fuck you to anyone?

 

[KarlMartinK]

Today, i sent a message to one of the top authors on Literotica. the message was praise and compliments for the story. i did, however, find grammatical errors in the story. The author did not thank anyone for editing the story or even proofing the story. i totally enjoy reading the stories. i voluntered to proof the stories if the author wished. the author replied in the harhest way, insulting my inteliengence, and totally blew me out of the water.

i replied, no offence given, didnt disrespect you or the story, so was totally surprised by the reply.

Then later, then replied fuck you. i had not said one negative word. WTF?


i'm blown away.

Some people do get really offended if you point out their flaws, even if they're given with the best of intentions.


Personally, I don't even mind the typos and bad grammar in a really good story. Having someone else read the work is a definite plus. I really should do that myself, but usually don't. I do make a few passes through my stories before posting them, but I don't catch all of the errors.

 

[Emirus]

Some people do get really offended if you point out their flaws, even if they're given with the best of intentions.

Personally, I don't even mind the typos and bad grammar in a really good story. Having someone else read the work is a definite plus. I really should do that myself, but usually don't. I do make a few passes through my stories before posting them, but I don't catch all of the errors.

Best of intention comments. It really is a case of “it’s not what you say it’s the way that you say it.”

The story is more important than spelling and punctuation. Did you enjoy the story? Was there sufficient mistakes to spoil your enjoyment? If you answered “yes” and “no” then where is the problem? In the mind of perfectionists?

I’ve read stories by very experienced writers, including regular contributors on this bulletin board, and no one is exempt from mistakes.

 

[KeithD]

No, it's also a case of saying it. This isn't a critique site. It's a sharing site that permits critique. But that critique should be based on the author's intent to post stories here, not the reader's assumption that the author posted here to be critiqued by an unvalidated stranger. If they want critique, they'll ask for it. If you critique them on writing technicals when they didn't ask for that "help" from an unvalidated stranger and from your false assumption that they posted here to be critiqued, you shouldn't be surprised or offended to be told to mind your own business. If they didn't ask for help, you should leave them the hell alone to use this as a sharing, not a critique, site. It's your bad if you impose on them with your unsolicited "superiority."

And again, on this thread, we've only heard from one party to the transactions. The other party is identified as a prolific author here. That author deserves the benefit of the doubt from Literotica users when we are only hearing one side.

 

[lonigan]

Feelings

Rae could be right. The unidentified author might just be a jerk.

If your feelings are so tender that you are going to react harshly to an honest critique and slur someone who finished the story, you should probably turn off comments or stop reading them. I'm usually quite happy that someone bothered to read my story and even moreso that he or she liked it. There is no moral obligation to respond to a posted comment.

Some comments are really insults to character, are not much about the story, and certainly are not helpful. Sometimes I delete them. Sometimes I find them humorous, read them to my wife, and she nods sagely.