Comments that leave you shaking your head

[Djmac1031]

Chances are they have private lists as well.

True. Although I'm kinda hoping to wind up on the "Read it, Hated it" list.

Or better yet, the "Too painful to read list."

It'd be a great selling point: a 750 word story that was so bad it couldn't be finished

 

[AlexFourways]

None of this matters if one simply finishes the entire story before submitting any of the chapters. It also shows great respect to your readers that you won't leave them hanging.

I would comment that while that is ideal, I wrote a story, intending it to be a Standalone, but (as I felt it was a bit open ended, I liked the characters, and I hadn't but a summary of what happened next) I asked if anyone thought I should continue it. I got positive response to that, and the number and ratings were high, so I wrote a second part, then a third and it's on going. So no chance of writing it all before publishing it and as the characters are having fun, my muse is letting me continue to write Abigail's story, but I know where it is going, it's just the journey that is unclear.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

The fact he used the words 'finish this mess' makes it a shitty comment as does the tone.

Try this: "Really enjoying this hope we don't have to wait to long for more."

And here's another way to see it. We have zero obligation to finish a damn thing at all, let alone on what they think is the proper schedule.

Thing is I imagine no one starts a series with the intent to never finish it. But things happen, simple writer's block, not as easy as they thought, or real life drama, changes or illness for themselves or a loved one. In other words, shit happens and when it does, the opinion of joeyfuckwit who is paying nothing to be here and can move on to another story easily enough really doesn't matter.

Writers finish for themselves, not anonymous hoovers sucking up free content.

You missed the point. Whether the comment is shitty or not is 100% up to the writer (of the story).

Certainly, there are chaptered stories that are ground to a halt by real life issues and not inspiration, but most are simply the writer stopping caring because he's not getting the amazing applause that he got for chapter 1 anymore, or he just needs that applause so badly that he stretches the story too long and it dries up in the desert before it ever finds the sea. Understandably, readers don't appreciate this because literally, the readers are being taken for granted. the writer may not have started out intending to take readers for granted, but that is what it comes to.

Maude is a new writer on the site, and for her, to understand that many readers do not appreciate chaptered stories that dangle, wane and hang is valuable to her. Sure, johnny fuckwit is being a rude douche, but Maude nor you nor I can help that. What we can do is choose to see the point that he is making and find some value in it. When we do this, we give ourselves a chance to improve. If we dismiss the comment based solely on the rude packaging, we choose to pass on that opportunity to improve. On the other hand, there is absolutely nothing that the rude commenter can do to make us a worse writer if we accept the comment and give it some thought. So there is absolutely nothing to lose and only the chance to gain. If you have a chance to gain with zero risk of losing, why would you not take it?

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I would comment that while that is ideal, I wrote a story, intending it to be a Standalone, but (as I felt it was a bit open ended, I liked the characters, and I hadn't but a summary of what happened next) I asked if anyone thought I should continue it. I got positive response to that, and the number and ratings were high, so I wrote a second part, then a third and it's on going. So no chance of writing it all before publishing it and as the characters are having fun, my muse is letting me continue to write Abigail's story, but I know where it is going, it's just the journey that is unclear.

A true sequel is a sequel. That's a bit different. Are these all standalone true sequels or is this now a serial?

Also, would you have continued if your audience was not so enthusiastic for you to?

 

[lovecraft68]

Not a comment, and not shaking my head so much as scratching it curiously.

My feed tells me this LE member added my 750 story The Last Gasp tto Favorites twice. Which hints that it was possibly added to some type of list, right?

So I went to look. And this is the list of their Lists.

Currently I cant find mine on any of them; maybe it's too soon and they haven't updated yet.

But being added twice certainly lowers my odds of being included on the "Thoughtfully and insightfully written" list, doesnt it?

https://imgur.com/a/7ROBRm9

I think it showing twice is a glitch (shocking, right?) its one of the oldest ones out there. I'll see the same person fav a story three times but only one 'takes' on the stats.

 

[Djmac1031]

I think it showing twice is a glitch (shocking, right?) its one of the oldest ones out there. I'll see the same person fav a story three times but only one 'takes' on the stats.

obviously we all know the Favorites thing is... not exactly at optimal. So it certainly could be a glitch. Or I was added to two lists. Or
bookmarked to Read Later. Or any number of other options lol.

I'm still just puzzling over the rationale of putting together multiple lists of stories they hated.

 

[lovecraft68]

obviously we all know the Favorites thing is... not exactly at optimal. So it certainly could be a glitch. Or I was added to two lists. Or
bookmarked to Read Later. Or any number of other options lol.

I'm just just puzzling over the rationale of putting together multiple lists of stories they hated.

So they can bomb them twice? I don't speak one bomber so your answer is as good as mine.

 

[TheLobster]

I mean... Have a nice and safe flight, I guess?

 

[TheExperimentalist]

View attachment 2597148

I mean... Have a nice and safe flight, I guess?

To be fair, if they're stressing and can't sleep at 3AM before a flight, it's not THAT farfetched for them to confuse a Lit comment section for their family and friends group chat... Maybe.

I'd also love to see the look on their face when they go "what do you mean? Of course I messaged you on my way out! I-- oh... oh fuck."

 

[AlexFourways]

A true sequel is a sequel. That's a bit different. Are these all standalone true sequels or is this now a serial?

The next two stories have summaries of the story so far, to make them stand alone, for a given value of standing alone. Links are provided to the earlier parts. The fourth part, in proofreading, doesn't have the summaries, but has links, and is Abigail's Accounts (Part 1). I wouldn't have put (Part 1) if I weren't confident about (Part 2), or could have come up with another A word after Awakening, Adventures, Adiós and Accounts. I have tried to help readers.

Also, would you have continued if your audience was not so enthusiastic for you to?

It was very likely, as my muse* liked the characters, and there was a mention of another character and a sexual event that didn't happen in the time frame of the story. I wasn't particularly asking if I should continue, but if I should stop.
I have a series 'A&C' that I pushed into a second series, 'A&C2', but my muse gave up after two parts, so I am tempted to delete them and finish the original series, but nobody is saying anything either way! So there they sit.
*my muse is in my head, but my proofreader did as well.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

The next two stories have summaries of the story so far, to make them stand alone, for a given value of standing alone. Links are provided to the earlier parts.

If they stood alone, they wouldn't need any of that.

I wasn't particularly asking if I should continue, but if I should stop.

That's the same thing.

I have a series 'A&C' that I pushed into a second series, 'A&C2', but my muse gave up after two parts, so I am tempted to delete them and finish the original series, but nobody is saying anything either way! So there they sit.

So ... you started a series with the full intention of a series, yet started publishing not only before you had a complete plot outline, but even before you had any idea where it might end, and even before your muse ran out. That's fine, but then you can't claim to write a story as a standalone and then decide to turn it into a series due to feedback and then claim that your stories are standalones, or that you're not writing simply to please the audience because by continuing after positive feedback. You're doing exactly what you claim to be defending that you're not. There is nothing 'wrong' with this, but don't kid yourself.

 

[AlexFourways]

If they stood alone, they wouldn't need any of that.

Hence my (to crib Terry Pratchett's phrase) 'for a given value of'

So ... you started a series with the full intention of a series, yet started publishing not only before you had a complete plot outline, but even before you had any idea where it might end, and even before your muse ran out. That's fine, but then you can't claim to write a story as a standalone and then decide to turn it into a series due to feedback and then claim that your stories are standalones, or that you're not writing simply to please the audience because by continuing after positive feedback. You're doing exactly what you claim to be defending that you're not. There is nothing 'wrong' with this, but don't kid yourself.

If I had a more vocal audience, I might have a better idea. Most of my feedback is votes and scores.
The original Alice and Company A&C series had a stage and three strong characters, so I knew it would have legs after my first-ever story did the same. It also spawned a second series.
But I had become fixated on the idea of publishing something three or four times a month, so when the original A&C had come to a natural end, I pushed it into A&C2. But I hadn't got enough, so it faltered, and my muse had (partly in response to literotica challenges) started to do 1x stories.
I think we have covered this enough, but I don't think I could write a whole series before I published anything.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

But I had become fixated on the idea of publishing something three or four times a month, so when the original A&C had come to a natural end, I pushed it into A&C2. But I hadn't got enough, so it faltered, and my muse had (partly in response to literotica challenges) started to do 1x stories.

Which petered out. Which is fine, but my original point was that this is what's happening and then you tried to counter me by confirming exactly what is happening. I'm not trying to put you down. I'm just trying to show the logic behind the drive to write these unending sagas.

I think we have covered this enough, but I don't think I could write a whole series before I published anything.

Then why do you make excuses to not be labeled as the feedback saga writer? Obviously this tag does not sit well with you or you would not protest. Positive feedback was obviously a factor in making you continue (with what was apparently a standalone story yet wasn't - because it had legs) yet had no idea really where it was going to go (eventually nowhere). I'm trying to help you understand the logic of your own motives. If you can understand this, you will be a better writer. Most writers here really don't understand their own motives.

 

[AlexFourways]

Then why do you make excuses to not be labeled as the feedback saga writer?

I don't mind labels.

Obviously this tag does not sit well with you or you would not protest. Positive feedback was obviously a factor in making you continue (with what was apparently a standalone story yet wasn't - because it had legs) yet had no idea really where it was going to go (eventually nowhere). I'm trying to help you understand the logic of your own motives. If you can understand this, you will be a better writer. Most writers here really don't understand their own motives.

I didn't feel I was protesting, just conversing. I'm a Terry Pratchett fan (GRHS), and one thing he said, that applies to me, is (approximate quote) that he sets the stage and puts the characters on it with one idea of what is going to happen, but they decide to do something different, and he has to follow.
Thanks for engaging with me on this, and I hope the original author MaudeBlack, has benefited from it.

BTW I never mind criticism and one of my many aphorisms (I know you can't strictly have your own) is "I reserve the right to be (proved) wrong." Also, I am here to learn as much as to contribute.

 

[Actingup]

Not a comment, and not shaking my head so much as scratching it curiously.

My feed tells me this LE member added my 750 story The Last Gasp tto Favorites twice. Which hints that it was possibly added to some type of list, right?

So I went to look. And this is the list of their Lists.

Currently I cant find mine on any of them; maybe it's too soon and they haven't updated yet.

But being added twice certainly lowers my odds of being included on the "Thoughtfully and insightfully written" list, doesnt it?

https://imgur.com/a/7ROBRm9

So I guess that having made pride of place on a St*cnash 1-star list, I now have a new ambition.

 

[Djmac1031]

So my initial conclusion was correct; after giving time for their lists to update / refresh, I now know what two lists my story did indeed wind up on:

 

[Actingup]

So my initial conclusion was correct; after giving time for their lists to update / refresh, I now know what two lists my story did indeed wind up on:

Imagine being a specialist LW reader and disliking stories about extra-marital sex.

 

[Statius]

So my initial conclusion was correct; after giving time for their lists to update / refresh, I now know what two lists my story did indeed wind up on:

I'm betting you're gonna try really really hard, like the hardest ever, to find a plot he likes to write next? Get on the good list?

 

[Djmac1031]

I'm betting you're gonna try really really hard, like the hardest ever, to find a plot he likes to write next? Get on the good list?

oh god, that would require me to read through the list of stories they actually LIKED and try to determine how they would up there.

No.

Just... no.

 

[Djmac1031]

Since I don't think I'm allowed to post a link, ill just share the screenshot.

Turning lemons into lemonade, thats me

 

[TheExperimentalist]

Since I don't think I'm allowed to post a link, ill just share the screenshot.

Turning lemons into lemonade, thats me

 

[Djmac1031]

View attachment 2597296

it would be if I had any kind of following on BlueSky

 

[TheLobster]

it would be if I had any kind of following on BlueSky

It would be if anyone paid attention to BlueSky.

*drops mic*
*runs*

 

[StillStunned]

it would be if I had any kind of following on BlueSky

Hey! I commented!

 

[Erozetta]

it would be if I had any kind of following on BlueSky

I don't see shit from like 3/4 of the AH regulars on there. I think Bazzle is the only one I see with any sort of regularity and I repost every time I do.