The AH Coffee Shop and Reading Room 09

[Duleigh]

Thanks! Yeah, Shutterfly must be down or kicked me off at least. I have another site I can use. If I can remember what it is.

They didn't shut you down if we can still click on the link and see those delicious legs of yours.

Have you tried rebuilding your signature from ground up? It's the Microsoft Fix: if something fails - do it again.

 

[Duleigh]

have you taken a story down because of how readers received it?

No. Never. I write for me, and I invite others to read what I wrote. If they like it, fine, if they don't, that's fine too. If they leave constructive, objective criticism, great! I can learn from that.
But if they leave a moronic, insulting, room temperature IQ response like "Shit the bed" I delete their comment. It's my story, my page. Not theirs. I won't take my story down because they tripped over their own knuckles on the way to the key board. Their foul language and foul attitude spoils the page for everybody else. ESPECIALLY if they're anonymous.
GONE!
Yer outta here!
Go troll your sister for all I care.

 

[MillieDynamite]

No, I haven't tried that. When I checked the site it said free hosting is going away. I'm not going to pay them just so it will show up here.

They didn't shut you down if we can still click on the link and see those delicious legs of yours.

Have you tried rebuilding your signature from ground up? It's the Microsoft Fix: if something fails - do it again.

 

[Rustyoznail]

I did solve today's Wordle on the third guess, the whole puzzle in the time it took for the keystrokes. I will reiterate that anybody who solves on the first two is cheating.

The only way I've gotten a two is when the opening shot made it so bleeding obvious, and seeming I now stick to the same word, that has become very unlikely.

I can't believe all those people who use the previous word list and don't think that's cheating.

 

[Duleigh]

No, I haven't tried that. When I checked the site it said free hosting is going away. I'm not going to pay them just so it will show up here.

Hmmm... if you have a Google account, you get a few gb of storage, you can use that. If you don't have a Big Evil I mean Google account, get one, they're free.

 

[NotWise]

No, I haven't tried that. When I checked the site it said free hosting is going away. I'm not going to pay them just so it will show up here.

Maybe they've disabled hot-linking, but kept the picture accessible.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

I wrote a sequel to a story in 2023. Today I read the ninth comment about it. Two were fair comments with 4 and 5 scores. The other seven were harsh to brutal. The last one tried to ease the pain by saying I was a good writer but the sequel was a 'shit the bed' one, he said, appologically.

In the preface, I alerted them that it was a noir storyline. I suppose they didn't understand the term and wanted it to have a happy ending from their comments, instead of how it ended.

As I close down my writing, I'm considering deleting the sequel. Does anyone have thoughts on that, or have you taken a story down because of how readers received it?

In my experience, there's a major tranche of readers who seem incapable of reading (or, at the least), understanding warnings, prefaces, etc.

I've never taken one down, but I have revised one or two based on what I felt were solid comments.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I always use 'wired' 'about' and 'psych' to start my wordle. That's 15 of the 26 letters and unless it's a weird word like 'eerie' I usually have it on the fourth word if not before. I like playing the Merriam-Webster Quordle where you have ten tries to get all four words.

I've got a fresh pot of coffee brewing and the teapot is hot. There are various cookies and donuts on the counter, so help yourself.

I'll be over in the corner agonizing over the fact that my Crime and Punishment Story event entry needs a re-write. I referenced the wrong crime in one scene and I need to go back and rewrite it. At least I have a couple of months to do it in. I'm glad I set it aside and didn't submit it when I thought it was done.

 

[NotWise]

Thanks CK, but I'll have a bagel slathered with peanut butter with my coffee. The cappuccino machine spit at me while I was ignoring it. We may need to have it exorcised.

I banged through this morning's Sudoku in twenty minutes. The puzzle was unusual because I used an x-wing to get the solution, and the NYT puzzles don't usually go there, technique-wise.

My WIP has been mostly neglected for a two or three days. I spent a little time with it last night and managed the transition into the New Year's Eve party. Then I went to bed.

 

[Duleigh]

In my experience, there's a major tranche of readers who seem incapable of reading (or, at the least), understanding warnings, prefaces, etc.

I've never taken one down, but I have revised one or two based on what I felt were solid comments.

It's almost like they reject the premise that you are informing them ahead of time. Some go into the story demanding to be offended. The urge to reply to their whining with "What part of the word 'Warning' didn't you understand?" is overpowering. As I said before, a levelheaded comment or suggestion is one thing, abusive language or attacks is another. And if your name is Anonymous, don't expect to see your vile response to remain.

 

[GrantBricksly]

I mix cranberry mangoes with lactolose to kill a little of its taste. The nurse recommended it. It's definitely better than a straight-up shot of that stuff.

I was having Urinary issues about 2 years ago...so my dr (and my wife) suggested that I start drinking cranberry juice.....not really a fan....but I do love Mango...so we found a juice that combines them, and happens to be delicious.

 

[Duleigh]

I was having Urinary issues about 2 years ago...so my dr (and my wife) suggested that I start drinking cranberry juice.....not really a fan....but I do love Mango...so we found a juice that combines them, and happens to be delicious.

I am crazy about cranberry's and cranberry juice. I make cranberry jelly from berry on Thanksgiving, and I'll even mold it in an empty can for the purists. However the sugar content is was kills me... I have to get the sugar free which tastes metallic to me... my doctor takes the fun out of EVERYTHING

 

[old_prof]

One advantage of having my son move back in this weekend -- he is making me a cup of tea as I type this.

 

[dmallord]

In my experience, there's a major tranche of readers who seem incapable of reading (or, at the least), understanding warnings, prefaces, etc.

I've never taken one down, but I have revised one or two based on what I felt were solid comments.

That's something I've done in other stories to adjust for reader input as well.

To make readers happy, I'd need to redevelop the ending so that the couple rekindles their love for one another rather than move on with their lives with someone else. My noir ending left seven of nine readers in despair.

If I had revised this particular story, it would have eliminated the noir aspects. I doubt they would return to re-read it and say, 'Much better.'

Your point about not heeding preface notices is spot on. Perhaps I'll change the preface, define the noir term for others, and inform new readers that it's not a sugary story of life, happily ever after. Perhaps the stronger warning might help.


"WARNING! You are about to step into the land of Noir. A writing genre where headspinning events occur, sudden plot twists leave the faint of heart devastated, and gut-punched. This isn't a sugar-coated story. If you are looking for happily-ever-after, I recommend you skip this one."

 

[MrPixel]

I always use 'wired' 'about' and 'psych' to start my wordle.

I think I mentioned it before, my two Wordle starting words are derived from a career in typography and a hobby interest in cryptography - the ten most frequently used letters in English. The problem with that technique is literally "the". The most common word in English text is "the" and that alone skews the prevalence of 'T', 'H', and 'E'. Long ago I had a cryptography book with a list of most-common letters excluding "the", but heaven help me find it!

Like what you're doing, I need to find a useful third word when the first two don't bear fruit (it's happened!). Those are the rare puzzles that stump me.

 

[Fatdog25]

I think I mentioned it before, my two Wordle starting words are derived from a career in typography and a hobby interest in cryptography - the ten most frequently used letters in English. The problem with that technique is literally "the". The most common word in English text is "the" and that alone skews the prevalence of 'T', 'H', and 'E'. Long ago I had a cryptography book with a list of most-common letters excluding "the", but heaven help me find it!

Like what you're doing, I need to find a useful third word when the first two don't bear fruit (it's happened!). Those are the rare puzzles that stump me.

I use:

LEARN
MOIST
PUDGY

Seems to work for me.

 

[MillieDynamite]

It means black, literally, and figuratively. To one degree or another, a dark end should always happen in Noir! Tell them to stop being such romantic saps and enjoy the ride!

Tact isn't always my strong point!

That's something I've done in other stories to adjust for reader input as well.

To make readers happy, I'd need to redevelop the ending so that the couple rekindles their love for one another rather than move on with their lives with someone else. My noir ending left seven of nine readers in despair.

If I had revised this particular story, it would have eliminated the noir aspects. I doubt they would return to re-read it and say, 'Much better.'

Your point about not heeding preface notices is spot on. Perhaps I'll change the preface, define the noir term for others, and inform new readers that it's not a sugary story of life, happily ever after. Perhaps the stronger warning might help.


"WARNING! You are about to step into the land of Noir. A writing genre where headspinning events occur, sudden plot twists leave the faint of heart devastated, and gut-punched. This isn't a sugar-coated story. If you are looking for happily-ever-after, I recommend you skip this one."

 

[MrPixel]

For grins, the alphabet in order of frequency of use in English: etaoi nshrd lucmf wypvb gkqjx z. Again, "the" warps this, as 'H' should not be ranked as high as it is, and even 'T' is very debatable in second place, but would remain in the top 10 after adjustment.

My starter words are "atone" - which hits 5 of the top 6 - and "slurp", which isn't doing as well as expected because 'P' is way down on the list. I need to rejigger my second word and should have a third on standby for the lesser letters.

 

[dmallord]

For grins, the alphabet in order of frequency of use in English: etaoi nshrd lucmf wypvb gkqjx z. Again, "the" warps this, as 'H' should not be ranked as high as it is, and even 'T' is very debatable in second place, but would remain in the top 10 after adjustment.

My starter words are "atone" - which hits 5 of the top 6 - and "slurp", which isn't doing as well as expected. I need to rejigger my second word and should have a third on standby for the lesser letters.

I haven't a clue about what you just wrote. First thoughts, you collapsed on your keyboard and needed help.

Second thought: You were speaking to someone far more astute than I, and I should have ignored my first thought.

 

[MillieDynamite]

He's talking about the F'ing game Wordle. And there goes my lack of tact again.

I haven't a clue about what you just wrote. First thoughts, you collapsed on your keyboard and needed help.

Second thought: You were speaking to someone far more astute than I, and I should have ignored my first thought.

 

[GrantBricksly]

well....It's Monday....And I have GOT to get my writing schedule under control...

So far...I've written On Monday and Tuesday...and that's about it for the last 2 weeks...(Maybe a word or two, sentence here and there, on other days)

for what it's worth, Farmers Market just started...and for those that don't know...My Wife and I sell stuff at our local Market...and it get's busy...and this year, we are doing even more....so for the last 2 weeks, we have been swamped...

I'm hoping that we can get a handle on the schedule better and work it out that I can get at least an hour or two each week day for writing....but so far...it just hasn't happened....

 

[old_prof]

well....It's Monday....And I have GOT to get my writing schedule under control...

So far...I've written On Monday and Tuesday...and that's about it for the last 2 weeks...(Maybe a word or two, sentence here and there, on other days)

I have to work on getting my writing schedule under control as well. But, my problem is not leaving myself a life outside of writing...

 

[GrantBricksly]

I have so many pots on the fire right now.....I'm writing, I'm working on 2 different podcasts...I'm doing the farmers market (which is essentially 2 different jobs) stay at home dad, trying to build a website...I dont know how I'm going to get any of it done...lol anyone know how to clone?

 

[Rustyoznail]

SLATE
ROUGH

Are my two usual starters. After that,it depends on what's dropped out.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Trust me, clones never work out well.

I have so many pots on the fire right now.....I'm writing, I'm working on 2 different podcasts...I'm doing the farmers market (which is essentially 2 different jobs) stay at home dad, trying to build a website...I dont know how I'm going to get any of it done...lol anyone know how to clone?