Thoughts on a "List of Ingredients" in story notes?

[gunhilltrain]

I really appreciate this close reading of the situation and your opinion on it! That does make me feel quite a bit better about this specific incident, to be honest It's entirely possible that the comment in question was in bad faith.

It doesn't change my overall viewpoint, though. It won't cause me any burden or harm to provide a very gentle content description at the top of my stories going forward. And if it helps one reader avoid something they don't want to read or that might cause them harm, it's worth it to me.

I don't care if that makes me soft and squishy. I am soft and squishy. I care about my readers. Not because I want to pander to their every whim, and not because I'm worried about ratings and points. Because they're people at the other end of the screen, choosing to connect with me via very intimate thoughts and emotions, and I'm going to try and treat them accordingly

This thread has gotten a bit weird. Anyway, according to the site, 50 million people per month visit here. Of course, that includes a lot of repeat viewers. Still, for the sake of argument, the state of California only has 39 million people. So it's fine to add a disclaimer or two at the top. But try to imagine anticipating what any particular person in California would think of a story. My experience, assuming that I get any comments at all, is that it's very much unpredictable. They'll often be that one guy in Fresno who just doesn't like it.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

This thread has gotten a bit weird. Anyway, according to the site, 50 million people per month visit here. Of course, that includes a lot of repeat viewers. Still, for the sake of argument, the state of California only has 39 million people. So it's fine to add a disclaimer or two at the top. But try to imagine anticipating what any particular person in California would think of a story. My experience, assuming that I get any comments at all, is that it's very much unpredictable. They'll often be that one guy in Fresno who just doesn't like it.

Fucking Fresno, man I hate those Fresnoians... always ruining it for the rest of us.

 

[AlexBailey]

Hey, everybody!

Yesterday I received an upsetting reader comment on my most recent story. It's fine, I processed it with a couple of other writers I trust, I wrote a response that I feel pretty good about, though my comment hasn't been approved yet. (Edited for clarity)

But the comment made me think long and hard about how to ensure my readers don't get blindsided by story content that they might not want to engage with, or that might be triggering to them. I'm not looking to censor myself, I'm going to try and tell the story that I want to tell. But I also don't want to cause any harm to a reader!

I want to make a batch of peanut butter cookies, but I don't want to give somebody an allergic reaction.

I think I'm going to start including a brief content warning in my author's notes at the top of each story, and I'm thinking about it in terms of an "Ingredients List" like you'd find at a nice restaurant. Not making any assumptions about the patron's tastes, preferences, or allergies, just giving them enough information to make an informed decision for themselves.

What I'm wondering is, how much detail is the right amount for an Ingredients List? Some obvious ones to me would be things like dom/sub content, types of sex acts being performed, sex/gender combinations in a scene, and what I would think of as significant kink or fetish content.

But how much is too much, and how much is not enough? What are some elements that might not occur to most people, but could be a real problem for some readers? Does anyone have a system or practice that they like to use for this sort of thing?

I don't want to spoiler the story for readers either, any tips for providing "nutrition information" without spoiling the meal?

Hi Penny,

I read your first story with the included “ingredients list”.

The impression I got from your introduction is that you are caring and thoughtful of your readers. Personally, I didn’t feel it was necessary, given the category and the short description, but I understand why you felt it was worth while for some readers.

The world is a better place when people care. Thanks.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Fucking Fresno, man I hate those Fresnoians... always ruining it for the rest of us.

I've been to California, but never that town. With just another $120 billion (at least), they can finally have high-speed rail service.

There was another place - Madera? It was just like American Graffiti, with kids driving around and around in circles all evening.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Hi Penny,

I read your first story with the included “ingredients list”.

The impression I got from your introduction is that you are caring and thoughtful of your readers. Personally, I didn’t feel it was necessary, given the category and the short description, but I understand why you felt it was worth while for some readers.

The world is a better place when people care. Thanks.

I'd care about my readers if I knew who they were. I've got 207 followers, but six votes and one favorite on my most recent story. No comments. They don't seem to be following too closely. I accept the reality of that.

There's another site with maybe 50,000 stories instead of a half-million. There are about three guys (I think they're all male) who do show up and comment each time. That's something, I guess.

 

[yowser]

I've been to California, but never that town. With just another $120 billion (at least), they can finally have high-speed rail service.

There was another place - Madera? It was just like American Graffiti, with kids driving around and around in circles all evening.

Lucas grew up in Modesto (your memory is close) where the story (but not the filming) took place.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Lucas grew up in Modesto (your memory is close) where the story (but not the filming) took place.

I see he mostly used Petaluma, which is north of San Francisco. Hard to believe that film is fifty-one years old. I think I saw it a theater, but I can't remember which one. Yeah, I do keep track of things like that.

 

[AlexBailey]

Harold and Maude were near Petaluma.

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