How influential are comments?

[RockHerWorld]

I have only modified one story due to the voting. I didn't realize the crowd that has been cheated on is so wounded that they will go out of their way to slam any story that even mentions cheating. I mentioned the main character "Getting back at her boyfriend for leaving her behind" on Valentines day. In the later part of the story we find out that the main character made up the boyfriend story to get the guy to rescue her. Boyfriend was made up, there was NO cheating but it still hurt the ratings, because someone was obsessed with injecting reality into a fictional fantasy story. I have to define "Fiction" at the beginning of some stories to remind the unstable to stop pretending it's real and commenting as such.

 

[WittyUserName]

Depends on if the commenter actually had a point and if others agree, etc.. Comments like this?

"by Anonymous user on 28 minutes ago

What a slog. Usually when there is a mediocre story, I write it off since no author is 100% five stars. But at 24 pages this mess sort of forces a review. I tried and FINALLY made it to the end. It was like Rosebud being a sled. Who cares by this point. It could have been 4 pages and been too long."

No.

I like how it 'forces a review' but didn't actually review it, just saying it was too long.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Depends on if the commenter actually had a point and if others agree, etc.. Comments like this?

"by Anonymous user on 28 minutes ago

What a slog. Usually when there is a mediocre story, I write it off since no author is 100% five stars. But at 24 pages this mess sort of forces a review. I tried and FINALLY made it to the end. It was like Rosebud being a sled. Who cares by this point. It could have been 4 pages and been too long."

No.

I like how it 'forces a review' but didn't actually review it, just saying it was too long.

Was he just saying that it was too long or was he saying that it didn't hold his attention (past three pages)?

The first thing that the writer must do is get the reader's interest. You;re not going to get them all but this is one that you didn't get. This is fairly valuable info, since if there is one thing that as a writer you can never really know it's how and how well the reader can pick it up and hold it. he is telling you how it might fail in that regard with some readers. Now, Anon didn't give heaps of detail but the Rosebud comment perhaps alludes to repetitive unresolved emotional baggage and not much else to move the plot? Dunno, I suppose that I'd have to read you to be sure, but that's where I would start if I were the writer applying the feedback.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Depends on if the commenter actually had a point and if others agree, etc.. Comments like this?

"by Anonymous user on 28 minutes ago

What a slog. Usually when there is a mediocre story, I write it off since no author is 100% five stars. But at 24 pages this mess sort of forces a review. I tried and FINALLY made it to the end. It was like Rosebud being a sled. Who cares by this point. It could have been 4 pages and been too long."

What kind of reader slogs through 24 pages and leaves a nothing comment like that? There's nothing useful, unless the guy is a martyr to mediocrity - that's when you might have a problem. What do other readers say?

 

[WittyUserName]

What kind of reader slogs through 24 pages and leaves a nothing comment like that? There's nothing useful, unless the guy is a martyr to mediocrity - that's when you might have a problem. What do other readers say?

The others were mostly positive. The story is rated 4.78.

 

[Cagivagurl]

Depends on if the commenter actually had a point and if others agree, etc.. Comments like this?

"by Anonymous user on 28 minutes ago

What a slog. Usually when there is a mediocre story, I write it off since no author is 100% five stars. But at 24 pages this mess sort of forces a review. I tried and FINALLY made it to the end. It was like Rosebud being a sled. Who cares by this point. It could have been 4 pages and been too long."

No.

I like how it 'forces a review' but didn't actually review it, just saying it was too long.

One comment, among how many????
You cannot please everybody.
If your score is acceptable then ignore the comment...
If it is mirrored by a selection of the comments, then perhaps look at what you wrote. Otherwise, move on and forget it.
In trying to please one lonely reader, you may ruin a perfectly good story...
His comment was nothing more than a sole opinion. One comment does not a survey make. 10comments, OK, think about it...

Just my opinion of course.

Cagivagurl

 

[Actingup]

The others were mostly positive. The story is rated 4.78.

There's your answer. Take the constructive criticism that you can find, but I can't find anything useful there other than this didn't hold their attention.

 

[Actingup]

There's your answer. Take the constructive criticism that you can find, but I can't find anything useful there other than this didn't hold their attention.

PS - just had a quick look at the comments on the story. I love this one as an example of constructive criticism, also wrapped in a classic 'shit sandwich' structure.

Seeing your growth since your first posting has made my teacher heart swell. This was a wonderful tale, and you absolutely ended the landing.

But, even the Mona Lisa has flaws. I draw your attention to the final scene. A 6 foot plus man is making love to a 5 foot woman. I have been there. In college I was 6 foot three and lost my cherry to a little vixen who was just 5 feet tall. When I tell people I dated such a short woman, they always ask what it was like. My usual answer is: “inconvenient”.

When a 6 foot three man is making love missionary style to a 5 foot woman her face is somewhere in the middle of his chest. Kissing during that action is painful at best. Making love to her tits? Absolutely impossible. I will also add that cowgirl was difficult since her very short legs couldn’t lift up very high. Don’t even get me started on the impossibility of a 69. I eventually married a woman almost 6 feet tall and sex was wonderfully symmetrical.

But I loved the story!

 

[WittyUserName]

PS - just had a quick look at the comments on the story. I love this one as an example of constructive criticism, also wrapped in a classic 'shit sandwich' structure.

Seeing your growth since your first posting has made my teacher heart swell. This was a wonderful tale, and you absolutely ended the landing.

But, even the Mona Lisa has flaws. I draw your attention to the final scene. A 6 foot plus man is making love to a 5 foot woman. I have been there. In college I was 6 foot three and lost my cherry to a little vixen who was just 5 feet tall. When I tell people I dated such a short woman, they always ask what it was like. My usual answer is: “inconvenient”.

When a 6 foot three man is making love missionary style to a 5 foot woman her face is somewhere in the middle of his chest. Kissing during that action is painful at best. Making love to her tits? Absolutely impossible. I will also add that cowgirl was difficult since her very short legs couldn’t lift up very high. Don’t even get me started on the impossibility of a 69. I eventually married a woman almost 6 feet tall and sex was wonderfully symmetrical.

But I loved the story!

Yeah, that one was constructive. I do listen to comments when they offer suggestions. Especially if others agree. Of course, as others have said, you can't please everyone.

 

[ElectricBlue]

The others were mostly positive. The story is rated 4.78.

There you go, one clown. I still can't comprehend someone reading a novel length story once they've decided they don't like it. That's just odd.

 

[TheLobster]

When I tell people I dated such a short woman, they always ask what it was like. My usual answer is: “inconvenient”.

I never felt so represented by a Literotica comment, and it's not even one on my own story!

 

[pink_silk_glove]

PS - just had a quick look at the comments on the story. I love this one as an example of constructive criticism, also wrapped in a classic 'shit sandwich' structure.

Seeing your growth since your first posting has made my teacher heart swell. This was a wonderful tale, and you absolutely ended the landing.

But, even the Mona Lisa has flaws. I draw your attention to the final scene. A 6 foot plus man is making love to a 5 foot woman. I have been there. In college I was 6 foot three and lost my cherry to a little vixen who was just 5 feet tall. When I tell people I dated such a short woman, they always ask what it was like. My usual answer is: “inconvenient”.

When a 6 foot three man is making love missionary style to a 5 foot woman her face is somewhere in the middle of his chest. Kissing during that action is painful at best. Making love to her tits? Absolutely impossible. I will also add that cowgirl was difficult since her very short legs couldn’t lift up very high. Don’t even get me started on the impossibility of a 69. I eventually married a woman almost 6 feet tall and sex was wonderfully symmetrical.

But I loved the story!

This comment told much less than the first one that thought it was a slog.

First he said, 'ended the landing' which I assume he meant 'landed the ending' which I take as a compliment. Then he says that his only gripe was the final scene. So was the ending good or bad? He contradicts himself. Then his only gripe is his logistical disagreement in the sex scene. Well I know a couple of short girls who love doing their tall boyfriends. It's not a problem for them, so ... Iunno. But the important part is that his gripe about the height mismatch has absolutely nothing to do with your writing. Is your craft really going to improve if you make the girl taller or the guy shorter next time? The answer is no.

But hey, it's a positive comment and supports the high score so therefore it must be constructive while the negative comment can be dismissed as bullshit even though it told you more.

 

[WittyUserName]

This comment told much less than the first one that thought it was a slog.

First he said, 'ended the landing' which I assume he meant 'landed the ending' which I take as a compliment. Then he says that his only gripe was the final scene. So was the ending good or bad? He contradicts himself. Then his only gripe is his logistical disagreement in the sex scene. Well I know a couple of short girls who love doing their tall boyfriends. It's not a problem for them, so ... Iunno. But the important part is that his gripe about the height mismatch has absolutely nothing to do with your writing. Is your craft really going to improve if you make the girl taller or the guy shorter next time? The answer is no.

But hey, it's a positive comment and supports the high score so therefore it must be constructive while the negative comment can be dismissed as bullshit even though it told you more.

I don't think they negative one told me more. All I got was that the story was long.

 

[AprilTwenties]

Some people are very lazy, boo, and just write something without understanding. For example, one chapter - the first - of one of my series is all about setting up the story, the characters, the direction.....ie, probably no sex....and, so, what did I get? Many comments along those lines. Some, granted, that were of liking what was happening.

There's things I write about - drugs, specifically - that I have a lot of knowledge about and so put that into stories. Then I get comments that I shouldn't include drugs in my stories!

End of the day, boo, I listen...I read people's shit. It never alters the story but I try to understand their perspective and include something along those lines in there. Not specifically for them, but to maybe help people see a person's rationale that little bit easier.

I still write what shit I want to write.

What I do dislike, enormously, are the 'anonymous' wankers. You have something to say? Say it to me with a name.

A x

 

[yowser]

PS - just had a quick look at the comments on the story. I love this one as an example of constructive criticism, also wrapped in a classic 'shit sandwich' structure.

In my world, odd as it is, we call it a 'praise' sandwich.

Guess it all depends on whether one pays attention to the bread or the filling.

 

[iwatchus]

My first story on here got a single comment, including 'A little more afterward would have been nice.'

That was the last straw for me to turn it into a series, and thus a nice little 3K story became a 21 chapter 315K monstrosity.

I think I missed the 'little' part on that comment.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I don't think they negative one told me more. All I got was that the story was long.

What did yo get from the other one?

 

[Actingup]

This comment told much less than the first one that thought it was a slog.

First he said, 'ended the landing' which I assume he meant 'landed the ending' which I take as a compliment. Then he says that his only gripe was the final scene. So was the ending good or bad? He contradicts himself. Then his only gripe is his logistical disagreement in the sex scene. Well I know a couple of short girls who love doing their tall boyfriends. It's not a problem for them, so ... Iunno. But the important part is that his gripe about the height mismatch has absolutely nothing to do with your writing. Is your craft really going to improve if you make the girl taller or the guy shorter next time? The answer is no.

But hey, it's a positive comment and supports the high score so therefore it must be constructive while the negative comment can be dismissed as bullshit even though it told you more.

I guess my interpretation of the comment is quite different. I haven’t read the story, but I would interpret it as saying that the writing is fine and the story enjoyable, but that the height mismatch served as a tripwire because it’s unrealistic. The commenter related it clearly to his personal experience rather than claiming it as divine wisdom. If you were taking it on board as a writer, you would note that at least one reader took issue with the physical relationship being unrealistic.

By contrast, the first comment gave no useful information other than that the reader was bored. There’s not really even any evidence that they read it. It’s about as useful as writing ‘nice!’.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

By contrast, the first comment gave no useful information other than that the reader was bored. There’s not really even any evidence that they read it. It’s about as useful as writing ‘nice!’.

But the positive comment basically just said, "nice." At least the negative told something about WHY he was bored.

 

[WittyUserName]

What did yo get from the other one?

That getting small details right makes a difference.

 

[WittyUserName]

I guess my interpretation of the comment is quite different. I haven’t read the story, but I would interpret it as saying that the writing is fine and the story enjoyable, but that the height mismatch served as a tripwire because it’s unrealistic. The commenter related it clearly to his personal experience rather than claiming it as divine wisdom. If you were taking it on board as a writer, you would note that at least one reader took issue with the physical relationship being unrealistic.

By contrast, the first comment gave no useful information other than that the reader was bored. There’s not really even any evidence that they read it. It’s about as useful as writing ‘nice!’.

Also, this thread is about using comments to influence your work. If someone comes at you with a bad attitude, right or wrong, you'll be inclined to dismiss them.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

That getting small details right makes a difference.

But would you change the small details (the size of the characters) just to please this one reader. You do realize that size difference is a popular kink with many many people, right? People love to fetishize themselves. Many tall men get excited by the idea that a small girl (or any girl) is into tall men, and many short women likewise. This one reader said that he liked the story yet didn't tell you one single reason why, and then waxed on about some personal irk that has no bearing on 98% of the rest of the readership. He told you pretty much nothing. What can you take from that going forward with your craft? Change things just for him but lose other readers?

The negative comment didn't elaborate much, but it told you something significant. Perhaps you should review your plot and pacing. If this reader was full of shit, you won't know unless you go back with a neutral eye (or as neutral as one can be with one's own work) and see if it couldn't have been tightened up or spiced up in some way? Unlike the size difference gripe, this is an important aspect as it potentially affects many readers. The last thing that a writer wants is the reader to be bored. Now, he might be the only one, but you don't know. Plenty of people could have been bored with this and backed out. Go back and review. You will probably find some little thing here or there that you could have punched up or tightened up, even if small you could have made small gain as you take your craft going forward. Or maybe not but it's worth a look.

Personally, someone with a niche squick means far less to me than someone who found my overall piece boring.

Also, this thread is about using comments to influence your work. If someone comes at you with a bad attitude, right or wrong, you'll be inclined to dismiss them.

Yes, most people do dismiss those type of comments. My point is that that is folly, because the only part of us that hates that bad attitude is our ego and our ego does not care how well we write, only what external gain we can get from it, which in the case of lit is scores and approval of others - which has nothing to do with our writing. So if we dismiss it based on that, we're missing out and we have only ourselves to blame.

 

[WittyUserName]

But would you change the small details (the size of the characters) just to please this one reader. You do realize that size difference is a popular kink with many many people, right? People love to fetishize themselves. Many tall men get excited by the idea that a small girl (or any girl) is into tall men, and many short women likewise. This one reader said that he liked the story yet didn't tell you one single reason why, and then waxed on about some personal irk that has no bearing on 98% of the rest of the readership. He told you pretty much nothing. What can you take from that going forward with your craft? Change things just for him but lose other readers?

The negative comment didn't elaborate much, but it told you something significant. Perhaps you should review your plot and pacing. If this reader was full of shit, you won't know unless you go back with a neutral eye (or as neutral as one can be with one's own work) and see if it couldn't have been tightened up or spiced up in some way? Unlike the size difference gripe, this is an important aspect as it potentially affects many readers. The last thing that a writer wants is the reader to be bored. Now, he might be the only one, but you don't know. Plenty of people could have been bored with this and backed out. Go back and review. You will probably find some little thing here or there that you could have punched up or tightened up, even if small you could have made small gain as you take your craft going forward. Or maybe not but it's worth a look.

Personally, someone with a niche squick means far less to me than someone who found my overall piece boring.



Yes, most people do dismiss those type of comments. My point is that that is folly, because the only part of us that hates that bad attitude is our ego and our ego does not care how well we write, only what external gain we can get from it, which in the case of lit is scores and approval of others - which has nothing to do with our writing. So if we dismiss it based on that, we're missing out and we have only ourselves to blame.

I wouldn't change it for one person, and I'm happy with the height difference. But, if something is impossible, or difficult, I should be aware.
My only point was that the anonymous commenter offered little and seemed more interested in being insulting than anything.
You've made your point that you think the anonymous comment was more valuable. I disagree.
He might have a point about the pacing, but I was only saying that he seemed more interested in complaining than anything.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

My only point was that the anonymous commenter offered little and seemed more interested in being insulting than anything.
You've made your point that you think the anonymous comment was more valuable. I disagree.
He might have a point about the pacing, but I was only saying that he seemed more interested in complaining than anything.

But his motive for commenting is not important. It has nothing to do with the actual content of the feedback. ; )

Personally I don't give a fuck if someone is trolling me. I don't care what anyone thinks of me as a writer or as a person, so long as it does not hinder my opportunity to write and publish, of course. For instance, if some troll starts spreading lies that I write kiddie porn in an attempt to get me banned, then that would be different. But if someone just wants to run off at the lip that I'm a shit writer and a rotten person, I do not give the slightest fuck. However, if some troll bitch commenter can drop me a nugget that I can use to move forward, that is just as valuable as someone who says it politely, and what's more, it's actually more valuable than some pat on the back and a 5-vote.

The difference, the ego loooooves that pat on the back and hates the troll, so we find any reason to dismiss any value from a negative review and accept wholeheartedly any positive review. We see it ALL THE TIME.

"This guy gave me a bad review, but my story is 4.73 so obviously he must be a one-off idiot!"

"I just got a 1-bomb! : (" after a single 1-vote. Hah! As if their story couldn't possibly receive a legit 1. Like srsly.

Notice that no one ever says, "I just 3 reviews saying, 'loved it 5 stars!' but what do they know?" Never. high scores and "loved it," and "great story, hawtt!" are always accepted as 100% gospel. Only negative stuff is ever questioned.

 

[Djmac1031]

Could have sworn I responded to this already but.... ?

Very early on in my Jenna series, I received a ton of comments, almost all overwhelmingly positive. Which was amazing for a newb like me.

But I also got a lot of mixed messages, that boiled down to two opposing views:

1: Stick to the CFNM theme and dont rush them into a romance or sex.

2: Please develop their relationship and up the sex.

As it moved forward, I did my best to balance both sides. Each chapter became a fun and titillating sexual adventure between the two leads while also slowly developing their relationship. As their trust and care for each other grew, their sexual explorations expanded exponentially.

I also mentioned earlier in the Stacnash thread that while some of their comments I found a little overly critical, I did take to heart their critique that some of my sex scenes tended to read very clinical. They had a point there that I have since tried to improve on.

But no, I've never changed my plans for a story or rewritten anything because a reader wasn't happy with something.