How do you deal with reader feedback?

[ElectricBlue]

I have to say that the anonymous comments really got me the first time around. Seeing the amount of moderation and time for posting, I expected too much of anon comment moderation.

Anon comments aren't moderated when they're posted. The site scans for spam and links in comments, and every now and then it would appear that there's be a "hate speech" scan, but that's after the event.

The site has given authors the ability to moderate comments.

Once I figured out you could turn that off (thanks unknown moderator/editor/email responder person), I came back much happier.

I like comments from those willing to create an account. While it doesn't stop the really stupid comments, it certainly limits many of the just plain shitty ones.

Some of the most intelligent comments are from anon. Just because they're anon, doesn't automatically mean they're stupid comments.

I certainly appreciate everyone that takes the time to write something about my works. Good, bad, or ugly, it may give me pause for reflection. Does it mean it's going to be done their way? Unlikely. Is it going to fork one of my stories? Perhaps.

I do miss some of the anon comments but on the whole it's better without it. I can't really think of any major forums that have anon commentary enabled so it's an odd feature here.

I wouldn't stop anon comments, ever. The site allows you to cope with them yourself, that's all that is needed.

 

[talemestories]

Anon comments aren't moderated when they're posted. The site scans for spam and links in comments, and every now and then it would appear that there's be a "hate speech" scan, but that's after the event.

The site has given authors the ability to moderate comments.

Some of the most intelligent comments are from anon. Just because they're anon, doesn't automatically mean they're stupid comments.

I wouldn't stop anon comments, ever. The site allows you to cope with them yourself, that's all that is needed.

We differ on anon comments for sure. I was under the (mis)assumption that because they weren't posted right away that there was some moderation. Live and learn, right? Completely my fault on that as I should have RTFM about Literotica.

While I liked some of the anon comments, most were wasted characters. I never said they were all stupid and I am sure I am missing out on some useful and insightful things but I will certainly use the 'no anon comments' as a good way to deal with spam and general shitty behaviour.

Might be interesting to see this forum as an non-moderated, anon posting paradise ...

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Voboy]

Yeah, I never assume the "anon" is a terrible person nor a thoughtless reader. I read stories here for fifteen years and I never once created an account. I had a lot of very thoughtful reactions to a number of the stories I read, and if I'd known I could have posted anon comments I would have. I like to think they'd have been useful.

There are a dozen and one defensible reasons why good, amazing readers won't want to create an account on Literotica. Shutting them out seems arbitrary, to me.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I've considered making a couple of comments on stories recently that would probably be better as Anons.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Inspiration is where you find it. If it's in the form of a readers suggestion, why the fuck not, if the ending in your brain is still 'fluid'? In my recent incest series, a reader suggested the mom get involved, after I simply mentioned the MMCs mom in passing. She wasn't even a character yet. I hadn't done momcest yet and thought I might be ready, so I gave it a go.

But, if the story is set in my mind, the ending firm, I don't let readers comments sway me.

 

[talemestories]

Inspiration is where you find it. If it's in the form of a readers suggestion, why the fuck not, if the ending in your brain is still 'fluid'? In my recent incest series, a reader suggested the mom get involved, after I simply mentioned the MMCs mom in passing. She wasn't even a character yet. I hadn't done momcest yet and thought I might be ready, so I gave it a go.

But, if the story is set in my mind, the ending firm, I don't let readers comments sway me.

Unless it is already written, I enjoy the fluidity or forking of stories immensely. Nothing like some new ideas to apply your own concepts to in writing a story. Instead of 'fuck that' it's more a 'fuck, yeah' in many cases.

 

[harmonicks]

Personally I read all feedback with an open mind.

Sometimes people are critical about aspects of my writing or the story, but on reflection they make a good point and I try and use it to improve what I write in the future - there have been a few complaints in comments which have improved my writing in my opinion. Other times they pick up on aspects which I feel are a creative decision I took consciously and will stand by (for example writing in omniscient third person rather than first person) and so I'll ignore it.

Generally if people are suggesting the story head in a specific direction I would ignore it - generally when I start a story I already have a rough framework for where it's ending up, and I don't see myself ever rewriting that based on what a random comment requests unless the idea really captivates me. Ultimately I write based on what I find interesting and titillating, with the hope that other people out there feel the same way, rather than trying to cater to an audience by including specific tastes I don't share. On a similar vein, I get people frequently requesting a sequel to a story that I wrote as a fully self-contained piece. I'll take the compliment but if I've got no interest in writing a follow-up story then the comments are unlikely to make it happen.

 

[DeMont]

Hi all!

I'm very new here and still trying to figure out how this community works and what I want to get from writing stories.

I'm very interested in how more seasoned writers deal with reader feedback. Specifically, I received some comments on my stories with what readers expect to happen next and it wasn't where I saw the story going. It's not necessarily a bad direction, just one I hadn't thought of.

So my question is, how do you guys deal with this? Do you incorporate the feedback in the continuation of the story, give the public what they want? Or do you stick to your initial vision?

I'm not necessarily looking for advice, just curious what you did.

Thanks,
A.

Hey there IWDBTWY,
I have learned, from being in writer's groups, editor's circles, competition judging and so forth that the feedback you will receive will depend greatly on the reader. Invariably there will be those who (for one reason or another) love your work, style and story - alternatively there may well be an equal number who do not. In fact, the second comment on my first story here was a curt, "WTF?"

How do you respond to that, well, you can't. To that one reader the context, content, intent and delivery of my story was completely lost. I can't do anything about that so what I do is regard each and every comment, like, and reader who adds my story to their favourites list as a "notch in the ol' gunbelt" and move on.

Remember, "You can please some of the people all the time, you can please all of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time."
Be cool, just do your own thing.

Deepest respects,
D.