Recurring AH threads that you *like*

[TheLobster]

There's been a bit of a hubbub here lately, about the common threads that we often see being posted in the forum, especially by new people. I have contributed it to with my silly joke that eventually turned into a predictable complaint thread. I'm not proud of it. (Okay, maybe I am a little).

In any case, in the spirit of contributing more positively to the whole topic, how about we consider that there might be some repeated thread topic which we actually like seeing pop up, again and again?

I can think of one in particular: the category questions, a.k.a. "where does this story fit?" I know that whenever I click on one of those questions, I will not only improve my understanding as to what goes where in the Lit world, what do readers expect in certain categories and so on; but I will also get to see the off-beat, eclectic stuff that people go into in their writing that results in these kind of dilemmas in the first place.

The most interesting cases seem to be those which buck the trends only a little, with just one or two elements that are enough not to fit neatly into a category that'd readily accept the story if they were absent. It often becomes a something like a Kink Algebra: does the introduction of foot fetish is negated by impromptu MFF threesome, or is that a neutral element of the whole sum? On other hand, works which are straight-up overloaded with different themes are often easier to classify, paradoxically enough, since we can feel justified in advising the author to just throw up their hands and stick the thing in EC or N&N, depending on length.

But this is of course just one recurring AH topic. Are the others you think deserve appreciation rather than scorn?

 

[THBGato]

"where does this story fit?"

Yes, good shout.

I also like threads about reading, whether on lit or elsewhere, as I'm always looking for recommendations.

 

[StillStunned]

I like those Writing Exercises that crop up from time to time.

Also, anything to do with actual writing.

 

[TheLobster]

Also, anything to do with actual writing.

Sorry, but I was explicitly asking for recurring threads, not random aberrations that appear once in a blue moon, seem as rare as red-haired unicorns, and are often the subject of myth and legends told in hushed whispers full of exalted reverence.

 

[THBGato]

explicitly asking for recurring threads

But the writing exercise threads are recurring. Then there's all the ones about grammar, the ones about tips, etc...

(Sorry, it feels like I've been contradicting you a lot lately. Not personal, just coincidental.)

 

[TheLobster]

But the writing exercise threads are recurring. Then there's all the ones about grammar, the ones about tips, etc...

(Sorry, it feels like I've been contradicting you a lot lately. Not personal, just coincidental.)

No worries, I haven’t even thought about writing exercises, but more like any other discussions about writing that seem super rare here. And yes, that had post had been a joke

Anyway! Back to the topic. Who’s going to come forward and admit to secretly liking the AI rejection threads? Come on, I know some of you must be into that

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I'm gonna give this thread a day, and then post a similar one. Just because.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I'm gonna give this thread a day, and then post a similar one. Just because.

I call dibs on Monday.

 

[Bamagan]

The rejection threads are the only ones that get tiresomely repetitive, at least for me. The category questions all have at least a wrinkle or two of uniqueness, but one rejection for AI or underage is pretty much the same as every other, and the answers have stabilized at this point: they could look them up instead of starting a new thread. The main variation is whether the rejected party reacts with bafflement (real or feigned) or high dudgeon.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

Hey, @Manu: can the automated rejection email for AI content contain all the standard things people in the Author's Hangout tell the rejected writers? It would save everyone (including them) some time.

--Annie

 

[lovecraft68]

Any thread asking to give a shout out to a story that isn't their own or one of their AH besties.

*Any thread where no one pimps their own stories or threads (Post 3 here ended this one's chances)

I have an asterisk next to #2 because just like Bigfoot, Nessie, and unicorns they are "out there' but no one has ever found one yet. In the meantime, this forum has become the equivalent of a back slapping circle jerk, and even the rare writing threads devolve into that because no one can refrain from making it about their writing instead of writing in general.

Maybe this is just the nature of the net/social media in general as we devolve deeper and deeper into the Me Me Me ideology.

Over time I have come to admire, and to a degree, even envy, the many authors on this site who are steady contributors of stories but never get involved here. While some talk it, they simply walk it. I was one of those my first couple of years here. Wrote for two years before I came here and often think it was a good thing because I'd already figured out a lot of things people ask about here, but on my own with no bias or bickering or opinionated people telling me "you can't, you have to, you shouldn't" I think coming here before you've established yourself in style and confidence and site experience can be more harmful than helpful.

Another thread that pops up here often is "why are you here" I've seen them refer to both writing for this platform and the forum itself.

I think motivation for both changes the longer you're here and I realized some time ago that in regard to the forum it's become habit. The real-life version of that coffee shop or bar you frequent, popping in to see the other regulars and down to the shitty reality that as time passes so do some of those regulars and we've lost several the last couple of years.

 

[SimonDoom]

Threads that feature grammar disputes give me a little frisson of excitement. One, because it's precisely the sort of thing that we, as writers, SHOULD be arguing about, two, writers can be so particular about their grammatical views and dig in their heels in fun ways, and three, you can learn something useful.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I used to think the Brit'Glish threads were cool. But then they got repetitive too.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I think coming here before you've established yourself in style and confidence and site experience can be more harmful than helpful.

This is an interesting point, and probably true to an extent. There is good advice to be found in AH, but there are also times when some subjective preferences are being pushed as the way one should write.

I was influenced by both sides of this coin when I first started visiting the AH, and it took me some time before I managed to fix the overcorrection that came from following some of that advice. Having a foundation of a writing style helps to avoid those mistakes. But overall, I'd say that general good advice mostly outstrips those purely preferential writing idiosyncrasies that some authors here occasionally promote as excellent writing.

 

[AG31]

There are definitely threads that make me perk up when the topic reappears. I don't have a lot of patience with people who say, "Hey, that's been posted x times before." The person posting it obviously hasn't seen those, and a whole host of others haven't either, or are happy to contribute again.

I wish I could remember better what topics perk me up. I am interested in most AH postings, but I think the best way to categorrize my favorites is they're about sex. The difference between the sexes, what constitutes attraction, how do things feel. But the important ingredient is that the participants are smart, articulate people. In other words, I'm not much interested in the Fetish and Sexuality forum.

Edit: Oh, yeah, threads about what erotica is, plot vs character vs strokers, etc. It gives me a chance to plug my mini-campaign about simple erotica.

 

[AG31]

Any thread asking to give a shout out to a story that isn't their own or one of their AH besties.

Yeah, you'd think. But just the other day someone tried to get a thread going where people named Lit authors they thought were "stars." Very few people responded with specifics, and it was explained that people who are praised in AH open themselves up to 1 bombing. Is that really a true thing????

 

[mrs_mackenzie]

I like those Writing Exercises that crop up from time to time.

Hopefully I've used this right...

 

[StillStunned]

View attachment 2555153

Hopefully I've used this right...

Yes, that looks about right!

Actually, what I love about the Writing Exercises is reading everyone's contributions, and the enthusiasm to write up something on the spur of the moment in response to a random prompt. It gives me more of a sense of community here in the AH than anything else, really.

 

[lovecraft68]

Yeah, you'd think. But just the other day someone tried to get a thread going where people named Lit authors they thought were "stars." Very few people responded with specifics, and it was explained that people who are praised in AH open themselves up to 1 bombing. Is that really a true thing????

Unfortunately, I would say yes that happens.

Just like when people come here proud that their story is at the top of the list. Its an invite to both petty forum types and also the people who don't post here but do read threads.

I think the same can be said when people come here to complain about specific comment on their story and it gets people to click on it and bomb it.

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

Threads that feature grammar disputes give me a little frisson of excitement. One, because it's precisely the sort of thing that we, as writers, SHOULD be arguing about, two, writers can be so particular about their grammatical views and dig in their heels in fun ways, and three, you can learn something useful.

I’ll second this, and add that I enjoy the threads about:
- literary techniques (e.g. 1P vs 3P)
- grammatical preferences
- writing approaches (pantsers vs plotters)
- category discussions (theories, patterns, stats, observations)

 

[lovecraft68]

There are definitely threads that make me perk up when the topic reappears. I don't have a lot of patience with people who say, "Hey, that's been posted x times before." The person posting it obviously hasn't seen those, and a whole host of others haven't either, or are happy to contribute again.

I wish I could remember better what topics perk me up. I am interested in most AH postings, but I think the best way to categorrize my favorites is they're about sex. The difference between the sexes, what constitutes attraction, how do things feel. But the important ingredient is that the participants are smart, articulate people. In other words, I'm not much interested in the Fetish and Sexuality forum.

Edit: Oh, yeah, threads about what erotica is, plot vs character vs strokers, etc. It gives me a chance to plug my mini-campaign about simple erotica.

Some of them get tiring, but part of that isn't the OP who doesn't know this has been discussed 25 times, its the people who say "This again" then proceed to post to it and have the same conversation THEY have had 25 times

Personally, the only one I wish would go away is the guy "Looking for a female writing partner" they should be moved to the personals or role play forums because its what they're really looking for.

 

[PapaRomantic]

I somewhat enjoyed the threads about body parts - you know, breasts and penises. It was interesting to see the differences we have when using them in our stories.

They were also seemingly rare threads where no childishly hateful verbal battles broke out. For there to be threads where we are not lobbing grenades at each other is quite an accomplishment in the AH.

 

[TheLobster]

were also seemingly rare threads where no childishly hateful verbal battles broke out. For there to be threads where we are not lobbing grenades at each other is quite an accomplishment in the AH.

We are all united in our unconditional love of boobs.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

A few of mine got trashed almost immediately after posting about them here. Some only dropped .01 or so, others went down by .5 or more.

 

[lovecraft68]

Yeah, you'd think. But just the other day someone tried to get a thread going where people named Lit authors they thought were "stars." Very few people responded with specifics, and it was explained that people who are praised in AH open themselves up to 1 bombing. Is that really a true thing????

What thread was this?