Has anyone else gotten weird feedback messages like this?

[PennyThompson]

Today I got this strange Lit Feedback message, and I'm curious if anyone else has received a similar message?

Hiya Penny! As being partial to a good smutt story, yours stand out with good writing and legitimate plots that combine well with solid characters to go along with the sultry overtone. Your focus on long, well written fics with definitely well done romance is very satisfying. Along with a good use of well designed romances. Coupled with very alluring kinks around said romance to make things explicitly spicy. Especially with your focus on Sci-Fi/Fantasy concepts that incorporate this genre very well, yet are still firmly grounded in real world scenarios and situations. Though while some of the more hardcore kinks and instances aren’t really my cup of tea, I do enjoy the fantastical settings they are built up in.

I wanted to ask, while I wouldn’t be able to directly commission one, would you take a plot for a simple story request if possible? Which would have a focus of futa-on-male femdom, or regular femdom, and be centered in an existing IP around canon characters with an OC (which, are there any films/western animation series’ other than anime you are partial to?) or an original concept. Whichever works. And would you have an email that you could be reached out at?

It has a faint whiff of scam to it, but they specifically aren't making a promise of money.

They mention some categories and genres that I write in, but then the details they talk about don't really sound like my stuff at all (I don't write long romances) which makes me think they're casting a wide net without actually reading an author's work.

Wanting fan-fiction in an existing IP, but then asking which movies and series I like, is particularly weird? Like they don't care if it's Star Wars or Chernobyl or The Office, as long as somebody will put their OC is in it?

Edit: to clarify, I'm not really interested in writing for someone else, with or without a paid commission... It's just that this particular request feels off and I'm trying to decide why.

 

[Djmac1031]

Even if his offer wasn't sus already, the idea of just writing a random story for a random request generally is just an awful idea. Especially if the pitch is as vague and uninspiring as that.

 

[NotWise]

I have not gotten that. It tested as 100% human on several AI detectors. Seems like they're mostly asking for your email.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Today I got this strange Lit Feedback message, and I'm curious if anyone else has received a similar message?


It has a faint whiff of scam to it, but they specifically aren't making a promise of money.

They mention some categories and genres that I write in, but then the details they talk about don't really sound like my stuff at all (I don't write long romances) which makes me think they're casting a wide net without actually reading an author's work.

Wanting fan-fiction in an existing IP, but then asking which movies and series I like, is particularly weird? Like they don't care if it's Star Wars or Chernobyl or The Office, as long as somebody will put their OC is in it?

Edit: to clarify, I'm not really interested in writing for someone else, with or without a paid commission... It's just that this particular request feels off and I'm trying to decide why.

It sounds almost AI-adjacent to me, hun. I know that’s probably jumping at shadows, but the phrasing has that “it almost makes sense, but not if you look at it carefully” vibe.

It’s not a commission with no cash. And based on their writing, even if not AI-generated, their writing prompts will suck.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Very sus. If they aren't asking for money now, they will be.
Get you to post a story with a certain IP, then pretend to be lawyers for the copyright holders and try to shake you down?

 

[dirk2024]

Or..."Penny, would you e-date me?"

 

[NuclearFairy]

It feels very much like the bot scammers I've encountered on other sites. Main difference is, they're not asking you if you'll pay them to make a comic of your story.

 

[Djmac1031]

Edit: to clarify, I'm not really interested in writing for someone else, with or without a paid commission... It's just that this particular request feels off and I'm trying to decide why.

it took months of just getting to know each other and our particular writing styles before @EmilyMiller and I started collaborating. Even if that offer was legit, I don't see how a collaboration even works when there's no connection between the two writers.

As for why it feels off, as Emily says it does smell of AI generated word salad.

 

[MrPixel]

There are some bizarre sentence fragments leading with conjunction phrases that lead me to believe it's AI. "Along with...", "Coupled with...", "Especially with...", and "Though while..." in four consecutive sentence fragments cannot be a real person, or, if so, somebody with a very strange style.

Nonetheless, the request to base it on somebody else's IP and they know it is a big red flag. Delete the message and move on, it's as sus as hell.

 

[Actingup]

What everybody else said. Plus, if you had a hankering to collaborate with very strange people, we're already here in the room with you

 

[Bramblethorn]

They mention some categories and genres that I write in, but then the details they talk about don't really sound like my stuff at all (I don't write long romances) which makes me think they're casting a wide net without actually reading an author's work.

Bingo. The first thing that struck me about their message was that it could have been written without reading your work at all. It's all generic compliments plus a few very broad things that could easily have come from skimming your "Works" page and not clicking on any of the stories.

Wanting fan-fiction in an existing IP, but then asking which movies and series I like, is particularly weird? Like they don't care if it's Star Wars or Chernobyl or The Office, as long as somebody will put their OC is in it?

Yeah, that's odd. If they want existing IPs but don't care what, my best guess is they're looking for content in bulk either to fill out a site ("all your cartoon smut here!") or train a LLM.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

What everybody else said. Plus, if you had a hankering to collaborate with very strange people, we're already here in the room with you

The call is coming from inside the house!

 

[gunhilltrain]

What everybody else said. Plus, if you had a hankering to collaborate with very strange people, we're already here in the room with you

It bugs me when people throw in too many abbreviations. So IP is intellectual property and OC must be that now-ended series about Orange County. (If I use BQE or LGA in a story - usually dialogue - I explain what they mean in a note.) Futa on male femdom in Southern California? ("We'll have fun, fun, fun until Daddy takes the T-Bird away." ) That's really grounded in "real world scenarios and situations?" If they really are that interested in it, tell them to write it themselves. That's assuming you wish to reply.

I can't be sure if it's AI or human generated. They did misspell "smut." I'm don't think I would take that as a compliment.

 

[Actingup]

Bingo. The first thing that struck me about their message was that it could have been written without reading your work at all. It's all generic compliments plus a few very broad things that could easily have come from skimming your "Works" page and not clicking on any of the stories.

I'm sure I'm not the only one here who is constantly getting invitations to submit academic papers into predatory journals in fields outside my expertise. That's the first thing the message reminded me of. They haven't read your stories and they probably don't understand the difference between cryptids and cryptography.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Today I got this strange Lit Feedback message, and I'm curious if anyone else has received a similar message?


It has a faint whiff of scam to it, but they specifically aren't making a promise of money.

They mention some categories and genres that I write in, but then the details they talk about don't really sound like my stuff at all (I don't write long romances) which makes me think they're casting a wide net without actually reading an author's work.

Wanting fan-fiction in an existing IP, but then asking which movies and series I like, is particularly weird? Like they don't care if it's Star Wars or Chernobyl or The Office, as long as somebody will put their OC is in it?

Edit: to clarify, I'm not really interested in writing for someone else, with or without a paid commission... It's just that this particular request feels off and I'm trying to decide why.

I got one nearly identical but they mentioned my recent story in the email.

Hiya Rob! As being partial to a good smutt story, yours stand out with good writing and legitimate plots that combine well with solid characters to go along with the sultry overtone. Your focus on long, well written fics with definitely well done romance is very satisfying. Along with a good use of well designed romances. Coupled with very alluring kinks around said romance to make things explicitly spicy. Particularly any of your fics revolving around Sci-Fi/Fantasy elements and focusing on older women with younger men, which I greatly enjoy. Which, even though I’m not all that partial to MILF kinks, I do enjoy the settings they are placed in. Like your most recent “Wilbur and the Elf,” fic.

I wanted to ask, while I wouldn’t be able to directly commission one, would you take a plot for a simple story request if possible? Which would have a focus of futa-on-male femdom, or regular femdom, and be centered in an existing IP around canon characters with an OC (which, are there any animation/video games series’ other than anime you are partial to?) or an original concept. Whichever works. And would you potentially be open to Anthro/human stuff as well? Which, would you have an email you could be contacted at?

 

[PennyThompson]

It bugs me when people throw in too many abbreviations. So IP is intellectual property and OC must be that now-ended series about Orange County. (If I use BQE or LGA in a story - usually dialogue - I explain what they mean in a note.) Futa on male femdom in Southern California? ("We'll have fun, fun, fun until Daddy takes the T-Bird away." ) That's really grounded in "real world scenarios and situations?" If they really are that interested in it, tell them to write it themselves. That's assuming you wish to reply.

I can't be sure if it's AI or human generated. They did misspell "smut." I'm don't think I would take that as a compliment.

In this context I'm pretty sure OC means Original Character. But I think you might be onto something, "Trans Girls in T-Birds"

 

[PennyThompson]

I got one nearly identical but they mentioned my recent story in the email.

Ahha! You just published a story in the scifi & fantasy category too, right? I wonder if they're just going down the New list in SF&F...

 

[dirk2024]

"Trans Girls in T-Birds"

There's a new story title.

 

[HBuff]

I get requests on other sites. It's annoying. Requests from people who lack writing skill so they'll shamelessly ask me to write a story filled with THEIR kinks, as if my time were at their disposal! It's trash. I have more story ideas of my own than I will ever be able to write and this probably never crossed their mind or they don't care.

 

[gunhilltrain]

There's a new story title.

Somehow I imagine a trans person (in either direction) working as a firefighter during the Rodney King riots. Maybe make this person Chicano/Chicana for more depth. Or Salvadoran. It's got everything: social commentary, race relations, sexual politics, immigration, a notable historical event. Get the details about firefighting in LA first. (They don't seem to have many tower ladders like New York does.) I don't know how anyone will find the time to have sex, or what the title of this concoction will be. It's a challenge, but that is what Lit is for.

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/65...=xbVmTtRUShp4Qy7Cjy6rv8s2r4VZnp9fzyDC55-ksUI=

 

[Rob_Royale]

Ahha! You just published a story in the scifi & fantasy category too, right? I wonder if they're just going down the New list in SF&F...

NonHuman.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Given that both @PennyThompson and @Rob_Royale have received almost identical text, I'd say it's dodgy as. It's pretty obviously AI assisted, as well.

Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

 

[gunhilltrain]

In this context I'm pretty sure OC means Original Character. But I think you might be onto something, "Trans Girls in T-Birds"

That's a problem; some abbreviations have more than one meaning. So do many slang terms. To me, "body count" was a term used by the American forces in Vietnam. It's jarring to hear it in it's new meaning. It used to be "notch count." I wonder if there is some connection that few people are aware of, or is it just a coincidence?

 

[NotWise]

Y'all are sure it's AI?

I ran the letter through several AI checkers and every one reported back 100% human.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

That's a problem; some abbreviations have more than one meaning. So do many slang terms. To me, "body count" was a term used by the American forces in Vietnam. It's jarring to hear it in it's new meaning. It used to be "notch count." I wonder if there is some connection that few people are aware of, or is it just a coincidence?

But your notches are a reference back to a gunslinger putting a notch on their gunbelt indicating they'd killed a man.