The misery of being misunderstood

[AlinaX]

Got a couple of comments today on my Vale series, one on Ch. 3 with the reader feeling underwhelmed, and then this on Ch. 6:

Well that was disappointing you have skill but lack focus this started interesting but the further from the first ch the more chaotic and disconnected it became to the point I have no sense of connection to the characters and no interest in continuing forward its become mindless sex with no heart only threw line character is V and we know nothing about her and she is more a plot device than a character sorry im done best of luck!

and of course I'm deeply grateful for the reads and comments, and I understand the frustration. After all, the series is daft as hell, an attempt to weave together a collection of absurd tropes into a coherent story. The resulting tale is indeed chaotic. And...

Readers don't like it. I think they're lured in by the classic trope of 18yo boy getting a supersized cock and an obedient mother, only to find themselves reading futa-on-male and gender change chapters with other characters increasingly taking over.

I get it. I do. Readers like to know what they're getting into, and this story goes all over the place. But there is a story. (Weirdly, there are three. Chapter 5 bookends Chapter 1, Chapter 6 ties up some loose ends, and Chapter 7 changes everything. But whatevs.) And I'm lowkey proud of it.

Anyway, just needed to vent a little.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Got a couple of comments today on my Vale series, one on Ch. 3 with the reader feeling underwhelmed, and then this on Ch. 6:

and of course I'm deeply grateful for the reads and comments, and I understand the frustration. After all, the series is daft as hell, an attempt to weave together a collection of absurd tropes into a coherent story. The resulting tale is indeed chaotic. And...

Readers don't like it. I think they're lured in by the classic trope of 18yo boy getting a supersized cock and an obedient mother, only to find themselves reading futa-on-male and gender change chapters with other characters increasingly taking over.

I get it. I do. Readers like to know what they're getting into, and this story goes all over the place. But there is a story. (Weirdly, there are three. Chapter 5 bookends Chapter 1, Chapter 6 ties up some loose ends, and Chapter 7 changes everything. But whatevs.) And I'm lowkey proud of it.

Anyway, just needed to vent a little.

Been there. Huge respect for you.

 

[OralAllOver]

Is this thread about Trump or vaginas?

 

[lc69hunter]

Readers will sometimes take one piece, or one incident in a story, and focus on that, missing the whole purpose and context of the story. In the case of a story such as yours, many are there for a specific piece, and lose it when you jump from trope to trope, probably several of which the reader actually dislikes. Continue to write your loves. Some will like it and understand where you are going, and others won't. So be it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Anyway, just needed to vent a little.

@Devinter always said - as a compliment - that he never knew what to expect in my next story, regardless of category. I sometimes take a kitchen sink approach which puts off fans of kink A as I also include kink B, or switch the positions of the protagonists for kink A. So I empathize.

I have taken to having advisories at the beginning, like:

ADVISORY: While predominantly focusing on heterosexual sodomy, this story also features some lesbian sex, and a few scenes include involuntary female urination (normally as a result of strenuous ass-fucking). There is also one instance of a man drinking a woman's urine (as a prelude to more sodomy). You have been warned!

 

[AlinaX]

Ah, no one reads warnings. Take that as a warning.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Honestly, I'm not sure what you're venting about. The commenter should learn to use punctuation, but they were very specific in why they dislike the story, and for once, it's not cause you didn't deliver some specific kink that the reader wants.

It's the type of comment that's quite helpful for improving. It made you think, and even admit to some of the flaws.

 

[dirk2024]

Anyway, just needed to vent a little.

Some time ago I read your "Ship's Whore" series and enjoyed it. I'm following you now.

 

[Djmac1031]

Just remember, you're being criticized by someone who thinks it's "threw line."

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I'm with @AwkwardlySet on this one. It IS good feedback. Weaving things together like that is one of the most challenging things to do.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

and of course I'm deeply grateful for the reads and comments, and I understand the frustration. After all, the series is daft as hell, an attempt to weave together a collection of absurd tropes into a coherent story. The resulting tale is indeed chaotic. And...

I haven't read the story of course, but are you sure that you are being misunderstood? You seem to agree with his criticism.

Next question: how much have you plotted this out and how much are you publishing as you go? Going by the comment it sounds like a classic post-each-chapter-as-I-pants-it deal with the inspired fun first chapter that draws in the crowd and then the sputtering aimless plot following. If you have pants-published this, then this is expected. If you haven't, then perhaps you haven't plotted well enough.

It also could just be one single dissatisfied reader to put in perspective, but you also admit that it's not the only critical comment, and that generally the story is not well received.

But overall, it sounds like this is a really high quality comment. It's frank, no bull, and tells you exact details as to what wasn't working for this reader.

 

[AwkwardMD]

I don't love the "I haven't read your story but" tone to a lot of these comments.

Only one thing to do about that.

 

[TheGreatOz]

I have taken to having advisories at the beginning, like:

ADVISORY: While predominantly focusing on heterosexual sodomy, this story also features some lesbian sex, and a few scenes include involuntary female urination (normally as a result of strenuous ass-fucking). There is also one instance of a man drinking a woman's urine (as a prelude to more sodomy). You have been warned!

It sounds awesome!

 

[AwkwardMD]

How long did this take? 8 minutes? 7 of which I spent moving around the house getting ready to read for the next few hours? Chapter 1 starts with an author's note so explicit about the upcoming weird that no one should have misconceptions that this story is about "18 yo gets big cock and an obedient mom."

There is no other way to move past this *very first paragraph* except to strap in and enjoy the ride while it lasts.

@AlinaX you are giving your work too little credit.

 

[EmilyMiller]

It sounds awesome!

It was runner up in the Free Erotcia section of the 2024 Golden Pigtails

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I don't love the "I haven't read your story but" tone to a lot of these comments.

Only one thing to do about that.

I don't have to read the story to comment on a comment.

 

[AwkwardMD]

I don't have to read the story to comment on a comment.

Okay

 

[MrHereWriting]

Got a couple of comments today on my Vale series, one on Ch. 3 with the reader feeling underwhelmed, and then this on Ch. 6:

and of course I'm deeply grateful for the reads and comments, and I understand the frustration. After all, the series is daft as hell, an attempt to weave together a collection of absurd tropes into a coherent story. The resulting tale is indeed chaotic. And...

Readers don't like it. I think they're lured in by the classic trope of 18yo boy getting a supersized cock and an obedient mother, only to find themselves reading futa-on-male and gender change chapters with other characters increasingly taking over.

I get it. I do. Readers like to know what they're getting into, and this story goes all over the place. But there is a story. (Weirdly, there are three. Chapter 5 bookends Chapter 1, Chapter 6 ties up some loose ends, and Chapter 7 changes everything. But whatevs.) And I'm lowkey proud of it.

Anyway, just needed to vent a little.

Translation: Readers don't like my story and here's why...they are too simple to get my work.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Okay

Damn right.

 

[DeMont]

Got a couple of comments today on my Vale series, one on Ch. 3 with the reader feeling underwhelmed, and then this on Ch. 6:

and of course I'm deeply grateful for the reads and comments, and I understand the frustration. After all, the series is daft as hell, an attempt to weave together a collection of absurd tropes into a coherent story. The resulting tale is indeed chaotic. And...

Readers don't like it. I think they're lured in by the classic trope of 18yo boy getting a supersized cock and an obedient mother, only to find themselves reading futa-on-male and gender change chapters with other characters increasingly taking over.

I get it. I do. Readers like to know what they're getting into, and this story goes all over the place. But there is a story. (Weirdly, there are three. Chapter 5 bookends Chapter 1, Chapter 6 ties up some loose ends, and Chapter 7 changes everything. But whatevs.) And I'm lowkey proud of it.

Anyway, just needed to vent a little.

@AlinaX,
You vent all you want. My first ever story got exactly 2 comments, one was very positive and congratulated me on handling the subject matter very well.
The second comment was: WTF?

There is absolutely NO way that all readers are gonna love all your work, so, write what you want, write what you need to, and if you're proud of it it will show to a certain number of the audience. All I can say is stay true to your work and your vision.
Deepest respects,
D.

 

[Statius]

I always wondered if readers following a series or reading a novel pay enough attention to details in the early parts, or do they read, stroke, forget, move on? I don't mean every reader of course, but the majority? There are plenty of writers here after all that do foreshadowing and reference flashback. Just a question. Yes I know some do, but again, I wonder about the majority. Rhetorical question.

Peace.

 

[AchtungNight]

This thread’s title reminds me of an old song.

“I’m just a fool whose intentions are good… oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood!”

 

[Bazzle]

Got a couple of comments today on my Vale series, one on Ch. 3 with the reader feeling underwhelmed, and then this on Ch. 6:

and of course I'm deeply grateful for the reads and comments, and I understand the frustration. After all, the series is daft as hell, an attempt to weave together a collection of absurd tropes into a coherent story. The resulting tale is indeed chaotic. And...

Readers don't like it. I think they're lured in by the classic trope of 18yo boy getting a supersized cock and an obedient mother, only to find themselves reading futa-on-male and gender change chapters with other characters increasingly taking over.

I get it. I do. Readers like to know what they're getting into, and this story goes all over the place. But there is a story. (Weirdly, there are three. Chapter 5 bookends Chapter 1, Chapter 6 ties up some loose ends, and Chapter 7 changes everything. But whatevs.) And I'm lowkey proud of it.

Anyway, just needed to vent a little.

Some people just don't like 'change'

 

[AlinaX]

This thread’s title reminds me of an old song.

“I’m just a fool whose intentions are good… oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood!”

Nina Simone running through my head now.

 

[Husky_Embrace]

I think the Hitchhiker's Guide through the galaxy would also bomb for a lot of readers. The first time I read it I was a teen, and I got pretty far before I truly threw my hands up in absolute confusion. Only a decade later I could appreciate it, but it isn't organised.

Besides, there's always people who do not like the current writing. If you're not using formulas every story is written differently and might not fit even your biggest fan. That happens.