When I can finish reading a story I vote and comment!

[redptc]

I do not always finish a story that I start to read but when I do I always make a comment and I post a vote.

I try to make my comments a bit constuctive and I like to give an indication of an arousal level. I feel that if an author wants to carry the discussion further they would make contact and perhaps indicate that they might like to chat about their story more.

I seldom get a thank you or any other indication in return!

I guess I should not be surprised to hear the discussion in some threads regarding various author's level of interest in 'comments' but, I am.

I guess if people do not want readers to make comments then I had better demure!

 

[sr71plt]

I do not always finish a story that I start to read but when I do I always make a comment and I post a vote.

I try to make my comments a bit constuctive and I like to give an indication of an arousal level. I feel that if an author wants to carry the discussion further they would make contact and perhaps indicate that they might like to chat about their story more.

I seldom get a thank you or any other indication in return!

I guess I should not be surprised to hear the discussion in some threads regarding various author's level of interest in 'comments' but, I am.

I guess if people do not want readers to make comments then I had better demure!

I don't know about others here, but I almost never respond to a public comment on one of my stories (and when I do, I do it in another public comment). I will respond to an e-mail, if complimentary or wishing to pursue a discussion of the story and a valid e-mail address is included (about a third of those sending me an e-mail from Lit. are using a fake e-mail address and a response bounces, however)--in a return e-mail. And I just won't get into a fight if I get an uncomplimentary e-mail.

I have over 250 stories here; I rarely even know when a public comment has been put on a story that's been on the list for more than a couple of weeks--the Web site doesn't notify me when a public comment has been added to a story.

And, to be honest, I don't buy into comments on a story as being an opening to a relationship. I take them as a response to the story itself. I don't write and post the stories as a pickup line. If a reader wants to pursue the discussion of a story, for me, they'll need to e-mail.

 

[TxRad]

I do not always finish a story that I start to read but when I do I always make a comment and I post a vote.

I try to make my comments a bit constuctive and I like to give an indication of an arousal level. I feel that if an author wants to carry the discussion further they would make contact and perhaps indicate that they might like to chat about their story more.

I seldom get a thank you or any other indication in return!

I guess I should not be surprised to hear the discussion in some threads regarding various author's level of interest in 'comments' but, I am.

I guess if people do not want readers to make comments then I had better demure!

If a PC has a user name I try to reply with a thank you note. But like was stated before, realizing you have a new PC is sometimes hit and miss. I try to check at least weekly on older stories but I do miss some. with 63 stories it is hard to remember which had how many PC's.

E-mails I also try to answer if the comment seems to warrant one. Likewise I don't answer argumentative replies. I have met some very interesting people through e-mails and some are now long time on-line friends. Other writers have become friends this way also. There are several new writers that I try to help as much as time allows.

So yes, I answer comments as best I can and I think most writers on here do also. The problem is time and finding the new comments.

 

[Darkniciad]

I reply to every signed comment that I catch. With 89 stories/chapters up across 2 pen names, I have the same problem catching them all on older stories that has already been mentioned.

I always send off at least a quick thank you note to any valid email address for email comments as well. If there are questions or specific things addressed, I usually put a little info in about that. The only thing I don't respond to ( at least directly ) are venom-spitting with no constructive points. Those ( and anonymous Qs that simply don't have valid email attached ) get dealt with on my website.

In one way or another, I respond to every bit of feedback I receive, even if it's just a quick note in the closing footnotes of the next chapter or a general thank you on my website.

 

[starrkers]

I do not always finish a story that I start to read but when I do I always make a comment and I post a vote.

I try to make my comments a bit constuctive and I like to give an indication of an arousal level. I feel that if an author wants to carry the discussion further they would make contact and perhaps indicate that they might like to chat about their story more.

I seldom get a thank you or any other indication in return!

I guess I should not be surprised to hear the discussion in some threads regarding various author's level of interest in 'comments' but, I am.

I guess if people do not want readers to make comments then I had better demure!

You commented on my first ever story.

Good writing!
12/12/06 By: redptc in Oz
I always comment on a storey that I read to the end. I am not into the genre and did not like the storey but you write well. Some hackneyed words and phrases but when writing erotic storeys it is hard to avoid them.

It was such a mixed comment I didn't know how to respond at the time. Now I do, so I will.

Thank you for reading my story and commenting. I'm sorry you wasted your time on a type of story you don't enjoy. I'm even sorrier you took no notice of the category before you read it. Presumably then you wouldn't have bothered and wouldn't have down voted a well written story.
Being in such a low traffic area, it has never gained enough votes to recover from your displeasure.

I didn't find the comment in any way constructive or helpful. All it did was show me that readers will slam my writing no matter how "good" it is if they don't like the subject.

So, thanks. I think.

 

[redptc]

Seems to confirm the value of presenting a comment and even that of voting!

Sorry Starrkers but you did put your story on an 'open' forum and the indication was that you wanted comments and a vote. I probably ventured into reading it by the title or description. Is this unusual?

Don't fret about any future writing being voted on by me.

PS. I did say that I thought it was 'good writing'...................I guess we agree on that!

 

[tickledkitty]

I always thank people for comments when they're not posted anonymously. I only have four stories posted though, two under this name and two under an alt with my partner, so it's relatively easy for me to keep up.

 

[sr71plt]

Seems to confirm the value of presenting a comment and even that of voting!

Sorry Starrkers but you did put your story on an 'open' forum and the indication was that you wanted comments and a vote. I probably ventured into reading it by the title or description. Is this unusual?

Don't fret about any future writing being voted on by me.

PS. I did say that I thought it was 'good writing'...................I guess we agree on that!

This discussion crops up fairly often. Authors here tend to think that comments should be on how well they wrote in the genre rather than that the reader doesn't like the genre and so is going to leave negative comment on the story. Your comment on Starrker's story includes a line of critique that many authors here do not think is a legitimate criterion for negative comment on a specific story. So, don't be surprised by the lack of sympathy here on that point.

 

[starrkers]

Seems to confirm the value of presenting a comment and even that of voting!

Sorry Starrkers but you did put your story on an 'open' forum and the indication was that you wanted comments and a vote. I probably ventured into reading it by the title or description. Is this unusual?

Don't fret about any future writing being voted on by me.

PS. I did say that I thought it was 'good writing'...................I guess we agree on that!

The story was posted to Erotic Horror. The title was "New Blood" the description says "A gorgeous man, a locked door, a strange ritual" - I would've thought there were enough warning bells there that it might not be your thing.
I certainly like getting coments. That same story has a quite deep critique as a comment. It is not blowing wind up my skirt and tells me what the commenter thinks is wrong with the story. The vote given reflects the comment.
I only have a problem when votes don't reflect fairly. I feel yours did not, for the simple fact that you didn't leave your prejudices at the intro. You down voted a horror story in a horror category because it was horror.

 

[Darkniciad]

This discussion crops up fairly often. Authors here tend to think that comments should be on how well they wrote in the genre rather than that the reader doesn't like the genre and so is going to leave negative comment on the story. Your comment on Starrker's story includes a line of critique that many authors here do not think is a legitimate criterion for negative comment on a specific story. So, don't be surprised by the lack of sympathy here on that point.

Yep.

It might be different if it was one huge unsorted collection, but there are categories for a reason.

While some may be misleading and open to interpretation ( Loving Wives ) It's fairly obvious what you're going to get when you open a Gay Male, Anal, Lesbian Sex, BDSM, Non-Con/Reluctance, etc. story.

You should know you aren't going to like it before you read the first word, if the genre isn't to your taste. It's like ordering something you know you aren't going to like, eating the whole dish, and then calling the chef over to tell him "Well, you cooked this well, but I hate eggplant, so this meal sucked." and then only paying half price.

( Insert Tim Allen sound effect here )

 

[redptc]

Well highjacked! My comments were about some writer's arrogant refusal to acknowledge comments and disdain for the votes expressed.

How I commented on one single story is irrelevent! Especially when my comments were not unfavourable. Merely not praise enough for a would be author!

In some of the threads here people descibe the readers, especially those that make a comment, as morons.

If you do not want comments then you are writing to a vacuum. Whats the point!

 

[Darkniciad]

Well highjacked! My comments were about some writer's arrogant refusal to acknowledge comments and disdain for the votes expressed.

How I commented on one single story is irrelevent! Especially when my comments were not unfavourable. Merely not praise enough for a would be author!

In some of the threads here people descibe the readers, especially those that make a comment, as morons.

If you do not want comments then you are writing to a vacuum. Whats the point!

Well, you received at least three comments related directly to your original post. Unless I missed it, you haven't replied to any of those comments. That puts us in rather the same situation you're describing in the OP, doesn't it?

While your OP addresses a legitimate grievance quite well, it has been done to death in other threads. A search might benefit you in the future. 50% for effort.

 

[sr71plt]

Well, you received at least three comments related directly to your original post. Unless I missed it, you haven't replied to any of those comments. That puts us in rather the same situation you're describing in the OP, doesn't it?

While your OP addresses a legitimate grievance quite well, it has been done to death in other threads. A search might benefit you in the future. 50% for effort.

I can only give it a 25% because I don't like the genre.

 

[scouries]

keep voting...

redptc

RE YOUR COMMENT: When I can finish reading a story I vote and comment!

Good for you! We need a lot more just like you. And you know, even if you can’t finish a story you can still go to the end and vote and lets us know what you didn’t like about it. We won’t improve much if we only receive gushing praise.

RE YOUR COMMENT: In some of the threads here people describe the readers, especially those that make a comment, as morons.

Yes, too often many forum posters do! Making fun of the commenter is easier than addressing the fact that someone didn’t like their story. But outside of this ‘intellectual elite’ most LITEROTICA authors have a great deal of respect for our readers. We love the thought that there are people from around the world taking the time to read something we’ve read.

READ ON….theN VOTE and COMMENT

jrs

 

[Agnol]

If I make it to the end of a story I will always vote. If I don't make it to the end of a story it's generally because I didn't like the story line, not with how well the story was written. With that thought in mind I don't vote, because it's not fair that they wrote something I particularly dislike and I shouldn't take out my personal vendetta on them. I don't troll categories that I know I won't like though either.

On the other hand if you write something poorly and I enjoy the storyline I'll make it to the end and vote. My vote may be an indication of how poorly I thought the piece was written though.

As for comments: I'm brutal and I know it. I have written countless feedbacks only to not send them because I fear my comments are too much. (I have just recently edited a piece for an author who took the time to do the same for me and when I was finished I was seriously worried that I was going to get hate mail.)

Public comments are not the beginning of a conversation. PC's are just that, thoughts that you think the author and other readers should know. If you want some acknowledgment send an email with a valid address.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Two things -

I get far more comments in email than PCs. The emails are always responded to, assuming they are not annonymous.

I and, I think, many writers on Lit try to respond to the PC's, although there is some failure there. The problem is, I look at the stories only rarely and miss most of them.

 

[redptc]

I can now see how authors with a large number of stories on file can miss responding to 'personal comments'.

I am always surprised at the volume of stories going through! They move on so quickly from the 'new' category and into the mainstream.

I am very interested to hear that emails are considered a more sincere form of communication. I know how challenging writing a good short story can be and I often see elements that I would like to make comment on.

Experimenting by a reader, going from one 'genre' to another, is probably not that challenging or difficult to undertake. I, for one, am always on the look-out for
new interests. I read all the time, not just eroticism, but many and varied, novels and others. I also write.

I don't understand the voting so much because it appears that a low vote can severely effect the result. Perhaps this comes from the rather minimal participation.

So I guess, I won't vote, no PCs and if,sufficiently moved, I can email emote!

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I can now see how authors with a large number of stories on file can miss responding to 'personal comments'.

I am always surprised at the volume of stories going through! They move on so quickly from the 'new' category and into the mainstream.

I am very interested to hear that emails are considered a more sincere form of communication. I know how challenging writing a good short story can be and I often see elements that I would like to make comment on.

Experimenting by a reader, going from one 'genre' to another, is probably not that challenging or difficult to undertake. I, for one, am always on the look-out for
new interests. I read all the time, not just eroticism, but many and varied, novels and others. I also write.

I don't understand the voting so much because it appears that a low vote can severely effect the result. Perhaps this comes from the rather minimal participation.

So I guess, I won't vote, no PCs and if,sufficiently moved, I can email emote!

No, I think you misundersand. We apprecieate the votes. Hopefully everyone who reads a story will take the time to click a star. You'll find that most of the writers on here do vote. It's the PCs that tend to be overlooked.

Voting does two things - It gives some kind of yardstick to the writer (poor as it may be) to measure the strength of his/her story and it gives the reader a chance to participate in the process.

Personally, I don't care for the voting as done on Lit, but it's most likely the best that can be done. Allowing the readers to vote gives them a sense of ownership in the site. Without them, why would we bother to post stories at all?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I've had very few comments that weren't anonymous. Where possible, I write a thank-you's. I certainly never start a fight with someone who didn't like what I wrote. If you want response to your comments, leave an email adress. I won't respond in the comment section. That's just asking for trouble.

 

[mellowgyrl]

I'm confused here. Are you saying that you used to vote and leave comments for each story that you've read and you're upset because those stories that you have left comments on, the authors don't reply to your comments?

I've only submitted three stories but have replied to every comment that I could. If the comment was anonymous I obviously couldn't. I can see how the more experienced writers have difficulty going through each story to monitor new PCs but us novice writers check on a regular basis (at least I do!). My editor has instructed me to and as a personal courtesy I love replying to all PCs - even the negative ones (can't learn from positive comments alone).

I hope you don't stop voting and leaving comments as I know from personal experience they're greatly appreciated.

 

[Lalah]

I usually don't reply to public comments. I see them more as addressed to the audience than at me directly. But I reply to my private feedback, I keep checking my email every day.

 

[redptc]

Mellowgyrl and Lalah, I feel that some reader reaction is vitally important and, I am pleased that i started this thread, I have learned how to properly communicate in this 'community'.

I will continue to present my feelings but it appears that emails are the way to go!