Do you answer all your feedback?

[blushingjen]

I've been getting a good number of emails, thank goodness, since my first couple of stories came out. I just wanted to see what everyone here, especially more experienced people, did about answering all those emails?

Sometimes I don't really know what to say, and I don't know if it's obnoxious to answer with just a quick "I'm glad you liked it, [or, sorry you hated it!] thanks for writing, I appreciate it" and not much more, or if it's kind of rude to not answer at all.

I am trying to be good about answering all the ones that give me something to really respond to, though. The worst is when you get a good one but it's anonymous and you can't!

 

[michchick98]

I've been getting a good number of emails, thank goodness, since my first couple of stories came out. I just wanted to see what everyone here, especially more experienced people, did about answering all those emails?

Sometimes I don't really know what to say, and I don't know if it's obnoxious to answer with just a quick "I'm glad you liked it, [or, sorry you hated it!] thanks for writing, I appreciate it" and not much more, or if it's kind of rude to not answer at all.

I am trying to be good about answering all the ones that give me something to really respond to, though. The worst is when you get a good one but it's anonymous and you can't!

Often times if it's just a standard "Loved the story" type email, I simply reply with a "Glad you liked it. Thanks for reading me" type response. If the person gets into more detail or says something about specific parts of the story, of course, I'll elaborate.

The anonymous ones, well, obviously you can't answer them. I sometimes try to reply on my own stories if I have a particularly large number of anonymous commenters.

If there's a user name on the comments on the story itself, I usually send the generic reply to let them know I've read their feedback. If it's a longer more detailed comment, either good or bad, I'll respond to that accordingly.

I do think it's rude to not answer at all since the person took the time to comment or send you private feedback. Although, I have gone without acknowledging before if it's the same people and the same "loved it" kind of comments, cuz they'd just get my generic response anyway.

 

[ericahope]

I generally reply to everyone who emails me. Of course, I'm a sucker for personal feedback. I love it, particularly when they give me their email address and say more than "Love the story". I like to know specifically why and what they would like to see more of, etc.

By the way Jen...if you give me a link to your stories, I'd love to take a look at them

 

[Guest]

I answer every one. Feedback, particularly specific feedback, is better than votes for me. If they have questions, I try to answer them.

 

[sr71plt]

I respond to all e-mails except the very rare ones that just want to pick a fight (or want anonymously to extend a brush here on the forums to something catty on one of my stories that had nothing to do with the exchange on the forum--which happens more than those who want to pick a fight over the story itself).

Even if there's nothing else that can be said, I can (genuinely) thank them for reading the story and taking the time and effort to let me know what they thought of it.

Since there's no author notification on direct PC notes on stories here, I rarely even know--at least not for a long time--that there has been a PC on one of my stories except for the most current one.

 

[_Lynn_]

If there's a return address, I reply to most of the e-mails. Certain 'offers' are ignored. I answer any questions and address issues brought to my attention. Much of my feedback comes from the same people each time I post something new. I appreciate their loyalty, and this is one way I can let them know that.

 

[CWatson]

I reply to the ones that have anything to say. That's a little bit catty of me, but when someone only sends "Luvd the story, thx", I feel like it's stupid, and a fair bit pointless, to only be able to say "You're welcome, please drive through". I mean, you know? I appreciate every comment, and I'd love to say more, but I feel like this is one of those cases where, if I can't say something well, perhaps I oughtn't say it at all. (I guess that's the writer in me coming out.)

The good news is, you're getting comments! Congratulations!

 

[AchtungNight]

I answer all the feedback I can answer, good or bad. Sometimes I even answer the anonymous bits via the threads in the AH created for that purpose.

 

[sr71plt]

but when someone only sends "Luvd the story, thx", I feel like it's stupid, and a fair bit pointless, to only be able to say "You're welcome, please drive through". I mean, you know?

No, I really don't know. In the category I write mostly here, the readers aren't known to respond at all. They love reading the stories here and come back and back and read more, but they just don't make the effort to respond in any way to the author. They just sort of take the story file for granted. I've seen this phenomenum on other writer's story sites too. It's just what that segment of the readers (don't) do.

So, when someone takes the time and extra effort to click on the e-mail address and actively send a "Luvd the story," I think that's quite enough connection they are making for me to return a simple "Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it and let me know you did."

 

[Guest]

I reply to all non-anonymous feedback that I get.

What I really would like is a feature that would allow me post replies to (anonymous) feedback I get on the public comment board.

 

[sr71plt]

I reply to all non-anonymous feedback that I get.

What I really would like is a feature that would allow me post replies to (anonymous) feedback I get on the public comment board.

You mean out of the public eye, I assume. You can reply directly to them on in the story's PC section. I have sometimes done that.

 

[Guest]

You mean out of the public eye, I assume. You can reply directly to them on in the story's PC section. I have sometimes done that.

Ah yes, I could do that.

But doesn't that mean I will have to vote on my own submission? That feels ... wrong, somehow.

Still, one can never get enough 5 star votes!

 

[JammyJimmy]

Feedback is both astonishly exciting and immensely frustrating.

I make a point of always replying to anyone who's taken the time to send me feedback, and thankfully its all been pretty good so far.
The frustrating part for me is the anonymous feedback you get with questions that you can't respond to!
I had a guy asking me all these questions about the sexuality of the main character (who was heterosexual) or if I was homosexual, because I used a phrase in the story, calling a guy a bitch.
Grrrr... I REALLY wanted to reply and explore the questions the guy was asking me, but couldn't!

However, feedback = big thumbs up for me. LUV IT!

 

[sr71plt]

Ah yes, I could do that.

But doesn't that mean I will have to vote on my own submission? That feels ... wrong, somehow.

Still, one can never get enough 5 star votes!

I believe the system will sweep away any voting you've done for yourself. There's no need for guilt, however, if the system doesn't provide a way of responding without voting.

 

[sr71plt]

Feedback is both astonishly exciting and immensely frustrating.

I make a point of always replying to anyone who's taken the time to send me feedback, and thankfully its all been pretty good so far.
The frustrating part for me is the anonymous feedback you get with questions that you can't respond to!
I had a guy asking me all these questions about the sexuality of the main character (who was heterosexual) or if I was homosexual, because I used a phrase in the story, calling a guy a bitch.
Grrrr... I REALLY wanted to reply and explore the questions the guy was asking me, but couldn't!

However, feedback = big thumbs up for me. LUV IT!

Agree that this is frustrating. Particularly frustrating when the e-mail was from someone with an address (forwarded by Lit.), you tap out your reply and push the send button, only to find that it was a fake address and the e-mail bounces.

 

[rivertown_rat]

Yes, I reply to everybody that leaves an email address, even the haters. I always thank them for the feedback as well. Hopefully that will encourage them to write again in the future. What surprises me the most is that many authors will not write back when I leave feedback - even if I indicate I'm an author too.

 

[_Lynn_]

Agree that this is frustrating. Particularly frustrating when the e-mail was from someone with an address (forwarded by Lit.), you tap out your reply and push the send button, only to find that it was a fake address and the e-mail bounces.

Yes, and especially when the comments are in-depth.
I've had this a few times in recent weeks myself.

 

[patricia51]

I try to answer all of my emails (and story comments too) except for the ones that start out with "I hate you and hope you and everyone in your family contracts a lingering fatal illness" and then get nasty after that and the ones that ask when they can meet me and would I like them to bring their rubber chicken and their Howdy Doody costume. And mistyped email addresses drive me nuts because I want to reply but the person spelled their own name wrong. But the most frustrating ones to me are the one that ask serious and good questions and then forget to sign the email. I even had one follow-up once asking why I hadn't responded to the person's first email. Yep, it was anonymous also.

By the way, I answer "Luved the story" type ones with a simple "Thank you".

 

[rivertown_rat]

patricia51,
I too tend to reply in kind, but sometimes I feel sorry for them and write a bit more. I like to write long stories and post up the individual chapters as I write them. Sometimes I'm annoyed when I get a feedback from someone to the effect "It took so long for you to post the next chapter I thought you had given up on it." That's after three or four weeks. And here I thought I was doing pretty good even at that. But they are my supportive readers, so I try to explain to them that I only write in my spare time and that sometimes more important things, like family, take up all my time.

 

[patricia51]

patricia51,
I too tend to reply in kind, but sometimes I feel sorry for them and write a bit more. I like to write long stories and post up the individual chapters as I write them. Sometimes I'm annoyed when I get a feedback from someone to the effect "It took so long for you to post the next chapter I thought you had given up on it." That's after three or four weeks. And here I thought I was doing pretty good even at that. But they are my supportive readers, so I try to explain to them that I only write in my spare time and that sometimes more important things, like family, take up all my time.

*Giggling* You allow other things to take precendence over pleasing your readers' demands for such things as family? Good for you!! Actually I have found myself slowing down little by little. I don't write near the volumne of stuff I did a couple/three years ago. And a lot of what I do write doesn't find it's way here since it's often non-erotic fanfiction.

 

[sr71plt]

patricia51,
I too tend to reply in kind, but sometimes I feel sorry for them and write a bit more. I like to write long stories and post up the individual chapters as I write them. Sometimes I'm annoyed when I get a feedback from someone to the effect "It took so long for you to post the next chapter I thought you had given up on it." That's after three or four weeks. And here I thought I was doing pretty good even at that. But they are my supportive readers, so I try to explain to them that I only write in my spare time and that sometimes more important things, like family, take up all my time.

But by doing this you are, in fact, irritating your readers and disrupting the flow of something they've taken an interest in--and are in danger of losing their interest. So, I don't think you should be the one to be annoyed for disappointing someone who has invested time/effort/interest in your stories. But that's just me.

I think this is one of the better arguments for not starting to post until you can reach the end in a smooth fashion that doesn't jerk the reader around.

 

[Guest]

But by doing this you are, in fact, irritating your readers and disrupting the flow of something they've taken an interest in--and are in danger of losing their interest. So, I don't think you should be the one to be annoyed for disappointing someone who has invested time/effort/interest in your stories. But that's just me.

I think this is one of the better arguments for not starting to post until you can reach the end in a smooth fashion that doesn't jerk the reader around.

I am not sure if I completely agree with you. As a reader I certainly don't. I don't read serialized fiction, but I do read a disturbing amount of webcomics. I never feel that the creators 'owe' me anything, and don't believe I have the right to get irritated at infrequent updates - they are providing me a service for free.

On the other hand: As I writer I clearly see the benefits of publishing regularly and rather frequently - it is the way to keep the readers coming back. I was just liberated from using the Internet for a little over two weeks, and the latest chapter (http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=409406) of my novel is struggling to catch up with the number of views the rest of the chapters have. I hope to be able to publish once per week, on the same day, from now on, in order to give my readers a sense of predictability.

I also like to publish whilst writing, and have a feeling that eventually I will quit writing in the middle of a story. Though I hope to have a large number of completed stories by that time.

 

[rivertown_rat]

But by doing this you are, in fact, irritating your readers and disrupting the flow of something they've taken an interest in--and are in danger of losing their interest. So, I don't think you should be the one to be annoyed for disappointing someone who has invested time/effort/interest in your stories. But that's just me.

I think this is one of the better arguments for not starting to post until you can reach the end in a smooth fashion that doesn't jerk the reader around.

That's certainly a valid point, and one I understand. However, I am doing this as a hobby for my own personal enjoyment. I don't post them to be popular or get lots of fans, although that's a nice fringe benefit. I hope others enjoy reading them, but if they don't or can't handle waiting a few weeks for each installment, then by all means they should find something else to read. I'm not trying to be an arrogant ass here, but I'm OK with that.

Also keep in mind that I currently have two long serials going and I alternate between them to give myself some variety. I found myself getting bored with just one and the quality started to suffer. I think after these are finished I'll try some singles and see how that works for me. My problem is that I always seem to have too much material for just one story and once I develop a character I'm reluctant to just cast them off and make another.

I guess we all have our own style, and that's probably for the best.

 

[sr71plt]

That's certainly a valid point, and one I understand. However, I am doing this as a hobby for my own personal enjoyment. I don't post them to be popular or get lots of fans, although that's a nice fringe benefit. I hope others enjoy reading them, but if they don't or can't handle waiting a few weeks for each installment, then by all means they should find something else to read. I'm not trying to be an arrogant ass here, but I'm OK with that.

Also keep in mind that I currently have two long serials going and I alternate between them to give myself some variety. I found myself getting bored with just one and the quality started to suffer. I think after these are finished I'll try some singles and see how that works for me. My problem is that I always seem to have too much material for just one story and once I develop a character I'm reluctant to just cast them off and make another.

I guess we all have our own style, and that's probably for the best.

That's fine--you have your reasons. But I read your post as you thinking the irritation of your posting rhythm could be blamed on your complaining readers--when, since you're the one giving the reader erratic service, I think they are the ones with the right to be irritated.

 

[ilikeitlikethat18]

I don't answer all of them, for various reasons.
If someone just simply said one sentance...
I don't normally answer it.
If the person said a lot, and obviously really liked my story, I answer them with a thank you, and if they asked me a not-too-personal question, I may answer that.

I've gotten some REALLY creepy emails so...I don't normally answer those. Also, beware of someone asking you to read their stories. If they're not posted on Lit, there's probably a good reason for it :[