Feedback VS Requests...

[MaleThonger]

So just currious, I have recieved some feedback on my stories (which I love to get! Thanks!) and while it has all been positive, inevitably it sounds something like this... "Great story! Really hot. But what about if the couple was a mother and son? Or were they black?" I dont mind constructive critisim and thoughts and musings about what ifs, and was just currious if anyone else had this happen to them. And if so what did you do? Did you oblige your reader and write another story featuring the characteristics they waned? Do you continue to do the stories you want regardless of what they thnk?

 

[Bianca_Sommerland]

So just currious, I have recieved some feedback on my stories (which I love to get! Thanks!) and while it has all been positive, inevitably it sounds something like this... "Great story! Really hot. But what about if the couple was a mother and son? Or were they black?" I dont mind constructive critisim and thoughts and musings about what ifs, and was just currious if anyone else had this happen to them. And if so what did you do? Did you oblige your reader and write another story featuring the characteristics they waned? Do you continue to do the stories you want regardless of what they thnk?

Continue the storiesyou want. Your stories will be all over the place if you follow every turn the readers suggest. Write the best story you can, and if a suggestion inspires you, write another including it.

JMO.

 

[sr71plt]

Oblige? Naw. Let them write their own stories.

 

[driphoney]

So just currious, I have recieved some feedback on my stories (which I love to get! Thanks!) and while it has all been positive, inevitably it sounds something like this... "Great story! Really hot. But what about if the couple was a mother and son? Or were they black?" I dont mind constructive critisim and thoughts and musings about what ifs, and was just currious if anyone else had this happen to them. And if so what did you do? Did you oblige your reader and write another story featuring the characteristics they waned? Do you continue to do the stories you want regardless of what they thnk?

Yep, to your first question. The first time was so funny and off track I just chuckled and told them, sorry, the story was already written (it was), but thanks so much for taking the time to pm me. The next time it was more really not a suggestion, but it made me pause and change my story. Mistake, but it wasn't anyone's fault but my own.

But to answer your deeper questions, no, I wouldn't feel obliged at all. I can only write the story that comes to my head and hope readers might like it. Many writers do seem to get strong strokes from pleasing the reader and do cater to them within reason, understand the 'market' (genre) expectations, but this is for the strokes they, the writer, get from the feedback, not to bend over backward for a particular reader. Could drive you nuts doing that!

Welcome to the AH.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Of course you keep writing the stories you want to write. Being inspired by others or bouncing ideas off one another is one thing, but ending up with Mad Libs or Twist-a-Plot is quite another. Writing is an organic process that takes place mostly in the writer's own head. Doing requests or writing to please a crowd is, IMO, the road to writer's block.

 

[ExoMani]

So just currious, I have recieved some feedback on my stories (which I love to get! Thanks!) and while it has all been positive, inevitably it sounds something like this... "Great story! Really hot. But what about if the couple was a mother and son? Or were they black?" I dont mind constructive critisim and thoughts and musings about what ifs, and was just currious if anyone else had this happen to them. And if so what did you do? Did you oblige your reader and write another story featuring the characteristics they waned? Do you continue to do the stories you want regardless of what they thnk?

I’ve received some requests, along with the feedback. I find the reader requests interesting, and sometimes amusing, but I politely ignore them.

I reserve the right to write the stories I want to write, thank you very much!

 

[bronzeage]

I have written many stories at the request of friends, but never had a good idea from a story comment.

 

[JamesSD]

So just currious, I have recieved some feedback on my stories (which I love to get! Thanks!) and while it has all been positive, inevitably it sounds something like this... "Great story! Really hot. But what about if the couple was a mother and son? Or were they black?" I dont mind constructive critisim and thoughts and musings about what ifs, and was just currious if anyone else had this happen to them. And if so what did you do? Did you oblige your reader and write another story featuring the characteristics they waned? Do you continue to do the stories you want regardless of what they thnk?

I would say a third to half of my feedback is this sort. As a lot of my stories are heavy on "stroke" factor, a lot of readers want their particular fetish fulfilled. Pregnancy seems to be a bit one for at least a few active Lit readers.

I've also gotten requests for sequels, which is flattering, but in a couple cases the story was so clearly closed-ended I was confused where a sequel could possibly go. Through an e-mail exchange I convinced the reader they didn't actually want a sequel but rather a new story with similar plot elements.

If you're like most of us your writing time is limited, and sometimes it's very hard to put ideas to page. I strongly suggest focusing on what catches your interests. If a reader gives you an idea you love, great, but don't feel pressure to cater to someone's requests.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I always laugh at the requests. "I would love your story if it were some completely different story..."

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Everyone keeps asking me to make the husband in my incest series a cuckold, even though he and his wife have already had a loving sex scene together. I emailed one writer that I wasn't going to push it in that direction, and he said something along the lines of, "That's ok that you want him to be involved, so long as he doesn't get involved and is cuckolded." I didn't know what else to say after that...

And the pregnancy thing too. I'm toying around with that one in a spin off series though.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Everyone keeps asking me to make the husband in my incest series a cuckold, even though he and his wife have already had a loving sex scene together. I emailed one writer that I wasn't going to push it in that direction, and he said something along the lines of, "That's ok that you want him to be involved, so long as he doesn't get involved and is cuckolded." I didn't know what else to say after that...

And the pregnancy thing too. I'm toying around with that one in a spin off series though.

I hereby revoke any and all orgasms I've ever had to your stories, if you ever include a pregnancy.

omigod, that turns me OFF.

 

[TxRad]

Feedback with requests for sequels, even if the story has a closed end, I can understand. The reader wants to know more about the characters or likes the idea behind the story. Those I file away for future reference.

Requests for changing the story line I ignore for the most part. I do make note of some things for future stories.

Then there is the request to write a story specifically for someone. for a long time i couldn't figure out how to handle these. I'd e-mailed back and forth with some of them but couldn't get a clear enough idea of who or what they wanted. I don't think they really knew.

I've had one guy as of late that won't take a hint that I can't really do a story for him. I finally told him I'd do it but I need some information from him.

Here's the list:

Photos of all characters to be use both front and back as well as dressed and undress.

Full, mental, physical, and sexual histories of said character since age 18. No character allow below that age.

Pictures of their cars and where they live, inside and out.

Pictures of the street they live on and the area where the story is to be set.

A complete set of notes on what you want in the story and when, where, and how you want it to happen.

Once you have all this together, you can now write the story yourself as You don't need me anymore.

I haven't heard from him again.

 

[kromen]

I think a lot of readers nowadays invest so much of themselves into a fictional character, they feel lost when the story takes an uncomfortable turn. I don't like happy endings and catch a little flak when the main characters say goodbye instead of getting married, children, picket fence romance. Go figure.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I think a lot of readers nowadays invest so much of themselves into a fictional character, they feel lost when the story takes an uncomfortable turn. I don't like happy endings and catch a little flak when the main characters say goodbye instead of getting married, children, picket fence romance. Go figure.

I like happy goodbye endings. Everyone gets off like thunder, and goes on with their lives, fortified by this explosive experience. I was rather surprised the first time I was accused of writing a sad ending.

 

[Fantasies_only]

Yep, to your first question. The first time was so funny and off track I just chuckled and told them, sorry, the story was already written (it was), but thanks so much for taking the time to pm me. The next time it was more really not a suggestion, but it made me pause and change my story. Mistake, but it wasn't anyone's fault but my own.

But to answer your deeper questions, no, I wouldn't feel obliged at all. I can only write the story that comes to my head and hope readers might like it. Many writers do seem to get strong strokes from pleasing the reader and do cater to them within reason, understand the 'market' (genre) expectations, but this is for the strokes they, the writer, get from the feedback, not to bend over backward for a particular reader. Could drive you nuts doing that!

Welcome to the AH.

If you are talking about me (forgot who I talked to), I merely strongly suggested that you change it (mind control story with minor reference).
I think the text turned out way better (my suggestions could have been better), and surprisingly had more chapters than I thought it would (lost the series).

 

[Bianca_Sommerland]

I would say a third to half of my feedback is this sort. As a lot of my stories are heavy on "stroke" factor, a lot of readers want their particular fetish fulfilled. Pregnancy seems to be a bit one for at least a few active Lit readers.

I've also gotten requests for sequels, which is flattering, but in a couple cases the story was so clearly closed-ended I was confused where a sequel could possibly go. Through an e-mail exchange I convinced the reader they didn't actually want a sequel but rather a new story with similar plot elements.

If you're like most of us your writing time is limited, and sometimes it's very hard to put ideas to page. I strongly suggest focusing on what catches your interests. If a reader gives you an idea you love, great, but don't feel pressure to cater to someone's requests.

That just made me realize I do cater to readers more than I realize. One reader who was very nice asked me to do another story along the lines of one I'd written, only with more detail (the first one was pretty closed-ended). I'd already committed most of my free time to my first series but I wrote the story, was happy with it, and posted it.

Now I have two series going and feel the pressure to get the next parts for both up ASAP. Not my best idea

OP be very, very careful about writing to please your readers. Only thing I can imagine being worse than taking on too much would be to take it on and not make the person you were aiming to please happy at all!

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I hereby revoke any and all orgasms I've ever had to your stories, if you ever include a pregnancy.

omigod, that turns me OFF.

Technically, I have already done a pregnancy when Jennifer Love Hewitt gave birth to a tentacle maggot

 

[driphoney]

If you are talking about me (forgot who I talked to), I merely strongly suggested that you change it (mind control story with minor reference).
I think the text turned out way better (my suggestions could have been better), and surprisingly had more chapters than I thought it would (lost the series).

Nope. I wasn't talking about anyone specifically at all except when I referenced myself. I know several readers here who really thrive on their feedback and many hear have made comments that indicate that they know their audience and write with an eye to it. I think it's great. I'm just not that talented. I have to listen to the voices in my head.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Technically, I have already done a pregnancy when Jennifer Love Hewitt gave birth to a tentacle maggot

Dude, I can't believe I missed this.

 

[MaleThonger]

Thanks so much for all the good advice guys and gals. I think I always intened to, well "to thy own self be true" to quote the Bard, but wondered what everone else does. Now I feel better about following my gut.

 

[LitRiter]

Well...

I do have to admit... I received feedback after the first entry of a serialized story that made me change the entire remainder of it. I was about two-thirds of the way through the second part when I received feedback urging me to hold off on a major plot point.

I looked at what I'd written and saw that I was indeed jumping in with both feet. I thought about it, agonized, and saw pretty clearly that he was right. Chapter Two became Chapter Four, and the whole story is so much better for it. Not that it's A Tale of Two Cities...but it's one hell of a lot better than it would have been.

Strangely, out of nine parts, that fourth chapter is far and away the highest rated of the bunch...I assume partly because of the anticipation for it built up in the previous chapters.

I'm only saying that any feedback that contains suggestion should be considered. It's not often that we get a chance to "spitball" story ideas with anyone.

*****
"Okay, so I'm thinking that the main character should get together with the dashing hero in the next chapter," I said, watching him closely for any clues to his opinion.

"Uh, whatever, Dude," he replied, giving me a wary look. "Did you want the curly fries or regular?"