Fear of publishing

[NickiC]

I have stories I think would be good here but I have so much fear about doing it. Does anyone else feel that? I am used to being critiqued and judged and all of that but I have stories but the fear is almost paralyzing. It is weird because I want to.

 

[PennLady]

I have stories I think would be good here but I have so much fear about doing it. Does anyone else feel that? I am used to being critiqued and judged and all of that but I have stories but the fear is almost paralyzing. It is weird because I want to.

You can disable voting and feedback, if that would help to start with.

And remember that this isn't peer review. We all want people to like our stories, but we don't know all the readers on this site. As I saw in an article about internet comments earlier today (paraphrasing): you wouldn't take someone named BonerDude16 seriously in real life, so why be so affected by what he says online?

I do think a lot people fear the reception they'll get and I think it's pretty natural, but you have to put it in perspective. The readers here don't know you, nor you them. It's natural to want to be liked, but why put so much stock in what strangers think?

So I think after a bit, you'll have to -- and would probably want to -- take the leap and post. good luck.

 

[sr71plt]

As PL posts, you could start off disabling votes at least and see what sort of comments you get (and you can erase any of those you don't like). It's a pretty supportive system.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Hey, I was a little frightened at first. I go over it after the first nice comment.

There will always be those that like your stuff and those that don't.

And you can always delete those comments that don't bring any substance to the process of writing.

As for votes...it's always nice to get high scores, but I found I write for myself more than the reader. If they like it and give me a good score, I'm fine with that. If the hate it and give me a low score, I'm fine with that too.

The exception is the LW Category. I turn off voting and comments for those.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

You could grow some thicker hide. I mean, they crucified Jesus so what hope is there for you!

 

[lovecraft68]

It is a big step. You're taking something you created and are proud of and laying it bare re for all to see.

In real life these things can be tough, but the internet makes it tougher because people are a lot meaner and spiteful with the safety of the net and no fear of repercussions

But for the nasty remark you will get here you'll also get many good ones. Despite how often they are discussed here the trolls are the minority and you can delete any comment you don't like.

Lit has a huge and varied product and a readership for all of it. You may find some who love your material some that don't, but when you keep going you gain more fans than you do detractors because once they know you are 'not for them' they wander off.

So its not always about one story, the more you post the better reception you get as your audience finds you.

JBJ is right, you do have to be able to let shit roll off you. If someone says something ridiculous "you fucking suck' how seriously should that be taken?

 

[lovecraft68]

You can disable voting and feedback, if that would help to start with.

And remember that this isn't peer review. We all want people to like our stories, but we don't know all the readers on this site. As I saw in an article about internet comments earlier today (paraphrasing): you would take someone named BonerDude16 seriously in real life, so why be so affected my what he says online?

I do think a lot people fear the reception they'll get and I think it's pretty natural, but you have to put it in perspective. The readers here don't know you, nor you them. It's natural to want to be liked, but why put so much stock in what strangers think?

So I think after a bit, you'll have to -- and would probably want to -- take the leap and post. good luck.

I would still respect bonerdude16 more than anon....at least he created a name.

 

[JaxRhapsody]

I only care about those who like what I write, I don't have much of the fear of rejection anymore- I'm used to it. The only thing that crossed my mind when I started posting, was; yay, a site to post my stories. Results wasn't even an afterthought. You can't make everyone happy, not even your fans.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I have stories I think would be good here but I have so much fear about doing it. Does anyone else feel that? I am used to being critiqued and judged and all of that but I have stories but the fear is almost paralyzing. It is weird because I want to.

Yeah, I get that. I have to remind myself that yeah, my stories are flawed, but so is everything ever written (albeit some more so than others...)

And although some commenters are jerks, there are a lot of really nice ones too.

 

[oggbashan]

I have stories I think would be good here but I have so much fear about doing it. Does anyone else feel that? I am used to being critiqued and judged and all of that but I have stories but the fear is almost paralyzing. It is weird because I want to.

There are disadvantages to publishing on the internet, as there are to publishing anywhere:

1. You may get adverse comments, some abusive.
2. Your story can be stolen and posted elsewhere. Despite copyright, there is really nothing you can do to prevent that.
3. You could get personal abuse.

BUT - if you post on Literotica:

1. Other people will read your story/stories. They might like your work and leave good comments.
2. You can 'forget' your story and stop revising it to make it better. Most of us are never satisfied that we have made the story perfect.
3. The comments might help to make you a better author.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

I have stories I think would be good here but I have so much fear about doing it. Does anyone else feel that? I am used to being critiqued and judged and all of that but I have stories but the fear is almost paralyzing. It is weird because I want to.

t a pretty low level, unless

I think PL, sr, Ogg and LC give very good advice.

If you are dyslexic, get an editor to just tidy up your text.

Critiquing and judging here is usually fairly mild unless you try Loving Wives.

Try posting a story and start a thread in Story Feedback. That should give some support.

 

[Lit_Zombie]

or you could

Post a snippet to the editors forum and maybe get a little insight there.

If you have one ready i'd say go with JBJ. PL is one of the authors that made me want to be a part of this community and 68 (yeah I'll call you what I want) has great stories as well. Even Zeb has good ideas every now and then.

Post it. And PM me, if its worth 5 stars. you'll get at least one vote from me.

I browse stories at the 4.7 range. If I find a Ch. 7 at 4.7 with a Ch.1 at 4.1. All that means to me is improvement. So, I start at the beginning.

You should too. we can't all be as big as PL on our first post. Give it a try. Let the readers vote and ignore anything that doesn't help.

 

[lovecraft68]

Post a snippet to the editors forum and maybe get a little insight there.

If you have one ready i'd say go with JBJ. PL is one of the authors that made me want to be a part of this community and 68 (yeah I'll call you what I want) has great stories as well. Even Zeb has good ideas every now and then.

Post it. And PM me, if its worth 5 stars. you'll get at least one vote from me.

I browse stories at the 4.7 range. If I find a Ch. 7 at 4.7 with a Ch.1 at 4.1. All that means to me is improvement. So, I start at the beginning.

You should too. we can't all be as big as PL on our first post. Give it a try. Let the readers vote and ignore anything that doesn't help.

Just want to note something

a Ch one at 4.1 and a ch 7 at 4.7 isn't always about improvement. Higher chapters score better than early ones because as the series progresses people who are meh about the series will drop off leaving a mostly dedicated fan base to read it. So each chapter is now mostly being read by people who love the series and will vote high

If you start looking closely almost every ch one/two is lower scored than th chapters in the higher numbers.

 

[Lit_Zombie]

Just want to note something

a Ch one at 4.1 and a ch 7 at 4.7 isn't always about improvement. Higher chapters score better than early ones because as the series progresses people who are meh about the series will drop off leaving a mostly dedicated fan base to read it. So each chapter is now mostly being read by people who love the series and will vote high

If you start looking closely almost every ch one/two is lower scored than th chapters in the higher numbers.

that is very/mostly true.

When I find an Author that I like. I follow them (Tenou, ltpc, Over_Red, Etaski, rhev and there are more) regardless of what the chapter is rated. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I love their adventures. Their characters. And Ideas.

I found most of them the same way. Click a category and spin. 'mid book. Hmm could be good.'

All of their writing has improved. Which also helped with their ratings. (well rhev and Etaski have things going on. )

So yeah, you are right. In a way

 

[lovecraft68]

that is very/mostly true.

When I find an Author that I like. I follow them (Tenou, ltpc, Over_Red, Etaski, rhev and there are more) regardless of what the chapter is rated. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I love their adventures. Their characters. And Ideas.

I found most of them the same way. Click a category and spin. 'mid book. Hmm could be good.'

All of their writing has improved. Which also helped with their ratings. (well rhev and Etaski have things going on. )

So yeah, you are right. In a way

I look back at my first two stories and shudder. I'm far from perfect now, but my first few months? Ugh....

 

[Lit_Zombie]

all I'm saying is:

OP should do it. dive in.

If you need help first. You have the resources here.

The only opinions that matter are: Your own and those that you care about.

 

[oggbashan]

I look back at my first two stories and shudder. I'm far from perfect now, but my first few months? Ugh....

Some of my early ones aren't bad. Some were. Some of my later ones are also bad. My own judgement isn't a prediction of readers' opinion. Some I think were poor are liked; some I think were reasonable are not popular.

I haven't lost the ability to write absolute stinkers.

What I have lost is any concern about 'anonymous' making abusive comments. I might delete mere abuse after several months, or years, but not immediately. If anon doesn't like a story and says why I appreciate that response.

 

[lovecraft68]

Some of my early ones aren't bad. Some were. Some of my later ones are also bad. My own judgement isn't a prediction of readers' opinion. Some I think were poor are liked; some I think were reasonable are not popular.

I haven't lost the ability to write absolute stinkers.

What I have lost is any concern about 'anonymous' making abusive comments. I might delete mere abuse after several months, or years, but not immediately. If anon doesn't like a story and says why I appreciate that response.

I'm talking strictly from a grammar and technical writing POV, not content, content I never have nor ever will give a fuck.

I had someone say I was "selling out" because I wrote a slew of just "fun" stories in mature group sex even my incest stories were a little more stroky then my others. They asked why I was watering down my work.

My answer was it was what I felt like writing at the time. That's how I work I'm not forcing myself to do anything.

 

[Lit_Zombie]

I'm talking strictly from a grammar and technical writing POV, not content, content I never have nor ever will give a fuck.

I had someone say I was "selling out" because I wrote a slew of just "fun" stories in mature group sex even my incest stories were a little more stroky then my others. They asked why I was watering down my work.

My answer was it was what I felt like writing at the time. That's how I work I'm not forcing myself to do anything.

Than... I hate myself.

See NickiC? Even The Greats...

 

[lovecraft68]

Than... I hate myself.

See NickiC? Even The Greats...

and not so greats Then/than kills me, it really does. I have to check it closely every story and say it out loud each way.

lying laying still gets me too.

At least I have avoided this one that I saw somewhere and I know is a product of spell check/auto correct

"I slid my arms around her slender...waste"

 

[Lit_Zombie]

"I slid my arms around her slender...waste"

took me a second. EW

 

[lovecraft68]

took me a second. EW

On the upside....

If her waste is slender she must have a really tight ass.

See, you have to look at the positive here.

 

[Lit_Zombie]

On the upside....

If her waste is slender she must have a really tight ass.

See, you have to look at the positive here.

<sigh> still an eww.

Just post it. any of the comments you get cannot be any worse than what happens here on the forums.

 

[Rozalin_0123]

You'll have a lot of those fears the first time you post a story. I had a lot of fears over a story I spent 10 months writing. But I'm glad I did. Now those fears are almost non-existent.

Now if I could only decide on what to write next...

 

[lovecraft68]

<sigh> still an eww.

Just post it. any of the comments you get cannot be any worse than what happens here on the forums.

The new reality show:

"When Authors post!"