Non-Literotica authors..?

[SteelPoint]

Is this forum intended for use to discuss only Literotica-'published' stuff?

I do not refer to the possibility of writers posting on other websites but merely to those (and there are many) who have no intention of putting their work up for general consumption anywhere, i.e. those who generally write for their own interest and amusement - but who might appreciate occasional feedback via private means.

 

[KeithD]

Yep, the feedback is supposed to be only on stories already posted to Literotica.

 

[SteelPoint]

Ah, ok. A great shame.

Could you by any chance point me to where this is laid down as a hard and fast rule..?

 

[MelissaBaby]

Main Forum page.

https://i.imgur.com/zDyBHqp.png

 

[KeithD]

Ah, ok. A great shame.

Could you by any chance point me to where this is laid down as a hard and fast rule..?

As Melissa pointed out, it's defined in the definition of the section.

 

[SteelPoint]

Shrugs.

I can only say it seems extemely petty-minded to ban people from, in effect, helping others. It's also a very narrow interpretation of "feedback".

I'm not talking about editing or proof-reading of a final script. I'm talking about giving general reaction - likes, dislikes, "would-have-preferreds" etc. - in the final 'polishing' stages of completion.

This is precisely the kind of help which would be most valuable and at a time when something could still be corrected.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Shrugs.

I can only say it seems extemely petty-minded to ban people from, in effect, helping others. It's also a very narrow interpretation of "feedback".

I'm not talking about editing or proof-reading of a final script. I'm talking about giving general reaction - likes, dislikes, "would-have-preferreds" etc. - in the final 'polishing' stages of completion.

This is precisely the kind of help which would be most valuable and at a time when something could still be corrected.

That's the function of the Editor's Forum.

The intent of the Feedback Forum is to give authors who publish content on Lit the opportunity to get feedback on stories once they are published. What you are talking about can and does go on, just not in this forum.

You might want to check out what the site actually offers before shooting too many darts.

 

[Jada59]

You can also become friends with someone and PM them about stuff.

 

[lovecraft68]

Shrugs.

I can only say it seems extemely petty-minded to ban people from, in effect, helping others. It's also a very narrow interpretation of "feedback".

I'm not talking about editing or proof-reading of a final script. I'm talking about giving general reaction - likes, dislikes, "would-have-preferreds" etc. - in the final 'polishing' stages of completion.

This is precisely the kind of help which would be most valuable and at a time when something could still be corrected.

Not really, this is a business, why advertise competitor sites or helps someone who is not contributing here?

They don't let you walk into Burger King with a McDonalds bag and eat there.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Shrugs.

I can only say it seems extemely petty-minded to ban people from, in effect, helping others. It's also a very narrow interpretation of "feedback".

I'm not talking about editing or proof-reading of a final script. I'm talking about giving general reaction - likes, dislikes, "would-have-preferreds" etc. - in the final 'polishing' stages of completion.

This is precisely the kind of help which would be most valuable and at a time when something could still be corrected.

If you only want to write for yourself, why do you care what anyone else thinks about it?

 

[lovecraft68]

If you only want to write for yourself, why do you care what anyone else thinks about it?

I have a hard time picturing someone writing and not wanting someone to read it. I get it in the sense of writing in a journal, but not fictional stories.

My sister paints and draws, she does some pretty dark content and people are always pushing her to put some up on deviant art and other sites, but she says it would ruin the purity of it, she only paints for catharsis. She hangs them up in her office and gives some away, but she has no interest in publicly sharing it.

 

[SteelPoint]

Sorry but I stand by my comments. Completely.

Writing for oneself is a totally valid concept and many, many people do it.

This does not necessarily negate a desire to see whether other minds may offer differing perspectives upon one's process in various respects: plot development, character portrayal, you name it.

Some here might care to consider what possible influence "feedback" could wield in the case of already finished and... er... "published" work.

If a tool can have no effect, there ain't much point having it in your toolbox...

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

There's a more practical issue than whatever the premise of the forum is and what the reasons behind it are. If the story isn't published, there's no way to link to it through a trusted source. There isn't a way to add an actual attachment to your post. I assume that's because of concerns about IT security, but for whatever reason, that's the limitation that's there.

If there's no way to attach the story, and it can't be linked, there's no way to make it available to review.

 

[SimonDoom]

Sorry but I stand by my comments. Completely.

Writing for oneself is a totally valid concept and many, many people do it.

This does not necessarily negate a desire to see whether other minds may offer differing perspectives upon one's process in various respects: plot development, character portrayal, you name it.

Some here might care to consider what possible influence "feedback" could wield in the case of already finished and... er... "published" work.

If a tool can have no effect, there ain't much point having it your toolbox...

I'm not sure I follow your point.

It's not responsive to the basic point that was made: the Feedback Forum is intended for comment on finished stories published at Literotica. Certainly, some good could come from inviting feedback on non-Literotica stories, but the Site owners have chosen to limit it to Literotica stories because they don't want to encourage Literotica participants to be directed to other sites. It's sensible, if limiting.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Some here might care to consider . . . ." People here do care to consider this question all the time, and they find feedback on finished stories extremely valuable, because most of them are busy working on their next story and can take the feedback to heart as they draft the next one.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Sorry but I stand by my comments. Completely.

Writing for oneself is a totally valid concept and many, many people do it.

This does not necessarily negate a desire to see whether other minds may offer differing perspectives upon one's process in various respects: plot development, character portrayal, you name it.

Some here might care to consider what possible influence "feedback" could wield in the case of already finished and... er... "published" work.

If a tool can have no effect, there ain't much point having it in your toolbox...

So you want to write your own private erotica, but you want other people to help you improve it so that you will get more enjoyment out of it?

 

[WoodmanStark]

There's a more practical issue than whatever the premise of the forum is and what the reasons behind it are. If the story isn't published, there's no way to link to it through a trusted source. There isn't a way to add an actual attachment to your post. I assume that's because of concerns about IT security, but for whatever reason, that's the limitation that's there.

If there's no way to attach the story, and it can't be linked, there's no way to make it available to review.

I emailed a draft of my WIP to AwkwardMD, but I had to PM her first to ask permission, and she provided an email address I could send an attachment to.
Thats not quite the same as what's being discussed here tho' because only she can see that attachment.

 

[SteelPoint]

So you want to write your own private erotica, but you want other people to help you improve it so that you will get more enjoyment out of it?

You've probably hit the nail on the head.

Is this really such a difficult idea?

Yes, an author who writes largely for their own entertainment but who would welcome other people's thoughts occasionally on the progress of the writing.

Not for publication anywhere.

Not open for general scrutiny but, say, to site members whose posting histories appear to show an intelligent ability to "critique" or maybe a similar set of interests.

Not, I would have thought, rocket science nor any kind of existential threat to Literotica. Hell's foundations unlikely to quiver at the prospect, as PG Wodehouse might have said...

 

[SteelPoint]

I emailed a draft of my WIP to AwkwardMD, but I had to PM her first to ask permission, and she provided an email address I could send an attachment to.
Thats not quite the same as what's being discussed here tho' because only she can see that attachment.

My highlights. Incorrect- that is precisely 'what is being discussed here'.

 

[SteelPoint]

I'm not sure I follow your point...

... they find feedback on finished stories extremely valuable, because most of them are busy working on their next story and can take the feedback to heart as they draft the next one.

But some of them aren't working on their next story. Maybe actually most of them aren't, if I may dare to challenge your very casual assumption.

And as far as the already published story is concerned, that feedback is now patently bloody useless, as the Brits among us might say...

Get my point now?

 

[SimonDoom]

You've probably hit the nail on the head.

Is this really such a difficult idea?

Yes, an author who writes largely for their own entertainment but who would welcome other people's thoughts occasionally on the progress of the writing.

Not for publication anywhere.

Not open for general scrutiny but, say, to site members whose posting histories appear to show an intelligent ability to "critique" or maybe a similar set of interests.

Not, I would have thought, rocket science nor any kind of existential threat to Literotica. Hell's foundations unlikely to quiver at the prospect, as PG Wodehouse might have said...

It's not going to shake anything to its foundations, sure, but I think you have to be practical about the needs of the site and the willingness of potential editors, who are doing all of this for free, to assist a writer who isn't interested in sharing his work with the Site. People have enough trouble already finding editors and proofreaders. It makes sense to prioritize people who are contributing to Literotica. What do the Site and its contributing authors get out of helping you write fiction you intend to keep to yourself?

There's nothing to stop you from going on the Editor's Forum and asking for help, or from privately contacting an author you like or someone listed on the Editor's list to see if they'll help you.

 

[Enchantment_of_Nyx]

My highlights. Incorrect- that is precisely 'what is being discussed here'.

What WoodmanStark means is that he was able to email his story directly to an individual user. You can do that, too. There's absolutely nothing stopping you. Using the forum is for inviting feedback from everyone. You can't email everyone your document. It's a functionality issue.

It doesn't matter whether anyone agrees or disagrees with your purpose if the mechanism to accomplish it just isn't there. There's no way for you to put your document up on this forum to review. You can't attach it. The system won't let you. You can't link it if it's not published.

If all you want is one person to review it, you might want to visit the Editor's Forum as electricblue suggested. There are people there who accept emailed documents for individual review.

 

[karaline]

You've probably hit the nail on the head.

Is this really such a difficult idea?

Yes, an author who writes largely for their own entertainment but who would welcome other people's thoughts occasionally on the progress of the writing.

Not for publication anywhere.

Not open for general scrutiny but, say, to site members whose posting histories appear to show an intelligent ability to "critique" or maybe a similar set of interests.

Not, I would have thought, rocket science nor any kind of existential threat to Literotica. Hell's foundations unlikely to quiver at the prospect, as PG Wodehouse might have said...

This absolutely fine, and not that unusual, but as others have said, the story feedback forum is for people sharing stories they have already posted on Lit. The editors forum on the other hand, is for people who are searching for editors who would like to post on Lit.

I haven't scrutinised the editors forum rules recently, it maybe that you can only ask for beta reading/editing on stories you intend to post on Lit, but I think that forum is more suited to your inquiry. It may also be the case that you struggle to find an editor willing to look at your work if your not intending to post it here eventually, but I wouldn't know for sure, I don't spent a lot of time hanging out there.

 

[NotWise]

This absolutely fine, and not that unusual, but as others have said, the story feedback forum is for people sharing stories they have already posted on Lit. The editors forum on the other hand, is for people who are searching for editors who would like to post on Lit.

I haven't scrutinised the editors forum rules recently, it maybe that you can only ask for beta reading/editing on stories you intend to post on Lit, but I think that forum is more suited to your inquiry. It may also be the case that you struggle to find an editor willing to look at your work if your not intending to post it here eventually, but I wouldn't know for sure, I don't spent a lot of time hanging out there.

I think it would be an abuse of the volunteer editors and beta readers to ask for input on a story that isn't intended for publication on Lit. Maybe if he were up front that the story wasn't intended for Lit, then he'd get a volunteer anyway.

 

[ElectricBlue]

If a tool can have no effect, there ain't much point having it in your toolbox...

The site provides a link-up between editors and writers who wish to publish content here. You've been advised that, yet now you carry on with a grievance?

The toolbox is made available under the site's terms, people use it, and it's effective on that basis. It's not a service that meets your needs, but that doesn't make it ineffective.

Stick your request up in the Editors Forum, which is the place on this site where aspiring writers who wish to publish on this site seek assistance from people on this site who like to help. That's the point we're trying to get across - the site serves the site's community. Become a part of the community and seek support. That's the point.

Alternatively, you might want to pop down to your local hardware store and check their bargain bins.

 

[karaline]

I think it would be an abuse of the volunteer editors and beta readers to ask for input on a story that isn't intended for publication on Lit. Maybe if he were up front that the story wasn't intended for Lit, then he'd get a volunteer anyway.

I hadn't meant to imply the OP shouldn't be upfront about his intentions!