Anonymous Feedback

[Ug!]

I've been contacted by a number of people in regards to the stories I posted last week. All of the feedback has been positive, and I would love to be able to reply and thank the people who bothered to write to me.

However, the feedback is all anonymous. I can't reply, and there are no e-mail addresses supplied.

So this message is for two reasons: firstly to thank all of those people (if they happen to read this), and secondly to ask if the feedback form adequately prompts people supplying feedback to also supply an e-mail address.

How do other authors feel about this? I'm new to this, so this topic may have already been done to death some time ago.

Any comments?

 

[KillerMuffin]

I personally prefer an email address included so I can reply.

It does give an option for readers to include an email address but they are not prompted to do so. The feedback form is geared for the reader and his or her convenience, not for the author.

Since the anonyminty of the reader giving feedback has been assured, my amount of feedback has pretty much doubled.

It's one of those things you just have to deal with, because I'd rather have the feedback. In this instance the site is correct in catering to the reader's wants and needs rather than the author's.

 

[Guest]

positive and anonymous

I too receive anonymous feedback fairly often, and thus far it has all been positive.

I think that because of the nature of our work it will always happen. Many people just don't want an e-mail from an erotica author popping into the e-mail account they share with their spouse.

Just handle it this way: pretend that the feedback came from either a) the biggest prude you know or b) the most attractive person you know. That way you can enjoy either the irony or the fantasy, whichever suits your mood. And they'll never know you're onto them!

 

[WarmMeUpNow]

Hiya.

I have received quite a bit of feedback regarding my two first stories. About 50% of it seems to be anonymous and yet I am a female with an attractive bio. I guess most people are just a bit shy. Doesn't worry me - I would prefer shy feedback rather than none at all!

We as authors must remember that the people who read our stories are not all as extroverted as we are and therefore do not wish to advertise their identities. Actually, I don't want to advertise mine either and use a pseudonym - guess we just have to understand!

 

[Tawny T]

I would say 99% of my anonymous replies have the return e-mail address attached. I for one do not like to have my personal e-mail address put on anything but my personal mail. That's why I have a Hotmail account.

Many people do not want their address sent out and I don't blame them a bit. It's up to the sender whether they give you the option of answering back. I always do! I value my readers.