Disappointment

[gauchecritic]

A similar question has been asked quite recently, about how much leeway we give Lit. authors we know, in their writing.

I've just been reading a story by a very well respected author on these boards.
When I normally read a story here, it is for the entertainment I can derive from it. If I'm directed or urged to a story because someone thinks it is above average or even the greatest thing they've ever read, I often come away feeling disappointed.

Thinking about it, I decided it was because:
a) I didn't read it for entertainment but rather more critically
b) my expectations were too high
c) It's Literotica and I wasn't literocized
and
d) It wasn't a category I would have read anyway.

I can appreciate the literary finesse, I can see the absence of spelling mistakes, I can laud the craftsmanship, but it wasn't what I wanted. It wasn't written how I'd write it, or wish I could write.

On the other hand the two best stories I have ever read on Lit. (best because I still remember them) were: one that was very poorly written, bad grammar, worse spelling and having the appearance of being written by someone who just wrote down what they wanted to get across, as best they could, plus it was in my favourite category.
The second I read was in response to an inquiry as to why they had a poor vote result. When I read it, I saw exactly why it had a poor result. It was so emotionally powerful I couldn't stop telling everyone about it for weeks. Not my category, not my cup of tea, I skimmed it the first time, then re-read it three times in a row.

So now, I've negated every reason I had for thinking this latest story was not all it was cracked up to be.

What I want to know is: What's going on?

Gauche

 

[pop_54]

Hmmmmmmm

Don't need to think about giving any leeway lad, either it entertains and interests you or it doesn't.

A story can be word perfect, it could win a literary gold award for spelling grammar and layout, but if the story line isn't to your taste and the plot isn't well enough worked to seduce you, you'll still feel let down. Leave it be, vote on the literary content if you feel generous, otherwise close it and forget it.

Do you tell whoever your thoughts on their (above) story? Up to you, if you're constructive they won't mind, or shouldn't mind anyway.

As you've found, at the other end of the scale a story can be written by a 'real person' with no formal English lit qualifications and few desires to be a true author, just a basic story teller. There can be a few mistakes, the odd unedited typo, sentences badly laid out, strange methods of writing, but the story line is brilliant, the thing gets to you, it entertains you.
Do you vote according to content/entertainment or grammar/spelling? Again up to you, but personally I'll take a good entertaining storyline above perfection any day.

Another one up to you, do you bollock the poor bastard for the bad grammar/spelling and the like, or do you make a few constructive remarks and tell he/she the story was brilliant.

Me, I'd leave them as they are, why risk turning them into word perfect literary genius's turning out crap storylines.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

How a story is recieved is as individual as the readers who give it a read. Perfect spelling, structure and grammar cannot make up for a story line that has serious flaws. A hack job in the technical depatment can destroy a solid storyline and good characters. While the ideal is to be technically sound and seductively entertaining that goal is rarely reached.

Then too, what you may find an engaging storyline I may find borning and vice versa. No story will appeal to everyone and in the case of erotica that goes double as few of us enjoy the exact same things in sex or sexy literature. If a story didn't move you, then it didn't move you. You are free to say as much or as little about it as you feel. Since the author is someone you know from the boards I would think they would like to hear your assessment of their work for good or ill.

A story that is not in the realm of what you normally enjoy already starts with a strike against it. Unless the author has done an exceptional job it is unlikely to pull you in because it isn't playing to what you enjoy whereas a less well put together, but more on target with your interests story starts with mark in its favor.

The voting scale is highly subjective and as a reader/voter you are allowed to apply whatever criteria you choose to a story.

-Colly

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Speaking of disappointment - how the FUCK can Miranda choose ugly dumb-dumb Steve over hot, cute, intelligent, charming Dr Roberts?????

 

[Quasimodem]

Speaking of disappointment - how the FUCK can Miranda choose ugly dumb-dumb Steve over hot, cute, intelligent, charming Dr Roberts?????

Is that Carmen Miranda

Or, Glynis Johns as the mermaid

 

[Guest]

Steve isn't that ugly. He has some endearing qualities. Maybe for once, that show decided to show something a little more realistic and have a normal *joe* be the love of someone's life.

This is coming from someone who is still extremely ticked off that Carrie let Aidan get away.

 

[Guest]

Is that Carmen Miranda

Or, Glynis Johns as the mermaid

Neither, it's Miranda on Sex and the City.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Steve is as ugly and boring as they get!

Dr Roberts is a cuddly teddybear - AND he's sexy! AND he likes kids!

There are enough ugly regular joes getting girls in the real world, I'd like to see women ending up with hunks on TV atleast!

Besides - she knows Steve's a selfish big baby, they've tried over and over again, and in the end she just can't stand him! Why, oh why, can't she move on?

And why have there only been two black men in the entire show? And why no Asian men?

I tell you, this is "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" all over again! The girl chooses the boring, ugly, white boy over the gorgeous black hunk!

TV producers are cowards.

 

[Quasimodem]

. . . TV producers are cowards.

Have you only figured THAT out NOW!

 

[Svenskaflicka]

What can I say, I'm Candide's neighbor!

 

[Quasimodem]

What can I say, I'm Candide's neighbor!

And here I thought that you had just turned into Charlotte

 

[Lovepotion69]

Sigh, I haven't seen any of the latest episodes of Sex & the City because nobody else in the family wants to. Aidan was da bomb by the way.

 

[scarlet vixen]

Gauche makes a good point.

An 'erotica' piece by a skilled "I got an A in English" type may be inferior, as far as 'grab', to a piece by a relatively unlettered person of passion or imagination.

Not that she is 'unlettered' by any means, but the writings of Linda Jean are often lacking in polish, but 'dirtier' and 'hotter' than many polished ones around here.

It's like the jumpy 'hand held camera style' for a documentary or fictional documentary--just saw it in "Blair Witch Project."

 

[Jenny _S]

Dear Gauche,

Maybe what you have forgotten is that this is erotica and being that it is a purely subjective evaluation on the part of the reader. You seem to be trying to put some analytical base to your disappointment.

Maybe it's just as simple as it isn't a story that appeals to you personally.

 

[Dirty Slut]

We like what we like because we like it...

I've read some pretty "HOT" stories on this site that would turn a real editor into the latest cardio care statistic. The fact that there were typos, and grammatical errors only added to the realism of a person typing fast to get the whole sordid story out as they remembered it happening. The thing is, it was a work of fiction. A real editor would have file 13ed it long before finishing the first paragraph. But that fact is it was well written because it was so exciting, and believable. And had it been edited, it wouldn't have been half as good as far as I'm concerned.

I try to convey that excitement when I write, but without the typos, and grammatical errors. Often I'm told that I write like a man because of this. In any case, I think it's important that the characters be as realistic as is humanly possible, and that's what makes a story work for the reader. People, real people, are more cliche than we'd like to believe. LOL

DS