Do Votes Matter

[BigAndTall]

Ok, I am sure I am opening up a can-o-worms here but I am curious.

Now I have read many stories here. Some are pretty dang good. I mean, as in you should feel good to crow about them, its a shame you are not published good.

And some are in need of improvment. But there is no shame in that as everyone can improve (even I. Very much I.)


And I have watched as you all give critizim, and I am sure y'all do even more in messages, emails and what not.

So why does the opinion of strangers matter so much? Why get upset over people going out and giving you a "1" on a story? It's obvious to me you all know that happens, and I understand you all don't like it.

So why are these votes so important?

 

[Guest]

There's prize money for contest winners.

 

[Songcatcher]

There's prize money for contest winners.

Thread killer!!!

 

[Guest]

Ffffffffffuck offffff!

 

[cheerful_deviant]

I know it really shouldn't and I tell myself that it doesn't... but deep down it really does, at least some.

When a story does well, it gives me a little rush. Kindof thinking, "Hey, maybe I really can write."

When a story is onebombed and looses it's "H" I get bummed out a little. I try not to, but it does suck and unfortunatly I tend to brood about it a little.

 

[LadyJeanne]

Writers want to be read. If a story is rated low, there is no H to attract readers. That doesn't seem to be the case in all categories - from what I've been reading here in the AH, it seems some categories get way more readers than others regardless of whether the story has an H or not. But for the rest of us, the H is one way to stand out from the many stories here.

 

[Lavared]

External validation t'aint strictly necessary but it can be nice.

 

[BigAndTall]

There's prize money for contest winners.

LOL

That summed that up nicely.

 

[BigAndTall]

I know it really shouldn't and I tell myself that it doesn't... but deep down it really does, at least some.

When a story does well, it gives me a little rush. Kindof thinking, "Hey, maybe I really can write."

When a story is onebombed and looses it's "H" I get bummed out a little. I try not to, but it does suck and unfortunatly I tend to brood about it a little.

I completely understand that. In fact, all these are valid reasons I have read so far.

Does a stranger's view hold more weight than someone you know?

 

[rgraham666]

Pure fucking ego on my part.

I don't expect a perfect score, but the vote does give me an idea of how well I told the story. My fragile ego needs that.

I'm getting more sanguine about the one bombs, but I, at least, regard them as a personal attack.

I, and I suspect most people, when they read a bad story simply back click. I will vote on a story I don't like if it's well written. Not a 5, but something to reflect my opinion. I'll usually send a comment to them giving my opinion.

A one bomb is someone saying "You, sir, are an asshole. I don't care how good your story is, it gets a one because I personally don't like you. Plus it makes me feel good being nasty to other people."

 

[Guest]

So why does the opinion of strangers matter so much? Why get upset over people going out and giving you a "1" on a story? It's obvious to me you all know that happens, and I understand you all don't like it.

So why are these votes so important?

If someone spray painted "ASSHOLE" on the front of your house would you be pissed?

To me it's the same thing. We all work hard on our stories. We suffer through writers block, staring at a blank page when nothing will come. We rewrite 5 pages because the characters don't want to have sex. We sweat over details and edits trying to create a perfect story. Then it posts and all is going well the votes and feedback shows that people really like it. And our hearts pound with pride.

Then someone comes along and drops a one on it. No comment to tell you why, no indication of who did it. Someone just threw a bag of shit on your front door.

That's why.

 

[sophia jane]

I completely understand that. In fact, all these are valid reasons I have read so far.

Does a stranger's view hold more weight than someone you know?

Not necessarily. But, I've found that most people I know aren't necessarily honest in their voting either. Lots of people give 5's to their friends (myself included) when they aren't necessarily deserved. So maybe, the stranger's vote carries more weight because we think that they're more likely to be accurate/honest (with the exception of anon trolling).

SJ

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Votes matter when you are first starting out. they are validation of your ability. People saying it's good that have no motive to do so other than believing that. they spur you to write more and to try again and in no small way, they help you develop your style and voice, by influencing what you percieve as working and not.

Once you establish yourself, they become a kind of feel good thingy. It's nice to have an H here and there.

Eventually, you get to the point where they don't matter as much as your feedback.

 

[rgraham666]

Does a stranger's view hold more weight than someone you know?

Getting comments from other authours and especially fellow AHers gives me a major rush.

I like these people, for the most part, and trust them to give me honest feedback. If I've entertained them, I've done well.

But stranger's comments are good as well.

 

[Lavared]

Does a stranger's view hold more weight than someone you know?

Hmm. I think that stranger or acquaintance, what matters most is how good you think THEY are at writing. A word of praise from someone who writes really well carries more weight.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

I completely understand that. In fact, all these are valid reasons I have read so far.

Does a stranger's view hold more weight than someone you know?

Yes and No.

Mostly I value the feedback from people I know because I have something to weigh that feedback against.

But feedback from a stranger is nice also. If someone I don't know took the time to send me a compliment then I know they probablly really liked it otherwise they wouldn't have taken the time.

A freind is more likely to give feedback because they know me rather than just were really impressed with the story.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Hmm. I think that stranger or acquaintance, what matters most is how good you think THEY are at writing. A word of praise from someone who writes really well carries more weight.

Very true.

 

[sophia jane]

Hmm. I think that stranger or acquaintance, what matters most is how good you think THEY are at writing. A word of praise from someone who writes really well carries more weight.

That's true.

SJ

 

[SeaCat]

I reckon how much they matter depends on why you write. For me the votes only matter to show me how people feel about the stories. What matters more to me are how many people actually view my stories.

Then again I mainly write for my own enjoyment. If others like my stories that's great. (There was only one occasion that I wrote for other than my own enjoyment, and surprisingly not only did the person I wrote the story for enjoy it but a lot of other people did as well.)

Cat

 

[McKenna]

It's a catch 22.

On one hand you're writing for yourself and yourself only. It's great if others want to read along and share your passions and desires.

On the other hand, votes are feedback. They are a kind of validation. Those votes, however, can be interpreted in so many ways. Are the "1" votes truly a reflection of your writing or someone's jealousy and passive aggression? Are "5" votes given only from your friends? Warm fuzzies are great, but how do they help you improve your writing?

I suppose votes are a starting point to guage my writing, but they are not "everything". They aren't the reason I started writing in the first place, and they won't (knock on wood) be the reason I continue to write. The voting system is too flawed for me to place more value on it other than a useful tool: It's good for immediate feedback, but not the final voice of how good (or not) my writing is.

 

[carsonshepherd]

i've been posting stories here at Lit since March of last year. At first my votes were very important and I checked them daily. When i entered a contest, i checked them obsessively. Then I won the contest and realized, votes are fairly arbitrary and not a good judge of how good your writing is. I love my readers and I love their positive emails and comments on how they feel about my writing, but praise is not particularly helpful...it doesn't help you improve. Feedback/critique from other writers is more valuable.

So...are votes important? To me, not so much. But everyone puts a different value on them.

The only time votes are really important is in a contest and even then, voting is mostly a political thing and not a true reflection of your abilities.

 

[jtmalone70]

Ones & Fives

**********

 

[McKenna]

<snip> Geesh.... believe me, if you want to make it a career, you need to develope a very thick skin. But you also need to hone your skills and become a better writer. That way, the better you are, the less you need to fret over your ego.<snip>

Hi JT and welcome to the fold. I really enjoyed your comments above, especially this bit I've quoted. Good advice for us all!

I hope you stick around and post more often; your insight could be very helpful.

-McK




P.S. Don't pay attention to the AVs, we're messing around a bit this evening!

 

[Belegon]

P.S. Don't pay attention to the AVs, we're messing around a bit this evening!

she says this with that AV up...please...

 

[The_Fool]

she says this with that AV up...please...

She can be annoying like that sometimes can't she.....