Excuses people make

[redzinger]

Feeling jaded enough this evening. Then I read this gem:

'I'm going to try and get around to reading your stories.'

Since becoming a writer, I've learnt this means they definitely never will.

I don't know what's more annoying - that one or:

'It's not my cup of tea.' / 'It's not my kind of thing.'

When they haven't even read the blurb.


I know there's no obligation for people to read my stories, but when that person is either related, or a good friend, my bullshit detector starts bleeping.

So, what are your top excuses?

 

[NOIRTRASH]

I don't make excuses, if I cant do it it cant be done.

I invented character flaws but I'm honest and I make no excuses. If you offer me an excuse that's all for you with me.

 

[sr71plt]

The top excuses I give myself is that I'm busy writing myself and/or that I don't want to even unconsciously steal someone else's themes and tropes. I may (and likely do) duplicate but it wasn't because I grabbed it from anyone else.

 

[le_kitty]

I have the same reasoning as Pilot actually, about not wanting to copy someone else's idea. But... none of my ideas are original anyway, they germinated from somewhere.

I never consider myself under obligation to read someone else's work, but if someone favourited me and I check out their profile to find they are also writers, then that's pretty exciting. I'll read their work on the sheer knowledge that they read mine and liked it.

Otherwise, humans can come up with any manner of excuse to not do something they just don't want to do. lol. Often, honesty can seem like tactlessness.

Btw, I read your non-erotic oyster story last week and quite enjoyed it. Do consider continuing it.

 

[SeawitchSlave]

I try and be honest, be it if their writing isn't my style, I don't like the plot or even if I am just presently not in the mood to do so. Bullshit will be seen through sooner or later, so.

 

[NotWise]

Since becoming a writer, I've learnt this means they definitely never will.

Naoko has given me that line twice now, I think. Certainly I've read it from other people, to other people. I totally don't mind -- this isn't a professional setting. I know that my writing is probably not something she wants to read. I know that a lot of other people are clamoring to have her comment on their writing (free education is a wonderful thing). I know that she has a job. I know that she is Mom, I know that she should have some time of her own.

My last request for her attention was really tongue-in-cheek.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't consider mine an excuse as its true, I just don't have much time. I work full time, I keep up an e-bay store, have my own writing and assorted writing duties like covers and publishing my books, plus the wife occasionally likes my company...

So time is my issue. I'll toss in seconding Pilot, I don't think I would want to take someone's idea, but other people's writing could affect my thought process. By the same token I watch little tv for that same reason.

 

[Gorza]

Fawc6

Turning this around to the positive, I recently read twelve Lit stories, each by a different author, as part of the 6th Friendly Anonymous Writing Competition. The competition was in honour of fellow Litster slyc_willie, who died recently. Because part of the fun was not only to submit a story but to guess who wrote which story, you end up reading them all. It also meant that we engaged in a lot of constructive criticism. I am sad to say that I would have made excuses about not having read most of the authors or certain story genres until the competition gave me the incentive. It was a wholly positive experience

 

[Hypoxia]

I make no excuses. I read it or I don't. Whatever. If I don't it may be because I'm reading other stuff or writing my own stuff or otherwise occupied or wasted. Those are reasons, not excuses. Why should I lie to myself about my motivations? I need justify my reading to nobody -- unless I've committed to reading or editing something. THEN the guilt kicks in!

 

[NaokoSmith]

Naoko has given me that line twice now, I think. Certainly I've read it from other people, to other people. I totally don't mind -- this isn't a professional setting. I know that my writing is probably not something she wants to read. I know that a lot of other people are clamoring to have her comment on their writing (free education is a wonderful thing). I know that she has a job. I know that she is Mom, I know that she should have some time of her own.

My last request for her attention was really tongue-in-cheek.

I am always saying I will get round to people's stories as soon as I can, LOL. People are often surprised by what I am willing to read - and write I tell people they are allowed to hassle me and remind me I promised to read their stuff; I do forget sometimes because I am up to my knees in laundry and burlesque shows and pussy ... I mean, having to go to the vet's to get cat biscuits.

However I have read Toria's stories! and reviewed a couple on my blog. Sex and rugby? They are definitely my cup of Darjeeling Oolong.

 

[oggbashan]

'I'm going to try and get around to reading your stories.'

I've heard a similar statement when I had a secondhand bookshop:

"I love reading and I love old books."

Which usually translates to:

"I don't really read. I like looking around shops but I don't buy anything."

But for many of us, our time on Literotica is limited, erratic and in short periods in between doing other things.

The original statement sometimes means:

"I wish I had time to sit and read stories on Literotica. I'd enjoy it, but real life keeps interfering."

 

[lovecraft68]

Naoko has given me that line twice now, I think. Certainly I've read it from other people, to other people. I totally don't mind -- this isn't a professional setting. I know that my writing is probably not something she wants to read. I know that a lot of other people are clamoring to have her comment on their writing (free education is a wonderful thing). I know that she has a job. I know that she is Mom, I know that she should have some time of her own.

My last request for her attention was really tongue-in-cheek.

I was going to say its not very polite to call out someone like this on the boards. But I won't because I feel the name drop was intentional and a set up for them to respond. More clique games. Post 8 helps confirm that to me.

 

[Gorza]

'I'm going to try and get around to reading your stories.'

I've heard a similar statement when I had a secondhand bookshop:

"I love reading and I love old books."

Which usually translates to:

"I don't really read. I like looking around shops but I don't buy anything."

But for many of us, our time on Literotica is limited, erratic and in short periods in between doing other things.

The original statement sometimes means:

"I wish I had time to sit and read stories on Literotica. I'd enjoy it, but real life keeps interfering."

I have the compulsion to buy at least one book in every secondhand bookshop I visit. It's like a souvenir, but more like chipping away some Parthenon marble! Bookshops are (or at least should be) constituted by their books. Taking one home is to always have a piece of it. Visiting Hay-on-Wye is an exercise of international charity!

Perhaps when a Lit author asks me to read their work, I should tell them what I like reading and ask them for just one story to take away as an act of writerly charity. There's plenty of faith and hope needed to get writing, so a little charity seems not be so amiss.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Long ago I read a popular book about winners, and what the author said was: winners do it, losers make excuses. Its true. Its how I measure people. Of course, I have no friends.

 

[Handley_Page]

When deciding what to read, I focus on the subject. I'm not keen on GM and BDSM makes my skin crawl, so an Author who's good at anything on my personal exclusion list seldom gets a chance.
I'm sorry if this policy is a bit disappointing to some Authors, but there it is.

And Redzinger, I read one; and thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Oh...you were serious...you wanted me to read that story? Sorry.

 

[sr71plt]

IVisiting Hay-on-Wye is an exercise of international charity!

But not toward authors (and, by golly, here we are on the Authors Hangout). Authors get zip, zero, nada for their creation when it's sold in a second-hand bookstore.

 

[lovecraft68]

When deciding what to read, I focus on the subject. I'm not keen on GM and BDSM makes my skin crawl, so an Author who's good at anything on my personal exclusion list seldom gets a chance.
I'm sorry if this policy is a bit disappointing to some Authors, but there it is.

And Redzinger, I read one; and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I've lived BDSM and it makes my skin crawl here because of the fact a huge portion of it here belongs in non consent and another large portion doesn't have a clue what they're writing about. Way too many, "I read Shades so I know" authors here.

Yes, I'm a snob when it comes to that, can't help it. Its why although three of my first dozen stories here were in BDSM, but in the last five years I've only written one.

I only posted that one because someone who was tired of me trashing the section told me to go ahead and do it and they bet I wouldn't even see a 4. Story maxed at 4.86 before it started getting trolled, still sits past the mid 4.7's.

 

[GoldenCojones]

My usual excuse is "I'm would, but my give-a-shit is broke." It stays broke a lot.

Honestly, as has been said several times by others, it is a time thing. I have a full-time job, a family, a couple of hobbies, and well a life. I write when I can. I read when I want to. I recently volunteered to read a writer's story that had posted in the AH. I read over it and gave brief comments. I know they want more, but my problem is, they didn't care enough to clean up the story before asking others to read it. If they don't care enough why should I?

 

[lovecraft68]

Another issue is that when you do read something and tell the person what they think...sometimes its not what they want to hear and they get bent about it.

Perfect example-I may have posted this before-a writer not from here keeps asking me to read their story. They said they loved my attention to detail and wanted to know if I thought there story was plausible etc...

I finally read it. Girl spends half the story masturbating with a dildo described as eight inches long and 'almost as thick around" okay, fine, whatever. But she has never had sex with an actual man, just her rubber playmate

Later when she does have sex with a guy he describes her feeling pain as her 'hymen breaks'

I stop right there and shoot him off an e-mail saying he needs to get rid of that, f she has been fucking her self with a damn 8x8 dildo for six months her cherry has long been popped and that's a detail I felt many would catch(at least I did and he was asking me)

his reply was I was just being an asshole and looking to pick apart his story.

 

[oggbashan]

My usual excuse is "I'm would, but my give-a-shit is broke." It stays broke a lot.

Honestly, as has been said several times by others, it is a time thing. I have a full-time job, a family, a couple of hobbies, and well a life. I write when I can. I read when I want to. I recently volunteered to read a writer's story that had posted in the AH. I read over it and gave brief comments. I know they want more, but my problem is, they didn't care enough to clean up the story before asking others to read it. If they don't care enough why should I?

I don't think it applies to that particular story, but some authors get so involved in the details of their story that they cannot see the glaring errors.

I've done it myself. I have posted a couple of stories in which a major character's name changes - not a typo - a completely different name. On re-reading I had missed that because I was expecting to see the character's name, and skipped the alteration.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Another issue is that when you do read something and tell the person what they think...sometimes its not what they want to hear and they get bent about it.

Perfect example-I may have posted this before-a writer not from here keeps asking me to read their story. They said they loved my attention to detail and wanted to know if I thought there story was plausible etc...

I finally read it. Girl spends half the story masturbating with a dildo described as eight inches long and 'almost as thick around" okay, fine, whatever. But she has never had sex with an actual man, just her rubber playmate

Later when she does have sex with a guy he describes her feeling pain as her 'hymen breaks'

I stop right there and shoot him off an e-mail saying he needs to get rid of that, f she has been fucking her self with a damn 8x8 dildo for six months her cherry has long been popped and that's a detail I felt many would catch(at least I did and he was asking me)

his reply was I was just being an asshole and looking to pick apart his story.

I don't solicit reads from anyone but almost always honor requests to read others. To date, no one has ever sent me useful feedback. If I believed I'm perfect I wouldn't invest so much toil in working to be better. Improvement is relentless. But all I ever get is LOVE IT! and YOU SUCK! Tells me a lot.

I conclude most people don't know enough to offer a cogent, lucid critique. Theyre blockhead critics.

I conclude 99% of LIT writers need more hide on their ass.

 

[oggbashan]

...

I conclude most people don't know enough to offer a cogent, lucid critique. Theyre blockhead critics.

I conclude 99% of LIT writers need more hide on their ass.

My education in English Literature was old-fashioned even 50+ years ago.

We were taught to analyse, appraise, and deconstruct the writing. We would do the mechanical things such as length of sentences, use of subordinate clauses, frequency of adverbs, use of literary devices etc.

By the time we had finished, we had destroyed any enjoyment we might have had from the work.

IF I were to attempt cogent criticism of fellow Lit authors, I'd be back in the deconstruction mode, and that story would be ruined for me.

I have to be careful NOT to do it to my own stories when I'm writing them. There is a downside - I miss simple things like slipped tense changes because if I started checking for that I would be counting multi-syllable words, use of the passive, number of conjunctions - and I'd never finish the writing.

 

[SandraMustard]

I am always saying I will get round to people's stories as soon as I can, LOL. People are often surprised by what I am willing to read - and write I tell people they are allowed to hassle me and remind me I promised to read their stuff; I do forget sometimes because I am up to my knees in laundry and burlesque shows and pussy ... I mean, having to go to the vet's to get cat biscuits.

...

Occasionally, a (two year) window of opportunity closes, but you did have time for a contest story.

 

[TxRad]

I had an excuse but my dog ate it.