Has anyone here ever been reviewed before?

[curious2c]

Okay my latest story was just reviewed at...um...storiesonline I know, I know...but lit got it first.

Anyway...since none of my work (to my knowledge at least) has ever been reviewed before...I have a few questions.

1. What is I'd guess, protocol for the writer?

2. Should I write and thank the reviewer personally?

3. If the review is a good one, (as mine was) is it okay to use that fact in a blurb about my story?

4. Why did this particular story get reviewed and none of my other work seems to have been looked at?

5. Am I just reading too much into being reviewed in the first place?

I will be honest, at first I was stunned to see anything by me in a reviewers list...then apprehensive, fearing the worst, then...well...a bit confused over the whole thing. Over twenty five different stories I have written, why this one in particular?

Oh well...It did feel good in the end.

 

[Guest]

Wanker!

 

[cantdog]

My first paid article was a review of Dennis Smith's compendium of firefighter hero stories. I never heard from Dennis, but I was extraordinarily happy to get paid for writing.

Perhaps this fellow will be less so, but he doubtless doesn't expect to hear from you.

What would you say? "Why me?"
"Thanks, I think."
"Who do you think you are anyhow?"

That last is probably what Dennis would have said to me. They asked the fire chief to recommend a fireman to review it and I was literate. Not an excuse.

cantdog

 

[doormouse]

Hell yeah!!!

How many on here can boast they have a review?
Post a link so others can read it. Be proud!!!

Congrats!!!!! ;-)

 

[curious2c]

Since it is a site that requires registerring...I am not completely certain the link will work...in either case...here goes.

http://storiesonline.net/library/get_review.php?id=42949



For those who may not be able to see it I um...copy and pasted...

My Second Life by curious2c
Review by 54vette
reviewed: 2004-07-07


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Although this story is fairly predictable, it was still an excellent story.

Maybe I'm just an old 'softie', but I really enjoyed this short love story. It's got all the elements a story of this type should have and is, in essence, a classic love story.

A man has lost his wife and has a difficult time trying to get some semblance of normalcy back into his life.

This heartwarming tale of love tells how a man gets back his ability to love another.

This is a good one for all who love sappy, "warm and fuzzy" love stories.

Enjoy!

Plot: 10 | Technical Quality: 10 | Appeal to Reviewer: 10


heh...in this story I have begun my change. I may be headed in a different direction now, but I am still being quite cautious. 'Sappy, warm and fuzzy was not my intent...but I was keeping my darker side reigned in tight while writing this one. I have gotten some of my best feedback and public comments on this story too. Hmmmm...I wonder...

 

[doormouse]

Is that the one you were nominated on here for last year?

I saw your name on the winners list before, but didn't note the story title.

That's a fantastic review!! How did they discover your story?
Was it on here?

 

[doormouse]

Damn!!

It won't let me read the rest of the story without logging in LOL

I was getting into it too ;-)

 

[curious2c]

I am not sure what story I was nominated for last year...I think that it could have been a reader that really liked my works...as to this story, I submitted it six days ago at lit, then when it came out day before yesterday I went ahead and posted it at storiesonline and asstr. I choose to post to lit first and in the near future I will begin to keep some stories exclusivley at lit too.

I am not sure how they discovered my story, unless it was just because it was on the 'New stories' listings. I think he may have written me before about other stories I have written, but this is the first 'review' I am aware of at all...kind of still getting used to it. (Like some feedback I get...interesting )


I am still just amazed. I know that some people have liked my work in the past...and I also know that a few of my stories seem to hold good scores here and there too...I'm still trying to figure it all out in my mind though. Never thought I'd be an author someday...never.

 

[curious2c]

Damn!!

It won't let me read the rest of the story without logging in LOL

I was getting into it too ;-)

Here at lit...

http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=151991


(I don't normally do this...I tend to try to be low key, but in the interests of not wanting to drive someone crazy...)

 

[doormouse]

It was Most Influential Writer nomination.

Thanks for the link ;-)

 

[sheath]

Definitely, definitely, write to the reviewer. A simple note of thanks is more than enough. This person might review your other work, and personal impressions of the author count in the long run.

Congratulations, by the way.

S.

 

[Omni]

Okay my latest story was just reviewed at...um...storiesonline I know, I know...but lit got it first.

Anyway...since none of my work (to my knowledge at least) has ever been reviewed before...I have a few questions.

1. What is I'd guess, protocol for the writer?

2. Should I write and thank the reviewer personally?

Answer one and two, Yes, it is nice gesture to thank the reviewer for their time


3. If the review is a good one, (as mine was) is it okay to use that fact in a blurb about my story?

Answer Three. Yes, you can use entire review to post elsewhere as promotion or just a blurb of it, but when you do add on, "review by stories.com and/or the reviewers name."


4. Why did this particular story get reviewed and none of my other work seems to have been looked at?


Answer Four. Reviewers in this setting generally pick stories that sound interesting to them. It is not like they are a paid reviewer and told to go review something like it or not.


5. Am I just reading too much into being reviewed in the first place?

Reviews are hard to get and a coveted thing. Enjoy! And, congratulations.


I will be honest, at first I was stunned to see anything by me in a reviewers list...then apprehensive, fearing the worst, then...well...a bit confused over the whole thing. Over twenty five different stories I have written, why this one in particular?

Oh well...It did feel good in the end.


One final thought. Reviewers also can be trying to make a name for themselves in the world of reviewing, just as authors do in writing.

 

[curious2c]

Okay...I just wrote 54vette (my reviewer) a thank you note. I hope I wasn't too...well...gushy. Thank you to everyone who has so kindly put in their thoughts here. I know that it must take quite a bit to get a review as I have been posting stories for almost two and a half years now. This is all still new to me nevertheless.

Not to worry, I'm not getting a swelled head or anything...well I hope I'm not anyway. If I do, just poke me with a needle to remind me okay?

I never thought of the fact that reviewers might be struggling to become...reviewers too...doh...sometimes I am a bit...sl-o-o-w.

Lots of stepping stones on the way to becoming an author and I guess I just took one more step. Feels...good.

Boy...If my other work is reviewed now...heh...this one was quite a bit different than my other works...matter of fact...way different.

 

[doormouse]

I loved your story curious2c!!!!

Hell, I've just sent my first story to a publisher after being told repetetively to do so. If it gets published, I'd be as proud as punch!!!

Take the compliments and face the reality that you are damn good!!!!!

 

[thebullet]

Well, damn, it never occurred to me to thank the guy. I've been reveiwed a couple of times by the same guy. My question is, does anyone read the darn things? Do they use them to determine what to read?

I usually look at the feedback portal on Lit to choose what to read. I'll read things that get really really good comments or things that make people crazy. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not.

I've learned a lesson here on Literotica. It was driven home to me these last few weeks. That is, the section you post under is more important than the quality of the story in getting readership. I posted a book with 23 chapters under the Romance section and am lucky to get any readership at all, even though the scores are uniformly good. I took the thing seriously and worked hard on it. But just for shits and giggles I wrote 3 throw-away stories, posted under Non-Consent, Erotic Couples, and Loving Wives. The # of views one gets under these categories has no relationship to the quality of the work. These 3 stories have been vastly more successful in terms of readership, even though they aren't nearly as good.

I've been posting another book under the Romance section. My Loving Wives story got more readership in 3 days than the 5 chapters of my new book got in 2 months.

I post on storiesonline under the name Andrew Wiggin. Here are my reviews, one for my book the other for my Loving Wives story. Maybe the damn thing will attract some readership to my book. Nothing else seems to work.
_______________________________________________
Death By Fucking by Andrew Wiggin
Review by 54vette
reviewed: 2004-01-24

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'Death by Fucking' is a superbly written story. Among it's list of excellent qualities humor is handled in a way that never insults the characters or the readers. In fact, the humor aspect of the story makes you question whether or not this is a real story. It's that credible. There is also the high love and compassion factor. The women are treated with love, honor and the utmost respect. Their love for their man is treated equally. There is no kid sex in this story. Which is awesome. However, there is a lot of child love. The children from our main character's unique union are a wonder and makes this reader wish his kids were like that. You've got to read this one and then read it again because it's that good. EXCELLENT JOB A.W.!!!
Plot: 10 | Stroke Ratio: 10 | Technical Quality: 10 | Appeal to Reviewer: 10

___________________________________________________

The Big Webcast of 2004 by Andrew Wiggin
Review by 54vette
reviewed: 2004-06-29


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I'm probably not the right guy to review this story. Not because I know 'Andrew Wiggin' personally. Because I don't and given that I've been given the privilege of being a reviewer on SOL, I tend to keep myself away from the authors and give my opinions in here instead. It keeps me honest.

But, because I'm a big fan of his work, I was rather dissappointed that this story got the low scores that it did. (You can't please 'em all I guess)

Oh well, I'm not sure what all of you expected from him but, to me, this is one of his best stories. Why, because, for a short story it was written well and he hit all the points needed to make his message come through.

AW takes your atypical goodguy/hero/nerdy/athelete/clarkkent/superman character and sets him up in a life situation that has him suspect his wife of cheating on him. Rather than communicating his fears to his wife our 'hero' decides to let his paranoia rule and gets what he's looking for, A cheating wife.

Ah but alas, this is NOT your typical cheating wife story.
This is a story about communicating or that lack there of. And about being true to oneself. You see our hero is too smart for his own good and it backfires on him. Gotta love it!

AW handles the cuckold theme rather uniquely. You know it's a cuckold story before reading it. You know it because of the story codes. What you don't know is how this particular author sees that type of man. Or that type of situation. With that in mind, AW takes you through his own perception of what cuckold feels.

In this story, I can see the signature 'Wiggin' humor that we've all come to love in his stories (like "Death By Fucking" and his new story "Tales of the Ekids:..." which I absolutely love and will definitely review when it's finished)

Because of the brief length of this story he makes the twists and turns happen quickly and sharply and get 'to the point' rather than playing it out.

His handling of a very sensitive yet sexy situation is genuinely funny and different and because it is so well written.

I won't even tell you more than I have already. Go on and read it and open your mind a little. You'll see that ol' AW is taking us for a ride that will leave you with the question..."WHAT THE HELL???"

Enjoy!
Plot: 10 | Stroke Ratio: 9 | Technical Quality: 10 | Appeal to Reviewer: 10

 

[curious2c]

I loved your story curious2c!!!!

Hell, I've just sent my first story to a publisher after being told repetetively to do so. If it gets published, I'd be as proud as punch!!!

Take the compliments and face the reality that you are damn good!!!!!

Thank you doormouse.


Good fortune with your submission to the publisher.


Another question...Heh...I know...I'm greedy that way.

You mentioned submitting to a publisher...did you do that directly? Or through an agent? Everything I have read tends to push a struggling author towards getting an agent and letting them work with the publisher. THe agent seems to know far more about how to strike contractural deals from what I've read. Of course...I am just a neophyte at this whole thing yet.

If your story is accepted, I sincerely hope it does very well. I admire you since I have been writing the stories I have and know the hard work that is involved.

 

[curious2c]

thebullet,

I am on the way to checking out your stories now. My heh...curiousity is stirred.

Wow...two reviews and another on the way. Impressive.

 

[thebullet]

I am on the way to checking out your stories now.

Geez, watch out, Curious2c! You'll double my readership!

 

[doormouse]

I was given a couple of sites that pay for submissions.

Some pay commission, others pay per word. You choose who you submit to.

As M.I.K.E. is an erotic horror, I went for the Anthology listings.
There are editors/publishers on there that deal with all types of literature.

www.ralan.com is a great one.

For erotic horror, I was given another listing. I'm also going to send a transcript to them. It's since been edited, so reads better, in my opinion, than what it does on here, so I suggest you do the same before posting.

ralan.com is a must for your story.