How do you feel about readers wanting to email with you?

[Bramblethorn]

ON fanfiction.net there are swarms of those 'artists' offering commissions. Feels like a scam. They claim to be a big fan of your stories, but when quesioned it's obvious they never read anything

Yeah, this is a scam. If you take the bait what you'll get will either be stolen or AI-generated crap.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I don't mind. Most are polite in their requests, and understanding when I decline. No problem with them at all. Though one individual didn't take it well. They were offended to learn my avatar pic is an AI image, in particular. That reaction is exactly why I use a pic that is not me, and a pen name. I've received many chat requests. I guess I made the avatar pic too pretty?

As long as you have a female-sounding user name, I'm not sure there's any level of ugliness you could have in an avatar to entirely discourage the Horny Chat Dudes.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I don't mind. Most are polite in their requests, and understanding when I decline. No problem with them at all. Though one individual didn't take it well. They were offended to learn my avatar pic is an AI image, in particular. That reaction is exactly why I use a pic that is not me, and a pen name. I've received many chat requests. I guess I made the avatar pic too pretty?

Exactly why I went to the image with the faerie wings.
Some still don't get it.

EDIT: Pretty sure the only one on here using an actual selfie is @StillStunned

 

[JenniferSmithJones]

As long as you have a female-sounding user name, I'm not sure there's any level of ugliness you could have in an avatar to entirely discourage the Horny Chat Dudes.

I hear that! EVen when I tell them I don't look anything like the AI avatar pic, and I'm near 70 years old, and have the most generic pen name that self-evidently could not possibly be real (unless I was from the country of Wales) ... some still try to coax me into chat. I also try and tell them that in real life I often come across as dumb, they persist. I have to work for ten minutes at a time to write an effective sentence. So there's nothing here they would want. Yet some persist, though usually polite and respectfully.

 

[StillStunned]

EDIT: Pretty sure the only one on here using an actual selfie is @StillStunned

I was trying to take a dick pic, but I had the camera set to selfie. In case anyone was wondering about the look of surprise.

 

[JenniferSmithJones]

Exactly why I went to the image with the faerie wings.
Some still don't get it.

EDIT: Pretty sure the only one on here using an actual selfie is @StillStunned

I have to say, I LOVE your avatar pic. AI or not, just a lovely image. I think imne turned out looking like Brenee Brown's older sister, or something.

 

[vanmyers86]

Re Bramblethorn's comment about having a female-sounding name, that's exactly why I chose mine rather than something like HotVannaWritesPorn.

That said, I've had some great email exchanges with readers that led to genuine friendships, including the late (and still very missed) Maonaigh and another non-writer friend I have emailed with several times a week for the last 6-7 years.

Those are the exceptions, though. Most Lit-inspired email exchanges usually have 2-5 emails before they peter out, in my experience.

 

[WaxPhilosophic]

Re Bramblethorn's comment about having a female-sounding name, that's exactly why I chose mine rather than something like HotVannaWritesPorn.

That said, I've had some great email exchanges with readers that led to genuine friendships, including the late (and still very missed) Maonaigh and another non-writer friend I have emailed with several times a week for the last 6-7 years.

Those are the exceptions, though. Most Lit-inspired email exchanges usually have 2-5 emails before they peter out, in my experience.

Maonaigh was a true rare gem. He gave me the okay to lift the "Megacomf Sofa" idea from his Space Oddity stories to use in my Tales from the Stream series, and for that I am forever grateful. He is missed.

 

[Voboy]

Most Lit-inspired email exchanges usually have 2-5 emails before they peter out, in my experience.

Yep.

The ones that don't can go years, though, and be very rewarding.