How do you handle the antici...

[LordMhoram]

...pation.

One finally completes crafting a piece, after tweaking, re-reading, editing, tweaking some... Is it ever really ready?

Then we submit it.

And wait.

And wait.

And tell ourselves "You know it has a process to go through, be patient!", and wait.

Then it is finally "approved", and you begin tearing up your hair/nails, eating ice cream, whatever, watching for the first votes, the first comment.

Ugh, it drives me nuts waiting through this part.

Which reminds me. I've noticed that, while still "pending", the views always seem to jump to 12, then 14, then 20. Is that indicative of some background process?

*sigh* As Zachary Smith might at this juncture say, "Oh the pain, the pain."

 

[LucyH]

Start working on something else. That's how I handle it.

And I've been told that the number of views prior to approval is just some weird buggy thing.

 

[TxRad]

The votes during the "Pending" phase is a known glitch in the system. Most likely bots and spiders creeping around the system.

The anticipation has waned a little over the years as I now have around 130 stories posted but i do remember the first few postings fondly.

The only thing you can add to your list for later stories is when you finally get your own personal trolls that 2 or 3 bomb your every story as soon as they see it.

Welcome aboard and happy Jonesing as you wait and wait.

There is an old adage from BDSM, "Anticipation makes everything feel even better and more intense."

 

[PennLady]

LOL I must be of a different species -- I don't get quite this worked up while waiting for approval and then comments. Not to say that I don't keep checking my feedback after something's up. But once it's submitted, I can't do anything, so I just move along to the next thing.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

What matters is YOU knowing your stuff is good, and YOU knowing what the standards are. What I think and what your editor thinks and what your mama thinks are irrelevant.

 

[lovecraft68]

I agree with Lucy. For me, my favorite story is my next one. Once I give a work a final go though and click submit, it is old news.

Granted when its up, I check out the scores a few times that day, and its fun to watch the votes and views. But I agree with James, if you feel your work is good don;t let the trolls get to you.


And to chime in with others, the pending views are a glitch.

 

[glynndah]

i always assumed those "glitch" votes were laurel snickering at my story and then calling all her friends {and possibly certain litsters} to read it so they can laugh and point, too.

 

[PayDay]

One more reason why fathers cry for writing children.

Start working on something else. That's how I handle it.

This-----^ Vicious cycle, really.

LOL I must be of a different species -- I don't get quite this worked up while waiting for approval and then comments. Not to say that I don't keep checking my feedback after something's up. But once it's submitted, I can't do anything, so I just move along to the next thing.

I get what the OPs saying, thought it's not from the comments or feedback or approval. It's the fact that someone might read it at all that seems to bother me the most.

By the way OP, it seems like it gets worse the more stories I write, so look forward to that.

Then it turns into, after approval: "Well at least they didn't think it was all trash, I must know what I'm doing and I might as well finish that other one I started."

 

[LordMhoram]

Thanks for the responses folks. As it happened, the story posted shortly after I started this thread, though no votes yet.

While I appreciate the wisdom of not permitting others to dictate the merit of my stories, I am publishing in the hope of bringing a pleasurable tale to a few readers. If votes are poor it would seem my effort was in vain.

Too, I feel I have a strong foundation to my writing, but sense there are problems which I can't put my finger on. without peer review I may never work out those short comings.

And so I do, perhaps, place more store in the votes than I should. It would be most helpful, of course, if a few of you would take a moment if you can to comment on my stories.

P.S. My stories so far if you are interested.
http://www.literotica.com/s/sarahs-journey-ch-01
http://www.literotica.com/s/sarahs-journey-ch-02

http://www.literotica.com/s/jenna-ch-01-2

 

[TE999]

A watched pot never boils and a submitted story never posts. Think of each submittal as Mama bird thinks of her fledglings, once they can fly, they're on their own, she's thinking about her next brood. Busying yourself with writing makes the time pass quickly.

 

[jomar]

Tx has it right. The first few or so stories are eagerly awaited, camped out on the refresh button. The excitement and anticipation wanes the more you put out there, but ya still check pretty frequently at first to see how it is received.

 

[LordMhoram]

Tx has it right. The first few or so stories are eagerly awaited, camped out on the refresh button. The excitement and anticipation wanes the more you put out there, but ya still check pretty frequently at first to see how it is received.

Love your avatar, BTW.

 

[TxRad]

1 vote in a hundred views is excellent. Views don't mean anyone read it, just that they opened it. The best thing to go by is comments, especially the ones you get by e-mail. Those folks took the time to send the e-mail so they usually have something to say.

Keep plugging away. That is the best advise you can get. Writing makes you a better writer. I go back and look at some of my early stuff and cringe. I was lucky and found a couple of good volunteer editors when I first started. They helped a ton.

 

[PayDay]

Obsession is as obsession does.

Tx has it right. The first few or so stories are eagerly awaited, camped out on the refresh button. The excitement and anticipation wanes the more you put out there, but ya still check pretty frequently at first to see how it is received.

I disagree. Very presumptuous to assume only the first ones will be waited on. I have every intention to feel ill before all of my stories as long as I am posting them.

 

[sr71plt]

I don't suffer from anticipation much on Lit. stories anymore. I don't submit them until about nine months after they are written in most cases. (I do usually write the contest stories fresh--and I do have some anticipation for them to post. But the regular trolls kill any anticipation of getting a good ratings response.) I have some anticipation with the e-books when I've written them and sent them off, but e-books appear so much quicker than my mainstream print books, that the waiting for an e-book isn't too difficult.

 

[sr71plt]

I disagree. Very presumptuous to assume only the first ones will be waited on. I have every intention to feel ill before all of my stories as long as I am posting them.

But that's presumptuous too, isn't it? You don't know that until you've gotten to that place. That's pretty much the definition of presumption.

 

[PayDay]

Um... I am only presuming about myself and my future, not everybody.

But that's presumptuous too, isn't it? You don't know that until you've gotten to that place. That's pretty much the definition of presumption.

Fine. Be a jerk for no reason. This is me being presumtuous of your assumtion of my presumtion of myself.

"Know thyself..." and learn about context.

One is a presumption, many is presumtuous.

To presume one's self is to think of one's own future, and only one definition of Mind's Eye.

To be presumtuous of many, is to assume you know what everyone else is going to do and what they are thinking now and in the future. This is totally impossible unless you are omniscient. You are not, no assumtions involved.

To assume I only ever published here, is also presumptuous, and for you to presume that I don't know what I singularly am going to do as I continue to write in this venue, is just silly.

Especially silly and presumtuous considering what I have done in the past is a full-on mystery to you and the like.

Slick try though Can we not be nit-picky today?

 

[sr71plt]

Fine. Be a jerk for no reason. This is me being presumtuous of your assumtion of my presumtion of myself.

"Know thyself..." and learn about context.

One is a presumption, many is presumtuous.

To presume one's self is to think of one's own future, and only one definition of Mind's Eye.

To be presumtuous of many, is to assume you know what everyone else is going to do and what they are thinking now and in the future. This is totally impossible unless you are omniscient. You are not, no assumtions involved.

To assume I only ever published here, is also presumptuous, and for you to presume that I don't know what I singularly am going to do as I continue to write in this venue, is just silly.

Especially silly and presumtuous considering what I have done in the past is a full-on mystery to you and the like.

Slick try though Can we not be nit-picky today?

Sure, we apparently can also be presumptuous about telling someone else they are presumptuous.

 

[PayDay]

Really?

Sure, we apparently can also be presumptuous about telling someone else they are presumptuous.

...and then what happened?

 

[lovecraft68]

I think the one thing we can always presume is that there will be an argument on pretty much any thread about any topic.

So technically that would make me presumptuous (notice the P there) but I think safe to say here, most likely correct.

 

[PayDay]

Yup.

I think the one thing we can always presume is that there will be an argument on pretty much any thread about any topic.

So technically that would make me presumptuous (notice the P there) but I think safe to say here, most likely correct.

pssht... WORD has spellchecker for my Dalexia. But I agree, just having fun with the funny for fun.

 

[lovecraft68]

pssht... WORD has spellchecker for my Dalexia. But I agree, just having fun with the funny for fun.

See there I go presuming you can't spell, goddamn it! Well if you're having fun with the funny, then do continue, I wouldn't want to ruin anyone's fun here.

 

[sr71plt]

...and then what happened?

and then your face turned all red and your head exploded.

 

[jomar]

Love your avatar, BTW.

Thank you!

 

[jomar]

I disagree. Very presumptuous to assume only the first ones will be waited on. I have every intention to feel ill before all of my stories as long as I am posting them.

You have six stories up. Give yourself some time.