Idea Feedback: Open Letter

[Stimtheone]

So, I had this interesting idea to post a "story" that is not really a story, more of an open communication with readers. Sharing thoughts, backstage info, personal opinions and some other choice bits in there. A letter from me to my readers.

My question would be if that is even "rules-legal", though I think it should be since I saw plenty of stories that were not stories. The other if it's a good idea. I plan to post it after I'm done with my current series, but I finished that open letter already.

 

[StillStunned]

Sounds like a What I Wrote and Why. Laurel is encouraging us to post these in the form of stories, instead of just as threads here in the Hangout, so go ahead. I know at least one other Hangouter who's submitted one for publication.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Reviews & Essays maybe?

Emily

 

[StillStunned]

Reviews & Essays maybe?

Emily

That seems the logical category. Unless you get creative and structure it as a mother who's explaining her story to her son while she rides him like a cowgirl. Or as a human trying to explain their creative endeavours to invading aliens.

 

[Stimtheone]

That seems the logical category. Unless you get creative and structure it as a mother who's explaining her story to her son while she rides him like a cowgirl. Or as a human trying to explain their creative endeavours to invading aliens.

Nah, in this one I am facing the fourth wall and talking to it. And I NEVER do first person.

 

[nice90sguy]

Nah, in this one I am facing the fourth wall and talking to it. And I NEVER do first person.

Except in that post, of course

 

[12oclocktales]

Interesting. I think I might be doing something similar. It’s about a porn star who performs in solo videos and is at the top of her game with a huge following. To illustrate her success, after she’s introduced to the reader via background info, her latest video is described in detail. The whole thing is told as if it were a news or magazine article. It’s all fictitious, of course (think of James Thurber’s short story “The Greatest Man in the World,” a spoof of Charles Lindbergh after his Paris flight), and as I introduce this porn queen to the reader I hope my breezy tone reinforces that fact. Because of a particular feature I can’t seem to avoid in most of my stories, I’ll put it in Fetish. I don’t know if this is anything like what you’re thinking of doing, but when I saw “open communication,” backstage info,” and “personal opinions” it made me think of what I was doing. I hope to submit it by early next month.

 

[mrs_mackenzie]

Unless you get creative and structure it as a mother who's explaining her story to her son while she rides him like a cowgirl.

Interesting... that idea definitely has some potential for the WIW&W challenge.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I did that with my "How to Read the Virginiaverse" in the 'How To' category.

 

[Paul_Chance]

So, I had this interesting idea to post a "story" that is not really a story, more of an open communication with readers. Sharing thoughts, backstage info, personal opinions and some other choice bits in there. A letter from me to my readers.

My question would be if that is even "rules-legal", though I think it should be since I saw plenty of stories that were not stories. The other if it's a good idea. I plan to post it after I'm done with my current series, but I finished that open letter already.

Yes, it's also fairly common for authors to "write" to their readers in Reviews & Essays. Take a glance at the category and you'll see numerous authors doing something similar as we speak.

Now, is it a good idea? From a marketing standpoint, yes, it is a good idea. From the reality of the internet in general, be careful, don your armor, and get your shield ready because some people will take it as an opening to personally criticize you and come at you hard.

 

[Stimtheone]

From the reality of the internet in general, be careful, don your armor, and get your shield ready because some people will take it as an opening to personally criticize you and come at you hard.

I write about defiance being sacred. And I've been here longer than most residents of the internet. Son, I have been called slurs that history has forgotten already and insulted in ways so creative that my honest reaction could only be sheer respect at their creativity and dedication. One part of that letter even invites people to post any hostile remarks because I need a laugh.

But I also have the realistic idea that most people that did not like my work simply moved on, while there may be some dedicated hater that consistently votes down my work, they have yet to even use the shield of anonymous to use words against me.

 

[Voboy]

I posted a bunch of background material for an SF series once, just stuff I'd invented whilst worldbuilding. I spoke directly to the reader there; it was well-received, but I don't think it's the sort of thing you're talking about.