Major Gripe about First Vicious Feedback

[JoiseyMadison]

Ok, I have a gripe. I am not very active on these boards unfortunately, because I am a full time student and also work full time, however, today I need a venting ground.

I just recieved a nasty "annonymous" email feedback. It is the first truly vicious one that I have recieved and it is bothering me because there was no context for it.

I have always been the first to admit that I am not a true erotica writer. I just started writing romance, because stories here need to have that sensuality in order to be posted, and I needed a forum to be creative in. I respect everyone like DanielleKitten and DW Simon who are true writers of good erotica, but me, I know that my stories such as "For the Sake of an Empire," are more drama with some sensuality thrown in. I prefer writing suspense and was actually going to start posting some of those here: more along the lines of JD Robb to my usual lighthearted stuff that I usually do here, because it's whats I prefer. However, after this email, I am just so annoyed I don't even know if I want to anymore.

The email stated a question. The person wanted to know "why I even bother posting stories here, because I couldn't write erotica if it bit me in the ass and I suck and shouldn't have won the contest. I write crap and people will see through me."

I know that it is probably just sour grapes, because at this point, from my time here, I have gained enough confidence to know that I am a good writer, (just not a good typist! Editors out there, I am your new charity case!) but it still knocked out my morale. I guess the reason I am venting here is to ask a silly question: Do people actually read stories here that have very non-explicit sex scenes in them, or very little sex if any at all? I would think so, because most of th authors I like here, write lengthy literature, not jerk& stroke stories, but I am putting out the question there, in the event that there is anyone out there who has felt the same way.

Thanks and have a great day everybody.

-J

 

[dr_mabeuse]

I know how it goes, a piece of feedback has impact far beyond what it really means (typically it repesents the opinon of maybe 1 out of 2000-7000 people who see your story), but you should unmderstand too that some people give you mean feedback just to try and hurt your feelings and make you cry. They're like flashers who jump out from behind bushes and waggle their dicks at you. They're looking for a reaction, whether they've read the story or not.

As for readers, there are people here who like to read long, tender romances, and there are people who only want to read about graphic anal incest. I kind of doubt this person even took the time to read your whole story. He or she probably skimmed it for the "good" parts, didn't find what they were looking for, and sent you a Fuck You note. It's just part of the cost of doing business here.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Take the advice of the good doctor....

I chuckle when I get feedback like that now...

like water off a duck's back, artistic... take a deep breath and let it go... it gets easier over time (and this won't be the last, I promise you--just remember, it's not about you!)

 

[oggbashan]

.. I guess the reason I am venting here is to ask a silly question: Do people actually read stories here that have very non-explicit sex scenes in them, or very little sex if any at all? I would think so, because most of the authors I like here, write lengthy literature, not jerk & stroke stories, but I am putting out the question there, in the event that there is anyone out there who has felt the same way.

Thanks and have a great day everybody.

-J

The answer to your not-silly question is an emphatic YES.

I have written stories with no overt sex at all and had reasonable votes and feedback. My work is an acquired taste, and varies so much that I don't think anyone, except me, has acquired a taste for all of the stories, but subtle or off-stage sex can be effective, and erotic without in-your-face copulation.

There are many writers in Literotica who write erotica that is not instantly pornographic, and some whose work could easily be posted on a site open to readers of all ages without causing offence.

The advantages of Literotica as a site far outweigh the occasional insults from people who have big egos and tiny minds. Comments such as the one you received should be ignored, deleted and forgotten.

What hurts me far more is the gentle criticism from my peers that shows I have failed with a particular story. The hurt doesn't last because the criticism is constructive and enables me to get better (or worse depending on your perspective) at writing. Some of the hurt is self-inflicted because I keep trying to be different - and experiments fail as well as succeed.

Trust your own instincts about feedback. If the comment is a personal attack and not criticism of your writing then it should be ignored. What does anyone know about you, except from your writing?

Og

 

[Guest]

Hey Jen..Thank for the plug.

And take it from someone who gets her own share of negative comments and trolls who just want to go and, as Dr. M so aptly put it, wag their dicks at you, smile the entire time you hit that delete button. It's one of the joys of putting your work, thinks that you slave over on your free time, out for public consumption that you have to be ready to deal with. I had one email that compared me to Danielle Steele and said that I shouldn't be allowed to write ever again. DS makes money hand over fist, why should that be a criticism?

Keep writing and don't let them get you down.

 

[minsue]

All very good advice, particularly the good doctor's apt comparison to a flasher. I got nothin' more to offer other than my support.


Want a flower?

 

[3113]

it still knocked out my morale.

Now, don't take it like that. Really. I mean REALLY.

I got an e-mail just like this, so annoymous it didn't even specify the story that had gotten to them. Something about what they read being slow and that I couldn't write to save my life.

Like the good Dr. said, this guy was just wagging his dick at me and my response was to laugh at its tiny size. That's the BEST insult he could give my story? It didn't get to the erotica fast enough to get him off? What immediately popped into my mind was some guy, pulling out his dick, lube at the ready, and getting all frustrated and red faced because the sex wasn't coming up fast enough for him to climax. Oh, the horror! Too bad he's not getting any and has to rely on on-line erotica.

I wonder why he's not getting any. And not likely to.

Give me someone who's opinion I trust and value and maybe I'll cry if they don't like my story. But Mr.-no-name-masturbator who can't jerk himself off if the story doesn't get there fast and furious?

*Snort.*

If you frustrated a guy like that, feel good about it. He deserved it.

 

[Guest]

I have to agree with another... feedback from peers here in AH telling me that i missed makes me cringe and want to rewrite faster then any other feedback from some anon or some person looking for a stroke story that didnt get off on mine....

I have received some amazing horrible feedback before and just sat there stunned reading it... however, I think about this as well... if they felt so strongly that they had to essentially harass me about the story... then I did infact touch someone... they felt strong enough emotion to actually react to it... then I smile and wink and hope that they wandered off to find something to make them orgasm

 

[Guest]

I'm not as brave as many here. I do not allow anonymous feedback. If you are saying something nice, you've nothing to fear, and if you want to "waggle your dick" at me, you can damn well make up a name to do it under. Seriously, it's not precisely difficult to create a login around here.

So I don't accept anything from "anonymous" and I hope that my first troll bite will only itch a little...

Here -- I dug this up from my old website. I used this form letter to respond to anyone sending me hatemail on my website. Sometimes just reading it made me feel better. I originated it some years ago and I think it's been around a little.

Dear [troll],

Thank you for taking the time from your busy and satisfying life to hunt my site out from the literally hundreds of thousands of other sites just to correct the error of my ways with your enlightened commentary. Obviously, I will give deep consideration to the philosophical implications of "You Suck" and "Fuck Off, Bitch". Your succinct manner of expression gave me an impression of your wit and intelligence that will remain with me.

In fact, I feel deeply honored that my influence upon you is so great, so profound, that when I strayed into error, you were prompted to such an immediate and heartfelt reaction. It would have been so easy to simply ignore me and move on, never to return, removing the flickering light of your intellect to some other, more deserving weblogger, gracing them with your unwashed presence and giving them the gift of your regard and attention. That you expended the energy to hunt and peck your painstaking way through the alphabet to share of your wisdom tells me just how important you consider me to be. Who could not be complimented? You've paused in your schedule to think about me rather than concentrating precious effort toward your work on the unified field theory, your anti-AIDS vaccine, and your cure for several different cancers. That doesn't even mention the loss of your time spent in activism to eradicate poverty in Africa, bring concordance to the Middle East, and solve the hotdog/bun conundrum. What an incredible strain it must have been to think about my very minor role in your world. You've given to me effort and energy that you would usually devote to saving abused children, rescuing earthquake victims and promoting world peace.

I can do no more than thank you.

Feel free to modify it for your own use, if you think it's worthwhile. I'm always happy to contribute to troll discomfort.

 

[JoiseyMadison]

Thank you all for your feedback. I feel loved! -chuckles- I know that I should ignore the buttmunches as my godson would say. I know the trollage exists. As soon as I got that W next to my name, all of my stories which had had a lot of hits and were up at the 4.90's levels, all dropped dramatically. Like within 2 days. It was crazy. I have gotten some silly annymous feedback that I just wrote off, but this one was just ridiculous because it was just an attack. I always tell people, criticizs me if you need to, but CONSTRUCTIVELY. Otherwise no point.

Malachiteink, thanks for the form letter. -chuckles- I am saving that. To everyone else, we should hold hands and sing kumbaya to keep back the trolls.

 

[Carmenica Diaz]

At least the idiot read your story, hoping for some puerile sex and when it didn’t come (poor pun) exploded into a resentful fury and fired off an illiterate email!

Look on the bright side, your writing generated a reaction.

I collect hate mail – I think it’s super!

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Ok, I have a gripe. I am not very active on these boards unfortunately, because I am a full time student and also work full time, however, today I need a venting ground.

I just recieved a nasty "annonymous" email feedback. It is the first truly vicious one that I have recieved and it is bothering me because there was no context for it.

I have always been the first to admit that I am not a true erotica writer. I just started writing romance, because stories here need to have that sensuality in order to be posted, and I needed a forum to be creative in. I respect everyone like DanielleKitten and DW Simon who are true writers of good erotica, but me, I know that my stories such as "For the Sake of an Empire," are more drama with some sensuality thrown in. I prefer writing suspense and was actually going to start posting some of those here: more along the lines of JD Robb to my usual lighthearted stuff that I usually do here, because it's whats I prefer. However, after this email, I am just so annoyed I don't even know if I want to anymore.

The email stated a question. The person wanted to know "why I even bother posting stories here, because I couldn't write erotica if it bit me in the ass and I suck and shouldn't have won the contest. I write crap and people will see through me."

I know that it is probably just sour grapes, because at this point, from my time here, I have gained enough confidence to know that I am a good writer, (just not a good typist! Editors out there, I am your new charity case!) but it still knocked out my morale. I guess the reason I am venting here is to ask a silly question: Do people actually read stories here that have very non-explicit sex scenes in them, or very little sex if any at all? I would think so, because most of th authors I like here, write lengthy literature, not jerk& stroke stories, but I am putting out the question there, in the event that there is anyone out there who has felt the same way.

Thanks and have a great day everybody.

-J

Jen, my answer to your question "Do people actually read stories here..." is yes. My Montana Summer series becomes less sexual with each chapter, but has a faithful following.

And like the rest of the commenters have said, just blow it off. Just write what you want to write...and don't worry about the trolls....