Newbie queries

[uksnowy]

Not sure if this is the right place, but no doubt someone will shift it if necessary. I have tried an email to Laurel on the same things and guess she is extremely busy, so I look forward to a response in the near future. These are queries and meant as constructive, so please don't flame me if you are long term in here and feel I am intruding on well worn paths.

1/ Why is the story pinched into the left half of the page?

2/ On the above point, if it was spread across the page, would we really need the spaces between the paras. I don't write that way and prefer not to read that way.

3/ I write in Times font on my Mac, finding that a serif font is always easier to read in bulk than a sans serif and that is why most newspapers are the same, using sans serif for headlines. The para spaces wouldn't be necessary then.

4/ I find a lot of the pages are very fussy and full of other distracting stuff alongside the main page content.

5/ Is it not possible to receive an email notification that the story has been approved or rejected.

Thanks

UKSnowy

 

[snoopercharmbrights]

I'm just another writer/reader on here, but I have been around for a dozen years now so I'll tell you what I think:

... 1/ Why is the story pinched into the left half of the page? ...

This is the house style and always has been.

...2/ On the above point, if it was spread across the page, would we really need the spaces between the paras. I don't write that way and prefer not to read that way. ...

This is the house style and always has been, see http://www.literotica.com/s/bedroom-antics

... 3/ I write in Times font on my Mac, finding that a serif font is always easier to read in bulk than a sans serif and that is why most newspapers are the same, using sans serif for headlines. The para spaces wouldn't be necessary then. ...

This is the house font and always has been.

... 4/ I find a lot of the pages are very fussy and full of other distracting stuff alongside the main page content. ...

This is the house style and always has been. All free sites incorporate advertisements and they are only above and below the text here.

... 5/ Is it not possible to receive an email notification that the story has been approved or rejected.

No - it is up to the user to check the status periodically. Advice - NEVER click "Pending" as it sends your story to the back of the queue.

 

[sr71plt]

What wasn't covered is that you don't reach website administration by posting to the forum or e-mailing the administrators. The administrators apparently rarely read the forum and apparently never read e-mail. To reach who you are addressing these questions/suggestions to, you need to send a PM (private message--upper right corner of this page) directly to Laurel, the site editor.

 

[uksnowy]

Thanks to you both. As for the answers to my queries, I expected as much, but I will stick in here. I like ASSTR a lot and have been in there for a long time.

 

[uksnowy]

Thinking about the above response I can add this.

Things can change.

What is the logic behind the half page style, what a waste and also not easy to read?

What is the point of a forum if the mods don't read or interact and the members are not notified? I am in several forums and all have an involvement and email notes.

I accept the ads although they are a pain in the arse, but it's not ads that bother me - it's all the comments, votes, similar stories stuff.

BTW I have PM'd Laurel on a point unrelated to the above and got a response straight away.

 

[sr71plt]

Did you miss the point that these are questions for the site owners, not the site users?

 

[uksnowy]

No, I just thought I would add it in here. I have just sent the same to Laurel. Thanks

 

[_Lynn_]

Thinking about the above response I can add this.

Things can change.

What is the logic behind the half page style, what a waste and also not easy to read?

What is the point of a forum if the mods don't read or interact and the members are not notified? I am in several forums and all have an involvement and email notes.

I accept the ads although they are a pain in the arse, but it's not ads that bother me - it's all the comments, votes, similar stories stuff.

BTW I have PM'd Laurel on a point unrelated to the above and got a response straight away.

How do you know if the mods read the forums or not? If you followed the EF, you would notice mod involvement. In addition, Lit is a free speech site and not all forums have mods.

 

[uksnowy]

You said it on a previous post

 

[TimothyM]

distracting stuff

I actually find the comments, votes and similar stories stuff OK.

But I have a related newbie enquiry, that I'm sure the experienced readers can help with:

At the bottom of the stories pages there are small pictures of more or less naked women. No problem except this is also the case for the Gay Male category.

Somehow, I have the feeling that readers who are into Men loving men stories, would like to see photos of some hot guys instead

And in any case, I find it somewhat discriminating that the sites caters for straight male (and maybe lesbian ?) readers with these photos, but seem to neglect the probably large numbers of straight female and gay male readers.

But I guess there is some technical explanation like it is too much trouble to have a seperate string of photos for just one category. Any other bids ?

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Not sure if this is the right place, but no doubt someone will shift it if necessary. I have tried an email to Laurel on the same things and guess she is extremely busy, so I look forward to a response in the near future. These are queries and meant as constructive, so please don't flame me if you are long term in here and feel I am intruding on well worn paths.
UKSnowy

As sr says, only a PM normally gets a reply.

1/ Why is the story pinched into the left half of the page?

Because the ASSTR syle is unreadable.

That is house style and, to answer your next point, the style reflects e-books style and most known publishers. If you cannot accept a standard book style you may like to look at the presentation here and compare it with the mess at ASSTR.

2/ On the above point, if it was spread across the page, would we really need the spaces between the paras. I don't write that way and prefer not to read that way.

You are alone.

Spacing your paragraphs and keeping them short for the backlit rolling screen is a great encouragement for people to read your story.

3/ I write in Times font on my Mac, finding that a serif font is always easier to read in bulk than a sans serif and that is why most newspapers are the same, using sans serif for headlines. The para spaces wouldn't be necessary then.

We're talking about the net here and print is 180 degrees away from print in papers.
To repeat, para spaces are essential to let readers enjoy your story.

Again, Lit has a style and it is not Times Roman. Go with the corporate flow and either accept or abandon their chosen font.

Generally, with a backlit rolling screen, readers click back at long turgid paragraphs.

4/ I find a lot of the pages are very fussy and full of other distracting stuff alongside the main page content.

Why the flying F do you think this site exists and prospers. From Google downwards, every site needs advertizing to exist.

5/ Is it not possible to receive an email notification that the story has been approved or rejected.

No. Just keep checking your profile. You don't seem to have bothered to research how this excellent site operates.

 

[uksnowy]

Thank you, I have a very complete and pleasant reply from Laurel, without any sharpness.

I like the site, it's just that you can get set in ways and not see improvements however slight once you are close up to it and steeped in the history and makeup. Change happens.