One Year Anniversary on Lit

[bearlee]

Well, since it's officially September 24, 2002 on the site, this is our one year anniversary since we became registered members of Literotica. We do want to thank people for all of their help and kindness over the past year. This thanks especially extends to Laurel for all of her help, especially when it comes to trying to post stories and her help with our first audio story.

Unfortunately, we have to do things the old-fashioned way so it hasn't always been easy although we're trying to learn. Thanks also to those folks that have tried to help us with some of the technical aspects of the site. Still, I doubt we'll ever learn, despite all the help how to pull quotes out of prior posts(except quoting the entire preceding post) nor learn how to put an avatar under our name.

We've learned, or had confirmed, new things and things we already knew. Just because a person writes erotic stories doesn't mean he or she is some kind of pervert or stupid. Some of the chatter on the General Board is highly intellectual to the point to two people with professional degrees can't always understand it.

We've learned that a story with a low score can have more than 80,000 but a story in the same category with a much higher score can have less than half that many.

We've learned a story with a low score can have many more views than a sequel with a higher score.

We've learned, as evidenced by the recent audio story, Violation of Contract, Dawn can tell a better story than Lee can write.

We've learned there is no correlation between views and score as it relates to the number of feedbacks you get.

We've learned that 7 non-erotic stories, some close to a year old, will not get the total number of views an incest story can get in one or two days.

We've learned scores aren't all that important if you're just doing this to have fun or for a diversion from real life.

We've learned some of the authors can be very helpful and kind and send the only real critical feedback. Other feedback is generally one or two lines about "cumming" or something similar. Still, we enjoy it all and respond to everyone that provides an address. Much to their possible dismay that means they get put in the address book and automatically get notified of new stories. Lucky them!

We've learned that 1.5 million views seems like a lot, but not with 55 stories when one person has one story with over 800,000.

We've learned not to agree so readily to reading a story until looking to see how long it is, like a recent request under Novels and Novellas that literally took days to read.

We've learned that offering free pictures by mail(U.S. Postal Service) isn't so free after all when too many people request them.(Or that free phone sex isn't so free when we're the ones paying for the call)

We've learned by sharing fantasies, either by talking to each other or expressing them here, can expand our relationship in a positive way.

We've learned many other things but this is getting kind of long. We do appreciate the people we consider to be friends. Our address book from feedback has grown to well over 200 addresses and we do exchange general email with people. We can immediately identify, even with over 200 addresses, a new one as soon as it comes in.

So, our thanks to all of you for the fun and entertainment you've provided us with. We'll be getting married in June or July next year-you're all invited!(This was posted on the General Board but just to make sure you all get your invitation, we decided to put it here also)

Thanks,

bearlee(Lee & Dawn)

 

[its Leslie]

Nice post, my first year mark doesn't occur till some time in next February I think.

But I too have learned that Lit can be a great place to be in surprising ways.

 

[bearlee]

Thank you-we wrote it ourselves

 

[gaigirl]

Congratulations on your engagement and your anniversary!

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts in this way. As I reader, I was drawn in immediately and as I writer, I loved the way you wrote.

I feel lucky. Through your post, I have learned answers to questions that hadn't fully formed or developed out of the doubt phase. I have benefited as a new member by the experiences and wisdom you have accumulated, as if I had a one-year jump start. I would add one thing I have learned that you didn't mention.

I have learned the importance of practising what I preach, in terms of spell checks, grammar, and pre-post editing. I have caught a couple of mistakes/typos in my posted stories, and I am embarrassed.

I have NOT YET learned how to correct or edit stories once they are posted.... (hint hint...)

I'm glad to be here, because of the people on this forum like you. (Dawn and Lee, and all the other "good ones" out there.)

 

[bearlee]

Well, thanks on both-the marriage part mostly. At least you've learned early on how to edit a post. Spell check is simple now that I do stories in email except after I transfer them to the site I change things. Grammar-not a strong.

Anyway, I get the hint and it's rare anyone asks me for advice but this is one I can answer and should do more of since my stories are riddled with errors. I did it once.

As I recall, simply resubmit the story and 'Revised' after the title. I'm not big on word processors and stuff, but when I did it I copied the story from the site, popped in back in email and fixed it. Then of course transferred it back from my panel and hit submit. Worked like a charm.

It was mostly for spelling as I recall. Out of 55 stories, I only have 54 more to do this with.

I did find a person to edit two of my stories which haven't been posted yet. Still, after I got them back I made changes so I'm guessing I screwed up her work.

Thanks so much and enjoy your stay. It won't be tonight, but I'll read one of your stories.

bearlee(Lee of Lee Dawn)

 

[gaigirl]

Rewriting after an outsider editor has made comments and suggestions

As an editor, I would never be upset if a person didn't take my suggestions, or went beyond my sugggestions. I see editing as helping a writer make the piece more clear. I never want to leave the shadow or footprint of my own writing style when I am editing, (although I do say what I like as a reader) and I see editing and rewriting for an author as two distinctly different things. This to say that in my humble opiniion, a writer can never screw up an editor's work.

Spell check usually isn't a problem for me, it is the words that look right to the spell checker but aren't--like writing word when I wanted world, etc. Those are the situations where I think my mistakes come. I write my stories in Word, off line, then copy and paste them into the submit box. I do use spell and grammar checking, but it isn't always enough.

 

[Ulyssa]

Re: Congratulations on your engagement and your anniversary!

I have NOT YET learned how to correct or edit stories once they are posted.... (hint hint...)

There are other sites where posted stories may be edited directly online after posting. Write me (PM or email) and I will give you the information.