Question on story direction comments.

[MillieDynamite]

So, simple question, how do you responded, or do you, to a comment on a completed story where they have give you instructions for a new story. Making their comment about using the same characters and the direction they want the new tale to go?

I've had it happen before, I usually ignore the comment. But is that the best?

 

[litfan10]

So, simple question, how do you responded, or do you, to a comment on a completed story where they have give you instructions for a new story. Making their comment about using the same characters and the direction they want the new tale to go?

I've had it happen before, I usually ignore the comment. But is that the best?

Yeah, I've had that happen and generally with the reader wanting the characters to act out the reader's fetishes.

I usually respond politely that I appreciate their thoughts and ideas but it doesn't work with my writing plans.

Sometimes if the idea is really cool, I suggest they write their own, just give me credit as original author and treat it like fanfic.

Good luck and happy writing.

 

[NotWise]

I usually ignore them. They want your story to play out their own kink. I actually did take one of those suggestions once. It didn't work out for me.

 

[TadOverdon]

So, simple question, how do you responded, or do you, to a comment on a completed story where they have give you instructions for a new story. Making their comment about using the same characters and the direction they want the new tale to go?

I've had it happen before, I usually ignore the comment. But is that the best?

I've had someone email me several times this way, with respect to a story that was being posted in chapters.

Their vision of where it ought to go was detailed, and they liked the story. Nor did they seem awfully disappointed when it went in other directions. I thanked them and encouraged them to try their hand at it. In that case I was being both polite and sincere.

 

[Djmac1031]

So, simple question, how do you responded, or do you, to a comment on a completed story where they have give you instructions for a new story. Making their comment about using the same characters and the direction they want the new tale to go?

I've had it happen before, I usually ignore the comment. But is that the best?

As a new writer, I'm certainly open to suggestions sometimes, but ultimately it depends on the suggestions.

If I have a story involving two young virgins slowly exploring their sexuality, I'm not gonna have them butt fucking or joining threesomes no matter how much a reader wants it lol

 

[MillieDynamite]

Believe me, most of the directions they want them to go, my characters wouldn't accept.

 

[ElectricBlue]

So, simple question, how do you responded, or do you, to a comment on a completed story where they have give you instructions for a new story. Making their comment about using the same characters and the direction they want the new tale to go?

I've had it happen before, I usually ignore the comment. But is that the best?

If you've completed a story to your satisfaction, you're under no obligation to anyone to continue a story, nor to reply to comments. Unless you want to.

Sometimes the notion creeps into these discussions that somehow writers have continued obligations to readers. No, we don't.

 

[MillieDynamite]

If you've completed a story to your satisfaction, you're under no obligation to anyone to continue a story, nor to reply to comments. Unless you want to.

Sometimes the notion creeps into these discussions that somehow writers have continued obligations to readers. No, we don't.

I made mention in a responses to another poster I had several more stories outlined on this latest one. So, I provided the knife for the throat slit!

 

[rescatooor]

I have had people contact me about story ideas. Sometimes the person just gets off from telling me about some fantasy/allegedly real scenario. Especially if it appears that they have never read a thing I have written, I might mess around with their ideas a bit and then take them into some truly unexpected direction, like it might turn into some kinky gay story. They usually stop answering my emails after a while.

If someone asks for a sequel, I say I'll think about it. If someone comes to me with pictures of women I am supposed to incorporate into a mermaid slavery story, I roll my eyes.

 

[SamScribble]

My inbox is full to overflowing with emails from James Joyce and Virginia Woolf and Graham Greene and Edgar (that’s E L) Doctorow and J P (that’s James Patrick) Donleavy and … well, you get it.

They all have these ideas for new stories. Many of the ideas have been suggested by readers. (James Joyce says that one of his readers says that Molly Bloom is really a lesbian and he should bring that out more.) Anyway, all of these writers need my advice.

Except that not one of these writers has emailed me. And not one of them needs my advice. And neither do you.

Now get back to writing your stories. They way that you want to write them.

 

[Rustyoznail]

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If someone asks for a sequel, I say I'll think about it. If someone comes to me with pictures of women I am supposed to incorporate into a mermaid slavery story, I roll my eyes.

Oh, you've had that one too?

I don't respond to requests in comments as they're usually too generic, but if someone PM's me I'll politely respond that I'm happy to discuss but I'm not promising anything.

 

[NotWise]

Believe me, most of the directions they want them to go, my characters wouldn't accept.

I had a fairly long chaptered story here (since removed) and a crowd of readers who wanted to tell me where it should go. That didn't work, because much of the story was already written, and I wasn't going to change it.

Then there was one reader who actually paid attention. About three chapters from the middle of the story (where I stopped and had it removed) he laid out what was going to happen in the rest of the half, and why.

It was good to see someone paying attention to where the story was going instead of just exercising their own fantasies.

 

[ElectricBlue]

My inbox is full to overflowing with emails from James Joyce and Virginia Woolf and Graham Greene and Edgar (that’s E L) Doctorow and J P (that’s James Patrick) Donleavy and … well, you get it.

That's Jimmy Joyce, Ginny Woolf, Gaza Greene, Eddy Doctorow and Paddy Donleavy, no need for such formality.

Can you imagine the world of literature if those guys just relaxed with their names, already? I mean, we don't refer to ourselves as S Scribble and E Blue, do we? Although, now having written it...

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't feel under any obligation, period, to respond to comments, at least in the comment section, because it's likely the commenter will not return and won't see the reply. There's no point. And I feel like I'm padding my comment total when I do that.

I try to respond to comments made by authors I've corresponded with, or to comments left by non-anonymous commenters who leave especially kind or insightful comments. In that case, I'll send them a PM.

As to the underlying issue, I receive many requests to continue stories, and I've only done so once. There's no obligation to respond to those kinds of requests.

 

[ElectricBlue]

As to the underlying issue, I receive many requests to continue stories, and I've only done so once. There's no obligation to respond to those kinds of requests.

That saddens me deeply.

My Mom is a Hucow had so much potential, perhaps even the next Great American Novel. Such pathos, the grand sweep of its narrative, its essential place in the canon of truly great early twenty-first century literature.

Such a lost opportunity, Simon. It begs for a sequel, at least.

 

[MillieDynamite]

My inbox is full to overflowing with emails from James Joyce and Virginia Woolf and Graham Greene and Edgar (that’s E L) Doctorow and J P (that’s James Patrick) Donleavy and … well, you get it.

They all have these ideas for new stories. Many of the ideas have been suggested by readers. (James Joyce says that one of his readers says that Molly Bloom is really a lesbian and he should bring that out more.) Anyway, all of these writers need my advice.

Except that not one of these writers has emailed me. And not one of them needs my advice. And neither do you.

Now get back to writing your stories. They way that you want to write them.

I do write some stories by request. However, I have been known to off their outline by well wide of what they'd intended. But once you say do this, here's how I'd like it, I'll push it at least a little.

Still, stuff I written from my mind, I don't take directions that mind doesn't turn to on its own.

 

[lovecraft68]

You end the story where and how you end it. Keep in mind that if you wrote a 50 chapter story, they would say they wanted more, so even if you felt like obliging them, it would never end.

If your question is should you respond to them, my answer would be no, you don't owe them that.

On topic, readers either never look at how old a story is or don't care. I get "this needs more chapters where so and so does such and such....on 10 year old stories. If I haven't added to it by now....take the hint.

 

[SamScribble]

Can you imagine the world of literature if those guys just relaxed with their names, already? I mean, we don't refer to ourselves as S Scribble and E Blue, do we? Although, now having written it...

What about E Blue, Gentleman? Or would that get you banned from the Public Bar of The Dingo's Dangler?

 

[NotWise]

What about E Blue, Gentleman? Or would that get you banned from the Public Bar of The Dingo's Dangler?

The Eminent Mr. E. Blue? Find him an art gallery where he can amuse himself with someone else's fine cheese and wine. He can engage in random, confusing conversation about penguins and such with anyone he can corner. Soon enough, security will usher him out.

 

[jsmiam]

I suggest thinking of it as a compliment. They liked it, and the they are continuing to enjoy. Good job!

Imagine Chris Farley saying, “Remember that time your main characters had sex? That was awesome.“

 

[KeithD]

I usually comment with something along the lines of "I currently have no intentions on continuing this story as it feels like it came to a solid end point in their story, but who knows. Maybe inspiration will strike and I will get drawn back to them at some point in the future."

Yeah, I do that too. And, with or without my permission, my muse sometimes goes to work on "what if" and another story results. I don't force it either way.

 

[LAHomedog]

I ignore them. I write them. They read them. That's the deal.

 

[SimonDoom]

That saddens me deeply.

My Mom is a Hucow had so much potential, perhaps even the next Great American Novel. Such pathos, the grand sweep of its narrative, its essential place in the canon of truly great early twenty-first century literature.

Such a lost opportunity, Simon. It begs for a sequel, at least.

You know what? I think YOU should write the sequel. Imagine the loving tale of a son and his hucow mom told in that languorous, leisurely EB style. It's crying for such a treatment.

I've moved on to teddy bears, and now other things.

 

[ElectricBlue]

You know what? I think YOU should write the sequel. Imagine the loving tale of a son and his hucow mom told in that languorous, leisurely EB style. It's crying for such a treatment.

I've moved on to teddy bears, and now other things.

Can't be done. I mean, I have a fair imagination, but I couldn't surpass your mastery on that one.

The Australian expression "sick ticket" comes to mind .

 

[ElectricBlue]

What about E Blue, Gentleman? Or would that get you banned from the Public Bar of The Dingo's Dangler?

I think E Blue Esq. works quite nicely. I'm not sold on this "gentleman" nonsense .