Responding to Feedback

[MartaMaine]

Hi all

I had a clutch of emails giving me feedback this morning but the only way to reply to them is by email and I really don't want strangers to have my email address.

Do authors here reply to this sort of feedback?

Thanks

Marta

 

[RejectReality]

Many set up a free account that's only for their writing, which is disconnected from main, personal accounts.

If you're uncomfortable having them receive the email address you would be replying from, then don't do it. It's worth considering an alternate address, though. You don't even necessarily have to change the one that's associated with Lit. You can use copy/paste to send a reply through another provider.

Responding to feedback can be a mixed bag. You can have some wonderful conversations, but you'll also get creepers, and just plain strange folks. Only you can determine whether it's something you're interested in doing.

Not many authors respond ( and many are no longer even on the site ) so readers are sort of used to their comments and emails vanishing into the ether. It's not as if a lack of response would be out of the norm, if you don't feel comfortable doing it.

 

[MartaMaine]

It's not that hard to open a new email account for your secret side.

Sometimes I reply, sometimes I don't; it really depends on whether there's anything to reply upon, or not. I wouldn't just send a 'Thank you for your comment' by mail.

I suppose not. I guess I'm just a bit wary about giving out any contact details.

 

[MartaMaine]

Many set up a free account that's only for their writing, which is disconnected from main, personal accounts.

If you're uncomfortable having them receive the email address you would be replying from, then don't do it. It's worth considering an alternate address, though. You don't even necessarily have to change the one that's associated with Lit. You can use copy/paste to send a reply through another provider.

Responding to feedback can be a mixed bag. You can have some wonderful conversations, but you'll also get creepers, and just plain strange folks. Only you can determine whether it's something you're interested in doing.

Not many authors respond ( and many are no longer even on the site ) so readers are sort of used to their comments and emails vanishing into the ether. It's not as if a lack of response would be out of the norm, if you don't feel comfortable doing it.

Thank you.

I've set up another email address which I'll use if I decide to reply.

Marta

 

[KeithD]

It's not that hard to open a new email account for your secret side.

This.

 

[Paul_Chance]

Good Advice across the board.

1. Decide if you (as your Lit persona) want to communicate directly with your readers.
2. Decide if you want to have conversations with them in Comments.
3. Decide if you want to have conversations with them in Email.
4. Create a email account associated exclusively with Lit.
5. Understand that if you want to engage readers it will do two things:
1. You'll catch a high percentage of crap mainly from the crazy and the desperate.
2. You will engage with a small percentage of intelligent people who are often
reading carefully and suggesting or recommended things you can use. Some
of them will become long term acquaintances and friends.

Reader engagement often leads to increased views and higher ratings. If you're doing it in comments, where it is visible to other folks, you'll find you start developing an actual fan following, if that is what you want.

If you intention is to eventually monetize your writing, a fan base is a good thing.

 

[LexxRuthless]

I did the same thing -- set up my account and linked it to an existing e-mail I used for work. It was simple enough to create a new Yahoo account for my Literotica contacts. I have responded almost every time anyone has reached out to me with feedback. Obviously, you can't do anything to reply to anonymous e-mails.

As a result, I have exchanged a ton of e-mails with various folks I've met through the site. I have shared a lot of my stories-in-progress with them, and they have provided invaluable feedback on stories before I have submitted them. I was also contacted by a pair of editors who were extremely helpful in helping me improve my writing and reducing the number of errors.

The biggest downside is that it consumes a lot of time if you want to maintain those lines of communication. Time spent reading and writing e-mails is time that could have been spent writing a story instead. The upside is more feedback.

Oh, then there are reader requests. If people like your writing, you will get those as well. Sometimes those are great story ideas that might not have occurred to you. Sometimes they can be horrifying. Eighteen of my submissions to the site would not have happened without somebody requesting that I write that story. Each time I took on one of those "fan requests" I had them along every step of the way as I wrote the story. By the time each was finished, I knew it would be something that would appeal to more readers.

None of that would have happened without being available and approachable to readers.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

If they are an anonymous user, I don't bother even trying to reply.

If they have a user name but block communications in their Literotica profile, I also don't bother.

If they have a user name and allow feedback, I communicate through Literotica.

 

[MartaMaine]

This.

Done.

Good Advice across the board.

1. Decide if you (as your Lit persona) want to communicate directly with your readers.
2. Decide if you want to have conversations with them in Comments.
3. Decide if you want to have conversations with them in Email.
4. Create a email account associated exclusively with Lit.
5. Understand that if you want to engage readers it will do two things:
1. You'll catch a high percentage of crap mainly from the crazy and the desperate.
2. You will engage with a small percentage of intelligent people who are often
reading carefully and suggesting or recommended things you can use. Some
of them will become long term acquaintances and friends.

Reader engagement often leads to increased views and higher ratings. If you're doing it in comments, where it is visible to other folks, you'll find you start developing an actual fan following, if that is what you want.

If you intention is to eventually monetize your writing, a fan base is a good thing.

Regarding point 2, how do you converse with people in comments? The only option I can see is to delete.

 

[SamScribble]

Regarding point 2, how do you converse with people in comments? The only option I can see is to delete.

You can post a comment as the author. Just log in ... and post.

Good luck

 

[MartaMaine]

You can post a comment as the author. Just log in ... and post.

Good luck

Ah, but I can't post a direct reply to a comment?

 

[RejectReality]

Ah, but I can't post a direct reply to a comment?

Not yet. Threaded comments are reported to be on the "to do" list, but it's probably a long way off.

 

[SimonDoom]

Ah, but I can't post a direct reply to a comment?

What do you mean?

You can post a comment to your story that responds to another comment. So, yes, you can reply to a comment.

If you want to reply via email or messaging to the comment you can do so if the commenter leaves their name.

 

[MartaMaine]

Not yet. Threaded comments are reported to be on the "to do" list, but it's probably a long way off.

Ok, thanks

What do you mean?

You can post a comment to your story that responds to another comment. So, yes, you can reply to a comment.

If you want to reply via email or messaging to the comment you can do so if the commenter leaves their name.

What I meant was as above. If I create a comment, it's unlikely that the person I'm responding to will read it.

 

[KeithD]

What I meant was as above. If I create a comment, it's unlikely that the person I'm responding to will read it.

That's complete supposition, though. And if they didn't, that would be their issue not yours.

 

[MartaMaine]

That's complete supposition, though. And if they didn't, that would be their issue not yours.

Yes, I understand that but, be honest, if you comment on a story, do you go back and check the comments regularly to see if the author has replied.

All I'm saying is that it would be nice to reply to a comment, knowing that there was some kind of mechanism in place to alert the commenter to the fact.

 

[KeithD]

Yes, I understand that but, be honest, if you comment on a story, do you go back and check the comments regularly to see if the author has replied.

All I'm saying is that it would be nice to reply to a comment, knowing that there was some kind of mechanism in place to alert the commenter to the fact.

I don't comment on stories, so no need to just suppose.

 

[MartaMaine]

I don't comment on stories, so no need to just suppose.

I'm not really up for an argument so night night.

 

[MartaMaine]

At this moment, there isn't. But your reply is certainly read by others, so it's never wasted.

Fair enough, thank you.

 

[KeithD]

I don't comment on stories, so no need to just suppose.

I do, in fact, sometimes comment on a comment on one of my stories. But then that's the end of if as far as I'm concerned. I've responded. From there it's up to the original commenter to see my comment or not. I will know if they carry it any further because the system informs me of all comments on my stories.

 

[MColton84]

Hi all

I had a clutch of emails giving me feedback this morning but the only way to reply to them is by email and I really don't want strangers to have my email address.

Do authors here reply to this sort of feedback?

Thanks

Marta

I try to reply to everything I am sent, barring spam and instances where I am requested not to respond. I just do it as a courtesy to those who took the time to reach out to me. It’s not something I’d expect for a comment I leave. It’s more of a personal preference. I'd say it's up to you.

 

[Ada Stuart]

I try to reply to everything I am sent, barring spam and instances where I am requested not to respond. I just do it as a courtesy to those who took the time to reach out to me. It’s not something I’d expect for a comment I leave. It’s more of a personal preference. I'd say it's up to you.

Agreed I also try to respond to everything I'm sent. Yes, it takes time, but I get a ton of good ideas, honest feedback and it helps me improve my writing - which is my ultimate goal

And I've also gained quite a few new friends too, so I think it's worth it

 

[MartaMaine]

I should add that I've had a few PMs regarding my stories and I do reply to each and every one.

 

[Sarah_1964]

I had a clutch of emails giving me feedback this morning but the only way to reply to them is by email and I really don't want strangers to have my email address.

Do authors here reply to this sort of feedback?
:

I was pleasantly surprised to receive feedback from a few after my first story was publsihed this week, but like you would like a way to respond within the forum: I suppose that can be done within the comments, to those who write them, so I will try that.

I did set up an email address to use for this site, because my aim was to try sharing stories here, so am happy to respond to feedback via email - but it does seem to defeat the purpose of a forum.

 

[MartaMaine]

I was pleasantly surprised to receive feedback from a few after my first story was publsihed this week, but like you would like a way to respond within the forum: I suppose that can be done within the comments, to those who write them, so I will try that.

I did set up an email address to use for this site, because my aim was to try sharing stories here, so am happy to respond to feedback via email - but it does seem to defeat the purpose of a forum.

Strangely, I got those emails (5 with different email addresses) all within a half hour period on Thursday morning, but haven't had any since.