Still shaking my head

[Octavian]

My latest story, ‘Wilson’s Web’ has just been posted. It is a Loving Wives story, a genre that divides opinion and I am therefore not surprised that it has been both trashed and acclaimed.

But I am still reeling at one of the public comments.
The anonymous correspondent has awarded me a zero even though, and I quote, “No denying the talent of the writer” but because “he is so devoted to cuckolding when with his talent he could write about any other theme and truly entertain and arouse us – not just the jaded few who need this depraved pitiful male demeaning sickness.” It is not even a wimp husband story which makes his comments all the more strange.
Clearly the correspondent hates the genre. It begs the question: why is he reading Loving Wives stories?

There is something else. He even accuses me of “contriving a fantasy for story’s sake.” Now I might be missing something, but isn’t that what writers are supposed to do?

Octavian


My Stories

 

[BlackShanglan]

Commiserations. There really is no fathoming the behavior over at the "loving wives" section. I see them as something like an electorate composed entirely of single-issue fanatics with short fuses. There are several who bomb everything romantic, several who bomb everything involving extra-marital sex, and at least one each bombing condom use, lack of condom use, repercussions, lack of repercussions, any mention of m/m sex, any mention of f/f sex, and of course the ever-popular "wimpy husband" issue.

I'm amazed that people continue to post to the category at all. I admire the courage it takes.

Shanglan

 

[Erlikkhan]

Maybe it was a she with her panties in a knot.

Personally it is not my kind of story, but didn't deserve that comment either. I always dump comments like that... they have no place among the more serious comments that may be critical but aren't in bad taste. They didn't even have the guts to leave their name.

 

[LadyJeanne]

Octavian, if you're writing what you want to write, then you're not doing anything wrong. I generally stay out of Loving Wives, but I have seen some of the anon PCs on the Feedback Portal for that cat, and it's rare that they're ever satisfied with a LW story.

In fact, it's almost amusing how anon goes to great lengths, time, and sometimes eloquent trouble to detail exactly what it is about the story that bugs them. I figure they do it to amuse themselves - I always imagine anon sitting down in front of the computer with a beer (or wine or whatever), pulling up the new story list, and systematically going down the list to find the LW stories, sharpening his poison pen and going at it.

I don't understand that any more than I understand why a group of women will go out for the evening and systematically run down every other woman in the place, how she's dressed, what her hair looks like, whether she's flirting too much and acting like a 'ho, whatever. There's something appealing in bringing other's down and maybe making themselves feel superior. Whatever it is, it has nothing to do with you or your story.

Keep writing for yourself and for those whose comments indicate that they did appreciate your work.

 

[cantdog]

There was a period when I made use of the facility to leave an anonymous comment, when I wished to critique without arousing resentment. That is, resentment directed specifically at me. Not always PC's, but most often the anonymous feedback function.

I don't often do a critique, since it is work, and I avoid work. But if the story seemed to be written by someone who had potential to be really good, and it seemed to me they could use someone to point out a pattern of mistakes which were holding them back, I would do it, anonymously. Once I sent one from Anonymous in Maine, and the person asked me right out if it had been I. Yep, I confessed. It was; can you forgive? The person's response was very heartening, so I forthwith quit doing the anonymous thing.

I have some anonymous comments which are very complimentary, and a couple which are silly or angry. Most were through the feedback function, but some were PC's. It nonplusses me that the majority are positive, since if one did have something good to say, wouldn't it be all right to sign it?

On the whole, I am glad people can do anonymous feedback. I think it gives us more feedback, frankly, than we would otherwise have.

 

[Softouch911]

Octavian, it's a wonderful story. I know it and, more importantly, you know it. You would think that if someone were going on a crusade, s/he would do it on a on a theme more inspirational than anti-cuckolding. But since s/he thinks his point -- and vote -- is valid, you may want to mention it to Lauren so she can check it out the next time she sweeps.

There are many stories on Lit. that pass my 'jealousy' test, none of them better than my favorites of yours: "Wilson's Web" and "A Modern Love Story." And, just to be clear, I ordinarily don't pay much attention to the LW category, but good writing is good writing and doesn't deserve the Legion of Doom approach.



Softouch -- Pissed