Was it worth writing a story?

[gunhilltrain]

It does happen. Edits can take weeks .

Em

Edits are different; they definitely go to the back of the line. I've never really tracked how long they take. They seem to take about ten days, but I've seen longer and shorter times. Sometimes explaining what you've done via the moderator's notes helps.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Edits are different; they definitely go to the back of the line. I've never really tracked how long they take. They seem to take about ten days, but I've seen longer and shorter times.

It seems very variable.

Sometimes explaining what you've done via the moderator's notes helps.

I do that, “just typos plus fixed name of MMC” and so on. Not sure whether or not it helps.

Em

 

[JaxRhapsody]

I've been on Lit for a while and I'll probably always be here. But I'm also on other sites with lower age limits. It's her site, she can do as she pleases, but there is only so much of that nitpicking that I can stand.

I'm not actually nitpicking, although I think the rule against aged up characters is dumb, it's entirely my fault for posting the fic, and not knowing the specific section rules, since I'd rather post my fanfics on fic sites. At this point I can laugh about it, or at least be facetious at the fact that it was several chapters uploaded before she caught on, and it allll went buh-bye. It's not like I was skirting the rule persay, with say a 45year old character that looks twelve, like in anime, but it's niether here, nor there.

If anything, the rules are a healthy challenge to ones writing skills, than some place where anything goes. Even if I hated the rules here, there's nowhere else I know of, I could write this stuff, that's actually focused on erotica.

 

[MyBareTorso]

You're welcome, but it's still baffling. I've never messaged Laurel myself, so I know nothing about how and when she responds. I've been lucky in that I've never had any serious delays or rejections.

I know it's nothing personal, but it's happened to me a few times, which is frustrating... especially with a competition entry...

 

[gunhilltrain]

I know it's nothing personal, but it's happened to me a few times, which is frustrating... especially with a competition entry...

I doubt it's personal, but usually competition entries get a bit of priority. It's not like you're just starting out. The issue with this site is that it's hard to get info about what's going on behind the scenes. Other sites may take a while, but you can find out more because there are multiple (volunteer) moderators.

 

[gunhilltrain]

I'm not actually nitpicking, although I think the rule against aged up characters is dumb, it's entirely my fault for posting the fic, and not knowing the specific section rules, since I'd rather post my fanfics on fic sites. At this point I can laugh about it, or at least be facetious at the fact that it was several chapters uploaded before she caught on, and it allll went buh-bye. It's not like I was skirting the rule persay, with say a 45year old character that looks twelve, like in anime, but it's niether here, nor there.

If anything, the rules are a healthy challenge to ones writing skills, than some place where anything goes. Even if I hated the rules here, there's nowhere else I know of, I could write this stuff, that's actually focused on erotica.

I meant that Lit was nitpicking. I'm on two other sites, and it's not like "anything goes." (That would be the situation on Asstr.org, a site that comes and goes but had some truly questionable - no, unacceptable - content on it.) The other two have their own issues (I've gotten rejected on one for issues not related to age), but if I really want to do a coming of age story, I have the option of going there. Or it's just interesting to have a different audience.

 

[gunhilltrain]

It seems very variable.

I do that, “just typos plus fixed name of MMC” and so on. Not sure whether or not it helps.

Em

I was just guessing. I was also confusing it with another site where it does help. But this is what happens when one person (for more than two decades) has to deal with - how many writers are on here?

 

[EmilyMiller]

I was just guessing. I was also confusing it with another site where it does help. But this is what happens when one person (for more than two decades) has to deal with - how many writers are on here?

It’s a labor of love, I guess.

Em

 

[gunhilltrain]

It’s a labor of love, I guess.

Em

That's exactly the phrase I was going to use. But maybe Lit makes money through some business model. How does the cam-girl side hustle work? I know there are people on here who know more about Lit economics.

 

[JaxRhapsody]

I meant that Lit was nitpicking. I'm on two other sites, and it's not like "anything goes." (That would be the situation on Asstr.org, a site that comes and goes but had some truly questionable - no, unacceptable - content on it.) The other two have their own issues (I've gotten rejected on one for issues not related to age), but if I really want to do a coming of age story, I have the option of going there. Or it's just interesting to have a different audience.

Ah. I gotcha. I've been on asstr, but I never dug that deep, I couldn't say I've read thirty stories on there. I know AO3 is one of those anything goes site, as a big fuck you to fanfictionnet.

 

[oneagainst]

Thanks for your response. I have messaged Laurel a couple of times, but have not heard anything. I have now pulled the story, and resubmitted it unchanged via a new form with a new title... hoping that might be a fix...been pending now for 24 hours...just hoping it makes the April Fool's Day contest deadline...or maybe the joke will be on me. Sorry...

What works for me is to edit it so it goes back into drafts, then publish again. Less drastic but same result, just drops you back into the publish queue....

 

[gunhilltrain]

Ah. I gotcha. I've been on asstr, but I never dug that deep, I couldn't say I've read thirty stories on there. I know AO3 is one of those anything goes site, as a big fuck you to fanfictionnet.

I looked at Asstr.org maybe twice. A couple of stories I found were "true" pedophilia, in my definition. Let's just say prepubescent, and the perpetrators were adults. And the writing quality was pretty bad. I have heard of the other two, but I don't think I'vs seen them.

 

[MyBareTorso]

What works for me is to edit it so it goes back into drafts, then publish again. Less drastic but same result, just drops you back into the publish queue....

Thanks! I actually did that, and the story has now been published. Very happy. I will do this again if I have a story in pending for over a week.

 

[davion2308]

The "Is it worth it to ... " questions always baffle me. We're all different people. We all like different things and respond differently to work and effort for creation. "Is it worth it to run 3 miles every day for a month?" Maybe for some people, probably not for others. The same goes here.

You're investing time and effort and you're working on something. Is it for you? Is it for a score? Does that score or number of favorites validate you in a way that simply writing for the writing doesn't?

I don't know. I can't answer (and I apologize if I sound snarky) because it's your frame of reference and your experiences that drive the answer. Go for it once, see if you like, and abandon or move forward depending on what happens. I've released stories that get that "H" and I write more. Then I put out a stinker, people tell me, and I wallow in self-pity for a while. I always come back. For me, and for me only because I won't speak for anyone else, it's absolutely worth it.

 

[DuncanMc]

Thanks for that thoughtful response. I was curious to see how people felt after publishing. I will certainly write more.

 

[Raazor]

Hi fellow authors!

So I toyed with my first story idea for ages before putting ‘pen to paper’. A 7 part story with very little feedback (a total of about 6 comments, 2 of which were very angry).

Was it worth it for all you writers out there to go to the effort to get published? I am a little underwhelmed. I haven’t shared my story with anyone in ‘real life’.

Anyway, I’ve watched the reader totals and ratings with interest. They all end up between 4.2 to 4.57 which isn’t too bad I suppose for a first try, but the reader totals are all over the place. The 4th installment has over 6000 views, the 7th only 900ish. Time in print doesn’t seem to be the cause. Is it my choice of key words in the description?

Finally, I wrote the story because it’s my fantasy. Not that I’d really want it to happen, (you know what I mean), but if you have time, any feedback here would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

Duncan

I wouldn’t sweat the lack of readership or feedback. I‘ve just posted Chapter 5 of a 19 Chapter book, which is book 3 in a series with a 3 part mini-series inbetween book 2 and 3 and hardly anyone is interested!

Thing is, I’m totally hooked on the main character (and supporting characters) and can’t stop writing about them even if I wanted to, which I don’t. It is asking people a lot to invest the time in following the story arc so I do get it, and I have shorter series which do get more readership and feedback, but I’m never going to reach the heights others reach because I don‘t write the stuff that appeals to a broader audience. It’s just the way it is.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

As in normal society, if I provide a gift to someone and they don't thank me for it, I apparently haven't earned it. Right? If the value perceived by a reader from something that they have read doesn't earn their courtesy and respect, who does that fall on?

You need to learn the difference between a gift and a contract, and then of course about soliciting such a contract. Get back to me when you do.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

Well for those of us that can't write we do owe the respect to the writer for sharing there insight and gift.

No you don't. It is entirely your choice whether you give anything back or not, but there is no requirement nor obligation at all.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

You need to learn the difference between a gift and a contract, and then of course about soliciting such a contract. Get back to me when you do.

The argument could be made that by deliberately seeking out a story here, the reader becomes the recipient of the gift offered by the writer, and benefits from the value of that gift. There is no obligation for the recipient to express appreciation, but it is virtuous to do so.

Again, it depends on the type of society a person wishes to embrace or promote.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

The argument could be made that by deliberately seeking out a story here, the reader becomes the recipient of the gift offered by the writer, and benefits from the value of that gift. There is no obligation for the recipient to express appreciation, but it is virtuous to do so.

Again, it depends on the type of society a person wishes to embrace or promote.

You still don't understand the definition of gift. You are describing a contract. There is an explicit difference.

A gift has no strings attached. That is to say that one gives with no expectation whatsoever of getting anything in return. As your original post insinuates, you consider your posted story a gift, yet you are disappointed if you do not get a vote or a comment in return. Well that is a string attached, an expectation. Therefore you are offering a contract, not a gift.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that but one would be wise to know the difference.

Now, the second point being the soliciting of a contract. If you give someone a slice of pizza and they accept it and take a bite, and then you say "well since I just gave you that pizza, in return you have to go take out my garbage," that person has grounds to tell you to go to hell. Why? Because you have not solicited the contract. You have to offer the contract before you offer the pizza. That way, the person can decide to enter the contract before he takes what you are offering. He has a chance to accept the string that you are attaching to the deal.

I have not read any of your stories but I would think that it is safe to assume that you have not put any disclaimers at the top of your work saying 'By reading this story you agree to the terms to leave a favorable comment and/or vote me a score of 4 or better. If not, close the page now.' Therefore, you have not solicited the contract that you are expecting, so you have no grounds whatsoever to expect what you want in return.

If you don't get the feedback or appreciation that you want, it's all on you and you alone. There are no bad manners here at all and virtue has absolutely nothing to do with it.

 

[Damanhere]

No you don't. It is entirely your choice whether you give anything back or not, but there is no requirement nor obligation at all.

There may not be a requirement or obligation but it's only common courtesy when someone does the work puts the time and effort into it that they should get the acknowledgment or assessment to either better themselves and their writing or maybe lead them off into a different direction for the writing

 

[pink_silk_glove]

There may not be a requirement or obligation but it's only common courtesy when someone does the work puts the time and effort into it that they should get the acknowledgment or assessment to either better themselves and their writing or maybe lead them off into a different direction for the writing

Someone (you) puts in the 'time and effort' as you put it. This means that you expect the reader to owe you. You can't deny that, your words not mine. So, why do you expect the reader to oblige on one hand, yet you also say that there is no obligation on the other? Obviously you do believe that there is an obligation. Your argument contradicts itself.

 

[Damanhere]

Someone (you) puts in the 'time and effort' as you put it. This means that you expect the reader to owe you. You can't deny that, your words not mine. So, why do you expect the reader to oblige on one hand, yet you also say that there is no obligation on the other? Obviously you do believe that there is an obligation. Your argument contradicts itself.

You should really get over your elitist attitude.

 

[Damanhere]

You should really get over your elitist attitude.

Ahhhh Canada! Enough said.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

You still don't understand the definition of gift. You are describing a contract. There is an explicit difference.

A gift has no strings attached. That is to say that one gives with no expectation whatsoever of getting anything in return. As your original post insinuates, you consider your posted story a gift, yet you are disappointed if you do not get a vote or a comment in return. Well that is a string attached, an expectation. Therefore you are offering a contract, not a gift.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that but one would be wise to know the difference.

Now, the second point being the soliciting of a contract. If you give someone a slice of pizza and they accept it and take a bite, and then you say "well since I just gave you that pizza, in return you have to go take out my garbage," that person has grounds to tell you to go to hell. Why? Because you have not solicited the contract. You have to offer the contract before you offer the pizza. That way, the person can decide to enter the contract before he takes what you are offering. He has a chance to accept the string that you are attaching to the deal.

I have not read any of your stories but I would think that it is safe to assume that you have not put any disclaimers at the top of your work saying 'By reading this story you agree to the terms to leave a favorable comment and/or vote me a score of 4 or better. If not, close the page now.' Therefore, you have not solicited the contract that you are expecting, so you have no grounds whatsoever to expect what you want in return.

If you don't get the feedback or appreciation that you want, it's all on you and you alone. There are no bad manners here at all and virtue has absolutely nothing to do with it.

No, you are the one misunderstanding the process.

If a writer submits a story to a free site such as this, then it is a "gift" from that author to the site. The site is under no obligation to post the story and readers are under no obligation to view it. There is no "contract" between anyone.

When a reader seeks out a story submitted as a gift, they have no duty or obligation to provide feedback or express the slightest gratitude. This is true for any type of gift.

My point, and I believe the view of most authors here, is that common courtesy would dictate that a person seeking out a gift and then making use of that gift should express appreciation for that gift. Virtue in the form of expressed appreciation is not a requirement, but a pleasant commodity in civilized societies. Consequently, I take issue with your assertion that manners and virtue have nothing to do with it, they just have nothing to do with it here. There lies the issue.

The simple fact is, that while virtue and gratitude might exist in abundance within a person, they are frequently cast aside when partaking in erotic literature. The same expectations related to civility do not apply here for too many readers, and authors need to accept that reality.

Disappointment comes only from unfulfilled expectations. Modify expectations or continue to be disappointed.