Where's the best place to put it: front or back

[August_Bouvier]

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Authors and readers have their preferences.

I'm talking about author's notes in Lit submissions.

Readers, do find it distracting when the notes precede the story? Is it a letdown or a help when the author tells you or hints to what you can or can't expect in a story?

Is rapport more easily created if an author greets you with their notes before you step into their imagination?

Authors, what's your take on this?



A

 

[sr71plt]

Not at all, if you can avoid it. In back, if you must have one (although I'll admit that I recently put one on front to relate it to another story--just wasn't thinking). If you think the story can't be understood as you want it so you should put a note up front, you probably haven't written the story well enough--and that's where you should go and do more work.

 

[August_Bouvier]

What are your feelings on the 'thank you for stopping by' note?

 

[starrkers]

I only put them up front for a specific reason: once to point out it was a sequel and reading the first story would add greater depth of meaning to it; to announce a contest entry; a disclaimer on a fanfic.
The only other reason I would add a note at the front would be to point out a sexual twist that might put readers off - gay sex or nonconsent aspects in a category other than gay or noncon, for example.

I have occasionally added Thanks for reading, please vote and/or comment type notes at the end. Don't seem to have any effect.

 

[sr71plt]

What are your feelings on the 'thank you for stopping by' note?

I think it's amateurish and cries out "vote for me and leave me a nice comment." Not reflecting a whole lot of confidence in the work. I don't try to organize petition campaigns against it, of course. But that's my response if asked. If I find it on the front of a story, I rarely read any farther. If I find it on the back of a story, I'm less likely to vote/comment than otherwise. Not moved by maniipulation.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I like to add a note to the reader, at the beginning. Sometimes I'll mention what caused me to start writing the story, or I'll thank my editor. On one story, I added an apology to the people who had read it when I first put it up-- I said I didn't know what possessed me to think that it was acceptable, and that I'd re-written it completely.

Once in a while I get a comment referring to my note. Mostly I do it because Rudyard Kipling often did it, and I always found it amusing.

I do not give long explanations of how to read the story, I don't try to direct my reader's sense of humor, I don't explain how to pronounce the funny names. I don't do a thank you note at the end, and I get a bit irritated at writers who ask for votes and comments-- although I do understand the impulse-- I surely would love more of those myself!

 

[sr71plt]

I only put them up front for a specific reason: once to point out it was a sequel and reading the first story would add greater depth of meaning to it

I agree that this is a good reason to put a note up front. I've got a prequel forming in my mind on one already posted myself, and I'm sure I'll put a note up front on that one.

 

[freshface]

I only put them up front for a specific reason: once to point out it was a sequel and reading the first story would add greater depth of meaning to it; to announce a contest entry; a disclaimer on a fanfic.
The only other reason I would add a note at the front would be to point out a sexual twist that might put readers off - gay sex or nonconsent aspects in a category other than gay or noncon, for example.

I agree with starrkers. A warning about a sexual twist should come at the beginning. I would only mention another story at the beginning if that story had a different title. If "Ch. 03" is anyplace in the title, I already know I should read the other two first for best enjoyment. Telling me I should says that I'm not smart enough to figure that out for myself. To me, any other note at the beginning is an apology for having written the story and a distraction. If the story can't stand on its own, I probably don't want to read it. I would put any acknowledgments at the end. That's where I feel rapport with the author.

 

[sr71plt]

I agree with starrkers. A warning about a sexual twist should come at the beginning. I would only mention another story at the beginning if that story had a different title. If "Ch. 03" is anyplace in the title, I already know I should read the other two first for best enjoyment. Telling me I should says that I'm not smart enough to figure that out for myself. To me, any other note at the beginning is an apology for having written the story and a distraction. If the story can't stand on its own, I probably don't want to read it. I would put any acknowledgments at the end. That's where I feel rapport with the author.

This is a porn site. Anyone reading here should be prepared to see almost anything going on of a sexual nature and just use the backclick at their own descretion, I think--if they aren't, tough on them. If they leave an aggrieved comment (which they often do), they probably would find something to be aggrieved about anyway and aren't too bright to be reading on a porn site. I think that any "watch out for this/sorry about that" notification shows weakness of your regard for your own story, and it makes me feel like if you're not fully confident in your story, why should I be?

 

[damppanties]

I think it's amateurish and cries out "vote for me and leave me a nice comment." Not reflecting a whole lot of confidence in the work. I don't try to organize petition campaigns against it, of course. But that's my response if asked. If I find it on the front of a story, I rarely read any farther. If I find it on the back of a story, I'm less likely to vote/comment than otherwise. Not moved by maniipulation.

I don't think of it as manipulation, but a reminder. Most often readers tend to finish a story and click out of it. A reminder might make them vote / comment, and since that is the only way I can get feedback, I'm going to ask for it.

I can understand why you, as an author here can feel it's manipulation. The note though is for readers who are not as familiar with the voting / feedback system (and the need for it) as us authors are.

 

[Green_Gem]

As a matter of courtesy I standardly thank readers at the end for taking the time out to read my work and that I'd appreciate their votes and any feedback that they might have which I will always reply to if there is a return address.

I don't do it in any way to "manipulate" readers, but it does serve as a reminder to them that they can vote and let me know what they thought about the story, if they wish to. The other thing is that while I write stories that appeal to me, I DO want to be read by others and so when a reader takes the time to click on one of my stories out of the thousands on the site, I see no problem with thanking them for doing so.

I don't think it in any way accounts for more votes or more feedback. Those who take the time here to work out stats will probably be able to attest to this better than I, since I don't do number crunching or watch votes and views with avid interest. But by and large it seems a very small percentage of people actually vote. I personally think the number of views and votes depends more on factors such as what type of story it is, the category or genre it fits into, even the title of the story. We'd all like to think quality of the story would be the overriding factor, but the reality is, that's not always the case.

 

[Carnevil9]

Many books come with a Forward, a Preface, and an Introduction. I find this ancillary information helpful to me in putting the work into context. And in the same vein, I find a brief author's intro on a Lit piece to be just as helpful. There is no other way to explain if it is a sequel, a prequel, a link in a chain, or a stand-alone work. And it goes at the front, of course, set off (in italics or whatever) so that the uninterested reader can easily ignore it.......Carney