Who else gets nervous every time they're ready to hit that "Submit" button?

[TheExperimentalist]

Granted, I've only published a handful of stories so far, but every time, it's like "Is this really ready? What if there's a typo I missed? An obvious plot hole or contradiction? A rule I don't realize I'm breaking somehow?"

I think part of it might be the whole "art is never finished, only abandoned" thing. I could re-re-re-re-re-reread my story forever, but eventually, I have to let it go, decide that it's ready, and put it out into the world. But still, there's always that part of me that says "maybe ONE more read through to see if there's anything I missed," and I need to work up the courage to press that final little blue button.

Anyone else have the same thing? And if so, do you ever get over it?

 

[Writer61]

My concerns are primarily about how the story will be received.

 

[sister jenny]

Granted, I've only published a handful of stories so far, but every time, it's like "Is this really ready? What if there's a typo I missed? An obvious plot hole or contradiction? A rule I don't realize I'm breaking somehow?"

I think part of it might be the whole "art is never finished, only abandoned" thing. I could re-re-re-re-re-reread my story forever, but eventually, I have to let it go, decide that it's ready, and put it out into the world. But still, there's always that part of me that says "maybe ONE more read through to see if there's anything I missed," and I need to work up the courage to press that final little blue button.

Anyone else have the same thing? And if so, do you ever get over it?

Yes, I feel that everytime.
But I also know that if I don’t press publish the chance is very big I will throw away the story.

 

[TheExperimentalist]

My concerns are primarily about how the story will be received.

I mean, there's that too, but I write primarily for myself, and haven't really gotten more than one or two negative comments so far, anyway. Perhaps I'll feel differently once I post my first absolute disaster.

Yes, I feel that everytime.
But I also know that if I don’t press publish the chance is very big I will throw away the story.

Why would you throw it away?

 

[sister jenny]

I mean, there's that too, but I write primarily for myself, and haven't really gotten more than one or two negative comments so far, anyway. Perhaps I'll feel differently once I post my first absolute disaster.


Why would you throw it away?

Doubt.
Bad self confidence.
More doubt.
Scared of bad comments.

 

[alohadave]

What if there's a typo I missed?

You will see a typo when you read it for the first time after it goes live. No matter how many editing passes you make. Every time.

 

[SmilingLez]

With confidence strong,
I click “submit” without doubt;
Words ready to fly.

 

[Writer61]

I mean, there's that too, but I write primarily for myself, and haven't really gotten more than one or two negative comments so far, anyway.

I write for various reasons, but ratings are my key concern when I submit.

 

[TheExperimentalist]

You will see a typo when you read it for the first time after it goes live. No matter how many editing passes you make. Every time.

Ain't that the truth? Every. Damn. Time.

With confidence strong,
I click “submit” without doubt;
Words ready to fly.

Can't submit haiku
Seven-hundred-fifty words
A story must have

I write for various reasons, but ratings are my key concern when I submit.

Ratings are nice, and I like seeing that red H, but it's the comments that really make me feel worthy. (I talked about this on the "why do you write" thread.)

 

[Baztrachian]

Scared of bad comments.

Fuck 'em. Write for yourself and post it anyway.

 

[SmilingLez]

Ain't that the truth? Every. Damn. Time.


Can't submit haiku
Seven-hundred-fifty words
A story must have

Free verse flows like air,
Words weave into a clear tale -
Chaos tamed to form.

https://www.literotica.com/s/fragments-first-love

 

[Writer61]

Ratings are nice, and I like seeing that red H, but it's the comments that really make me feel worthy. (I talked about this on the "why do you write" thread.)

YMMV but my comment rate is 0.02% of views, my ratings are 1.12%.

 

[TheExperimentalist]

YMMV but my comment rate is 0.02% of views, my ratings are 1.12%.

No judgement whatsoever for anyone who has other feedback preferences, but for me, it's quality over quantity. One supportive, encouraging comment that comes from the heart is worth 1000 5 star votes for me. I takes time and courage to actually write a comment. A vote is just a click.

 

[TheExperimentalist]

Free verse flows like air,
Words weave into a clear tale -
Chaos tamed to form.

https://www.literotica.com/s/fragments-first-love

Free verse, not my style.
Can recognize the skill though.
Yours is very good.

 

[SmilingLez]

Free verse, not my style.
Can recognize the skill though.
Yours is very good.

Thank you for seeing,
Poets weave their tales with skill -
Great storytellers.

 

[ElectricBlue]

YMMV but my comment rate is 0.02% of views, my ratings are 1.12%.

That's typical, in my experience. One Vote per hundred Views, one Comment per thousand. If I get better than that, it's always a sign the story's doing really well

 

[IWroteThis]

Yes, and I have the same panic when it's published.
The current centered scene break bug hasn't helped that either.

 

[LegendInMyOwnMind]

The moment I hit submit is always nerve-racking. Usually, I'm muttering Alea iacta est (the die is cast) under my breath as I push the submit button.

 

[DEFCOM5]

Once I press submit, I move on.
I cannot control how it will be received, i.e. how many people will be interested in reading it, what vote I will get and what few comments I might receive.
I gave it my best shot and even if it is far from enough, I move on.
If I am worried about the story, I do not publish it!

 

[TheWritingGroup]

No worries: Stacnash hasn't posted in months.

More seriously: not incredibly. I feel nerves, but nothing that makes my heart race or anything

--Annie

Note: I have nothing against Stacnash. I thought their comments on my story they didn't like were pretty accurate. I know other authors were quite ... affected by the criticism, though.

 

[TomTeacher19]

Doms?

I'll see myself out

 

[DEFCOM5]

Note: I have nothing against Stacnash. I thought their comments on my story they didn't like were pretty accurate. I know other authors were quite ... affected by the criticism, though.

I have heard about them but they never commented on any of the crap I published.

So I am not worried. And even if they say it is the worse piece of shit they ever read, it would only be their opinion. And they would probably be right!

 

[TheExperimentalist]

The moment I hit submit is always nerve-racking. Usually, I'm muttering Alea iacta est (the die is cast) under my breath as I push the submit button.

I usually look at my spouse, go "okay, I'm gonna do it... I'm gonna do it... I'm really gonna do it!" and then like, peck-tap at my mouse button to make sure I don't chicken out...

No worries: Stacnash hasn't posted in months.

Is this some notorious comment troll or something?

 

[NuclearFairy]

I have heard about them but they never commented on any of the crap I published.

So I am not worried. And even if they say it is the worse piece of shit they ever read, it would only be their opinion. And they would probably be right!

According to them, that's most of the stuff on this site, so you'd be in good company.

 

[TheExperimentalist]

Yes, and I have the same panic when it's published.
The current centered scene break bug hasn't helped that either.

I just went for simpler breaks (ten dashes for small breaks, ten dashes, an <hr> and ten right-aligned dashes for big ones) for the one I submitted a half-hour ago. It looks alright, but it's not what I'd call ideal, unfortunately.