Reader's comments

[MrM]

Um . . . Troll.

[Brayon]

37 minutes ago, MrM said:

Um . . . Troll.

I would normally agree with you. Even in the GLBT community, we're a bunch of cliquey bitches, with some out to hurt others. Even here on GA. 

 

I do not know who it was that prompted JayT to post this topic. If this person was a "normal" member w/o an Author/Editor/Poet tag, I would agree with you. If it was anyone else, I would say it's signaling to their friends for Blackballing. 

[Timothy M.]

There are only a few stories and authors I have given up on at GA. Usually, it's due to a personal dislike of the stories, and that's a matter of taste and not always a reflection on the authors and their skills. Sometimes I'll leave a comment or two giving a critique if I think what I dislike is something the author is clever enough to improve. If my suggestions are ignored, I simply shrug my shoulders and move on. If the author replies and have good arguments for how the story is written, I'll often give it another chance. After all, their vision of the story is important and should be respected, but there can still be limits to 'the willing suspension of disbelief' on the part of the reader.

Mostly the author/story in question is popular and have lots of readers, so they won't miss me. If they only have few fans I'm more likely to stick around longer and be more careful about what I say. Or at least that's the case now. I admit I was more harsh in my judgement when I started reading on GA.  

[Sam Wyer]

Personally, I’d rather have a reader disappear after telling me (briefly or vaguely as it may be) why, rather than just a big fat nothing.  Maybe they do hate my ideas, maybe they do think my story is going down the drain, and maybe they really don’t want to carry on reading it because.. whatever, whatever, whatever.  It’s their right to decide whatever they want.  Sure, there are ways of saying that stuff that can be less confrontational than others, but that’s the price I accept for posting my work in a public forum that allows people to feeely comment.

 

I’m aware of the incident in question here (no, not my story), and I have no idea what, if any, ulterior motive there may or may not have been.  But just because someone doesn’t like something doesn’t mean they are inevitably being mean/disrespectful/ignorant/aggressive/arrogant.  Maybe they just don’t like it.  And I’m definitely not aware of the alleged GA blackballing movements, but maybe I’m either too uninteresting or too naive to notice.  I just think we should do whatever we can to encourage feedback, including public comments.

[JayT]

1 hour ago, Sam Wyer said:

Personally, I’d rather have a reader disappear after telling me (briefly or vaguely as it may be) why, rather than just a big fat nothing.  Maybe they do hate my ideas, maybe they do think my story is going down the drain, and maybe they really don’t want to carry on reading it because.. whatever, whatever, whatever.  It’s their right to decide whatever they want.  Sure, there are ways of saying that stuff that can be less confrontational than others, but that’s the price I accept for posting my work in a public forum that allows people to feeely comment.

 

I’m aware of the incident in question here (no, not my story), and I have no idea what, if any, ulterior motive there may or may not have been.  But just because someone doesn’t like something doesn’t mean they are inevitably being mean/disrespectful/ignorant/aggressive/arrogant.  Maybe they just don’t like it.  And I’m definitely not aware of the alleged GA blackballing movements, but maybe I’m either too uninteresting or too naive to notice.  I just think we should do whatever we can to encourage feedback, including public comments.

 

I agree, but there are better and more tactful ways to say things than the story is going down the drain. 

[Dodger]

On 1/22/2018 at 10:26 AM, JayT said:

Would you rather a reader let you know that a story you are writing isn't going the way they like and will no longer be reading the story or not say anything at all. 

Personally, I would rather them not say anything. If they don't like the way my vision is going, don't continue to read it. But don't insult my vision by commenting that the story isn't going a way you like and they just wanted to let me know they would no longer be reading it. They can send me a personal message letting me know, but they don't need to let everyone know they won't be reading more. 

Sorry I'm ranting, but I noticed some comments on a friend's story stating that the way the story is going isn't their cup of tea and they will no longer be reading the story. That's insulting my friend's hard work and vision in front of everyone. And to what end? Why would you post in a comment that you won't be reading anymore. Just stop reading the story if you don't like it.. If you don't like a certain part of the story, leave a comment and let the author know hey I didn't like blah blah blah and leave it at that. Everyone doesn't need to know if you're not going to continue reading.. 

First of all @JayT it's good to see you back in the mix again. I like it when you get the bit between your teeth and start seeing red. You're passionate about this and so you should be. I agree with everything you've said here and I think that there are certain things that do not go in chapter comments.

Edited January 28, 2018 by Dodger
Typos

[Mikiesboy]

On 1/22/2018 at 10:26 PM, Parker Owens said:

I enjoy getting comments, even the unfavorable ones. I have had a number of readers tell me that what I wrote wasn’t what they’d hoped for. They stopped reading - or at least they stopped reacting. 

 

From some of these, I learned to structure my chapters better. From others, I learned to appreciate a sense of timing or thinking attuned differently to my own. And from still others, I learned to shrug and move on. The few PM’s I’ve received were generally constructive, and tactfully worded. 

 

But like @Mikiesboy, I didn’t change the story I’d written. 

 

If someone takes time to read my writing and more time to write a reaction, I am doubly glad. 

 

 

You can write for different genres, you can write for age groups but I do not think we should write what readers want. Do other artists do that, or do they paint what they see?  If they did what people wanted, we would not have Van Gogh or Picasso, or John Lennon, or Mozart. As a poet, I write what i see, what i feel.. that is what art is.  Even when you are hired to create something, it is still your vision.

 

I don't want @AC Benus or @Parker Owens to write what i want .. i want them to give me their vision of the world they create. I feel that way as a writer and a reader. 

With regard to comments.. I have pm'd Parker about things, and Carlos and AC ... not to blast them but usually i'll ask a question or say i noticed this... even a spelling error i do by PM.. because there is no need for that to be in a comment except to bolster your own sad ego, in my opinion. Pms are there, use them to help and support each other rather than embarrass someone in public. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mikiesboy]

On 1/23/2018 at 3:10 AM, Timothy M. said:

but there can still be limits to 'the willing suspension of disbelief' on the part of the reader.

Have to agree with you there. 

[Mikiesboy]

On 1/23/2018 at 11:01 AM, Dodger said:

he story wasn't going in the way that he said anyway but if it had been, I wouldn't have changed it. The story is already basically written; it was written before I began posting. I've also had a guy continually pointing out mistakes in a very condescending manner in chapter comments.

 

I don't understand this. Maybe i'm dense .. i have my moments. But i read to know the story .. I want to know the story and want to hate people and disagree and rage at why the hell you are putting guy A with B and not C (like i'd want it to be).  That's why i read!!!!   Does this make sense to anyone but me?? 

 

i killed off a guy in a story, he was the Main Character's lover ... and i chose to kill him off, because that's what happens in that world.  it was not easy to do...because you have to write the repercussions. Show the effects of what you've done. I did that and the people who read that story were upset, shocked and accepted it in the end because i'd made the world real to them and they knew these things happened. Sad as it was. 

 

So no matter what reader's feel, you need to write your story .. and well Mr. Condescending should offer to edit if he's such hot stuff. Even with an editor mistakes can happen.. i see them all the time. A good beta reader and editor are your best friends... i recommend them to anyone who is going to write. It's like doctors who diagnose themselves.. they have a fool for a patient.  So to are writers without a beta reader and editor... not trying to step on toes, just offer the best advice i can.  I added a beta reader to my 'team' LOL  and it's taken pressure off my editor and her questions and thoughts are so helpful. I don't use all her suggestions, but they make me think and see things differently. 

 

oh geez.. i'm off my soapbox ... 

Edited January 26, 2018 by Mikiesboy
cuz my brain forgot to tell my fingers something.. or my fingers chose not to write it... whichever.

[Parker Owens]

I have to agree with so much of what @Mikiesboy says here. It would be tedious to quote him at length, but I have to say his words and approach have encouraged me on more than one occasion.  My editors and beta readers helped me out of lots of embarrassing errors. And on the way, I learned and made some wonderful friends, too.

[Dodger]

4 hours ago, Mikiesboy said:

 

I don't understand this. Maybe i'm dense .. i have my moments. But i read to know the story .. I want to know the story and want to hate people and disagree and rage at why the hell you are putting guy A with B and not C (like i'd want it to be).  That's why i read!!!!   Does this make sense to anyone but me?? 

 

i killed off a guy in a story, he was the Main Character's lover ... and i chose to kill him off, because that's what happens in that world.  it was not easy to do...because you have to write the repercussions. Show the effects of what you've done. I did that and the people who read that story were upset, shocked and accepted it in the end because i'd made the world real to them and they knew these things happened. Sad as it was. 

 

So no matter what reader's feel, you need to write your story .. and well Mr. Condescending should offer to edit if he's such hot stuff. Even with an editor mistakes can happen.. i see them all the time. A good beta reader and editor are your best friends... i recommend them to anyone who is going to write. It's like doctors who diagnose themselves.. they have a fool for a patient.  So to are writers without a beta reader and editor... not trying to step on toes, just offer the best advice i can.  I added a beta reader to my 'team' LOL  and it's taken pressure off my editor and her questions and thoughts are so helpful. I don't use all her suggestions, but they make me think and see things differently. 

 

oh geez.. i'm off my soapbox ... 

I didn't change my story for this guy; I would never do that but I've been on the brink of leaving here for a while now.

[Mikiesboy]

2 hours ago, Dodger said:

I didn't change my story for this guy; I would never do that but I've been on the brink of leaving here for a while now.

no i that's what i understand and of course you're perfectly right... my point was why do readers read stories?  I want to be challenged.. i want love, hate, be pissed off.. that's why i read, to experience other things, the  the author's vision.. not because i want my own story. 

 

Your Mr condescending is a jerk, with his head up his own....  nothing constructive to say, nothing interesting or helpful.  And why then continue to come back ... block him or have ask that his comments removed.  

 

It bothers me that this is driving you to leave ... maybe reach out to the Admins and see if there is anything that they can do or suggest.  You should not have to put up with Negative Nancy. 

 

I hope you decide to stay.. if there's anything i can do.. just pm me

[Former Member]

1 hour ago, Mikiesboy said:

It bothers me that this is driving you to leave ... maybe reach out to the Admins and see if there is anything that they can do or suggest.  You should not have to put up with Negative Nancy. 

 

@Dodger Or a Debbie Downer 

 

 

Edited January 26, 2018 by AC Benus

[Former Member]

7 hours ago, Mikiesboy said:

You can write for different genres, you can write for age groups but I do not think we should write what readers want. Do other artists do that, or do they paint what they see?  If they did what people wanted, we would not have Van Gogh or Picasso, or John Lennon, or Mozart. As a poet, I write what i see, what i feel.. that is what art is.  Even when you are hired to create something, it is still your vision.

 

I don't want @AC Benus or @Parker Owens to write what i want .. i want them to give me their vision of the world they create. I feel that way as a writer and a reader. 

With regard to comments.. I have pm'd Parker about things, and Carlos and AC ... not to blast them but usually i'll ask a question or say i noticed this... even a spelling error i do by PM.. because there is no need for that to be in a comment except to bolster your own sad ego, in my opinion. Pms are there, use them to help and support each other rather than embarrass someone in public. 

 

 

 

 

 

This is all very well stated, and I find myself agreeing. It is about art, even though there are some writers out there simply looking to cash in rather than speak truth to power. 

[mollyhousemouse]

WOW! that was a powerful, intense discussion.

 

i'm not a story author, but a blogger, and i'm beginning to understand how important the comments are.  i've had several very nice conversations with a few of my favorite authors here on the subject.

as a reader, it sometimes takes me 2 or 3 reads of a poem, chapter, or short story before i feel confident in leaving a comment.  i want my comments to mean something to the writer, to acknowledge their efforts.  i know how hard it is to do this, to put yourself out there.  to write the story your heart is telling you to write, and then just *PLOP* it's out there.  as a reader,

i applaud you all.

for a reader to use the anonymity of the internet to belittle the efforts of an author is the act of a coward.  would they have told Leonardo da Vinci that the smile on the Mona Lisa was "not our cup of wine"?

i'm pleased to learn here that there is a way to have comments by "Negative Ned" or "Debbie Downer" removed.

somebody earlier said that it's about art, and that it's not about writing what readers want, i wholeheartedly agree!

 

[FormerMember4]

7 hours ago, Dodger said:

I didn't change my story for this guy; I would never do that but I've been on the brink of leaving here for a while now.

It would break my heart if you left. Not only do I enjoy your writing voice. You’re a kind, intelligent and interesting person. I love your feedback on things.

[Myr]

On 1/23/2018 at 11:01 AM, Dodger said:

Never said anything nice or encouraging in any way, but continued to read and point out mistakes. I have edited these errors but his comments remain for all to see. 

Would someone please direct me to some of these comments?

[CassieQ]

I actually feel kind of torn about this.  

On the one hand, I would rather receive criticism from someone rather than them just stop reading without telling me why.  If they don’t want to read anymore, I want to know why.  Maybe it is something I can fix, maybe it isn’t.

Some people stop reading because they don’t like the way the story is going.  I’ve dropped stories like a hot potato if they have graphic decisions of violence, for example.  I just can’t stomach it.  My Mom likes Law and Order: SVU and if I’m in the room when she starts to watch it, I have to leave.  

So for an example, I had a reader comment on Not The Sun, which is the first book in a three book trilogy.  I get that a lot of people aren’t going to like NTS, because it is super weird and can get rather dark.  The review was nice enough, but said that they wouldn’t continue, because they didn’t like how many cliffhangers I had with no resolution.  So I felt that was fair.  If you don’t like cliffhangers (is that a thing)? then don’t read it.  Or read something else.  I have 19 other stories that don’t have cliffhangers.  

However, I’m not going to stop and change what I am writing because a reader doesn’t like it.  Firstly, because I write what I like.  Secondly, I usually complete a story before I post it and I’m not going to make huge sudden changes because someone doesn’t like something.  However, if I think the review or comment has a valid point, I may consider it when working on my next project.  

So, I think I would rather have someone comment why they no longer read something I wrote, as long as they have a good reason behind it.  But I’m also not going to slap a happy ending on Not The Sun in chapter 3 because someone hates cliffhangers.   

Edited January 28, 2018 by CassieQ

[Myr]

Comments are a difficult area in some ways.  As authors, we all want to hear we are the second coming of J.K. Rowling, Tom Clancy, Stephen King, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, whatever.  And none of us are.  We are the first showing of ourselves and whatever it is we bring to the table.  We're going to have good stuff and bad stuff.  Hell, we're going to love and hate our own stuff and some of that will vary with time just as much as with the readers.

 

A person that makes a comment can be motivated by anything from "I love this story and author to the end" to "I live to point out how smart I am and how stupid you are."  We have all types.

 

This is kind of tangential to story comments.  Site comments.  While each author here gets to read comments about their own work, I and the staff, get to read comments and support requests about the site as a whole.  There are some days where I work all day, come home and look at a support request and my immediate thought is, and I quote, "Why the fuck should I be polite to this fucking piece of shit?  He just needs to be told to go outside and play hide and go fuck himself."  You might have noticed a few New York words in there.  Instead, the reply I send out is "Thank you for your feedback." 

 

July this year marks 15 years of the forums on Gay Authors and September marks 16 years of Gay Authors being online.  We're still here because I'm a hardheaded stubborn ass.  But I have on many occasions, including today, wondered by I still devote so much of my time to this site.  The only real answer I have to it is that I know enough authors appreciate it and enough readers appreciate it to keep doing it.  A few times over the years I've been contacted by a kid or young adult that thanked me for having the site here and that reading the stories helped them work through coming out or other troubles in their lives.

 

Comments affect us.  Good, bad and ugly.  We do, when we are aware of it, try to limit the effect of toxic people.  I asked earlier for a link to bad comment and the person that made did not have a pattern that I could see of leaving constant negativity.  I view a one-off sort of comment differently than I view a pattern of constant negativity. 

 

If there is a person that is nothing but negative, then report the comment or person to the staff and we'll review it.  Sometimes, all it takes is pointing out that constructive comments are useful.  Sometimes, nothing but a slap upside the head with a ban hammer will work.  But the staff handles that sort of thing when people bring it to our attention.

[FormerMember4]

Being from Jersey, we have pretty thick skins. Comments should only be about a story. Don’t attack an author for his/her story... it’s their story. We all grow from feedback.

You catch more flies with honey, rather than vinegar.

If not giving constructive criticism, and just attacking... Then the reader just shows they’re a jerk for everyone to see.

[Cia]

3 minutes ago, BlindAmbition said:

Being from Jersey, we have pretty thick skins. Comments should only be about a story. Don’t attack an author for his/her story... it’s their story. We all grow from feedback.

You catch more flies with honey, rather than vinegar.

If not giving constructive criticism, and just attacking... Then the reader just shows they’re a jerk for everyone to see.

Yes, very true. But as authors, sometimes it is hard to see it either way. Most authors seem to consider their stories just like a baby, and woe to anyone who attacks a baby! The monsters! No, all kidding aside, I've always been a proponent for constructive not 'cutting' criticism being what I share and what I look for from readers to value. It's important to try and learn from every comment you get, but when it's plain drivel or hate, then there's nothing to learn. I don't understand why anyone lets that get to them... as BlindAmbition said, all it shows is how much of a jerk they are. 

 

And I have to echo Myr as well. In the 9 years I've been staff on this site, I've been attacked quite a few times. It's often sour grapes, and sometimes it ticks me off, but mostly I just let it go or even laugh at it, because all it really shows is the character of the person who is so ticked at me for doing my job on the site. We take a lot of hassle some days and that makes it hard to want to keep doing it. But being part of this community is far more valuable to me so I don't let the occasional negativity, or even heaps of it that sometimes rains down, to push me away from all the good the community, and readers, have to offer. 

[Brayon]

As Myr and Cia and others have said, I welcome constructive criticism, as it helps me grow. One of the best things that happened to me, in my early days on GA was a story being rejected in the Moderation Queue, and Cia's PM on how I could improve it. 

 

The Block User feature of the site works wonders when someone is constantly negative, in response to anything you post on the rest of the site. Love it. Currently, only one person has remained on the ignored list.

[Dodger]

Lets get this straight. I have never complained or reported any comment posted on any of my stories. Of the 1400+ comments that I have received only a handful have been derogatory and even those weren't nasty in any way and certainly not enough to upset me. It's bollocks to think that I'd be upset by a few nonce remarks (sorry for the cockney words). I was pointing out one particular reader who kept leaving comments about typos in the early chapters but had nothing constructive to say and I stand by what I said because it was true at the time (he has since posted a comment saying how much he enjoyed the story). I wouldn't want any of his comments removed and I doubt if anyone would actually stop reading because of any of the mistakes that he pointed out. People can judge for themselves by reading some of the other comments or by the amount of likes and views the story regularly gets.

[Myr]

It looks like we're all on the same page

 

And I forget about mentioning the ignore user feature since it takes an awful lot to get me to add a person to that list since I don't really get the luxury of doing so.  I have two people on it and one of the has finally left the site completely.  I think a LOT of people had him on ignore.

[Comicality]

 

As frustrating as it can be sometimes, I have never blocked negative comments from my stories in the past. And some of them have been hurtful and humiliating, believe me. But sometimes, as was said above...you have to let people see the trolls for what they are.

 

Doesn't make it ache any less, but I allow them to have their spotlight if they want it so badly. Sometimes I'll answer in an attempt to explain what I'm doing with a story. Sometimes I'll answer just to cry foul and tell them to 'take it easy'! It's just a free online story. Calm down. And there are times (With me being highly imperfect, hehehe!) That I'll give them the same backlash they gave me. Of course, that always makes ME the crazy one when I do that, but hey...now they know how it feels to be blindsided out of nowhere. But, despite it all, I DO listen. I really do. I want to be a good writer. Criticism is a part of that.

 

I think a month or so ago, I quoted a review and asked others if they felt the same way. Just for the sake of outside perspective. Turns out, I'm doing just fine writing things my way in the eyes of a lot of the fans and readers, so why abandon them to avoid a few scathing reviews? Might as well keep going, right? Can't please everybody.

 

Bottom line, don't leave. Stick around. And show them what you're made of. K?