help Writing and Beyond

[DarkBishop]

I enjoy writing and creating stories, but I think the problem is that I’m not the greatest writer. I didn’t take any classes, I just always enjoyed creating stories. I just finished officially my first story, and I released each chapter for people to read but I never got any feedback. I would get tons of people supporting the post where I mentioned a new chapter, but as far as commenting on the story, it was non existent. I know that writing should first and foremost be something that I enjoy and it is. Realistically though, any author is going to say that they like knowing that people are reading. Duh. Now, my story is based on non-original things and can be easily changed with a major “find and replace” but if it’s not going to be a story that people will want to read why even bother?

I’m currently working on the second book wondering if there’s even a point. I guess you would have to know the background and why I’m writing the story. 

I started out writing a story that was based on someone I actually met. It was geared around — I don’t want to say quite yet, because if I could find a willing editor and even beta reader I may try to release my stories, but again I wasn’t getting the feedback that I wanted. Does that make me a bad writer? People tell me that I write okay, so maybe it’s the content. Most of my stories involve the gay lifestyle and situations that some people may not want to read. 

My current story is actually posted on my personal site—I won’t list it here, because I don’t think I’m allowed. The first, actually written story, is a fantasy, superhero story based on a planet (which is what I would have to change if I publish) that most would recognize from another story. It’s based on an alien that comes to earth to save earth but finds love in someone. 

Thats it for now. More later if people respond. 

What am I looking for? Advice on what to do with completed story? Interested in beta reading telling me how bad it is?

Edited October 22, 2019 by DarkBishop

[Carlos Hazday]

Not sure what you're referring to since I don't find any story by you on GA.

[Headstall]

2 hours ago, DarkBishop said:

I enjoy writing and creating stories, but I think the problem is that I’m not the greatest writer. I didn’t take any classes, I just always enjoyed creating stories. I just finished officially my first story, and I released each chapter for people to read but I never got any feedback. I would get tons of people supporting the post where I mentioned a new chapter, but as far as commenting on the story, it was non existent. I know that writing should first and foremost be something that I enjoy and it is. Realistically though, any author is going to say that they like knowing that people are reading. Duh. Now, my story is based on non-original things and can be easily changed with a major “find and replace” but if it’s not going to be a story that people will want to read why even bother?

I’m currently working on the second book wondering if there’s even a point. I guess you would have to know the background and why I’m writing the story. 

I started out writing a story that was based on someone I actually met. It was geared around — I don’t want to say quite yet, because if I could find a willing editor and even beta reader I may try to release my stories, but again I wasn’t getting the feedback that I wanted. Does that make me a bad writer? People tell me that I write okay, so maybe it’s the content. Most of my stories involve the gay lifestyle and situations that some people may not want to read. 

My current story is actually posted on my personal site—I won’t list it here, because I don’t think I’m allowed. The first, actually written story, is a fantasy, superhero story based on a planet (which is what I would have to change if I publish) that most would recognize from another story. It’s based on an alien that comes to earth to save earth but finds love in someone. 

Thats it for now. More later if people respond. 

What am I looking for? Advice on what to do with completed story? Interested in beta reading telling me how bad it is?

Hi, Bishop, and welcome to GA. I believe you are on the right track. We all need other sets of eyes, so finding an editor and or beta readers is a great step. I wish I could assist you, but I can't. You could maybe post a few paragraphs of your story on GA in Writer's Circle sneak peeks to give other writers an idea of your work. It's easy to join the club if you haven't already. It could help you find an editor or beta reader, or possibly get you some feedback. Good luck... and stay persistent... and open to constructive thoughts and suggestions... writing requires that.   Cheers... Gary....

[Mancunian]

If you enjoy writing then there is a point to it, first and foremost is that you should do what brings you enjoyment so write your stories for yourself. If sharing your stories would enhance your enjoyment then share them, but do so without expecting others to automatically enjoy what you write as we all have different tastes, maybe your outlet is too small for those with the same taste in your stories to see them. By posting on you personal website you may have limited your reading audience to people who haven't grasped the idea of giving you feedback, maybe they don't feel confident enough or feel that they are 'qualified' to comment. Maybe the following will give you something to consider before you decide what to do.

Think about why you are writing. If you write for your own enjoyment then write and be damned, your enjoyment is what matters. If you are writing because you want others to notice and praise you then you doing it for the wrong reasons. Some of the best authors on GA do not always get many comments or reactions, but they still write because they are doing what they enjoy and do not necessarily need the feedback. My stories do not receive a lot of feedback by way of either reactions or feedback, I do get some which I appreciate but I am writing for me. Even though it's not something that I ever thought I would do I now find it satisfying.

Consider where you want to post your stories, posting on a personal site can limit your reading audience, posting on GA or a similar site will increase your available audience. I would suggest posting on GA. By posting on GA readers can leave feedback and/or reactions to your story and you can see how many have viewed your story. The number of views will be vastly greater that the total of any feedback/reactions but don't let that put you off, many read without commenting or reacting. 

Check your story for spelling and grammar, using Microsoft Word can help with both of those. Also check for consistency and continuity in the story, if you mistakenly change someones name half way through it causes confusion. So put it to one side for a while then go back to it later and reread it, then you are more likely to find any errors. If you want help from an editor or beta reader look among the forums and you will find where you can request that help, it take a while and it's not guaranteed that you find them but it's always worth asking.

That's my thoughts some will agree others won't, some will only agree with some of what I have said but read other replies and decide for yourself, what ever you decide it should be your decision alone.

[Ron]

1 hour ago, Mancunian said:

I would suggest posting on GA. By posting on GA readers can leave feedback and/or reactions to your story and you can see how many have viewed your story. The number of views will be vastly greater that the total of any feedback/reactions but don't let that put you off, many read without commenting or reacting.

This should be added: The descrepancy between a large number of story views and that of feedback (reactions/comments/reviews) is proportionately due to the greater number of non-members to registered members. Although some members do shy away from providing input of any sort, it is imperative to keep in mind that non-members cannot provide feedback to what they have read. So the view numbers are a good indication that people are looking and possibly reading an authors work, but the lack of story/chapter feedback doesn't necessarily mean that the story was meaningless or of no value to anyone -- it could be quite the opposite or somewhere in-between.

Edited October 22, 2019 by Ron

[Mancunian]

@Ron you have a good point I hadn't considered that so thank you for explaining a major reason for that difference. I'm hoping that @DarkBishop will join us and post his stories, I'm sure that many would enjoy them.

[Cia]

There has been some great advice given here. I will add just one more thing that I've shared with many authors who've asked over the years. You get out of GA what you put into it. If you want feedback, you have to be give feedback. The more you interact on the site, the more the site (and other members) interact with you. Yes, we have a lot of dedicated readers, but I've found a lot of the commenters tend to be authors as well. Unlike publishers who tell authors not to interact, we encourage it. You learn more that way, and you definitely encourage others to interact with you. 

Think of it this way: If you put your book on a shelf in a bookstore and just leave it there, what are the odds it will be picked up by readers? But if you hang signs up about it, stand around and talk to readers who are looking at other stories and send them to check out your story, ask about what they like and why they liked that in your story (and/or get some information on how to improve your writing from other authors so more readers will enjoy your work...) and all of the above, you are far more likely to gain readers and fans who pick out your book (or story) from the rest.