Gracious authors and readers

[ReaderPaul]

I would like to thank the many authors who attempt to engage with their readers in a polite and positive way.  That does not mean they need to reply to EVERY comment made about their stories, but generally do encourage their readers to keep reading and responding.   Some of these include @Geron Kees, @P. E. Knapp, @Lee Wilson, @quokka, @Dabeagle, @Backwoods Boy, @Ivor Slipper, @drsawzall, @chris191070, @Myr, @wildone, @W_L, @astone2292, @Wombat Bill, @AC Benus, @Aditus, @Altimexis, @Jason Rimbaud, @Bill W, and I will probably think of others shortly after I post this.

We as readers have a responsibility to react and comment on stories we like.  I admit I sometimes get interrupted and do not get back to comment on something.  On that, mea culpa.  But as readers, we also need to try to phrase our comments clearly, and, if we have MAJOR criticisms, private message the author.  We  may have missed something.

Edited April 24 by ReaderPaul

[drpaladin]

How could you miss @Headstall

[Ron]

What about me? 🤔 I know it’s been a few years since I’ve written anything new but I almost always say something in regards to comments on my writing (unless I’m feeling overwhelmed), and I almost always say something to an author after having read a chapter (unless it’s a long story with multiple chapters — it seems like overkill for me to do so).

Anyhoo, that’s one of the problems with lists — even if you don’t mean to (I’m not offended 😉) you end up leaving somebody off the dang thing, or you could go on forever.

[Jason Rimbaud]

12 minutes ago, Ron said:

Anyhoo, that’s one of the problems with lists — even if you don’t mean to (I’m not offended 😉) you end up leaving somebody off the dang thing, or you could go on forever.

Or adding someone like me who doesn't deserve to be on any list unless it's the FBI's most wanted for bad puns list.  . 

[ReaderPaul]

52 minutes ago, drpaladin said:

How could you miss @Headstall

You are right, @drpaladin.  I missed @Headstall and @Parker Owens and @parker sheaffer, all who are excellent authors.

18 minutes ago, Ron said:

What about me? 🤔 I know it’s been a few years since I’ve written anything new but I almost always say something in regards to comments on my writing (unless I’m feeling overwhelmed), and I almost always say something to an author after having read a chapter (unless it’s a long story with multiple chapters — it seems like overkill for me to do so).

Anyhoo, that’s one of the problems with lists — even if you don’t mean to (I’m not offended 😉) you end up leaving somebody off the dang thing, or you could go on forever.

@Ron, I read  some of your stuff when I was working an average of 60 to 70 hours a week and trying to take care of a mentally ill spouse and autistic son.  I do need to go back and read more -- and comment this time.

[Dabeagle]

@ReaderPaul I appreciate your mention, and while I don't comment on each comment - unless there is something to address - I do appreciate and read each of them and try to react to each of them. Sometimes I note later on that I didn't see some and react very late, but I appreciate hearing from the readers. Thanks for your reading support over the years.

[ReaderPaul]

9 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

Or adding someone like me who doesn't deserve to be on any list unless it's the FBI's most wanted for bad puns list.  . 

I love good puns!  (And sometimes bad puns as well.)  Where do I look up the FBI's list of most wanted for bad puns?  I am probably on it.

[ReaderPaul]

Another I forgot to mention is @Mark Ponyboy Peters.  I read his stuff, but read much of it on other sites before he came here.  A very good writer.  I can recommend Mark.

Edited April 24 by ReaderPaul

[Ron]

15 minutes ago, ReaderPaul said:

I do need to go back and read more -- and comment this time.

I wasn’t actually fishing for some lovin’ 😎. Or necessary feeling neglected. 
 

But, well, if you must. Make sure to start with the most recent one and please disregard how much time has passed since I wrote it.

[Ivor Slipper]

51 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

Or adding someone like me who doesn't deserve to be on any list unless it's the FBI's most wanted for bad puns list.  . 

According to @Headstall I must be keeping you company on that list. 🙂

[Mark Ponyboy Peters]

18 minutes ago, ReaderPaul said:

Another I forgot to mention is @Mark Ponyboy Peters.  I read his stuff, but read much of it on other sites before he came here.  A very good writer.  I can recommend Mark.

@ReaderPaul thank you, kind sir, for the honourable mention.

Since I came here a little under a year ago I have been blown away by the support I have received from GA  readers. I truly appreciate the reactions and comments I have received from everybody, and while I may not respond to every single one, please know that I am very grateful for every single one. ❤️❤️❤️

[Jason Rimbaud]

22 minutes ago, Mark Ponyboy Peters said:

 

 while I may not respond to every single one, please know that I am very grateful for every single one. ❤️❤️❤️

Apparently I'm a comment whore because I think I respond to every comment. But in my defense, I'm a comment whore and it's what we do. . 

 

[Mark Ponyboy Peters]

1 minute ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

Apparently I'm a comment whore because I think I respond to every comment. But in my defense, I'm a comment whore and it's what we do. . 

 

@Jason Rimbaud  "A man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do!" 😋

[CassieQ]

4 hours ago, drpaladin said:

How could you miss @Headstall

While I appreciate the thought behind the post, it's limited to the authors of stories that @ReaderPaul reads.  For example,  @lawfulneutralmage and @Valkyrie always responded to comments left on their works, even unfavorable ones.  It would be cool if other readers joined in.

Edited April 24 by CassieQ

[drsawzall]

Well...I just gotta add my 4 cents here, I blame inflation and tariffs ya know, I've made this comment many times in the past and it is just as relevant and applies here just as well...

In my humble opinion, and @drpaladin and many others, might take issue with my definition of humble, hands down, commenting is one of the best features of this story site.

What I love about Gay Authors, is the diversity of authors and the stories they gift us with, that they take their time to craft something for us to enjoy is priceless...

I've had the chance to be on both sides of the comments and truly appreciate that readers will take the time to respond, both good and bad, on stories I've posted. Then there those authors who grace these pages that strike a nerve, both good and bad, with me. There are times when I am effusive with my reactions and times where I am pounding my keyboard as someone, or something has truly piqued me. Whenever I find myself overreacting, I do my best to let that author know, they have done what every author strives for...reader engagement. And that my friends is priceless!!

I am of the mind and opinion, as an author and a reader, that if someone is going to put something out on this site, and the story engages me, I am going to do my darndest to offer encouragement via my comments!

Have I a complaint??? You betcha buckos...there isn't enough time to read everything that graces these pages!

Ooops...I've been known to use my soapbox....at the risk of doing it again, I'll say goodnight and good reading!!

[Krista]

Complete derailment and off-topic statement incoming:

Why the hell did Julie Andrews' Lady Whistledown pop into my head when I read the title of this topic? 

 

[Jason Rimbaud]

32 minutes ago, CassieQ said:

While I appreciate the thought behind the post, it's limited to the authors of stories that @ReaderPaul reads.  For example,  @lawfulneutralmage and @Valkyrie always responded to comments left on their works, even unfavorable ones.  It would be cool if other readers joined in.

For some reason the idea you going back and correcting your typo made my day...like genuinely laughing my back there off while I'm in the kitchen in my restaurant. 

[CassieQ]

3 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

For some reason the idea you going back and correcting your typo made my day...like genuinely laughing my back there off while I'm in the kitchen in my restaurant. 

When I see it, I can't let it go.  

[Jason Rimbaud]

17 minutes ago, CassieQ said:

When I see it, I can't let it go.  

Why do I have an urge to point out all your typos moving forward? 🤪🤪🤪

Whom I kidding, I can barely spell, knowing me I'd probably point out words that weren't even misspelled. 

Edited April 25 by Jason Rimbaud
A long way for a bad joke CassieQ won't even read now

[Thirdly]

Lemme think who else... @kbois@CassieQ@chris191070@Mikiesboy@Timothy M.@W_L There are so many more that haven't already been mentioned. I just can't put my finger on it. Who are we missing? 🤔

[Thirdly]

Oh! @Gary L And I'll stop now because I may have already overlapped some names and @Aditus@Jason Rimbaud@Valkyrie@Myr@Cia@Bill W@drsawzall@Headstall@wildone@quokka@drsawzall@drpaladin@Lee Wilson should already know by now how much I appreciate their work. I've been caught binge reading and forgetting to review a good few times already. 😂

[Alexmugs]

It would be a shame not to give a shout out to @kbois, who rightly deserves the title of Comment Queen. 

If you sort stories by highest number of comments, two of hers take top seed, amassing an incredible 12,000 comments between them. 

That's just wow. 

So many great authors make GA the best site because of how much feedback is given and the interaction between authors and readers. Kudos. 

[Ron]

1 hour ago, CassieQ said:

While I appreciate the thought behind the post, it's limited to the authors of stories that @ReaderPaul reads.

While not pointing this out, that was my point in replying to the OP … lists are more exclusive than they are inclusive. There is NO winning!  While you may begin with good intentions (perhaps the best of intentions), it’s an impossible situation once you begin making a list. There are so many authors to consider who may be somewhat attached to the original premise that one is bound to miss individuals that actually fall within the parameters of that thinking — also the list may be too long — that one can’t possibly include everyone because of the original idea itself. This is not a failure of @ReaderPaul, it is a failure of the mechanism itself.

[Thirdly]

55 minutes ago, Ron said:

it is a failure of the mechanism itself.

Not if we all pitch in and keep dropping names. 😄We'll eventually find everyone. 

[Lee Wilson]

Thanks for the inclusion on these lists, friends. When I first started here a little less than 2 years ago, it took me a while to fully engage with the readers. Hell, I didn’t even know how to highlight their names. But I feel if you have something to say about my work, you deserve at least an acknowledgment from me.

The interaction between author and reader is one of the great things about this site. As a reader, I think I need to provide feedback as well. I’ve read a couple of @Ronyx’s stories recently. Yeah, I figured out the naming feature. Anyway, even 7 or 8 years after they’re written, they still deserve letting the author I was there and enjoyed it.

Thanks, really, if I hadn’t found this site a) I probably wouldn’t be writing, and b) I may not even still be here. Depression sucks.