AFriendlyFace

How sweet you both are! And I for one would like to personally say thanks to you both! Ohh, well that does make much more sense then I was in a lovely mood all day...and now I'm as grumpy as a wet hen with sunburned feet! (not because of this thread or any of the posters in it) So I should probably go and have my own nap. I assume that the majority of readers and viewers, regardless of whether we're talking about eFiction, author pages, the archive, or the forums are 'guests'. So I'm just sort of hoping the same guests that view this thread are the ones who read in eFiction.

Nutrition really isn't that big a mystery if you do a little research and have some will-power. It doesn't surprise me that McDonald's has some low cal options and it certainly doesn't surprise me that one could lose weight eating them (if he/she avoided the 'bad' foods). Interesting article

Perfect evidence that feedback does matter to authors, and for the record Lugh was not one of the original authors I had in mind. Clearly then this problem runs even deeper! I agree with Gary. Personally I'm delighted to receive personal PMs about my work. I've gotten several and really appreciated them a lot! I like forums posts and efiction reviews too. I don't care how the reader does it (though in some ways discussion thread is my favourite since it might spur on other comments), but I like a bit of feedback however I can get it. Clearly I'm not alone. Why do you say that Centaur, Rick, and Snoopy don't 'count'? Surely your 'dedicated fans' must count quite a bit. Indeed new faces are great, but it's my dedicated commenters/reviewers/PM-ers that often mean the most to me!

YAY!!! I'm so glad everything is out in the open now and you guys can be honest with each other!!

Same here: I think you'd be a nifty daddy, Mattie!!

Well said, Viv!!! Happy Anniverary, Com! :king:

Happy Birthday, Celia!!! You're the niftiest!! I hope your day is wonderful and your year bright and hopeful! I always thoroughly enjoy interacting with you on the forums and it's been my pleasure getting to know you! Take care and have a fantastic birthday -Kevin

YAY! Then as irrelevant as I'm sure (and hope) it is, you have my full support and hope for a bright, long, and insanely happy future!

Just a suggestion: "I really liked that chapter! It seems like each one gets better and better as the story progresses! Awesome job! The only criticism I could make is that for me personally the phrase 'you know', which you frequently use, interrupts the flow of the story a bit. Great job though!"

**falls out of his chair in surprise** **climbs back up in happiness** WOO HOO!!! This is wonderful news. God, I'm so proud of you, Robbie! Look how far you've come! **quits quoting Rob Thomas** Ya gotcha self a good one, John, and Robbie, so did you! Yay for you guys! This is the best news I've gotten all day, and I had a very lovely day incidentally Good for you both! Now treat each other well or else!!!! :battleaxe: -Kevin

WOO HOO!! Happy Birthday VIV! How wonderful it is for you to have a birthday on this day! It means that for me today, tomorrow, and the next day are all the birthdays of someone special whom I care about! I hope your day is filled with all the joy, happiness, and excitement that you deserve! May the coming year bring you happiness, success, and fulfillment and may each moment of your life be a special and wonderful as you are!! -Kevin

I love this idea! And like all the rest of your 'change', Tiff, they were very insightful and well thought out! I agree with this post most of all! I think another big point is the whole 'who is to blame' thing. There are indeed many useful strategies for the author to employ and much does depend on how the author solicits and handles feedback. HOWEVER, to be blunt that wasn't my point at all with this thread (not that it isn't useful and interesting to discuss it, simply that it wasn't my purpose). There are other threads and articles out there to help authors get more feedback. The actual reason I created this thread had nothing to do with author strategies, but simply a request to the readers. IF you're reading and not commenting or responding in any way to an author who clearly would like and appreciate feedback then in my opinion that is YOUR failing and YOUR fault, not the author's. Again this very much goes back Vic's point about what type of author you're dealing with. If he/she is unreceptive to negative feedback, doesn't appreciate one line comments and a simple 'good job'/'thanks for writing' then certainly it's 'okay' for you not to bother. If on the other hand the author has made it clear that any and all feedback is appreciated (and 'lives' this message versus just saying it), and explicitly asks for something as a simple as letting them know "I"m reading". Then I think if the reader fails to take 10-15 seconds of his time after just having read a whole chapter or story that's HIS/HER fault NOT the author's. The author shouldn't have to stand on his/her head to get feedback. Anyway point is, a lot of the 'responsibility' is the author's and many of the strategies suggested are wonderful and useful to authors, but in this case I'm personally more interested in pointing out the reader's responsibility. As Gary and CJ and other's have indicated there is no 'payment' for writing these stories in most cases. Would you go into a bookstore, steal a book, and then feel good about it? Why then do you read a story by an author who clearly just wants 10 seconds of your time to say "I'm reading" and deny them something so simple? -Kevin

Recently I've become aware that several authors around here who write excellent work are getting discouraged and/or disappointed because they aren't receiving much if any feedback. Read counts and page hits indicate that at least some people are reading. Thus they are not commenting. WHY? I'm asking you directly, yes you over there lurking in the shadows. Why is it so hard to drop a quick review in eFiction or in the forum and say "good chapter" or "nice job" or "try more character development" or just "I read it"? For the most part authors just want to know that their work is actually being read. That there's a reason to keep writing and posting. Views and read counts help, but a simple one or two word review/comment does MORE and feels MORE CONCRETE (actual insightful comments and thorough reviews and discussions are infinitely better, but anything IS better than nothing). It takes all of two seconds. I don't care how inarticulate or shy you consider yourself to be typing two or three words isn't going to kill you. Please do it for our authors. I say this not as a moderator, nor even as an writer; I say this simply as a member trying to support our authors. (Of course I would greatly appreciate more feedback and comments myself, and actually I've been getting frustrated with this too, but I'm probably luckier than many of our authors in this regard so this is mostly on their behalf). -Kevin

Yay for you!

He really doesn't do that much for me, and honestly I don't think he would if he were soft and smooth (although it would help).

Well done then, Steve! **sends Steve his points with a card attached complimenting his cute powerful and elegant penis**

Woo hoo! Congrats and happy birthday, dude!!! I hope it's an awesome one -Kevin

Oh my gosh! That was so funny! Whichever one of you wrote that gets 10,472 bonus points!

Well we're happy to have you exploring our little online community! Welcome to the site and I hope it has cheered you up Have fun with the drink, but keep it healthy and responsible please! -Kevin (whose drinking a pomegranate martini himself)

I think he looks really angelic in that photo.

LOL, a tree, a steep incline, perhaps a rock, maybe one of those rock climbing walls, that sorta thing Nothing dirty...although that might cheer me up too

Hey dude! Sorry, but I'm not the best to ask about tech issues, I'll see that the tech team get a look at this though, in fact if you don't mind I'll just shift your post over to the relevant forum. -Kevin

I do indeed see what I miss! Anyway, you may not have been the only cute one, but you were certainly one of the cute ones, Gabe Good pic, Old Bob! LOL! I think you did well to remember it was a Chevrolet! When people ask me what type of vehicle I drive I usually just respond "A red one" and leave it at that.