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I have been an author here and at Big Closet since 2004.
I have always enjoyed the friendliness of the site and the unique interactive content that Erin has provided for us.
I first posted my stories on Fictionmania but after a while, I decided that I preferred the format and type of stories that we get here rather than what appeared to me to be a rather more hard core orientated stories on FM. Also, I had a few rather nasty complaints and comments on my stories on FM and that made me feel even more uncomfortable staying there.
Top Shelf has always felt a home for me and an outlet for my sometimes off the wall muses and stories. Of late, I have become a bit sad that some authors and bloggers have been castigated and some of the comments have been less than fair. I myself have had a few pm’s that have made me feel uncomfortable in the past but thankfully not for quite a while now.
I am not one of those people that complain much, I just try to provide stories that some people may like. It’s not a one way thing. I get a huge amount of enjoyment writing my stories and getting the reactions from my readers.
This is not about me and I have few complaints about how I have been treated here apart from the few I mentioned above. Like other authors, I can’t please all of the people all of the time and expect criticism and I’m sure other authors feel the same. What I would ask though is posters to think before they write on a blog or story or even a pm about something that they are not happy about.
Too many authors have left here due to things said and written, perhaps in the heat of the moment. If authors decide to leave, we all suffer and without the authors, there would be no TopShelf. Also remember that Erin, Bob and others on the admin team try really hard for no reward to make this the finest TG story site — bar none.
So please think carefully before you write something as your words may drive people away and that is the last thing that anyone wants.By all means write constructive criticism but please refrain from the destructive variety.
Hugs
Sue Brown
Comments
Well said and thank you
That was a very heartfelt statement. I appreciate it when people let me know what they think, good or bad, as long as it's not rude or mean-spirited. If it's a suggestion that will make my stories better without compromising what I see for it, I generally take the advice.
Edeyn
Thanks Sue, sometimes we need a polite reminder to be polite
not that I want to squash debate, Angela, aardvark, Angel and others here provide thought provoking debate from a variety of TG perspectives. I respect their opinions and have benifitted from their council.
Still, and I can't, okay I can, absolutes are inherently suspect, emphasize this enough, THINK before you post. A letter, even a phone call takes some thought, an email/PM/IM and the like is quick, irretrievable and all but immortal once online.
I have fallen afoul of this a few times myself, Please wait an hour, even 15 minutes will do, before posting a reply and even then look it over one last time. It may well be out in cyberspace for hours/day/eternity once unleashed ... it is beyond your control once sent … do you really want people to remember you for that?
If you have a strong opinion on a story or blog, great, but do phrase it with respect and don’t send drunken, knee-jerk PMs. Public displays of temper are bad enough, though PMs are usually more respectful of a person’s reputation, they can be more threatening personally. I have hear horror stories here from several authors/authoresses I respect. And remember as TG or TG interested parties we often have fragile hides, please think before you bring out the whip.
Be creative, be honest, be yourself but do it with respect.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
And from Me
I am in the middle between Erin and the rest of the staff. I have to make the things work and coordinate what happens here. I have to relay between authors and other Admin and make sure things run as smooth as you have seen it happen insofar as stories being posted and things getting fixed. I am the de facto site operator and I stay in touch monitoring the site and reacting at a moments notice for getting things fixed for most of the day, every day.
Things are not perfect, we try hard to please. I am just one woman. All the help here is voluntary too. None of us are paid. The only pay is the voluntary request for donations for the site to help defray the cost from Erin's own pocket and the purchasing of authors works where and when they post them for sale. None of us on BC Staff are paid. This is done out of love for our community and a way of giving back to everyone.
I am sick, my body is physically having too many problems, and despite being between hospital runs to the ER, I am trying to manage this site, and my life. The staff here is top notch bar none. I depend on each and every one of them and they leave me in constant awe at their ingenuity. And, at times, we get stressed with the goings on around here and need breathing space. Me, being the fuse in the middle of all of this, I take the brunt of it all. My emotions get battered and have me crying most of the time from having to do the things no one else wants to do and well.... you know what its like being in the middle of a boss and the customer disagreement situation. Thats me - I'm in between you and Erin.
I'm not trying to whine in this blog, but I want all of you to know what I'm struggling with daily here: masculized intersexism, body failing me, outside life/relations, brain damage, spine damage, trying to speak and type [ dsylexia, backwards thinking, memory loss, and language problems from having lost my ability to speak and think Japanese from my 1993 car wreck. Its affecting my English language and process of thinking now ], vertigo from my brain damage... I'm struggling through all of this AND managing the site the best that I can.
I screw up, I admit it, both in coding and communicating. I do ask forgiveness from everyone and for others to realize I am struggling to find a happy medium and peace for the BigCloset TopShelf Community. That is what I'm trying to glue together. A reliable feel so when we all come here, we feel like we are at home and the site is a colorful, graphic, and well written one that reflects all aspects of our community. I'm trying hard to achieve this.
But I need help. Not just from our all volunteer staff, but from you, the authors and readers, I need your help too. Please... instead of griping, look at the changes we are doing and give them a chance? please? we can take suggestions in pm too... but try not to be so critical of things to blog up dislikes and stir up everyones dander. When that happens, the one who gets hurt the most is me. little one woman me. Im the one responsible for the propagation and expansion of what BigCloset is becoming. Im helping Erin evolve and change this site to become more of what you are seeing.
I am not the fastest coder of .html nor the best. I am not the best editor. I am not the best Admin. But I am working hard and trying my best for all of you.
Like in many of Tanya Allan's Stories, I went through hell in the beginning of trying to reorganize BigCloset, and I am determined to create a Tanya Allan ending for the direction that our site goes, one where we all achieve our dreams, our life is good, and we are all happy and content. That is my vision, my goal for us as a community and a site. There is room for all story genres and we all get what we want: authors get their reads and comments, readers get the stories they like and can help buy author's works, and the worst thing our staff has to worry about is a minor code error in a posting. That is the BigCloset TopShelf I want. I hope it is what you, our guests, readers, and authors, and Admin staff also want.
Please help me?
Sephrena Lynn Miller
BigCloset TopShelf
Thank you
Sephrena,
You are doing such a wonderful job under such trying circumstances. I admire your intellect, fortitude and devotion to this site.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Portia
Portia
Improving Comments and Feedback
Sue's comments are right on.
I love the new BC. I find it a haven from everyday hassels and disappointments. I've come to love the tg romances posted on this site. I know it is "pollyannerish"(?), but after dealing with reality all day, the stories help me keep things in perspective. I never felt comfortable with some of the other sites.
Giving positive feedback is an art, just like being a creative writer. Anyone can criticize. Citicism is percieved as negative. Constructive feedback helps every one. When you find something that needs improvement on the site or in a story, make an effort to help find a solution. State the problem and why you percieve it as such. Suggest what can be done to make it better for you.
Be sensitive to your audience. Most people in the TG community recieve enough negative feedback. Please, phrase comments to help not hurt.
My understanding is, BC is operated by volunteers and funded by donations. It is in the best interests of every one that the site runs smoothly. As a relatively new user at BC, I can't speak for anyone at BC. I expect positive suggestions to improve one's experience at BC would be welcome.
When providing feedback on creative materials, there are two main areas: 1. grammar and syntax and 2. how you, the reader, related to the story. The first area deals with most of the stuff that should be picked up in editing. Word usage, incorrect phrasing, the dreaded spell check assumption and omissions etc. Examples are using 'sat for sit or set', changing the name of a character such as all of sudden Fred is now Paul? and using 'too for two or to' or 'then for than'. These are examples of errors I found in posted stories. (I confess I was enjoying the stories too much to stop and comment every time, even though it was annoying.)
The second area deals with your experience while reading the story. Authors need this feedback so they can become better storytellers. Did you enjoy it and why? What stood out? Did the details and immagery contribute or detract from the story or did it strike the right balance? Were the characters and plots believable for the type of story? These are just a few of many criteria useful in evaluating stories. As T-girls, we should express our feeling toward the story. How did it make you feel?
I hope that this can be of some help to someone. In a prior life, I did a lot of engineering. I just saw a lot of comments on inappropraite feedback, but nowhere are their any guidelines. In no way do I want to stiffle free speach. My understanding is that comments are encouraged to help authors improve.
Thanks for listening
Hugs,
Trish-Ann
Hugs,
Trish Ann
~There is no reality, only perception~