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I might sound like a broken record and frankly I don't give a damn anymore. I'm just really tired of writing and not getting any recognition for it. All I have is writing...there's nothing else. The fact that everyone only seems to care about one thing I write or one genre---whether it be The Center, the CRU or the DarkRealms---as soon as I try to do something different, I get nothing for it. I was super excited about writing The Underappreciated. It was new and fresh and I actually enjoyed writing again. Sadly the last few chapters I've posted have done nothing. Its like trying to play catch but there's no there to catch the ball you've just thrown. That's what writing has become for me. That's what writing on this site has become.
I might write another chapter, I might not. Thanks to everyone who has been reading and commenting, sadly you're not enough to pad my super ego.
Comments
It's difficult
I know when I do something different, it doesn't always go down as well as it should, and that tends to irritate because my total genius isn't being recognised appropriately.
I take comfort in the old saying, a prophetess is never recognised on her own website and seeing as Erin is possibly the best writer here, and frequently doesn't get as many kudos or comments as some of my stuff, then perhaps life isn't so bad.
Angharad
Where's the "like" button for this?
Indeed!
not as think as i smart i am
You're a good writer. People
You're a good writer. People enjoy your work. I read the first chapter on The Underappreciated and thought it was nice. But I need a completed story in front of me before I can read it. I'm just not patient enough to wait two or three weeks between chapters. I lose track of characters and I lose interest in the plots that way.
Why don't you write your story to completion and post it as a single work? Maybe that will bump up your views and comments. A lack of response might have nothing to do with people not willing to read outside the genre you've already written in. It could very well have to do with a lack of a coherent posting schedule.
First of All
You are an excellent and imaginative writer. I have been totally wrapped up in some of your stories, and others I haven't. I'm sure that the few readers I have (far fewer than you have) feel the same way. You write for a genre that has been very popular for quite a while. Maybe it's run its course. I am hardly the person with that answer. Someone blogged about dropping readership a while ago. They went to the trouble to put together a nice graph. It looked very similar to what my readership looks like. The first few postings of a story get the most hits, then the readership seems to drop geometrically, i.e. it's not a straight line. (Bike is unique at this site because of it's form of open endedness. It's not in the computations.) That's the nature of the readership, and I think that just about any author on this site will experience a similar statistic. We just don't have the access to that data in an easy form to see. We can't ride the crest of the wave forever. Some stories will get a far better reaction than others.
Write for yourself, dammit. The rest of us don't count. Besides most of us probably have a problem recognizing good writing as it is. For most, if the story is entertaining, pushes the right buttons, appeals to our emotions, that's all that matters. The readers here are not judging the National Book Awards. We just want to be entertained.
My current project will turn a lot of people off because it takes 20,000 words to get through the set up. There are no immediate transitions. We don't even know for a while who might have gender identity problems, if anyone. Characters will come an go that don't seem to have any purpose. I expect the readership to plummet early. I think they will miss out on quite a bit of interesting discussion and events. So be it. When the story is finished, I'll know that I gave it my best effort. The story will be complete when I start posting. That's a habit of mine. I imagine that the story will be in excess of 100,000 words, I'm at 64,000 as of today and there are three or four major events still to come.
I love the comments and kudos; however, I don't live by them - much. Of course my feelings will get hurt, but I have a number of other stories to write if I live long enough. Screw the critics. Full pen ahead.
Portia
Hey, LittleRock
Don't forget to add ink to your quill every now and then.
Anesidora
I've had my share of stories
that didnt get the love I thought they deserved. It happens, sometimes its just a story that is not up the alley of the majority here, and sometimes its a tough story to read, or sometimes, just sometimes, its not as good a story as one would hope. Hugs hon.
Erm...
Here we go again... someone moaning because they don't believe their stories are popular enough... perhaps you had something on his mind when you came up with the title for your latest tale... :D
Admittedly I haven't read "The Underappreciated" (something which you apparently believe you are...), but that's because I'm too busy reading other things / sorting out my photos / other stuff.
But, what exactly do you define as "not getting any recognition"? Let's look at the statistics:
Part 1: 27 comments from 1,678 reads
Part 2: 30 comments from 1,304 reads
Part 3: 34 comments from 1,033 reads
Part 4: 25 comments from 0,961 reads
Part 5: 25 comments from 0,723 reads
Part 6: 12 comments from 0,424 reads
Ignoring Part 6 which has only just been posted, you're getting a significant hit rate, a decent amount of comments, and probably a decent amount of kudos / buttons for it as well. Hardly any story gets over 1,000 hits within an hour or two - it takes time for people to find the story and read it. Even if half those comments are your replies to other people, you've still got some people showing enough interest in each chapter to leave a comment. As with the hit count, don't expect a dozen comments within the first hour or two after posting. We're all in different time zones - something posted at midday on the East Coast US will appear to be early morning on the West Coast, early evening in Europe or even the early hours of the following morning in Japan.
Who, exactly, are you writing for? Why are you writing? For your enjoyment in crafting a tale, or to receive adulation and praise from those reading it?
Here's a thought: if you're racking up views but not comments, that tells you two things: (a) people are reading it, (b) it's not bad enough to warrant a flame :D Also, the view statistics indicate some drop-off between chapters, but that's normal for any story: a significant number are reading subsequent chapters, which indicates (c) that they're still interested in the story. Maybe not to the degree whereby they feel sufficiently motivated to leave a comment (although several do), but they're sticking with it and (probably) hitting the Kudos button.
Even if the view count is low, so what? EWven if you've only got, say, a dozen regular readers, that's twelve people you're reaching out and connecting to. If you were performing a live reading of one of your stories, you'd probably be chuffed if a dozen people sat down and listened to it, even if they didn't contribute anything to the question and answer session at the end. Why should it be any different if the twelve are reading it in the comfort of their homes rather than listening to you in person?
As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!
WOW, another chance to leave a comment on a comment
My stories follow the same trend.
I write pretty much for myself with one exception.
I really like to see people guessing just which way I'm going to take a story. Some are close, some have ideas I didn't think of, and some are.... well, out of the neighborhood.
I usually have a story's path charted and laid in before I begin posting so changes are possible but unlikely. If you all have ever played "CLUE" [ Miss Scarlett with the monkey wrench in the library], I like to watch and see how well all you sleuths out there can predict (or even guess) where the story is going to go. Believe me, I like to leave clues which tend to cause people to throw gas in the outboard and take off in pursuit of where they think I'm going to go.
Now that I think about it.... that's probably why my comment count is lower than I expect it to be (in general - not all the time).
Now for my disclaimer.... I steadfastly refuse to be held responsible for errors in guesstimates, erroneous predictions and any and all discussions (or arguements) resulting from my efforts at misdirection.
Other than that.... hope you'all are having fun reading.
Anesidora
Wanna trade stats?
Here's mine, comments/kudos included. (I was tracking stats to figure out the bizarre dip in chapters 9 and 11, and thought that I would share my data).
Really, you also should remember that a lot of people read these stories not logged in, or they don't even have an account. To leave a comment or a kudo you need both.
Food for thought?
If I went by comments I would have quit writing long ago, but I wrote this story because I wanted to, and I shared it hoping others would like it. Enough did that I was pleased... and that was a bonus, not a goal!
Your stories are awesome, I have commented and left private comments as well!
Chin up, and please, keep writing.
U R GREAT
You are a great writer and I agree with Celynn about wanting to read the story whole she has a point about writing the whole story and posting at once or a chapter a day see if that has a better responce.
I personally print all my stories and read them whole and thier are some authors I don't like you are not in this group I LOVE YOUR WORK
HUGS : - ) RICHIE2
I've been
I actually do intend to read 'The Underappreciated', but I haven't had very much time to read let alone write lately.
That being said... I can understand getting discouraged, but you get a lot more comments then I do. I've put out serials where a part only received 3 comments. I guess it's a matter of perspective I'd love to get the number of comments you do.
Have delightfully devious day,
Be strong
Don't feel underappreciated yourself. I am enjoying the story but have had little time to read and comment lately on stories due to school and work. School just let out for me but that just meant getting as much work as I can in before it closes for the holidays about three weeks of no pay. Then I will be reading and trying to write something myself but will be cashless. Your latest story has had me perplexed as to what was really going on to our new hero/heroine and who was in on it.
Because
You wouldn't be you, if you didn't bother!
Hugs, Fran
Writing is a full time job. There are some who leave comments to
comments to my stories that pick only one thing out of the whole story to talk about. That doesn't give the story its due. In some of my stories I have gotten 5 or more comments, in some chapters to the same story I only get 2 or 3 comments and always on one segment of the story. But, I let it go, because at least there are some who do leave comments, and it is for them that you should write. Remember that if your story is recognized and commented on by 1 person, then you have done your job. Some of the stories I have read of yours were very good. But, I have my own stories I need to catch up on. Chin up, and know that there are at least a few that enjoy your work. Just continue in the way you have been, and it will get better. Remember that the hardest audience for transgendered stories is the transgendered community.
"With confidence and forbearance, we will have the strength to move forward."
Love & hugs,
Barbara
"If I have to be this girl in me, Then I have the right to be."
You feel underappreciated? Take a number
Lady in Training
By MichelleA
Big Closet
11 comments Read more 3977 reads
Crystal's Storysite
13 comments 43644 Reads ladyintraining
Comments are ALWAYS welcome but I write for myself.
Huggles
Chelle_MM
wait
i dont write comments about a lot stories but i certainly enjoy your worlds. while underappreciated might not be one of the, how do i say this, best youve written it still is a very good story. i know i give kudos to most of the stories i read. im not a great writer of comments but i still enjoy the stories. i know a lot of effort goes into what i read here and all authors should be applauded. i am just sorry i dont have it in me to do the same.
robert
The Underapreciated is brilliant or at least freakn' damned good
Perhaps it is just there is soooo much posting here of late.
*I* find it hard to keep up.
And I REALLY need to get back to working on the next couple of chapters of Timeout.
Perhaps the best idea is to concentrate on just one until it is finished THEN return to another.
Long gaps between chapter might turn off some readers.
Mind you *I* tried that trick but only turned off some.
- grin --
Write it and at least I will read and try to comment. And there are others here, others I respect that like your works.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
I don't normally comment
Mainly because the act of writing something is very difficult for me. However, I am taking the time to force myself to comment. EoF, when I see something written by you I will read it because I find your stories to be interesting to read. Your stories are well written and I enjoy them so please continue to write so I can continue to enjoy them that includes DRU as well.
Why Do I Even Bother
You and a couple of other authors are the only ones I follow religiously. I don’t comment nearly enough because I am too busy looking for missed chapters of your works.
No skin off my arse.
I write to please myself. Those who do not like my writing can just bugger off. My stories are not the most popular because I do not pitch to the audience. I think the best I ever dun was "You Did What To Me", and that was pitched at a specific audience.
I am a little surprised at your displeasure over this. I think, "The Underappreciated" is doing pretty well. I must say that this story, while entertaining is not as coherent as some you have writte.
G
I generally find your writing
I generally find your writing enjoyable, regardless of genre. I've liked stuff you've done in the Comics RetCon, Dark Realms, and this new story. I was one of the many people who wasn't clear what was going on with the Underappreciated until the most recent chapter. Was Arric a boy turning into a girl, or a girl that had been raised as a boy? Why would those things happen? Is the potion slowing the process or speeding it up? Who knows and who doesn't? Most of those came clear in the last chapter. I thought it was worth following along to see how it developed, but I can see how some might find the confusion off-putting if they still don't have the basic framework several chapters in.
I for one
have not even started to read it. If it is going to turn out to be a 40 chpater novel, then I want to set down and read it or have it where I can read it at MY leasure so I can keep track of it and the twists and turns, instead of having it doled out and have to go back and forth. If it turns out to be shorter, then I will be able to do the same, but faster. I did start to read the first chapter and it didn't appeal a whole lot, that's another reason for me to wait, so I could have enough to really make up my mind if I wanted to invest in it.
A few lines of tough love
A few lines of tough love here.
Guess what? Not everything we do in life is going to receive universal acclaim. Get used to it. If you expect people to throw rose petals at your feet every time you put fingers to keyboard, you're not being realistic.
So far, and, sorry to say, with the exception of The Underappreciated, I've enjoyed your stories and watched your writing improve. It would be a waste of talent and creativity if you choose to quit writing, but that's your call. But you can't expect readers to admire everything you do equally and without exception, and they're under no obligation to stroke your ego. If unquestioned admiration is what you crave, get a dog.
And that's why dogs get no respect...
and little appreciation, because they are reputed to always love everyone, and everything. (Actually, most dogs are much more discriminating than that, but you know how it is with stereotypes.)
Welcome to the club
It's happened to me too. I was VERY excited about a departure from my usual stuff, and the negative reactions were a big let down. It can take a while to get over it, and I often considered turning off comments completely, but I don't think I could. Being able to interact with the author is such a big part of the BCTS community.
When I read what you wrote above, I couldn't help but recall an interview long ago, where Joni Mitchell spoke of a conversation she had with Jimi Hendrix. He said he wanted to sit quietly and play acoustic guitar, but didn't feel his audience would let him. He told her, "They just want me to do the crazy stuff." She wondered what sort of music he'd play if he'd gotten past that feeling.
A few years back, I used to post several times a week here -- sometimes every day -- and it was great fun. I liked being popular, but I like things better now, when I can slip things into the stream without a splash. I do wish my life gave me more time to write, but honestly you're better off feeling the way you do now. You can write whatever you like, and a little "to hell with the reader" attitude is probably good for your writing. (And I mean your writing -- that comment doesn't work for everyone.)
All I have is writing...there's nothing else.
...I cannot speak to this fully without knowing what 'all I have' means, aye? I can, however, speak to what I note for many here; something I alluded to briefly recently; that many of us who are writers here deal with many if not most of the gender issues to which our characters identify. This place, apart from my therapist's office (with a cute Shipekapoo puppy assistant), is the only place on earth where Andrea gets to live and breathe.
Rightly or wrongly, my self-esteem as a writer is so wrapped up in my identity, and that when things aren't warmly received or when readership takes a dip or any other of the indicators we experience, my heart wanes a bit. The idea that my worth is gauged by my writing. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth, since I am, as are we all, of infinite value; fearfully and wonderfully made, as someone once wrote. But I don't see huge accolades; where once there might have been praise there might now only be 'I know how that feels,' or 'I cried when I read this.' If I was in the business of writing, I might not be a success, but I'm doing well in the 'make 'em cry' department, aye?
All that to say; it does hurt when we see things are not as 'accepting' as they once were or, perhaps, never were to begin with, and it makes us question more than just our writing but ourselves as well, if that makes any sense.
But Andrea got up along with the rest of the person with whom she shares this life. I exist and live and breathe every day; just a bit more through the comments and kudos and hits she receives here. I must say that while I don't comment much on your writing, I find you to be a superb writer. I imagine very strongly, however, that I might find you to be a superb person as well, aye?
Love, Andrea Lena
I don't think you have been underappreciated!
Your stories have attracted 22,000+ kudos. That must put you in the top five or so most popular writers on BC. Surely that is enough for anyone's eqo?
Louise
Very sorry
I've normally collected chapters, converted into epub, then read the whole story on my tablet. I realize now that by doing it this way I neglect to post my thanks and comments to the author. I definitely appreciate your writing and enjoy your stories.
comments & kudos
I try and give a kudo whenever I enjoy a story. Sometimes, the button seems to work flawlessly, and others, it does not seem to work at all. I do not know if you keep up with such things, but there have been problems with the servers. Erin and Piper are doing a phenomenal job, but things do slip through the cracks.
As for comments, I try and read what is already there. If someone has said what I was going to say, I tend not to leave a comment. I enjoy the comments as an extension of the story, and if they get too repetitive, I lose interest in them. So not posting repetitive comments is my way of handling that.
Sometimes I am not sure where a comment is appropriate if I am reading a series. Often I get a feeling about things as I go along, but none of the individual stories quite seems to be the right place. So I tend to not post anything.
Also, my favorite stories, I tend to not to comment because I like to read them in batches, and slowing down to comment is too difficult to even consider.
I am truly enjoying The Underappreciated, but even so, things in my life have been so stressful lately that I have not read the last chapter yet.
I would like to see you keep writing, but I prefer you to find happiness no matter what that means.
Hugs and Kisses,
Cassie Ellen
Title page
On such occasions, I post my comment on the title page, if there is one.
Authors
It's not easy to write continuously with no recognition.
I once wrote a similar observation to yours about 'why should I bother?'
I got a rather odd reply from someone saying just write the story and when you get to the end, write another one because you'll get better...
I don't think that's the case really.
I think some people write well and some need to learn.
I just want to read a neat story with a believable scenario (I don't mind superhero stories because I find them fun - and also believable in their own way.
There's some authors I really enjoy, some I have a look at in case it turns out to be better than the last one and some I can't wait to see - you are one of the latter.
There's also some authors who have such a good style that it excites me to ask questions and others not to ask one at all!
Don't ever feel your stories are unappreciated - even if it's the title of the book!
I think if you look at the number who read your stories, you'll understand that you're popular and appreciated
Thanks anyway.