Readers Comments: The Writers Perspective

So this is a blog post that I've had trouble deciding if I should post or not. 

Readers comments come in many different ways, all manner of shapes and sizes, which makes sense if you think about it. Everyone has opinions, everyone is shaped by their experiences. Some people are selfish, some are generous, some people are nice and some people are assholes. So you get comments from all sorts. 

Here's a comment I got today from an Anonymous Lit reader:

"42 PAGES ARE YOU CRAZY! 90% of the readers here will never read this due to it being 42 pages in one shot. you say you are writing for yourself not the readers thats fine just don't post it. if you are writing for the readers and care about them you will write stories no longer than 4 pages per chapter. if you have any brains and care at all about the readers enjoyment then you will delete this and break it up into 10-11 chapters and use a good editor. SHOW SOME PRIDE IN YOUR WORK AND A WHOLE LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE READERS AND EITHER DO IT RIGHT OR NOT AT ALL. SOME OF US ARE ON PUBLIC COMPUTERS AND CAN NOT BOOKMARK STORIES OR JOIN SITES LIKE THIS AND YOU RUIN THE SITE FOR US THINK BEFORE POSTING AGAIN."

So I'm ruining Literotica by posting The Island? Interesting viewpoint and apparently I have no respect for the readers either because I didn't post it around the schedule of those who have to use public computers and can't join a free website as members? And if I have any brains I'll delete it? 

lol... somehow I don't think posting comments in this style is going to increase my respect for the readers, especially from an Anonymous commenter, who rants at me because I haven't posted a story that fits in with his allocated fap time. 

The sad thing is, however valid a point he may have, making his point in that fashion isn't going to get anyone to listen. Me particularly.

Then on the other hand you get comments like these:

"This story is absolutely amazing. Best ever. You wrote it so nicely that there has to be follow up stories. Shell Shocked! "

"The story was great, Detailed, thorough and exciting. I think a sequel would be cool, expanding the relationships between the characters, The triplets, Sarah, Patricia, Casey and Margerita, there's so much potiential. I really hope you consider a sequel, or several even.
thanks. "

"Truly awesome.I can't take my eyes off this story.we really need continuation for this story.Looking forward for more on this. Really want to know more about what happens next in their lives!! "

I like comments like these, but who wouldn't. It's appreciation, approval and feedback from some genuine enjoyment, something I would think every writer enjoys. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Perhaps the people here have genuinely discerning taste buy maybe they don't. For all I know their boxes could be ticked simply by having a blonde woman in the story who likes it up the ass. I don't know. Truthfully, there's no way I can know because there's no way of quantifying the level of their enjoyment or taste, so I can't place any weight on their words.

That all being said, I LOVE reading the positive comments. I'm a sucker and I can't help it.

There are other types of comments though. I've had emails from grammar nazi's, some helpful and some just moronic. I've had dozens from people with suggestions for what should follow, usually based around what their own fantasies are. Some of them fit what the characters would do and some are so far out there it's unbelievable, but these comments are more about what the reader would like to read than what the characters themselves would do. They're all valid, and they're all honest, which I like. 

Then there's the comments that come back with something constructive. For instance telling me areas of the story that they didn't quite buy into, or where they think I dropped the ball, and not just saying I did, but explaining what they mean, where they think I went wrong or could have done better or where a particular part of the story needs fleshed out. These comments to me are really helpful. They're giving me the viewpoint of a stranger, an observer watching the story unfold as they read and when things don't quite fit, they take the time to let me know. To me, this is hugely valuable. It's an opportunity to learn from mistakes that I can't see because I'm too close, or to note down things that need addressed in the sequel(s) if at all possible. 

Over the last few weeks, editing and re-writing The Island, I've been able to address nearly all of these constructive comments, or plot them into the following stories, and as a result, the readers who have taken the time to be helpful haven't wasted that time. Their comments have value.

The positive comments, the messages of support and the suggestions, pleads, questions and rants for more stories have given me the confidence to continue with it because I know that out there, there's people who want to read what I've written.

As for the negative comments? The haters, the rude, the obnoxious, the selfish or the assholes... fuck them. Their words have no value. Their comments are usually either about their needs and how I haven't met them or what they would do if they were in the characters position.

Well, I'm not responsible for meeting everyone's needs, everyone's fantasies, wants and desires. I write for me, and I chose to share that. Like it or don't like it. Read it or don't read it. That's your choice as a consumer. For me as a provider, I'm happy to put it out there. It's up to you if you want to eat it or not, but commenting that you don't like the plate it's served on is pretty pointless, and without value. 


As for the commenters who tell me what they would have done if they were in Kyle's shoes, again, it's a pointless comment. You're not Kyle. You're someone else entirely. You're not in the story and you don't exist in that universe, so why waste your time telling me what a random stranger such as yourself would have done? What makes you think for one second that's of interest or use or value to me? 

I read every comment that comes in. I read every private message or email that's sent to me. Do I appreciate them all? Most of them, even some of the ridiculous ones. 

But at the end of every message I think about what the person has said and I have to place a value on it. I need to do this so it can worth, weight if you like. So it has value. 

I'm going to leave you with an email I got from someone a couple of weeks ago that I took the time to reply to. Hopefully this will give you a bit more of a perspective what the writers on Literotica have to put up with. 

Finally, if I've offended you with my words here, then my apologies. I've pretty much written this as I see it. It's unedited, unchanged and exactly as I've written it. A blurt or a rant, if you will. Influenced by the readers comments.


JJ




The email:

Considering you described yourself as a dom in your blog, I really miss in the Story a Time where Kyle asserts himself, just says 'fuck you all' and goes of to do his thing. Then they hunt him down and he comes back, but stronger than before. Just an Idea.

He is a wussy in your Story, doing what they tell him to, like a puppy dog. Ok now and then he throws a five minute tantrum like a three year old. I dont know, if it would have been me I would have told them to back the fuck off right at the Beginning, I mean whats the point in being rich, if you live like a fuckin Go-fer. Every one of his Servants has more freedom than he does. I am sure you know what I mean.

I am nearly through with your Story and I really like it. Only that he lives like a submissive pet, while he is theoretically in charge puts me off. But that of course is a matter of taste. Considering how many cuckolding fans there are on literotica it wont damage your rating, dont worry.

The response:

I think there's something you're missing here. Kyle isn't me. He's not a Dom, he has no BDSM experiences and his formattive sexual experience was with a girl he met on spring break. Kyle's definition of the ultimate sexual experience would be an experience like he had with Katie - that emotional connection, symbiotic bond, making love, whatever.
But Kyle's entering new territory....

Then you have to consider the following;

• That his home/family/job/life has been pretty much turned upside down
• That his two figures of sexual fantasy turn out to be his sisters
• That he's adopted and didn't know it
• That he's suddenly got all this money, but this massive responsibility comes along with it
• That he's hiding a big fucking secret that if it gets out could destroy him
• That he's in a world that's unfamiliar to him, where he's still learning the rules and trying to keep afloat
• That he might be getting blackmailed

An ordinary guy in extraordinary circumstances, under enormous pressures. He's not a Dom either, although with the continued influence of Patricia in his life, he may well find he likes it and develop that way. Time will tell on that front though.
I'm still struggling to see him as a submissive pet, and the cuckold comment made me laugh. Cheers for that.

As for the comment on him being 'Wussy' in your story, and what you'd have done. If you walk into a new job as a manager, do you try and figure out what to do, what needs done, what your people are like, who seems competent and what the fuck am I meant to be doing, or do you start laying down the law on how it's gonna be?  That's what we're talking about here. Kyle's doing the smart thing, and he's trying to be a good guy. You might think he's 'Wussy' but I don't see it. He's a guy who's struggling and trying to keep up, while doing the right thing. The responsible thing.

Mail me again when you've finished the story - at least that way you'll have the full picture.

JJ

(And no, I've never heard back)

Writing: Quick Update

Well, after lots of work I finished the re-write on The Island a couple of days ago and sent it off to the proof readers for comment. Quite a few changes to the shape of some of the storylines, as well as all the 'don't-sue-my-ass-compliance' stuff taken care of too.

Then yesterday I got stuck back into the follow-up short story, made really good progress and then last night I started feeling really ropey (and not in a bondage-fun kinda way) so I had an early night. Today it's developed into some kind of man-flu virus thing, so I'm going back to bed. It's very frustrating as I've got all these words, story arcs and dialogue shouting in my head, wanting to get written down on the page. 

I'll get there though... I should have this short story (and by short I mean 20,000-30,000 words - half a novel) done before the comments come back on the new version of The Island, so with luck it should be online in the next few weeks. 

For those of you who have sent me emails and comments asking when it's arriving, and for those of you who have demanded in very impatient terms that there's more story to read, please continue to be patient. It won't be long now.

JJ

Accented Editing Accidents

So I've been editing 'The Island' and one of the things I've been changing is a lot of the speech patterns that the characters speak in. It was pointed out to me that sometimes a character will say something that a British or European would say, but not that an American would, so to combat that I've developed a new skill.

I've started reading the dialogue out loud as I edit, but with an American accent. 

While that might not sound unusual to many people, the fact I'm from Scotland, have a broad Scots accent (think Mel Gibson in Braveheart if you don't know what I mean) and that I suck at impersonations is adding up to produce a lot of hilarious moments. 

I find it easier to think of specific actors reading the dialogue in their accented voices, and then for me to copy them so I can hear the flow of the words. The odd thing is, Mister Crowler is somehow now from the deep South, and talks like Vampire Bill in True Blood. That came as a bit of surprise. Katie sounds a bit like Kat Dennings in my head now, because I watched a few episodes of 2 Broke Girls last week but she doesn't quite have the restrained irritation, and somehow Kara sounds like Eliza Dushku. Kinda hot, actually.

The thing is, with all these actors and accents having a conversation and me trying to say them out loud, I find myself getting them mixed up, crossing accents halfway through sentences, and saying some hideous and ridiculous things when the words get garbled. 

Lots of fun though, so I thought I'd pop it up here. :-)

JJ

Publishing

So after several dozen suggestions on the comments of 'Threads: The Island' and lord knows how many emails and messages, I'm converting it to hopefully publish it as an ebook. 

Nervous? Fucking right I am. My first foray into the actual publishing world, putting something I've created up for sale, and hoping people will buy it, but more importantly, like it and want more.

It's a decision that's tinged with sadness though, because it means that once it's actually available as an ebook, it has to come off Literotica, the place where people got to see it in it's original form, complete with typos and littered with celebrities.

So I've been thinking about how to maintain my links with the people who read 'The Island' and generously provided feedback and encouragement, and I've decided that I'm going to post the short stories on Lit for free, and put the novel-length stories onto Smashwords and hopefully Amazon too.

That way it's the best of both worlds, I think. The work that takes the most time and effort gets the chance of financial reward, and the people who liked my writing enough to encourage me to take the step get to read short stories involving the same characters.

As for editing the manuscript for publishing, it's requiring a lot of changes. Anything that could leave me liable has to come out, anything referring to an actual person, or company or product has to come out too, and there's the plot points I wanted to strengthen. Plus an additional twist or six I want to add... However the initial work is going well so far. 

Hopefully you'll buy it when it comes out so you can see The Island at it's best.

JJ

Writers Block

Fucking fuckety fucksticks.... oh, how I loathe having writers block. 

I've tried all the usual suggestions, and even a few of the more unusual ones too, and while I know it's a temporary thing, because it always has been in the past, it makes it so frustrating. I just can't seem to access that creative part of my head that normally never shuts up. 

Yet when I open the blank page the silence is deafening. 

I can plan out a story structure, work out all the events and reactions, sort them into the order I want them, create profiles for my characters, research all the little things that provide a depth of detail that can make a difference in believability. All these things I can do, but words on the page... nothing.

I've been working on the follow-up to 'The Island', writing a short story that will cover the couple of days that Kyle, Patricia, Lakshmi, Casey and Ed are in San Antonio, and it's told from Ed's perspective. Now Ed, if you haven't read The Island, has been compared to Jonah Hill's character in Superbad and to Steve Stiffler in the American Pie movies. He's a bit like them, now that I think of it. I like to think of him as chaos incarnate, a walking profanosaurus with a gift for poor impulse control. As you can imagine, he's a lot of fun to write dialogue for. 

I've got about 10,000 words of it written, and maybe another 20,000 will have the short story finished, but right now it's just not happening. Not yet. But it will. In the meantime I'll suffer the frustration, because I have little choice and I'll keep working away at it. 

In order to vent that frustration, I figured I'd vent on here, because it's my blog and I can. Thanks for reading my moan.

JJ

Threads: The Island One Month On

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Domination: The Guilt (Updated)

I read an article late last night that's been praying on my mind.

It was about how it's normal to feel guilty when you first start doing things as a Dom to a sub, and that's a feeling I remember all too well.

The feeling that what I'm doing is wrong, is nasty, sick or disgusting. How can I lift my hands to a woman and spank her that much that she cries? How can I wrap my hands around a womans neck and squeeze until she's gasping for air, and not be anything other than a serial-killer in the making. How disrespectful to her is it that I ram my cock down her throat, or spit on her, or treat her like a piece of meat that's there for me to just fuck.

It's because of the consent. The willingness. The co-operation and understanding of a partnership. It's because she wants it too.

The Dom/sub relationship is an intense one, especially once it's been going long enough to get that almost psychic bond that allows you to know without words what the other is thinking. The change in the normal rules of 'couples', the departure from the everyday morals handed down from state, church, older generations, friends, all the people who say this is right, this is wrong. That's sick.

You're stepping away from that. Your moral boundaries become what is agreeable between you and your sub, limited only by what you're both comfortable with and whatever your imaginations can conjure up. That doesn't mean that your conscience doesn't rebel though.

I found, and I'm glad the article agreed with me, that as long as the communication is open and honest between you both, that you give it a little time and continue to learn about each other, and that you ensure that consent and trust is there in everything you do, then the worries, the feelings of guilt and self-condemnation ease away.

Then you can get on with the nasty.

While I was writing Threads: The Island I touched briefly upon this subject, with Kyle being the vanilla guy and Patricia being the deviant sub, and how their sexual tastes clashed. It's something I plan to explore more in the next book, particularly how Kyle reconciles himself with doing things to a willing and wanting woman, things that he's always considered wrong. How does a guy who's formative sexual experience was making love with an incredible intimacy suddenly become aroused by aggressively taking someone while physically restraining her? It's a big change of perspective, and one I think you have to be naturally inclined for in order to embrace.

That's not to say he will or he won't. That's still to be written, but as for me, my Dom thoughts and tendencies, my feelings of guilt....

I remind myself none of it is possible without the consent and willing participation of the suib, and I remember the joy on her face, the pleasure radiating from her, and the embrace and words we share after.

A Dom needs a sub to be a Dom. You can't have one without the other.

JJ 

UPDATE:

Butterfly Flip has written a very insightful blog about the sub's perspective in a D/s relationship, and you can find it here:
http://understandingflutterby.blogspot.com/2012/01/submission-kink-or-more.html


Well worth a read, and a follow!
JJ

Writers Feedback

So a couple of days before Christmas I posted a full-length novel on Literotica.com. Threads: The Island, the first in a series of stories I've got written about interconnecting characters, mostly normal people pushed into extraordinary circumstances.

Threads: The Island is a story about a guy who has his life flipped on its head after a visit from a lawyer, and he has to try and cope with everything that follows. It takes place over the course of a week and it's all about the characters, how they feel, how they react, how much they're affected by their emotions and their own journeys. 

So I posted it, all 150,000 words of it. 42 pages on Lit. The feedback was a real eye-opener. 

The first few messages I got, either comments posted on the story itself or emailed to me through the contact page were harsh, very critical about the size of the story. One guy even called me an 'Utter Cunt' for cockblocking his available wanking time with a story that was too long for him to jerk off to. Nice. Other comments included 'No-one's ever going to read it' and 'It should be in chapters you dumb fucker'. After twentyfour hours online, it was sitting with a rating of 1.26 out of 5. Talk about gutted - I always aim for the red H, a marking that indicates a rating of at least 4.5 out of 5. 

I gave some serious thought to pulling the story offline then and there.

Then I started to get the feedback through from those who read the whole tale. Wow. Blown away. People really loved it. So much so that it went from 1.26 to 4.84 within the following 48 hours. Some of the comments from people were so kind, so enthusiastic about the characters that you couldn't help but see they'd bonded with these fictional people I'd created. What a feeling as a writer to know that people really connect with your creation. 

Since then it's pushed itself to the top of the toplist, number 1 out of 25,500 or so stories and I've felt both delighted and stressed about that fact. Delighted because people have enjoyed it so much that they've rated it that highly, and because if its at the top of the top-list, people will continue to read it. Stressed because how do you top that with your follow-up? 

I've been speculating in my own head that perhaps it might have been better not to allow voting or comments, but then I wouldn't have had some of the wonderful inspiring words that I've had, and the two hundred or so people who have used the comment form on my member page would stilll have contacted me anyway. If I hadn't rated it, then it would have slipped off into Lit-obscurity by now, with maybe a new reader in a fortnight. As it is, it's still going strong. Over 110,000 readers in eighteen days. 

I continue to get feedback, and for the most part, it's very heartening and inspiring for me. To know that I've written a novel that's made people stay up until two, three or four in the morning just to finish it is an awesome feeling. 

But it really is a double-edged sword. If they love it, will they love the next one. When they tell you what they enjoyed, they tell you what they want to see in the next one, and if that's not what they want, will they be disappointed. There's a flip side to every coin, and for every positive comment there's a negative possibility. 

I think the only way to deal with their expectations is not to bow to them, but continue to write my story the way I want to write it. If they like it, then great. If not, then that's okay too. That's just the way it goes, but at least then I'll know I'm writing my story for me and being true to that. 

And let the feedback fall as it may.

JJ