Date: 1/10/2004 10:49:00 PM
From Authorid: 50193
That's always been one downfall; the reply ammount of poetry and strictly fiction. There really isn't much someone can say in reply to them, except for the cliché "Good Job" type of deal. I read them, but it's hard to find something to say in reply. Maybe from now on I'll just leave a reply stating that I at least read it.  |
Date: 1/10/2004 10:54:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
I dunno, Vampyre Gerbil.. You've brought up a good point.. I'm wondering if people simply don't want to spend the time reading things, though..  |
Date: 1/10/2004 10:59:00 PM
From Authorid: 45397
Not everyone knows just how to reply to certain posts be it strictly fiction or poetry. To me it's those little numbers in the brackets at the top of the post that means more than even 1 response. Atleast then I know that my post has been read by someone and who knows might have touched their life in one way or another and they just don't know how to express themselves in words. Just my thought anyways =)  |
Date: 1/10/2004 11:13:00 PM
From Authorid: 13283
The posts are too long in the STRICTLY FICTION section . People have a short attention span . Maybe if authors cut down their story some ... Razzy aka  |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:16:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Yes, the length of posts could be shorter.. Some authors posts parts as long as this post..I think that's about the limit for length versus attention span for readers.. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:18:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Wyndrune, that's the way it is with me, too.. I usually look at the number of people who've visitted the post. Though sometimes you could get the impression that your work is boring or something..if you get no replies but a goodly amount of views. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:19:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Another thing is TITLES.. Applying to ALL posts here.. Sometimes people will not bother checking out something if the title doesn't catch their eye.. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:19:00 PM
From Authorid: 50193
There's some ratio in here about length divided by attention span. I'm not too good with math, though. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:20:00 PM
From Authorid: 50193
Yes. It's all about marketing the post. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:20:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Vampyre Gerbil, exactly.. What do you people think about it? The ratio, I mean.. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:21:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
I sometimes get annoyed that I don't see many replies to certain titles, when the content is good.. :S |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:23:00 PM
From Authorid: 50193
A lot of people are struggling to find free time in their life. It may be that they don't have time to read the longer posts. I don't know if the preceding is true or not, but it sure sounded good, huh? |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:24:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Yeah, that's the sad thing about this, though. Can people find the time to not only write something but also reply to someone else's work? |
Date: 1/10/2004 11:25:00 PM
From Authorid: 53052
i will tell you the truth i have yet to read.. or reply to ANY strictly fiction story, that topic does not interst me in the least! it's not being rude or negitive to the people who write(i'm sure some of it is really great work!) but it does not hold my interest  |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:26:00 PM
From Authorid: 50193
Well, Midnightly, "To each his (or her) own." |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:30:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Hey, that's completely fine, Midnightly, I'm not trying to convince people to change if they don't want to read or reply to Strictly Fiction.. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:32:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
I wonder... Should there be a limit to how long a post should be? Just musing here.. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:33:00 PM
From Authorid: 50193
If there isn't already, I believe there should be; I don't want to see a novel in one post. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:36:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Neither do I, Vampyre Gerbil.. Not only is it inefficient, it's not cool if there's cliff-hangers in it, because then the reader doesn't get left hanging.. :P I like it when the poster does that! It gives me incentive to read on.. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:37:00 PM
From Authorid: 50193
Exactly. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:40:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
I wonder if I should make a suggestion about that.. |
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Date: 1/10/2004 11:50:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
In fact, I think I will tomorrow.. When I'm not so braindead. :P |
Date: 1/11/2004 12:08:00 AM
From Authorid: 7952
Well I'm with Midnightly here, I do not hold much interest in the Strictly Fiction category unless a good friend of mine is writing and i want to see how they went and what they produced  Generally i find the posts to be a little too long and if my attention isn't held quickly then i'm quick to be lost  |
Date: 1/11/2004 12:10:00 AM
From Authorid: 45684
I have been trying to do something about it, i.e. The Reader's Club  |
Date: 1/11/2004 1:11:00 AM
From Authorid: 56410
Right, I think its because posts are too long. Anyway, they can't exactly give much of an opinion besides "good" or "bad".. most people don't analyze... y'know, really get into what John is thinking, or try to see the intent behind Jane's actions.. I think they don't want to...  |
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Date: 1/11/2004 1:53:00 AM
From Authorid: 53052
i just wanted to give my honest opinion... i think there are many usmers who think the same way or along similar lines.. it's unfortunate but sort of a fact of life....lets hope though that your post here strikes new interst in that section |
Date: 1/11/2004 2:33:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Yep, Technicolor, Reader's Club rocks!  |
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Date: 1/11/2004 2:34:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Thank you all so much for taking the time to scan this post, regardless of your stand on the topic.. I'm totally braindead, so I'll be back sometime tomorrow to think on whoever else comments.. Again, thanks for your honest opinions, guys! |
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Date: 1/11/2004 2:36:00 AM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
By the way, very true, RumpleTeazer.. |
Date: 1/11/2004 3:26:00 AM
From Authorid: 52746
I think it's more to do with the amount of time people can spend online. I'm very flighty on here because I don't have much time online so when a post as large as an SF one arises, I wished I had the time to spend to read it then reply. Other posts are easier to reply to because they are much smaller. I also don't like the way USM have all their posts with their separate categories bundled together. I like separate categories to be on separate boards within a site (like on mine), then you notice who is most active in a certain area but also, important posts within that category can have a fair chance of staying on top whereas here, some categories are less popular and whizz down the page too fast.  |
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Date: 1/11/2004 3:31:00 AM
From Authorid: 52746
I also have to add that I like what WildBob does with his SF. He breaks them down into readable chunks so it's easy to follow his story. Perhaps that could be considered for writers? It wouldn't affect the quality of the story in any way, all they'd have to do is fine a suitable time to leave one bit and start another post. It's a possibility. |
Date: 1/11/2004 5:02:00 AM
From Authorid: 27558
though you do make a point but what about the other posts, I haven't had a huge reply hit on posts for almost a year now, give or take a few posts that actually made it out of the 1 reply zone, I always see there is like 28 viewers then I see only 1 reply, that bugs me but what do I know I'm just USM's transit specialist, no one thinks I know anything.  |
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Date: 1/11/2004 5:04:00 AM
From Authorid: 27558
all I'm saying is I think all categories should be looked at here not just these particular two. |
Date: 1/11/2004 5:57:00 AM
From Authorid: 35160
i used to read the stories in that section, but im just not interested in reading them anymore.so i just skip past them. sorry!  |
Date: 1/11/2004 6:01:00 AM
From Authorid: 49101
Hello All, Good Morning! If there is one thing I noticed at USM is that people do not like to have things force fed to them around here. I think it is up to the readers to decide what they want to read, and they should not be made to feel bad or mean if they choose not to reply to a certian area. Everyone reads, at home, at work, in the car on long car rides. I mostly come to USM to write (Or vent depending upon a situation lol). Sometimes coming here and reading another long story is overwhelming. If the authors don't like the fact that they don't get replies then get out there and tell people about your story. Get them interested in the story line. When you read a book usually you have heard good things about it first right? Well same thing here. Anywho, that is all, have a great day everyone!  |
Date: 1/11/2004 8:28:00 AM
From Authorid: 23101
There is also a decline in posts because the decline of new members.. I personally like the Strictly Fiction section, and I do post in it. I don't read in it often though because of the fact a lot of them are like 2 pages long..  *Hugs* Ashley AKA  |
Date: 1/11/2004 8:33:00 AM
From Authorid: 8024
lol half the people who do comment don't really read the posts anyway .. I try and comment on everything I read ...  |
Date: 1/11/2004 8:46:00 AM
From Authorid: 5353
This has been the problem since Strictly Fiction became it's own section, and I'm not surprised to see it continue today. People just don't have the attention span for original fiction online. I can fathom a guess that at least half the people on this site read paperbacks, but only a fraction of them would read the same story online. It's simply the medium that it is presented in. I commend you for your attempts to keep SF a valid section here, and never give up hope that your stuff is being enjoyed by someone.  |
Date: 1/11/2004 9:40:00 AM
From Authorid: 10344
Well i'll just start replying to them everyday so you don't find it disgruntling.  |
Date: 1/11/2004 10:04:00 AM
From Authorid: 10030
Everyone wants to post thier "amazing" work, but no one wants to reply. Recognition helps. Known users get more replies than not so popular ones, regardless of quality-- I'm not saying that the more known users can't write, many of them can and do! | In reference to one of your responses, I am strongly against a *limit*-- if anything there should be a minimum. Of course, lowest common denominator rules. Might I recomend visiting studentbylines.com or fanfiction.net?  |
Date: 1/11/2004 10:22:00 AM
From Authorid: 53284
I like to write. I write for myself. That is what I've always done. Some of my fiction gets a fair number of replies, some doesn't. That's life. Although, I will state, that when I write now, I post it on another site first. That is a site that is dedicated to writing. The feedback that I get from that site has, in my opinion, helped me to improve my writing. I don't have nearly as much time now to spend online so a SF story, needs to grab me right out of the box. If the title doesn't make me want to read it, that's the end. If the title looks interesting, but I don't get into the story pretty fast, that's the end also. I like what Technicolor is doing with the readers club. If there are enough like minded members then this could grow. Just my two cents worth. Bob  |
Date: 1/11/2004 10:32:00 AM
From Authorid: 53008
i agree, the strictly fiction section gets barely any replies or readers. i use to write strictly fiction on here all the time but then i thought, whats the use of writing for other people if no one reads it? so i just gave up lol. i guess i have no write skills.  |
Date: 1/11/2004 11:14:00 AM
From Authorid: 46527
Many people find reading online dificult, for this reason I always try to keep my strictly fiction posts fairly short, a little over a page is quite enough. It is a good idea to post a story in numbered parts, also to make sure you have the next few parts written in advance so that you don't leave people hanging. Good use of paragraphs, usually with a double line space inbetween help to break it up into manageable portions.  |
Date: 1/11/2004 11:56:00 AM
From Authorid: 60395
I am guilty of this and thankyou for bringing this to my attention, i will try to reply because i did not realize how few of people replied to them.  |
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Date: 1/11/2004 11:58:00 AM
From Authorid: 60395
most of the time i read almost only the stories i get when i click RANDOM STORIES unless i see them on the main page. |
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Date: 1/11/2004 1:10:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
SamSpade, that should most definately be suggested.. I really agree with you about quality of a story not being affected by the length of the post.. |
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Date: 1/11/2004 1:10:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Readable chunks, good one.. |
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Date: 1/11/2004 1:13:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Yes, that is true, Unknown Spirits.. I think there is more to this problem than just the Strictly Fiction section.. SpookyGal, thanks for at least viewing the concern here! Thanks, MissC, for stopping by and putting in your two cents. |
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Date: 1/11/2004 1:14:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Yep, little Jung, same here! What was talked about earlier about having a limit to the length of a post..hmm... |
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Date: 1/11/2004 1:16:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
CC, that is a disease that spreads without contact.. Yes, I confess I have done that once or twice, but after seeing some of my posts recieve the same thing, aspecially if they say a different name than mine in their comment.. That quickly had me reading what I reply to.. |
Date: 1/11/2004 1:17:00 PM
From Authorid: 60945
I posted a story that I find to be the best writing of my ability and it got not posts *cries* I totally agree with you Lady Blaze!  |
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Date: 1/11/2004 1:21:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Thanks so much for your input, SilverHour.. RazorTalon, I suppose I will think of that as a sarcastic remark.. :P Hmmm, HolliBerry, I'll check out those sites, thank you for your input! You bring up some good points that people don't really like saying.. WildBob, that has been something I have thought about also, posting on a different site, thank you for your thoughts.. |
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Date: 1/11/2004 1:41:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
YES, LSR!! I find it hard to read a story that has no paragraph breaks.. :S Not that the story isn't good, it's just hard to read! MusicGirl, thank you for your reply! DemonicAngel, yep, I've read stories that are weeks old that no one has replied to, and found out they were worth the read.. This left me wondering why no one replied.. And these weren't more than a page long, too.. |
Date: 1/11/2004 1:44:00 PM
From Authorid: 8905
I hate it when my work doesnt get even one reply, yet 30 people have read it, it dirves me nuts, I didnt post my work on here to simply have it glanced over and tossed aside, and i surely dont have it on here so its stored somewhere. I want opinions, I want comments, I WANT SOMETHING! So Darlin, yeah, I know how ya feel, and it ticks me off everytime something like this happens. But who am I to do anything?  |
Date: 1/11/2004 1:44:00 PM
From Authorid: 16845
I agree with several things. I agree it's a shame that these catagories do not get as much attention as the others. And I agree with Mid....Poetry....strictly fiction....don't hold my interest at all...if I'm not interested I tend to not leave replies that the author might be seeking....I'm VERY picky when it comes to those types of writings and what I like...therefore I really only read those catagories if someone asks me nicely to check out their post.....and I'm sure there are plenty of others out there with the same attitude I have....Not necessarily proud of it...but it's the cold hard truth.  |
Date: 1/11/2004 2:38:00 PM
From Authorid: 58334
I never read any stories, mostly because of length or it just doesn't catch my interest. It is a shame no one replies, but what can we do? Not many people read them.  |
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Date: 1/11/2004 5:31:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
I think it is the ratio between people who read and reply to the stories and people who post them.. We need more of the posters to read and reply, and more of the readers to reply.. |
Date: 1/11/2004 5:55:00 PM
From Authorid: 59861
i never read the fiction stuff. dosnt interest me, but i will try to somehow. peace n luv  |
Date: 1/11/2004 6:53:00 PM
From Authorid: 36754
I def agree. I would post the rest of my story if i knew more people would actually read it  |
Date: 1/11/2004 7:23:00 PM
From Authorid: 19682
If something is not true, there is no fascination to it.
Fiction is mindless really. Sorry  |
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Date: 1/11/2004 7:36:00 PM
From Authorid: 19682
Did not mean to sound severe, but fiction just does not interest me. |
Date: 1/11/2004 9:03:00 PM
From Authorid: 12103
I know i dont reply to that section cause its alot to read...I think its a good section to have though for people who like to write stories..  |
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Date: 1/11/2004 9:58:00 PM
From Authorid: 45684
People want their stuff read, but do they bother to reply to other's stuff? I think therein lies the problem! |
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Date: 1/11/2004 10:01:00 PM
From Authorid: 45684
People want their stuff read, but do they bother to reply to other's stuff? I think therein lies the problem! |
Date: 1/12/2004 3:53:00 AM
From Authorid: 37449
I am with technicolor!..and, sorry, but I reply to the stories that interest me. I know some stories interest me but not all. If people aren't interested, people wont read.  |
Date: 1/12/2004 9:34:00 AM
From Authorid: 17014
Aaahh what can I say? When I do get into a good SF story, if it's too long and it takes a while to read, my puter thinks I'm going idle and it takes me back to the desktop to go to the screensaver...  |
Date: 1/12/2004 12:57:00 PM
From Authorid: 33401
It's good to bring this up. Sadly I don't think I have any intrest in science fiction stories. (another thing is that I really like shorter posts) I think I have some sort of short attention span -_-. *hugs* Love,  |
Date: 1/12/2004 1:29:00 PM
From Authorid: 62222
I completely and totally understand your points here LB, and trust me, I have wondered the same. I try to post something on everything I read, but I hate the "Good Post" type response and I try not to give it. If that's all I have to say is "Good Post", I don't post a comment. It seems rude and redundant to me. I try to post some sort of content. Sometimes I have suggestions, like wondering why almost no one really describes what their characters look like in any detail, sometimes I feel a plot moves too fast or is too incoherent because the author moves to quickly because they want to get to their action ideas. Now, if I were to post these suggestions on some posts, people would be offended. If I suggested revising writing before posting it, people would be offended. I take writing very seriously and feel you should never be satisfied with a first draft, but I don't want to seem rude to other USMers and so sometimes I don't make any suggestions or comments because of this. I think alot of us writers who read SF see that there are areas for improvement and are too caught up in the "let's never be rude to others" that we often DO NOT make comments on others stories because we don't want to be seen as offensive. So we don't comment at all. <RegretfulHalo>  |
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Date: 1/12/2004 2:06:00 PM
From Authorid: 45684
Great points, RH. I, too, feel like I cannot truthfully say what I thinka bout stories sometimes because I don't want to hurt the authors feelings. I did it once, and got chewed out :P |
Date: 1/12/2004 2:08:00 PM
From Authorid: 9130
Many people just have no interest in things of that nature. I personally never EVER read things like that on the internet. But I don't post things like that on here either. Those that post the fiction stories should have the curtesy to reply to other posts there.  |
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Date: 1/12/2004 2:49:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
RH, you said it all.. DizzyMe, it's understandable that some people don't care for the SF section, but I'm wondering if more people WOULD read it if those that post would present their work in more readable chunks and proofread their work before posting it.. It's not always the reader's decision that they don't reply..sometimes the author does it to themself, sadly.. |
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Date: 1/12/2004 2:53:00 PM ( From Author )
From Authorid: 56840
Technicolor, I feel for you.. There are times when I look at other's comments to a post and wonder if they read it, because what I read doesn't really.. Well, they make it out to be better than...I wish I didn't tread on the flowers when I say things, you know, but sometimes the truth hurts.. That and some people have differing opinions about a post's quality than others, but seriously.. :S Though there are times I wonder why no one has replied to something that is definite publishing quality, in a readable format.. Kinda makes you think, doesn't it.. |
Date: 1/12/2004 8:15:00 PM
From Authorid: 31048
I think the Strictly Fiction section should definitely stay...I always loved writing stories and I never shared them with anyone until I came to USM, because I was afraid people wouldn't like them. But when I posted my stories and saw that people were actually reading what I wrote and enjoying it...I can't even describe the feeling it gives you. Even if only one person replies, at least that's one person who read your writing. I do think more people should give the SF section a chance though. Thanks for posting  |
Date: 1/12/2004 10:32:00 PM
From Authorid: 53909
There's been a few storied that I have read and commented on. Most of it doesn't really interest in me to be honest. But I see how it sucks not being able to get that many responses and replies to the person's stories. It doesn't matter to me how long or short the story is either...it just depends if it interests me.  |
Date: 1/12/2004 10:36:00 PM
From Authorid: 18406
Um I know that my time on USM is limited because of other obligations and I do admit I tend not to read ANYTHING in that category because the stories are usually lengthy or are just chapters of one long story. But other than that I have to say that in strictly fiction what kind of replies are you looking for....I rather have one or two good replies to a story than 50 "Good Job's" You know? And plus I read a lot of stories without replying- nothing against the story- I just have nothing to say at the moment.  |
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Date: 1/13/2004 1:12:00 PM
From Authorid: 42247
Great point....Sweetness2002 |
Date: 6/24/2004 8:41:00 PM
From Authorid: 24003
I dont like reading them Shoot me now..sorry  |
