A few readers have commented to me both in public and private about changes they would make to the plot of my stories, or suggestions for possible sequels. Most of the time they're polite enough about it, but my usual response is some variation of 'go write your own story'. I'm wondering if other authors get these kinds of suggestions, and how they handle them.
Post-avant-retro-demelodicized-electro-yodel-core is my jam.
I don't mind suggestions. It hasn't happened to me very aggressively on Lush but when I was posting my novel elsewhere, I got suggestions all the time. Someone wanted the two main characters to have kids (one was a supernatural creature, so I decided, no). Mostly I couldn't use them but one suggestion ended up being the epilog.
The oddest thing was when someone wrote fan fic in my novel's world. It was so strange seeing someone else direct my characters.
I get that constantly. I am not faultless so I welcome the comments.
I have a few fans here (just not any mods! lol). I treasure their input. Usually they just want sequels or continuations of my series. When I wrote Sapphic Tales years ago, I had an avid reader who fancied herself a pirate queen, so I wrote her into my 2nd ST story as a sexy pirate girl. She loved it!
I have sort of an idea of reader etiquette that may not exist outside of my own head. There are a lot of stories on this site that don't go where I want them to. So instead of asking the authors to change their stories to suit my expectations, I write the stories I'd want to read. I write for myself first, and then if others are interested in them, that's great, but I'm rarely concerned with what other readers (in general or specifically) on the site will find exciting or entertaining as I'm writing. I do appreciate when readers take the time to make comments on my work. I'm just not open to unsolicited collaboration on stories - particularly when the commenter offers just a sentence or two suggesting some new direction, and then expects me to do all the work of actually writing it for them. To me, that seems kind of inappropriate to ask of an author.
However, it seems like a lot of authors here are happy to take suggestions from their readers on story direction, etc. I'm nowhere near that interactive with my audience. Maybe I'm a bit of a misanthropic control freak when it comes to authorship. While I don't mind feedback on the stories in terms of the craft of writing (I'm not claiming I'm a perfect writer either), and I'm always interested in the reactions of my readers to the writing, I personally find that suggesting plot ideas for sequels or (especially) alternate endings is somewhat intrusive. A lot of the time, like Seeker4 mentioned, they're off-base, and it feels a bit like trying to hijack my story.
Post-avant-retro-demelodicized-electro-yodel-core is my jam.
I get them all. Requests come in the form of comments that say things like "what happens next?" or "I hope there's a sequel coming soon." Advice and suggestion usually come in the form of private messages. I'm never offended by these and honestly I appreciate when someone catches an error or has a suggestion. It's how I've become a better writer over the years. Being able to bounce ideas with other people helps me see what will work and what won't. I've had those who call my writings crap and other horrid things, and those I ignore (plus, they aren't from members here, but from a different story site that has very low standards.) When I get a legitimate suggestion, I do take it seriously and if I can incorporate that into my piece, I do. Sometimes those suggestions find their way into a different story.
I don't get suggestions on how to change the plot of a story - most of the suggestions are how to make it read better (thank you Mods!).
Now I occasionally get ideas FOR stories and I will use a conversation I have with someone as the basis of a story (with due permission of course). I have written a few stories as we bounce ideas off each other.
Actually sprite I was looking at my "library" the other day and thinking the same thing! I am woefully lacking in girl on girl stories! I will work on that! ;)
It's always interesting and fun to see how readers react to my writing. I occasionally get suggestions for situations they'd like to see my characters in. More frequent are requests to write sequels, which I have yet to do.
"It seemed like a nice neighborhood to have bad habits in.” Raymond Chandler
I often get asked to write a sequel which I sometimes do, but I have noted that sequels very seldom get as many reads as the original story, maybe it's the quality, what do I know.
I get requests for sequels or stories about specific fetishes, but I've only once obliged.
Want to spend some time wallowing in a Recommended Read? Pick one! Or two! Or seven!
I don't think so. It seems that people prefer something, other than my style.
Does people asking me to stop writing them co
unt?
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
everyone seems to know better than you how to write your stories. i usually ignore it and if their "suggestions" seem good, i nick it.
Naw. I'm too perfect for that.
I get a few and they mostly good. I wish I had the time to fulfill all those story and sequel requests.
I've had a few sequel requests but very few actual suggestions to improve a story or suggest edits.
I actually am a bit disappointed by that as I suppose I had hoped to have a mentor just land in my lap once I published my first piece here. If someone were to make a critique on a story or poem I would be thrilled to bits. It would feel like they really were interested in reading. Unfortunately, while I appreciate my 5s, I have little faith in them as an accurate measure of literary opinion.
I've got this weird recollection that when I first joined Lush (5 years ago) there was an option to go into other people's stories and add to them. Or have I misremembered that? Maybe other older members can confirm?
I'm glad you can't do that now - I'd hate to have people mucking about with mine!
But lots of my stories have been inspired by conversations with people on Lush. I like it when a chat gives me a new idea for a story.
22 February 2024 - How about a quick plug for one of my filthiest recent stories? It's all in the title - Naked Pool Party Swingers | Lush Stories Please read, comment and maybe give it a ❤️ - or even a⭐ if you really enjoy it! Thank you! Annie xxx
