Hunter

Like I said that is something I brought up a while ago and that's the decision they came up with. Now though it might have more traction because another person has expressed the same concerns and also because now with the site growing in both authorship and stories it sort of make sense because readers are getting frustrated with not knowing how to search for story types they prefer.

Well I think the first step would be to set up an index with the appropriate abbreviations associated with the acronym. Then like you said authors can submit their stories and simply list the appropriate acronyms that apply if they so choose. It can be an optional thing I suppose so an author's choice if they want to list it on their story title to make it convenient for readers. It will all have to depend if the administration even wants to get into trying to set something like this up or if they have a completely different idea of what could work or if it is something they even want to venture into. So far it really hasn't been a big issue but I can see as time goes on and there are more and more authors along with a ton more stories then it becomes too daunting of a task for potential readers to sift through stories unless they have an idea of what the story contains. Many readers are looking for something specific. So yes it is most definitely something for the staff to contemplate at this time because more and more stories are piling up all the time. Like I've said I've brought it up in the past but I think at the time it really wasn't such a big issue. I can only speak for my readers since I get them asking me all the time who I would recommend for other stories similar to mine. I know of a couple of authors on here and recommend them to my readers, but I'm like them without knowing the genres and stuff I am not going to sift through all the stories to find out either. Way too time consuming. So my readers usually end up popping on to the site to read one of my stories when I email them and then they go back off to a different site without sticking around and searching since they can't narrow the field down.

Got it, just I wasn't paying attention to that with the other stories but I know your avatar so having a blue wolf/dog pop up had me a bit catty wonkers, lol. Going back to the other stories I see it now with the avatar being of the person who posted it not of the author's. Good job with the history portion of the story. A different type of Christmas story but cute.

Yes in the past I've asked about having some way of denoting genres as well because my stories are very similar to nature as Brave Lake Manor and is most definitely not in league of what a big group of readers out there would want to venture into. The problem with the way I write if a new reader pops on more often than not my stories don't venture into the hot and heavy part of things until further along in the story which could sort of catch some new readers by surprise. Having some sort of way to clue potential readers as the the genre will help them peruse through the library narrowing things down. Now as we get more and more authors on here the list of stories is getting larger and larger becoming a tangled mess for new people to make heads or tails over. If separating stories into categories isn't possible then at least maybe a way to signify the genre as people click through authors or titles of stories can help speed things along. In my case with my stories if people know the category of my stories they can either just pass it by or if it is a genre they like they can then pop in. I know many of my readers have complained because they like my style of stories and want to read more on here if there are other authors writing that genre but they have a hard time finding those types of stories and it is so time consuming that many have said they've stopped looking and pop back over to nifty or one of the other places because at least they can narrow things down. Mostly I think it is the time factor now with there being many more authors and stories on here.

Alright I'm confused who wrote the story? AB or D' Artagnon?

In this we can both agree on and I think it is always important for an author to try things to see what works for them. I only directed my comments back since it was my name which was inserted into your comment above, lol. Yes, many don't read my stories because of the content, lol, isn't to their liking. I haven't read a lot of stuff on here either. Some of it is due to the fact it isn't to my taste, but it is mostly due to the fact when I write I can't read because I tend to wander in my own style of writing. Frustrating to no end I can tell you. Another one of my little quirks, lol. I tend to begin sounding like other authors when I read their stories and continue to write my own. My reference in the proof is in the pudding is just simply the fact I do have a large readership who do enjoy my stories and writing. So in this regard not working with an editor at this point is working for me, but again, that is in regards to only me. I'm sure other authors out there don't use an editor for whatever reason and it isn't because they don't necessarily believe they can't use one but it simply doesn't work for them either. Yes, generally speaking I think we can all use editors for our stories, but sometimes it simply doesn't work at a particular point in time for an author and where they are at with their story and style. What is something fantastic for one author is a hindrance for another. That is why lumping people into general terms can be a bit of a hindrance when we are offering advice. We have to make sure we take into account that there are those cases where one can't be lumped into the general overall view. This is why these questions and issues are so good because it points out to everyone that in most cases there really isn't a right or wrong answer to anything but simply good advice in what works for some and what doesn't for others. We can all disagree on certain aspects but understand there isn't a single catch all answer to how some approach the way they write. I think the bigger advice we receive in these discussions is to see just how varied the approaches are for many of us authors and that it is important to take a close look at what works for some and see if it would work for us as well. These discussions bring out a lot of good points of views and advice. We as authors have the responsibility to sift through the information and take from it what will work for us as an author. You have some very good valid points Ken as does many on here and I always enjoy people's perspectives. Thank you for the well thought out responses you and others provide. It helps us all out.

Actually I don't think we are morphing the topic here because we are discussing and giving advice with things which help out an author. So in essence we are pretty much on topic. I agree that an editor is an important member in the process of getting stories out there. My point was that "at times" they can be a hindrance if they allow their own perspectives to take the front seat. Many editors have learned to have their perspectives take a second seat to that of the author's. The ones who are successful use their perspective to enhance the author's intent, but sometimes egos on both sides can get in the way of the process because let's face it an editor invests a lot of time in the success of the story as well. When an author finds an editor that they can work with in good harmony is where we see stories simply take off and improve immensely. It is why it is so important for both author and editor to work well together. Personally, I don't use an editor for my stories and do my own editing. There's two reasons for this. First, It's because the stories I write aren't for professional reasons. Secondly, it's a way for me to improve my skills and to keep my dyslexia in check. I have to focus on what I've written when I go through and edit for the second or third time. Everyone has their own unique approach when writing stories, and I for one would most definitely seek out an editor or multiple editors if I ever decided to publish anything. They are an integral part of the process and so very important to the success of getting stories out there. My observation for my own personal perspective is that "I" wouldn't be a good editor. Not because of my dyslexia, but I tend to insert my own perspectives into a story. I have strong views when I'm going through a piece and I can see myself going through editing things and actually rewriting sentences, lol. That's just me though. I know for many they love having editors going through their work and for many this works. For me in the way I write my stories at this point in time it is more of a hindrance than help. I tend to have a lot of twists and turns to my stories with a lot of subtleties to them. There's a lot of hidden tidbits in my stories which when laid down don't necessarily make sense or doesn't need to be there when someone sees it who doesn't know what I've got planned down the road. When I had people editing in the beginning they'd switch things up and try cleaning some of these things up which for me created a ton of headaches and a lot of work, lol. So for me it simply didn't work, but then again it wasn't as if they were getting the entire work in one go so they can go through and read it entirely first before going back through to edit it so they didn't know what was important and what wasn't. In this way they couldn't be an effective editor. So the advice I can give here is that it simply depends on the situation with how well an editor can work for each individual author. In my case if I ever get to the point where I want to publish I'd be having like ten editors, lol, because I know for a fact I'd need that many, lol, to help me out. I'd also have to slightly adjust the way I write my stories for my editors to be able to do their work effectively. The lesson here for authors who are looking for advice that this here is another one of those "It depends" type of situation, lol. I've learned for now to be able to get my stories out without an editor. I feel comfortable with that. For others it works differently and they want that sort of help because it doesn't hinder them but rather helps expedite things and helps improve their stories. It's different for everyone and that is a good thing. As for your statement of " Please don't be offended by this Hunter but I have always thought an author who thinks they don't "need" an editor is doing their story and its readers an injustice." I don't take offense it is simply your opinion just like what I've laid out is my opinion. I don't think my stories that I've written so far have been an injustice to my readers. It isn't that I don't think I need an editor, simply at this point in time with my writing career it isn't necessary and more of a hindrance than help. The comment in the way you made makes it sound like an author who doesn't use an editor is arrogant or something. That is simply not the case. For you it works, for me and perhaps others, at this point it doesn't. There's no arrogance or injustice to readers involved. So please don't be offended here Ken, but for me it would be an injustice to use an editor at this point in time when I know it will hinder my story and not improve it. As an author it would be irresponsible for me not to recognize what works and doesn't work for "Me" and only me, not what may work for others. So in this sense and at this point in time, "yes, I don't need an editor, and no it is not an injustice to my readers." I think the proof is in the pudding. My stories are well received by my readers and it is all without the use of an editor at this point in time. There's nothing wrong with using an editor and at some point it may develop in the same way for me as well, but currently I can honestly say that I'm at the point and time where it isn't necessary for me.

Welcome to the forum Darryl and we are all glad you found it. As you point out every story is different and every reader views things differently. Some authors will go into great detail regarding their characters while others tend to leave a lot to the imagination. One method may work well for some readers while another method works better for other readers. Every author has their own unique style and approach to how they bring their characters to life in their stories. I'm one of those authors who tend to describe my characters in great detail including their private parts, lol. After all the stories I tend to write involve sexual intimacy between my characters so it comes naturally to write of those things. Some shy away from it while I tend to embrace it as simply another part and aspect to who my characters are in the moment. It is part of the story and many of my readers appreciate those descriptions because it brings them into the moment. We all have our pet peeves and the styles we prefer. As you read through these comments in this section you will begin to see that the answers for many of these topics vary and that we are discovering there is no right or wrong answer in many cases but simply what works for both readers and authors. When I read stories I'll at times read one and appreciate the amount of details of descriptions offered in it. Then I'll pick up another book or story and appreciate the amount of imagination it instills in me as it provides only enough details to get my mind to working in overtime. For other stories it is a combination of both. It always seems to come down to the author and the story they are telling. There are different purposes behind how stories are told and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I've learned to appreciate each story for what they have to offer and for the style of the author as he or she presents it. Of course as an author, editor, and reader you bring a unique perspective to your observations. I feel that often times an editor can also be a hindrance to an author's story because they bring their own personal points of view and preferences into the equation and it can drown out an author's voice. Most editors are very good at being neutral in this manner but I can imagine it is difficult not to insert one's own perspectives into a piece of work they are helping out on, lol. I guess I'd never make a good editor in this sense, lol. Every time I read comments on the forum I learn something and in this way it is helping me grow as an author so we welcome you and look forward to your input and insight just as we welcome everyone's who find their way here.

Yeah, that's the only way we can keep our issues in check. We learn workarounds because it is always there for us. So whatever works then it is all good, lol.

Well if someone says Tree Murderers remind them all of what goes into their electronics and call them a Planet murderer, lol. Yeah I love books too versus the tablet and kindle and stuff. There is just something special about a real life book. I know many are like it is inconvenient, but most kids these days simply do not have a good appreciation for feeling a book in your hands.

Ricky I have the same problem. My form of dyslexia gives me difficulties in regards to similarly spelled words. All the ones listed are prime examples including things like coach versus couch. I mean I know the difference but when writing I don't catch it. This is one reason why I do my own editing because it helps me with my dyslexia. I have to focus in order to find those issues. It can be something so simple like "to" versus "too." My mind simply doesn't see it, but when I force myself to edit and look for those mistakes I find it helps. I purposefully do not use features such as text to speech program because I want to keep my dyslexia in check and not have it get worse. Forcing myself to confront it and constantly stay on top of it helps out a lot. Now this isn't to say those types of things aren't fantastic and appropriate for others. For me it helps to face it head on and deal with it. Ever sense I began writing stories I've gotten even better. After I got out of school I found myself getting worse with it because in school I had to deal with it on a daily basis. Now that I write more it has helped once again. If you don't use your skills you lose it.

My stories tend to have a lot of dialogue as well and it doesn't concern me so much during those times because I try to have my characters speak in a more natural type of way. Yet with most stories they are a combination of dialogue and narrative so I still face the issue of addressing it, lol. Joe, I agree with the whole character name thing as well. That is another one of those trying use the gray matter in order to come up with some creative ways to indicate one character or another. Writing out "Jim" this and "Jim" that gets old real quick, lol. No matter how we slice, dice, or puree our stories I imagine most story writers tend to face the same types of issues. We get better at smoothing these problem areas as we continue to write and pick up little tricks along the way.

Joe has brought up many valid points and this one here is what I tend to struggle more with than the whole paragraph issue. I'm always having to struggle with repeated words. Sometimes it can't be helped, but more often than not it can be addressed by using the gray matter area in our brains. At times it's only a matter of being creative. I usually do not concern myself with that aspect of my story while writing and will address it during my editing process. I guess it is why my revision process takes up so much more time than simply writing out my stories, lol. I do a lot of cleaning up when I go back through my stories for the second and third time. Grammar, spelling, sentence and paragraph structure, along with the flow of the story are all things I look at while amending my work. During my school days I became very proficient with using a Thesaurus, These days the synonym feature in Word document works just as fine for me. Sometimes it takes clicking on similar words several different times to get a good word to exchange the one you begin with, but it does take care of the problem regarding repeated wording about 90% of the time. When I can't seem to get this to work I end up having to tear apart a section just to keep it looking fresh. Of course as with all things regarding writing sometimes things simply can't be helped, but for me it is one of those things which plagues me all the time when I write, lol.

I'm sure there are writing rules involved in this regard but I tend not to focus too much on specific rules versus what looks and sounds right. If a paragraph becomes too long there are always natural break points in them where you can split it into two separate paragraphs. Sometimes it takes a bit of rewording or whatever, but most of the time it seems to become quickly obvious. I usually do these things during the editing process. When I come across longer paragraphs I look to see if it still has a nice flow to it or if it would work better if I split it apart. When I look at a paragraph I can usually tell where I can split it with it working out well. Like I said there are probably rules that apply, but I tend to do better by simply looking at it to see if it looks, feels, and sounds right. Sometimes I even leave a paragraph a bit on the long side because it works so don't see a reason for breaking it apart. Most of the times we can simply tell if it doesn't work and if this is the case it's best to take a closer look to see what you can do to make it work better.

Yes indeed this compromise was proposed after I brought out my concerns and it was deeply appreciated, but a Christmas story way in April is a bit far out there and as you said it was meant to be a secret so my readers would have been extremely unhappy with me that I excluded 95% of them. In addition, it took my control away from my story as to being able to post it after the event. The only choice given in this regard is to have to wait until April if I so chose to have it posted then. Again, it was a very nice compromise on the administrations part, but once the story was posted in the forum section it sort of seems like I've lost all rights to my story being posted in the web page section. So in this regard I opted not to wait until April and exercise my right to retain control of my story by having it posted in the web page portion instead of the forum page. Once more this was completely my fault from the start at having the assumption I retained control over my story if posted in the forum section for this event. I prefer to retain control over my stories, but I can also understand why you wouldn't want to have an author post their story in the web page section at least during the same time as the event. Totally understandable, just not understandable why they can't be posted after the holidays for the rest of the author's readers except to give exclusive only reading rights to forum members. I view perks and benefits a bit differently for forum members than what the administration team visualized for this event. No one's fault except for mine in how I viewed those benefits versus the way it was intended to be seen by the administration. Despite all of the misunderstandings this "WILL" still be a fun event for all concerned.