When I penned my missive the other day it was because I had read that a number of authors, whose writings I have come to enjoy, were contemplating giving up on posting any more new stories here on SOL and, quite simply it pissed me off! The reasons and justifications for doing so are valid for no one likes to be criticized by ignorant louts for something they have spent hours, days, weeks, and even months or longer crafting and then giving it away for free. It's not easy to write a well crafted story from beginning to end especially when little things like writer's block and the real world intrude at the most inconvenient of times. It's time consuming and tiring and yet it's deeply satisfying as well. Criticism, of a positive nature, is eagerly sought for how else is a writer to judge wether they are improving, but what is neither sought nor appreciated are the comment of a few (thankfully) pinheads, who in their arrogance, conceit, and pomposity fire off diatribes that personally denigrate the author and his or her writings for no other reason than to be hateful.
As I said previously SOL is primarily an amateur site and although there are a few published authors lurking in the background the overwhelming majority of stories posted here do not have the fit and finish of a professionally edited work - nor are they expected to rise to that standard. If it is your expectation to find stories that meet the criteria of a professionally written book then get up off your fat asses and go purchase one! That way when you find a mistake, a typo, or a grammatical mistept you can write the author directly and vent your spleen to them.
As for myself thank you to all those that responded to my earlier epistle for as the headline says on this one I do think I hit a nerve.
For the better part of a year I have noticed a somewhat disturbing trend. There are people out there who believe that they the god's gift to literary criticism and think that because they can maybe write two or three words consecutively it is their role to be critical of those authors write hundreds of thousands of words annually. Moreover they haven't the balls to do so pubically choosing instead to hide behind the coward's cloak of anonymity.
What these pseudo intellectuals forget is that SOL is a vehicle by which amateur writers of fiction (mostly of an erotic nature) can present their what they have written to a wider audience - not necessarily for recognition, although certainly there is some of that, but because they like to share the stories, worlds, and characters they have created with others of like interest. Another thing these cretins forget as they pen their letters is that the vast, and in fact the overwhelming majority of the stories that appear on the SOL website are works of fiction and do not have to meet any preconceived notion of format or content!
I was taught that if you have nothing good to say it is better to keep your mouths shut!
EOR -Fix-M
Over the years since I posted my first two stories on Storiesonline.net I have received many requests for me to Expand on the stories I have written - which are now listed as inactive and incomplete. The simple truth of the matter is that I thought they were complete at the time of posting. The inactive part is true as unfortunately the real world has a way of intruding. In addition to some health problems (and doctors who like to over prescribe some medications) I have moved from Mississippi to Louisiana to Alabama. It seems that every time I set fingers to keyboard some thing else would intrude.
Everything came to a head when my ex filed for a divorce citing unreconsilable differences around the end of February. Unfortunately for her I had filed for divorce citing abandonment - two days before she filed. Long story short after 32 years she went her way and I gladly went mine. Now that all the drama and histrionics are over and done with I find myself with plenty of time to begin writing again. So, at the behest of many I am going to redo both stories and expand on them greatly. I also have a much, much longer story in the planning stage right now. My plans are to submit them for posting shortly after the first of the year. As always I an open to any comments and or suggestions - good or bad just don't send them anonymously. Until the next time - Fix-M
Semper Fi http://storiesonline.net/author/blog.php?id=6363&cmd=New+Entry