Forum: Author Hangout

Nervous New Author.

acguy 🚫

Hello folks. I wanted to say hi. I have been a long-time reader here, and in the last year, I've started to do some writing of my own.
I have a few stories posted on that other website (lit), and overall the response has been good. I have a decent number of views, and those that chose to rate it were kind.
I'm a little nervous about posting here as I've seen some new authors get brutalized in the comments. I understand I need to have a thick skin if I want to write and publish online. I have a lot of respect for the authors and readers here and their reviews. I have been using Grammarly to check my work. I know I need to find some editors to help me get better. I'm still trying to remember what I was taught in high school English 42 years ago. So hopefully, you will see a few new stories submitted in the next week or so as I reread and edit them for the 15th time. Take Care all.

Replies: irvmull Switch Blayde tblev2011 acguy acguy Justin Case happytechguy15 acguy

irvmull 🚫
Updated:

@acguy

I believe you can disallow all comments if you like.
Which is probably a good idea, since the world is full of a-holes nowdays.

If I'm wrong about this, someone will surely correct me. They'll also try to correct me if I'm right.
That is a direct result of it being impossible to punch someone in the nose over the internets.

For people who actually want to send you suggestions, corrections, etc. - IOW, be helpful - there's always the Private Message function.

Replies: QM

QM 🚫

@irvmull

Have never done that. Assholes are obvious and decent folk ignore them.

Switch Blayde 🚫

@acguy

I have comments turned off.

If someone wants to comment, they message me.

tblev2011 🚫

@acguy

Hey, good on you for taking the plunge and exploring your creative side! As for posting here, ignore the grumps and trolls. You'll have the self entitled pricks who expect everything for nothing and whine when you don't meet their expectations perfectly. You have some that, when they message or comment, it comes across as rude, but isn't. A few will point out errors here and there and message you regularly with corrections - save them for future use. Ignore assholes, but listen to genuine creative criticism. As long as you are working on your own skills and developing as you go - perfect!
I started posting here roughly three years ago and have, in my mind, grown as a writer. I'm sure a few would disagree, but that's life and the internet. My very first post was cruddy, but instead of hate mail and shit thrown in my face, many folks messaged me and gave what I consider very valuable advice and critique. Welcome, and I look forward to reading what you have to offer. :)

acguy 🚫
Updated:

@acguy

Thanks for the good advice. Comments off. Now I just have to figure out the confusing instructions for posting and what format I have to use. LOL, I use Pages on my iPad and iMac to write. I haven't even heard of some of the formats talked about in the guide to publishing.

Replies: joyR Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

joyR 🚫

@acguy

Now I just have to figure out the confusing instructions for posting and what format I have to use. LOL

There are a bunch of folk here who will spout chapter and verse about formatting, text editors, apps, etc.

BUT

If you simply open the submission wizard, fill in the various boxes and then just cut and paste your story from a basic .txt file into the space allocated. It'll post just fine.

The only real requirement is to avoid the 'wall of text' shitshow. That is accomplished by making sure you use paragraphs and have a space (blank line) between them.

Lazeez caters to those who crave whistles, bells and multistep processes, but he wants authors to post and therefore has gone to some lengths to make it as simple as possible for those who just want to turn their text into a readable story as simply as possible.

Good luck!

Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

@acguy

Now I just have to figure out the confusing instructions for posting and what format I have to use.

There are two different paths, depending on your writing, that change things with regards to posting.

1 - Plain text:

If you don't use italics or bold in your writing, it's very simple. When ready to post, select the text to be posted and copy it. That can be on your Mac or iPad. The in the submission system, follow all the steps until you reach the file vs paste selection.

Click 'Let me paste text' and in the next screen there will be a big box to paste your story's text into. Paste the text you selected and click 'Save Text', then continue the rest of the process.

2 - Styled text:

If you DO use formatting, then copy/paste will lose the formatting and it's not advisable. In this case, you need to convert the document to an acceptable format.

The only format that Pages produces that can be used and preserve formatting is .docx.

It's easier done on the Mac than on the iPad. So:

1- On your Mac, open the pages document in Pages

2- From the file menu select 'Export To...'

3- From the 'Export to...' submenu select 'Word'.

4- Save the document you want to post to a known location.

5- In the posting process, in the file vs paste step click 'file'

6- in the next step upload the .docx file you created from Pages.

Continue the rest of the process.

Replies: Vincent Berg

Vincent Berg 🚫

@Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)

Another, possibly unnecessary suggestion, download Calibre, a free-ware format conversion tool. It's what many of us who published our stories to a variety of outlets and formats use, to ensure readers can upload the stories to whichever odd-ball device they're currently using.

One suggestion, however, its database is a bit flakey, and WILL periodically 'corrupt' on you, destroying your entire book collection. So once you've set it up the way you like, copy it to a secure back-up device, so when it eventually gets corrupted, you can simply restore your collection whole and intact, independently of the Calibre database.

acguy 🚫

@acguy

Thank you to joyR and Lazeez for the explanations.

Replies: Vincent Berg

Vincent Berg 🚫

@acguy

By the way, there are a LOT of us 'old-timers', who are more than willing to share what we've learned over the years, so never be afraid to ask for suggestions or solutions. Your best bet, though, is to find a 'kindred spirit' writing stories similar to yours, strike up a friendly exchange, and if they're open to it, ask for help anytime you encounter something you haven't before.

Justin Case 🚫

@acguy

Write your stories.
Share them as you wish.
Let anyone who tries to "brutalize" you kiss your hairy butt.

Seriously… ignore the haters.
99% of them can't write a check or spell "author", much less create anything but chaos and ill-will in the world.

I look forward to seeing your work.

Replies: Grey Wolf

Grey Wolf 🚫

@Justin Case

On the other hand, if they're giving reasonable feedback or correcting things that you agree are better off corrected, thank them, and - if your writing style is open to it - consider enlisting particularly helpful readers as advance readers / proofreaders / editors.

At least, that's my take on it. I completely understand authors who take the view that 'it's free, I posted it, you get what you get, no whining allowed!' But, if you're the sort that cares about making corrections, good editing is invaluable.

As for the comments - I've had great luck with turning them on, but I only started with Book 4 of a long, long story. Most of the haters lost interest long ago :)

happytechguy15 🚫

@acguy

I'm only a reader. I would hope there are many who share my attitude. I respect that you are taking time and skill to share your stories. And thank you for (getting ready to) share your stories. I rarely write in the comments that show below a story. I do sometimes send a private message. As for mistakes, I remember some "mistakes" are due to me not being familiar with the author's region or language. As for any negative comments at the endcof a story - there is a saying for employers : praise in public, criticize in private.

I look forward to seeing your stories! Have fun! And don't let someone ruin you day.

I used to read that other site too, but SOL has better story descriptions - is that the right work for the paragraph that convinces me that I want to read this story?

acguy 🚫

@acguy

Once again, I'd like to thank everyone for taking the time to comment and for your suggestions. I have been dealing with some Long Covid issues for the last week, but I hope to post soon now I am starting to feel better.

Replies: Marius-6

Marius-6 🚫

@acguy

Post in your own time. Your Health is more important than anything else but family!

I dodged the Covid-19 "bullet" but had a "mild" heart attack just as the panic/shutdown started (here in Washington state it only Officially ended at the end of May 2023). So, I have been "trapped" in "assisted living facilities" for "my own protection" I mention that because it significantly affected my posting. There are some who will "scream" "Don't post until your story is complete."

My opinion is post whatever you want, whenever you want. However, if you want more people to read your stories, there are whole threads about when to post, etc.

My unfortunate experience has nudged me to try to complete my "epic" story before I begin posting it by chapters. Meanwhile I have been editing previous short stories or incomplete short stories, so that I may post some stories from time to time, while writing my main story, and living life. This is just my opinion, influenced by multiple inputs from fellow writers, as well as some readers. "You do you."

There are a lot of posts in the Forums that are helpful to people posting for the first time; or who post infrequently to SoL. The Authors' Page https://storiesonline.net/author/ The Authors' Agreement Page and the FAQs also have useful information; ay least for me, they do.

Good luck, have fun, I hope to see some of your stories on SoL in the fullness of time.

Cheers!

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Forum: Author Hangout

Nervous New Author.

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