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Hello to everyone. I figured I'd let everyone know that the latest story of my Tales of Heroes is now being uploaded onto Storiesonline. Helsing and the Tales of Heroes is the continuation of Ayida-Weddo and the Tales of Heroes. I needed to take a break from Gabatrix to get another Tales of Heroes book made. It also allows me to defuse a little bit so I can come back more fresh to the series that I know people enjoy. Plus, Helsing and the Tales of Heroes will be something that will benefit the future Gabatrix stories to come.
Of course, this gets into a topic that I have to state is quite obvious. Upon uploading the first two chapters, I've received a large set of votes (almost more than some of my other stories within just two chapters), making this story the worst-rated story of the twenty stories I have written so far, at least at the time of this blog post. I know that this can be temporary as more and more chapters come flooding in. I also don't focus on it too much since Storiesonline's voting system is pretty much broken. Honestly, I was almost expecting the low ratings at this point since they took away the ability to remove voting for writers. It allows individuals to vote early when stories aren't even completely uploaded.
While the goal of Storiesonline has been to resolve the voting issues and claim that it's there to stop "troll voting" and one-bombers (which has to a point), there are ways to get around it. There are always ways to get around any foolproof system. If people see that they can't give 1 out 5 stars for something, then they will give it a 2. I'm well aware of the concept of rating sabotage. While I believe there are good people on Storiesonline, I know that others are jumping onto Helsing and blasting it before it even bears fruit.
I want to make it clear that I do believe there are wonderful individuals, and I have received positive comments about my story. Helsing and the Tales of Heroes is more than just a book of the Tales of Heroes universe. It's a dedication to the many vampire stories out there and the writers that write about them, utilizing many of the popular, past-known older stories to mend into one (no different than how many others write vampire stories). However, I also know that some people have short attention spans. I received harassment in the past either from SJWs, "Sensitive Readers", or people who think they are righteous by going after people who think are encouraging deviant behavior for or against current social norms or agendas. I have to debate with myself whether, when I look at the scores if it's an attempt to extend a middle finger to me or not. I have to ask myself if the voter looked at the disclaimers and voted then and there about what they think about me or my story without even reading it. Is it revenge voting because I didn't write the next installment of Gabatrix? Or is it an attempt to bash me because my stories have vampires in them? For newcomers, the scores can make or break someone telling others that the story is worth reading or not.
What people don't realize is that I originally had an old story that I removed from Ayida-Weddo and the Tales of Heroes. This was done because I wasn't pleased with how the story went. It was too big and inflated an already large book as it was. However, I also felt that it would be a good story once it was refined. I took the Story of Lilith away from the book and did a complete overhaul. In the original story, Lilith practically raped her husband. Looking at it today, I just didn't like it. So I took the entire heart of the story and rewrote it, freshened it, shortened it, and made it into a consensual love story while still carrying the action and main story to circulate around it. It's almost a difference between night and day. It's been incorporated into Helsing and the Tales of Heroes and adds to a vampire-centric lore and concept. If anything, I feel that Helsing and the Tales of Heroes and all its backstories contribute to a singular main story goal, something that some of the other Tales of Heroes have struggled with at times to achieve.
I've had past blog posts stating the same thing, and I know it's like beating a dead horse. Some on Storiesonline will make sure certain stories or story writers remain at the top by whatever means necessary. I don't see any hope of seeing my stories in the top 10, and perhaps I speak out for the other writers on this site as well. I care for everyone and know what it's like to make and write stories. Some are beginners, some are novices, and some have been Emmy award-winning storywriters. I don't let the scores really get to me, and I'm aware of the fact that scores can naturally rise as well as the story nears completion. If anything, I have made great successes with an upcoming audiobook for Gabatrix: Minerva coming around the corner in a few weeks to come, all in due thanks to the fans who support me. But I do ask all of you to support your writers, especially at this time. Make Storiesonline a positive environment for writers. Enjoy Helsing and the Tales of Heroes, for I think it's a story that you may genuinely like.
While I'm sure this was news for some at the beginning of this year, I was unaware of the fact that there were voting changes made for book writers on Storiesonline. One of the biggest issues that struck writers posting stories was the concept of early voting. Many times readers that see a few chapters would vote to their hearts' content. However, by committing to such an action, voters would blatantly vote on a story and make their summary judgment of a story even though the story was still in the process of being uploaded. At times, voters would, later on, regret what they voted for because it later turned out to be a good story.
Because of this, writers on Storiesonline had the simple option to disable voting. I had committed to such actions and always remembered to allow voting once the story was nearly completed. Instead, that option has been removed. Even in the Manage Story settings, I still have no means to disable voting. As a result, all stories are now free to have troll voting. Was this an issue before the changes? Yes, but the writers at least had some option to control and stem the tides of it.
I want to make it clear that, as a writer, the voting system on Storiesonline has been haphazard at best. Sometimes it turns the site into a vanity fair where veteran expert writers can put two chapters, and immediately, the audience gives a score of 9 before the story has been fully uploaded, while other new writers receive 2s or 3s. Because of this, it can punish new potential writers. Having horrible low scores is a way of telling new readers that the writer is horrible. It's also a lazy form of feedback that I have ever seen as well because it reduces your story to a number. I would open commenting on my stories, but often trollers would say a few sentences in a derogatory manner. Not just here, but on other sites, I've received statements such as "You write as if English is your 2nd Language" when I was born in the US and spoke English my whole life. I use Grammarly to help me write because hiring a professional editor is horribly expensive, and finding editors that would work for free is exceedingly rare.
While I leave the comments disabled, you are free to message me, and I welcome it. Keep aware that there are three types of feedback: Positive, Constructive, and Negative. Positive feedback is saying that you like the story. It's nice, but nothing more can be said about it. Negative feedback is where you condemn the story, or as trollers would commit to, condemn the author and waste everyone's time. Then there is Constructive feedback. The very reason that I put my stories on Storiesonline is for readers to find mistakes and let me know. Despite my rereading and editing a story, mistakes are going to be made. We are all human, after all. In other words, your feedback matters to me. From there, the stories can be improved before it hits the bookshelves.
But, with the system the way it is, I'm left to see it continue to operate in a format where I have to take the voting score with a grain of salt. I would ask for my fans or newcomers to combat troll voting by voting early, but I hate having to even say that, and it can make me look hypocritical. For those that have preconceptions about a story that they might not like, wait till it's fully uploaded before voting. We live in an age right now where a "sensitive reader" will say, "Oh, I didn't like those two sentences," or "There's no sex in this chapter, downvote!" Even my books with the lowest scores on them on Storiesonline, such as the Garden of New Olympia short stories, have the highest views on places such as Wattpad and Furaffinity. The moral of the story is that voting scores don't make up everything. I also understand that my stories fit into a niche crowd (Human/Anthro love stories aren't exactly that commonplace in the romance genre), so it might not be everyone. But all I ask is that you try to keep Storiesonline a positive place for writers and keep things in an open mind. Thank you.
Youtube Link
I'm happy to announce that the Tales of Heroes book series now has a theme. The music is done by Antonio Aguirre, a talented video game composer who also serves as the sound technician for the Blue Man Group.
Come and check it out. :)
I'm happy to announce that I have a voice actress interested in doing the voice work for the Gabatrix book series. Elisabete77 is willing to do the work and has provided a sample that is now on youtube. Come and check it out. :)
Youtube Link
I'm happy to announce that the next batch of Garden of New Olympia stories are now being uploaded onto Storiesonline. Each story is short and simple. They are also designed to be expanded upon with erotica stories that you might like to have. To learn more about it, you can check out my website or contact me here on Storiesonline. The Garden of New Olympia is contributed by fans for the fans. Enjoy :)
https://www.gabatrix.net
Among one of the other big projects for this year are audiobooks. Currently, I'm in need of a woman (preferably with a deep voice if possible) that would be willing to be recorded reading the Gabatrix stories, so they can be marketed into audiobooks. Right now, most voice actors are willing to do it for somewhere from $900 to $2500 for Gabatrix: Minerva alone. Needless to say, that is quite a lot of money, especially since I have over 17 books. If you happen to know anyone that is willing to do it for less than that, then let me know. Audiobooks do wonders in expanding what is out there, reach out to the visually impaired, and, in general, many people like audiobooks over just reading a book. Any little bit of support goes a long ways. Feel free to contact me through here or from my website. Thank you and take care.
CMed (TheUniverseofCMed)
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