Paige Hawthorne: Blog

A 'Winter' fan reminded me that there are three ways for readers to voice their opinions on a story. Voting, of course. Second, there is the Comments section at the end of each story. And then there is the option to email an author - - directly or through the SOL internal process.

What about an additional method?

How about adding a public response mechanism to our blogs? In other words, give voice to those readers who would like their observations to be read in the SOL forum. Let them have the opportunity to post their opinions of a blog in the blog section itself.

My thinking is, that for one reason or another, my blogs draw more emails than my stories. And some of the responses are brilliant. Deserving of a wider jury.

It would mean simply allowing readers to publicly comment on a blog, just as they currently can do on a story.

I believe it would help inform and animate our site. Maybe.

Paige

I rebuff, absolutely reject, the vile speculation currently in vogue that many of my readers are too dim to figure out how to vote on the "Winter" stories. That's insulting to them and to the simplicity of this site's ballot-casting procedures.

As many of you know, I pay no attention to my reader scores, so this inquiry - - generated by a curious "Winter" reader - - is purely to invite impartial analysis by the scientific community.

My latest story, "Winter's Dilemma" has a little over 20,000 downloads. Not that many compared with popular writers here. The number of "Dilemma" votes cast is, at this moment, let me double-check, 235.

An earlier story, "Winter's Gamble" also had over 20,000 downloads. But received 496 votes. More than twice as many.

Why the contrariety? One theorist speculates that "Gamble" has been around several weeks longer than "Dilemma". If that's the sole explanation, then I guess SOL readers vote late and seldom. Which would contrast them with Chicago voters.

Any other hypotheses?

Paige

Okay, I'll kick things off. I write, first and foremost, for myself. Me, myself and I. Selfish? Natch. I write fiction because I enjoy it. It amuses me, sometimes even pleases me.

Of course I write also with a general audience - - you guys - - in mind. And that keeps me grounded, keeps me from becoming too precious, too self-satisfied.

Beyond that, I write with my real-life, 12-year old son in mind. He's my most passionate fan and really digs that I modeled Walker on him.

What about you boys? Who's your Muse?

Paige

Okay, "Winter's Dilemma" is finished. It's in my usual 12-chapter format with five of them posted so far. Which leaves … well, you can chess out the math.

My dilemma is a simple one. I have the next story written - - in my head. I even have a sort of logical outline typed out. But for some odd reason I can't get to really writing the story until I've finished posting the current one.

It's not writer's block, I don't think. Writer's blockhead maybe.

Anyone else with a similar affliction?

Paige

This is a twofold invitation.

Wait, let's begin, as some suggest, at the … um, beginning. A lot of you write me. Some of you are rather annoying. Most of you are kind. A few of you are brilliant.

So, number one, I'd like to encourage more of you to participate, to let me know your Winterized thoughts. Write early and often.

Secondly, I'd like to further encourage you to make those thoughts public. Through the Comments section that follows the latest chapter in each of my stories.

My thinking? Some of you have outlandishly creative ideas and why not share them with your fellow readers? And I'm talking both favorable and fu. A negative observation can be just as valuable, and sometimes more entertaining, than the plaudits.

Write on, brother!

Paige