Vincent Berg: Blog

Finally getting some more representative feedback on the story (not just over the weekends), we’ve come up with a dual plan.

I now have a few volunteers to hopefully speed up the editing. As one pointed out, my storytelling is spot on, so the normal heavy lifting is somewhat eased, since there aren’t as many heavy edits required. No guarantees, though.

So, we’ll be plowing ahead, with a work-in-progress (WIP) story version, for those who want to continue ‘as is’, and then a separate, ‘Completed’ version, which will be posted once each is fully edited. It’s a compromise, and unlikely to please everyone, but if the typos really piss you off, you can just wait for a bit (just wait before reading the comments though, as those often contain spoilers, though like Grey Wolf, I’ll like monitor and delete any ‘spoilers’ in the story comments section.

Unfortunately, since I’m NOT as young as I once was, I’m also going to need to switch to a single update each week, as trying to do the heavy revisions in a single pass is basically killing me, as I just can’t maintain that pace for long. I also had a long discussion about chapter lengths, and I’ve ALWAYS written incredibly long chapters, so it seems logical to give myself more time for multi-pass chapter revisions, separate from the later subsequent edits.

Of course, you can always wait until everything is done and then purchase the completed set from Bookapy, as those I’m updating regularly, so each time you read it, it’s likely be different than the last time, which could get VERY confusing. The content isn’t changing, just the writing styles and I ’tighten’ each chapter up, updating the initial older writing styles.

So, when I switch, I’ll likely switch from my Tues/Thurs posting to a Thurs posting, though if that’s inconvenient, I’m willing to switch to what most prefer (as normally, it’s easier checking either early or nearer the weekends.

Again, I’m not trying to be difficult, just finding a way of minimizing the many disruptions. And again, Thanks to everyone who’s graciously volunteered to help!

Well, there IS enough interest to keep going, (there’s currently 5 positive votes vs. 3 earlier) yet that’s sufficient, though now it’s a question of do I keep plugging away, or continue posting, warts and all. Given the overall story rating, I’m guessing everyone wants the warts free version, which does mean a complete stop until it’s ALL complete.

Again, my main focus in posting the story was as a challenge to the SOL authors to focus on complete stories, rather than just pure pornography. And I have PLENTY of decent stories, in all new genres, but given the reactions, I’m guessing those will best be posted under a new pseudonym, as the stories will likely be given a fairer shot, without my actual name emblazoned across them.

That said, what most pissed off other authors was my repeated emphasis on ‘professional’ standards, yet now, those too are well behind me. I’m healthy enough, yet I’m no longer able to ‘write towards the ending, keeping the whole story arch in mind, so now I’m just fumbling through like everyone else does.

My health is a continuing issue, across a number of fronts, yet there’s no serious illnesses, definitely nothing life-threatening, and while my general cognition is an issue, it’s more of a long-covid symptom than it is any kind of dementia, as it’s most definitely not Alzheimer’s, as the symptoms don’t match in the least.

But I’m hoping to post ch. 7 tomorrow, as planned, though I’ll likely need to switch to once-a-week postings, as I’m already falling behind the twice a week postings. :(

Yet I still have a LOT of partially finished shorties that need some serious revisions, while they're mostly done, they'll also take considerable more time to restart after so long. As, at this point, the sooner I can put this story behind me, the quicker I can move to the new pseudonym, since I seem to have so few long-time fans left on SOL. Still, I’m glad for everyone who has stuck with me, besides I doubt anyone will have any troubles figuring out which stories are mine, no matter what non de plum I employ.

For those who missed the initial response over the weekend, my newest story Nowhere … Like Home, was NOT well received. I’ve finally found an editor willing to work with me, yet the bigger issue is that the story just didn’t seem to find an audience (i.e. no one cared whether it was properly edited or not) as I only received 3 responses, with only two sorry to see it cease posting.

So just to be clear, if ANYONE cares whether the story continues or not, please let me know, as at this point, I’m willing to consider individual personal updates via private emails. However, in the end, it seems intensely personal (i.e. it’s ME they’re pissed at, not the story itself).

So, work WILL continue, and now it’s a question whether I ever post to SOL again, either under a new pseudonym or continuing this story, but at this point, I see little reason to assume it’s not a personal bias (well-deserved, admittedly, which if true, is answer enough).

Just to be clear, the ONLY reason I posted the story at all, is that my Quora fans (1M now) were eager to know what my ‘current’ project was. So since they’re actively supporting my writing, if there IS no interested on SOL, there’s really no sense wasting time feeding an absent audience.

(Sorry for the whinny tone, though again, that seems to be the main issue here. And with a ready and eager market elsewhere, unless I hear some interest, I’m likely to simply walk away from SOL forever.)

In short, I can hold off until the ENTIRE sorry is thoroughly edited and proofed, yet if there is no interest, I won’t bother with it at all. At this point, my future here is entirely in your hands..

Well, after all the grousing and bitching about the lack of editing (my editor is still on vacation), the utter lack of support and NOT a single volunteer editor to help tide me over, I’ve decided it’s best for everyone if I stop the story now, delete the entire thing, and only repost it once the whole thing has been completely edited.

Frankly, I NEVER considered the story ready for publication, much less posting, but I went ahead due to the intense interest by my regular QUORA readers (I’ve surpassed 1M reads a little while ago), and while my SOL posts are regularly panned, my book sales have never been better).

So, I’ll continue feeding the readers most interested in my stories, because again, this story, like all of mine, is a complex, engaging and captivating read, which no one here seems to give a damn about. Not to sound embittered, but I can tell who’s appreciative and who’s not. So, it’ll return to SOL when it’s ready, and not a second before.

I’ll leave it up for a little while, just on the off chance anyone wants to be slightly more encouraging, or is willing to volunteer to help clean it up more than it currently is. But as they say, the writing is on the wall, as clear as day. So you’ll will only see it when it’s completed, since no one seems interested until then.

However, the Bookapy listing will continue being updated. Though again, I’d suggest you again wait until it meets your standards, and I’m sorry for having insulted you all by showing you where I’ve been for so long. And while I continue writing, with several books in the works, after this current fiasco, I think I’ll stick to my Quora readers. Again, I’ve learned more about writing by NOT publishing for four years, than I ever did, publishing 3 full novels for 10+ years. So, I have my own priorities now, especially as, given my overall health, I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to continue writing anyway. But piling low ratings on top of rejection and a refusal to cut me any slack, have made clear everyone’s intent.

But, just in case I have any volunteers to help tide me over, please contact me via the ‘reply to author’ response button, and you can help improve the story, as even once my Content Editor, it back, I STILL need secondary editors anyway, as I’ve never been able to see my own typos. :(

P.S. I’m considering posting some kinkier stories, under a pseudonym, so you can enjoy that if and when they appear, or crap all over them for all I care. The important thing is that they’re free, and once upon a time, SOL was still a friendly, encouraging place to post.

A slightly redrafted chapter 1, as the original was a hot mess, all over the place. It was suggested I stick to one ‘theme’ (I’d interjecting too many conflicting threads), but once the protagonist realizes he’s on a strange world, he focuses on the observable world about him, concentrating on his rationality.

I still have to revise the rest of the chapter (having so many family over the holidays kind of wore me out), so there may be a few more changes coming.