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.