Forum: Author Hangout

It's the same with Beta-Readers, whose mission is to identify story issues based on readers' personal experiences, which are unanticipated by authors and editors alike. Thus asking the specific question: "How did your view character XXX, did you think she was sexy, engaging or was she detract from the story."

At that point, once you've identified the extent of the problem, then you have to drill down and see precisely what those particular readers so dislike, and why. That way, you can tailor the story, admitting the issue as you begin making the necessary adjustment for those readers, as … they're the only ones who don't like them.

For example, one problem I've had is writing strong teen-age female leads, as those who've raised young girls realize how competitive and tenacious they can be, while those who haven't assume that every girl is focuses exclusively on dating.

Thus, most of my readers adored those characters, either knowing someone like them or from raising or growing up with them. Those that didn't, absolutely hated those younger teen female characters (There are several books on "Raising Strong/Powerful Girls") specifically addressing this issue, concerning how to engage them and create tighter bonds within the family during those years, before they start focusing on relationships.

This feature basically should be for things like 'Which path do you prefer the story take?'

Again, I agree. However, the reason I brought it up, is one reader might have an idea as to the path the story might take and it might be a good one, a path not considered by the author, yet favoured by the majority of readers/poll participants. The feedback would/could be helpful to authors.

Can the author adjust the questions after initial publication? If so, readers with suggestions could use a 'contact author' facility.

AJ

Can the author adjust the questions after initial publication?

Yes.

That shouldn't be allowed. Let's say a poll asked a question with three answers — A, B, or C. Someone chose B.

Now the pollster changes the question to something where the person would have responded C. His "B" response is invalid for the changed question.

Are you sure you want to let the pollster change either the question or choices?

Are you sure you want to let the pollster change either the question or choices?

I was thinking that allowing the author to add another option, one that they'd overlooked or was requested by a reader, would save the author from deleting the poll and re-issuing it.

But if someone, who has already voted, would have preferred the new option D, that would present a problem if the reader was unable to revise their choices.

As Pixy would say, bless his stompy little angry girls, "Throw it hard against a wall, see what sticks...".

AJ

I would say that if the creator of the poll changes it after published (and receives votes) then the person voting should be allowed to change their vote

How would the voter know the poll was changed?

As Pixy would say, bless his stompy little angry girls, "Throw it hard against a wall, see what sticks...".

I always thought of that as, "Throw it hard against the wall, and see what leaks out, making it, overcoming the other ideas. ;)

However, the reason I brought it up, is one reader might have an idea as to the path the story might take and it might be a good one, a path not considered by the author

The poll doesn't eliminate the usual feedback.

As a new feature, I would keep it simple. Just the basic polling like it is now. It can always evolve as we gain experience.

The poll doesn't eliminate the usual feedback.

Oh agreed, but I'm sure I'm not the only one here whose 'feedback' is, to all intents and purposes, non-existent. Polling might be a way to not so much increase as to actually have feedback, given that people might be more amenable to leaving feedback, if all that is required of them is a simple 'yes' or 'no'.

Polling might be a way to not so much increase as to actually have feedback, given that people might be more amenable to leaving feedback, if all that is required of them is a simple 'yes' or 'no'.

Agree 100%. I was talking about the suggestion that a reader would be able to add their own question to the poll. That's feedback, not a yes or no answer.

If that reader was willing to use a feature to add a question, why wouldn't they also be willing to send the question/recommendation to the author as normal feedback? Then the author could create another poll.

"Throw it hard against a wall, see what sticks..."

LOL (hiding my fine china)

Mine is make it simple so it's easy to use. If it's easy to use it may be used.

By the way, I would never have thought to use a poll to help decide the path of a story. My stories are done before posting a single chapter.

By the way, I would never have thought to use a poll to help decide the path of a story. My stories are done before posting a single chapter.

That's probably because you are a 'writer' at heart. I don't have the patience or the ability for that. I just think of a scenario, or a single scenario/scene pops into my head unwanted and I write it down with absolutely no idea where it's going or how long it will be. Hence why they have tended to end up on the 'Story ideas' part of the forum lately... Anything over ten thousand words is pretty much an aberration for me.

Personally, since I was always one of the "Complete the story, then post it for the feedback to make corrections and adjustments", I generally have the entire story arc in mind already. So that approach works for those who post as they write each chapter, it's more likely to take those authors down various rabbit holes, so it's difficult backing out again.

That said, the 'write the story then post' is part of a dying breed of old-school writers. Nowadays, "Who'd you like to see get bedded next?" seems the most obvious question for most porn stories.

I am with you here. I also get enough feedback from the readers to see what they liked and what not and what story to finish and post next. I guess, the polling may help writers who like to post soap-opera-like serials (nothing wrong with those, just not my cup of tea).

I agree, the poling is to ask the questions, while direct user feedback keeps the information between the user and the author private, so they can build on the ideas, without others undermining either side.

the line between the two is often indistinguishable until after the fact.

Especially because such "Hold my beer" are largely distinguished by just how much beer the two parties have consumed. ;)

But I agree, just opening the keg and expecting nothing but wonderful analyses to pour out is difficult to achieve. In my opinion, it's better to keep the question targeted, so it's limited in scope (as again, often what you'll get are other authors trying to hurt the better performing stories to increase the ratings on their own (it happens, especially in the more traditional publishing circles). Also, that was why SOL decided to do away with the "content" portion of the voting system, as it often pitted one type of author against the others.

That said, if asking few new ideas, focusing the questions is again vital, so "What type of new character would you like to see added to the story?", as that way, you'll not only get suggestions, you'll also likely receive feedback on those suggestions.

So having the users add questions may be useful, but would open the system to abuse. I've learned long ago that anything that can be abused will be, and to astounding levels.

Maybe I should have made my earlier reply of "If possible, you could make the ability to add to polls with a question of your own (Where the author allows), a purely paid subscriber-only privilege (Got to drive those Premium account sales!)" Probably clearer earlier.

I was pondering whether making polls open to addition only by paid site members (and poll creators) would make it less open to abuse, based on the consideration that paying members are less likely to indulge in trolling behaviour.

As usual, I am still considering things/suggestions that would entice people to upgrade their free accounts to paying accounts, and to me, that appears low-hanging fruit. Granted, it may be that it's not juicy enough for people with bulging wallets to pluck. 🤷

Edited to remove the fact that I started every paragraph with 'I' 😠

When attaching a poll to a blog post, the blog post will get visibility on the home page.

Yes, but it looks just like a normal blog post, which many may skip (Not everyone is interested or bothers reading blogs) unless the blog poster states 'Poll' in the heading.

Which path do you prefer the story take (i.e. "Should I kill off the annoying side character everyone keeps kvetching about?")

Or, "Do you prefer the romantic segments, the action segments or keeping the current balance"), as that way you get direct feedback, without creating a confusing, unfocused, unrelated discussion.

You should do a poll for that. :)

Yeah, I walked right into that didn't I... 🤦‍♀️

Has anyone actually used the (poll) function yet?

Now that you mention it, there's no link to see polls.

And maybe when you go to the "author's starting with [letter]" page, there should be a link to that author's polls, like there's one for their blogs.

Now that you mention it, there's no link to see polls.

I actually suggested that at the top, somewhere. Laz said it wasn't needed...

I voted the first option, not because that was my answer, but because I just wanted to see what would happen.

Robin G Lovell. The one that says "Polling"....

You have conflated two issues so the options are not all mutually exclusive.

AJ

Yes. I did. And so far got some good results.

"Hold my beer...."

I noticed a 'quirk'.

When I submitted the story through the wizard, the form somehow skipped the poll choice, so I had to go back and manually select it. That took me to a separate page to create the poll. So far, so good. However, there didn't appear to be a means/mechanism for taking me back to the submission wizard other than the browser (Firefox) back button, which I was rather loath to try, as I have found that sometimes FFox takes you back to the page before the page you were form-filling in.

In this case, it didn't, but the fear and trepidation was there.. LOL

How feasible would it be to add a 'back' button at the bottom of the 'poll' page to take you back to the wizard? Granted, it's not strictly necessary, as I found out, but still...

I just added a poll link to the end of my THREE -Daddy Finds Out Chapter 2

I don't see it....

You can also attach a poll during story submission.

That makes the most sense, but is that part of the story submission or the chapter submission process? As it's difficult to know what to ask when you're just starting a story, not yet knowing how well it's being perceived.

The polls are for the author's benefits to gather info from their readers for themselves. Changing the questions will simply invalidate their own results and it would be pointless.

I now have a poll on the end of Chapter 2, the correct way, in THREE. As this story does a have mysterious clue giver this poll does allow me to give the reader the opportunity to guess publically, instead of emailing me like a couple of readers did.

A helpful feature would be a, copy poll option, so we can reuse the poll without creating a new one. Just resets the score.

I can't reply to everybody individually.

Not good enough, try harder.... 🤪 😉

Do not try, listen harder, speak softer.

This is life, you make a tool for one use, but we find many other uses for it. That does not mean we are wrong.
Engaing witn our readers in new ways is a good thing.

Roger that. I'm already having fun with it.