Often feel like I'm out here alone.
https://storiesonline.net/a/T_MaskedWriter
This is just an observation, and I could be wrong, but I think one problem you have getting reviews is, most the reviewers don't sit down and write reviews for extremely short stories (basically 1 chapter). It looks like you took your story and broke it into a chapter per story, since your descriptions for each story make them seem connected even though they are super short (for the most part)
Some are short, yes. But many are long. The first one in the list is 227K, that's not giant, but not extremely short by any consideration.
But, they all look to be a connected, ongoing story. So to get the whole story you have to read each of the small stories too.
Now you have me curious. Generally, a series includes a set of related 'books', but each has it's own story arc, and generally, each has a fairly consistent length (i.e. roughly 20 chapters, or 15 - 28 chapters per book).
The idea that you have a series of stories that consist of anywhere from 1 chapter to mega-chapters sounds like you may need to focus more on your story arcs and constraining your stories, than in cleaning up your character descriptions.
Also, on a related note, this is roughly the first time I've heard anyone requesting an SOL review. Since there aren't that many SOL reviewers, it's likely falling on deaf ears. I've had any reviewers suggest submitting completed books in advance, but you'd need to do that on an individual reviewer basis (i.e. asking a specific reviewer if they'd consider your book before it's posted. Once the story is out there, reviewers will either review it or not, depending on whether they feel it's deserving of special acknowledgment.
Frankly, your stories may not just stand out from the many others available on SOL, especially given how few reviewers we have and the thousands of stories that get posted on a regular basis here.
It's a series of short stories with a couple that have gotten longer, yes. The one in progress is the longest I've done thus far, and I'm expecting the one after to be longer.
And yeah, I completely recognize that I'm nobody. On the other hand, nobody else is going to plug me, so I figure if *I* don't, I'll STAY nobody.
I completely recognize that I'm nobody. On the other hand, nobody else is going to plug me, so I figure if *I* don't, I'll STAY nobody.
That's a bit unfair. That might be how things operate in Amazon, where most authors play extraordinary games to gain recognition, but it generally doesn't apply to SOL. Here, readers rate you on the quality of your stories, rather than on your name recognition.
Generally, it's considered 'bad form' to ask for reviews (especially publicly, where it sounds suspiciously like begging). Also, as RichardShagrin mentioned, it's not like most reviews don't have constrains on their time.
If your first couple stories don't attract much notice, keep working on your craft and your scores should improve over time, though I'd also focus on your story descriptions (your best SOL advertising) and blog posts (to attract readers who may not have noticed your stories).
What's more, storytelling counts a lot more than literary aspirations. If you can weave a captivating story, readers will ignore a lot of minor details.
My point was simply that, it's easier to control how a story unfolds (the "story arc") when you work with a complete story, from beginning to end, rather than a random collection of varying length pieces.
I recognize that now. And I see that I went overboard and apologize. I get to feeling like I'm tossing these words into the void sometimes. That excuses nothing, I have offended with my ignorance. I shall endeavor to learn from it.
I recognize that now. And I see that I went overboard and apologize. I get to feeling like I'm tossing these words into the void sometimes. That excuses nothing, I have offended with my ignorance. I shall endeavor to learn from it.
Don't sweat it. We're all learning as we go, and you aren't so much offending anyone as simply making the same missteps that many of us already have.
On SOL, the main limitation is simply the total number of SOL reviewers, and their reluctance to review more than one of any single author's works (part of trying to 'spread the wealth'). They typically go with completed highly-rated bestsellers first, though if they have qualms about the book, they're more likely to say nothing than to critique a book.
Thanks. I got a notice about spamming, and, as much as I try not to take such things personally, there's a good reason that they give me pills to help with that. Wherever I did so, my intent WAS to add to the discussion at the same time, not JUST drop my URL.
Also, on a related note, this is roughly the first time I've heard anyone requesting an SOL review.
I've had at least two authors request reviews. I won't identify as both stories are still incomplete. I don't have a problem with a request if the author is willing to accept my honest assessment assuming that I do the review.
This is, however, the first request I've seen being made publicly.
I am a reviewer, under a different name. Management prefers we review one story at a time, I haven't seen any reviews of series. You have one story long enough to base a review on, but it shows as incomplete, and most of the time reviewers like to review complete stories. I will keep an eye on your story and when it is done I will try to make a review that fits management's guidelines. I don't review stories that I can't recommend to readers, I might lose my license to review if I damn with very faint praise. Some authors are also reviewers, ask Lazeez to be a reviewer, some have only reviewed one story. And reviews can be much easier to write than a good story. "Read it" 10, 10, 10.
Thanks for getting the thread back on topic, I didn't really plan on hijacking it.
Some authors are also reviewers, ask Lazeez to be a reviewer, some have only reviewed one story. And reviews can be much easier to write than a good story. "Read it" 10, 10, 10.
Except ... I don't believe Reviewers are allowed to review their own stories, otherwise every author would be a 1-shot reviewer.
I DO however, feel that my ultimate question remains unanswered: Are writers supposed to just sit and wait for The Review Fairy to favor us, or is there some formal request procedure that I can't find in any FAQ on the site, or how does it work?
This discussion has had me go and look at what stories have been reviewed. I find of my 107 stories there are 12 reviews by 8 reviewers on 10 stories. When a review is done I get a message about it to see if I want to check it, but I usually don't. The only time I've read one was when the review sent me a message direct about one aspect of the review, and I responded to it, which made them realise they'd had a wrong assumption about part of the story, so they made a minor change to the review to correct that aspect.
In general I regard any review as the reviewer's personal opinion on the story which they have a right to do, so I don't get involved with it, unless they have something about the actual story wrong.
I've never solicited a review, but have never objected either. So any review is free to do any on my stories if they wish to. I think I'll take the time to read the ones done, now.
Primarily, as a reader, any review that has a little not-spoilery summary is appreciated.
Some authors don't write a good teaser in the story overview. I can't get anything out of "boy meets girl, it's good fiction"
Or teasers that were written for the first chapter and the story has over 200k words.