I have received several comments from people who didn't like my work. I would rather be criticized for poor character development or grammar than called a advocate of rape. I think you see that there is a domination theme to a work that chances are there will be some rough sex,possibly with some reluctance. I would recommend those who prefer traditional romance to look for just that. I would also mention the success of The Shades of Grey series that many people do enjoy this genre.
I have received several comments from people who didn't like my work
We all get comments like that. enabling feedback means some stroke our egos while others try to deflate us. As long as the feedback isn't abusive, most of us just live with the comments we don' like.
I haven't read your works, so I don't know how you presented the act of rape through your characters. Evidently some of your readers have the impression you advocate rape.
With all the "me too" news about aggressive males taking advantage of their position of power I am cognizant that today such behavior is unacceptable. I try to put my works in a time before "politically correct." Maybe there should be PC or non PC codes.
I haven't read your stories, but that holds true for many writers here. However I have noticed that no matter how a story is coded or written there will always be those who will not like it, and will do their very best to destroy both the story and the writer. Ignore most of them while looking at the ones who actually have something worthwhile to say(few and far between probably). My comments are not all that great but at least when ever I send one I try and thank the writer for sharing.
I have noticed that no matter how a story is coded or written there will always be those who will not like it, and will do their very best to destroy both the story and the writer. Ignore most of them while looking at the ones who actually have something worthwhile to say(few and far between probably).
Personally, although I appreciate the sentiment, the typical 'great story!' comments aren't much better than those which tear you apart. The best critiques are those where they invest some thought into it, specifying precisely where you excel (so you can focus on those aspects) while highlighting (to nauseating detail) all of your failures.
But, it's only by acknowledging our weaknesses that we can ever overcome them. If someone won't detail and explain their complaints (1-bombers) then they're virtually useless. However, when they do sign their names (i.e. send email like in the old days), when pressed, they typically will take the time to formulate more precise complaints. So it's often useful to converse with them in an attempt to uncover what precisely soured them on the book.
Note: Typically, the stated reason is rarely the actual reason for their displeasure. After all, these people aren't attacking their own prejudices, but once you get them talking, their real reasons quickly become apparent, though you do have to read between the lines.
I to have negative comments. Every author does. I try to use the minimum coding necessary to describe my stories. Still some people complain.
If you really want to make them unhappy, thank them for reading your stories. Then tell them they may not be the reader you are writing for. Or tell them that you write for yourself, and post because you want to find others who like those stories.
CAT the Oldgrump
If you really want to make them unhappy
Tell them you write for someone with a higher reading comprehension than them. Or someone more open-minded than them. Put the negative back on them.
Only kidding, of course.
Tell them you write for someone with a higher reading comprehension than them.
I'm not sure that's a good idea. It's usually an excuse for bad writing :(
AJ
It's usually an excuse for bad writing :(
I don't see that. Do you mean if you write poorly, it won't be understood?
How about:
Author: I'm sorry, maybe if English was your first language you'd have enjoyed the story more.
Reader: It is.
Author: Oh, really?
Do you mean if you write poorly, it won't be understood?
I mean that authors who get complaints about their poor writing sometimes claim that their work is aimed at readers with a higher level of comprehension than the complainers. That doesn't just apply to fiction, it applies to eg legal writing too.
AJ
As an example, I attended a talk (and sales pitch) by husband and wife writers. The wife was quite a good writer but the husband was atrocious. For example, he'd start an aside with an em dash and finish it with a comma, and when the aside was removed, what was left of the sentence was ungrammatical garbage.
The husband was quite proud of the fact that he wrote for readers with a higher reading age than his wife's target audience (she wrote for tweens and teens).
AJ
The husband was quite proud of the fact that he wrote for readers with a higher reading age than his wife's target audience (she wrote for tweens and teens).
Nowadays, tweens and teens are much more acute than most adults. They're out there reading (and analyzing) contemporary fiction every day in school, so they're hardly 'uninformed'. Anyone who's read the entire Harry Potter or C.S. Lewis series in their tweens is more than competent to judge your writing style fairly.
Those who aren't, are those who attack you for your subject matter, as if you, the author, are writing about yourself, the villain or lead characters. A LOT of people ascribe to the belief that authors ONLY write about themselves (aka: write what you know).
If you really want to make them unhappy
I had one complain about coded for content and suggest that I remove said content to make the story reach a wider audience.
At first I told him No, I'm not going to change the story and to read the codes and don't read stories that contain content that bothers him so much.
After that he responded that he did read the codes and assumed that coded for content he didn't like would just be referenced as happening "off stage", again "suggested" (it read to me as a demand) that I change the story to remove the content he objected to and expressed disbelief that I wouldn't want to read the widest possible audience.
After that I told him rather directly to fuck off.
I to have negative comments. Every author does. I try to use the minimum coding necessary to describe my stories. Still some people complain.
That's natural, but most of us temper our criticisms. After all, if you mail a fifty-page list of errors, no one will ever read it.
It's always best to start off by listing the things the author does right, so they know to continue with those techniques. But then you follow it up with one (maybe two) very specific suggestions. That way, your message won't be flatly rejected, and they can investigate your claims. That also means you typically have to quote the specific lines, including the proper way of handling those situations, so the author can compare the two and evaluate them for themselves.
Only if the author responds positively should you ever bother sending more than that initial suggestion. If the author is unreceptive to creative suggestions, you simply add them to you 'do not read list' and move on.
It would be nice if the critics would do the same, but most simply crank out a flaming rant after a bad day at work or after a fight with the wife, and take it out on you (accusing you of the sins of your pro/antagonists.
It's all part of being an author. We've (the 'collective' author community) have been taking it on the chin for thousands of years! Still, as long as you get some response you're succeeding, and if they talk about your book, even to disparage it, it gets even more to take up the book. What you don't want, is to respond to the individual, as that will sour readers faster than anything else, your writing skills be damned!
I have received several comments from people who didn't like my work. I would rather be criticized for poor character development or grammar than called a advocate of rape. I think you see that there is a domination theme to a work that chances are there will be some rough sex,possibly with some reluctance.
As with others who have already replied, I have not read your stories. So all I know is that some at least contain rape and that some contain a domination theme. What you did not state is if you applied the rape code to those stories that contained it, or indeed the applicable BDSM codes.
That said, I do not agree that a D/s theme indicates rough sex or reluctance. An S/M code would be appropriate for those themes.
An author who posts stories of any genre is liable to receive adverse comments, those who post stories that include scenes considered even a little extreme in some way are likely to receive more adverse comments.
Responding to a comment, regardless of its tone is simple good manners. So I reply to all who comment. If they object to a theme or scene at the beginning of the story I double check the codes and description in case they need additional codes etc. If they are objecting to a scene in the final chapters, one that has built up as the story progresses, I consider it an invalid point for the simple reason that they must have realised where the story was going and could have stopped reading at any time. Obviously if the scene does not have a build up, it is understandable that some readers might not enjoy the shock/surprise/twist.
For those few who do object to parts throughout the story, I often reply pointing out that they missed scenes that presumably would also offend them. In more than a few cases those people have gone back to read the story a second time just to find out what else it contains that offends them.
One particular reader was both scathing in her condemnation of my story and soul and extremely detailed in her criticism. So much so that I wrote to thank her for her voluntary editing assistance. It was no surprise to receive a similarly vitriolic and detailed complaint about the next story posted. It took two more before she quit. After posting the next and not receiving a complaint, I emailed her to enquire as to her health and if she had read the story, because if she had then I needed to revise it to bring it to a level where she thought it equally offensive as those that preceded it.
In short there are all manner of ways to deal with criticism, especially that which is a result of a tiny minority of readers finding offence. You can simply delete them and move on, you can thank them and ignore their views, or do as I have outlined above.
The only response I would not advise is responding and arguing your case. They read a story, found it offensive, continued reading, that type of person is too invested in the 'holier-than-thou' mindset to be worth your time.
My 2c
1. Is not "My 2c" inappropriate for someone living in England? 2p please.
2. I'll admit to being curious as to what name you post under.
1. Is not "My 2c" inappropriate for someone living in England? 2p please.
HORROR!
There's a perfectly good English word, penn'orth, without having to bastardise some colonial abomination :)
AJ
Is not "My 2c" inappropriate for someone living in England? 2p please.
Ok, so you 'mericans routinely mangle English and yet complain when we use one of your expressions specifically so you understand us...