A Ten Pound Bag has started to create a bit of ruckus with some of the topics being addressed and the approach that our hero takes to them.
The comments and my inbox are being flooded with things best said elsewhere. Here is that place.
The technical arguments and discussion is fun and I encourage that. The moral aspects of the story can and will be disturbing and I encourage you to voice your opinions here if anywhere.
Have fun and happy reading,
-Emmeran
The comments and my inbox are being flooded with things best said elsewhere. Here is that place.
The forum is probably not the best place. Most likely a lot of spoilers will come up and a lot of readers are waiting for the story to finish before starting to read. Spoilers will, uuh, spoil that :D
The comments at the end of the last chapter are specifically for discussing that particular story.
Going by forum description, this is exactly the place for discussions and opinions, pro or con of a story. Readers are not forced to open the thread if they don't want to read possible spoilers.
The comments and my inbox are being flooded with things best said elsewhere.
I disagree. Your inbox is precisely the place for comments about your story that your readers like and dislike. The comments area is for readers to discuss the story and also a useful tool for communication with your readers.
In my opinion, the Story Discussion and Feedback portion of the Forum was originally for readers to talk about a story, and provide feedback. Especially true for stories of authors who did not enable feedback. Now the Forum section is useful primarily for discussion of stories that have been completed before the comments section was created.
This is also the first time I can recall of an author initiating a thread about their story. It seems like a plea for recognition.
In my opinion, the Story Discussion and Feedback portion of the Forum was originally for readers to talk about a story, and provide feedback.
So you agree with the stated use for the forum.
Story Discussion and Feedback
This is the place to discuss stories publicly. Love an SOL story? Hate it?
The OP is abiding by both the letter and spirit or the site/forum rules as stated.
It is not necessary for anyone to abide by your opinion, or mine, EB's or anyone else's. The ONLY opinion that matters is Lazeez's.
The OP is abiding by both the letter and spirit or the site/forum rules as stated.
Is he?
Emmeran stated that he is being "flooded" by feedback messages and reader comments. You may have missed it, but when I stated my opinion I said the Forum section was for "readers" of a story; unstated was the author of the story under discussion can participate.
Have you ever marketed your stories by initiating a thread in the Forum to discuss one or more of your stories?
In my opinion, Emmeran is attempting to market his story. If every author participating in the Forum were to market their stories in a similar manner, that portion of the Forum would be overwhelmed and the number of posts would make it basically useless.
I have followed the story and it is a good story, but it is not exceptional. So far it follows the basic pattern of the MC being thrown back in time and having to deal with life in the early 1800s. Personally, I don't think he is doing that good of a job representing life in the 1800s. Overall, I would rate the story as slightly above average (i.e. 6-7).
The opening post indicated he is getting messages from his readers that are "best said elsewhere. Here is that place." So far, I have not seen anything in the story that supports this statement or a need to discuss it in the Forum; it is all fairly bland for a SOL story.
If every author participating in the Forum were to market their stories in a similar manner, that portion of the Forum would be overwhelmed
That happened on the wattpad forum. Wattpad finally prohibited it. Their forum was broken into clubs like, Industry Insiders and Improve Your Writing.
The forum is gone (they claim due to complaints about bullying), but I believe when it was there they created a Share Your Story club for people to advertise their stories. And if I remember, even that had restrictions.
Is he?
Yes, according to the site description of that forum.
It is a little cynical to exempt him because he is an author as well as a reader.
If the current rules are applied, he is indeed abiding by both the letter and spirit of them.
A lot of people believe everyone should have a right to vote. Over the years many people have fought and often died defending those rights, for themselves and for others. Would you join that fight? Would you defend another's right to vote? Would you do so knowing that person might vote for the party/person you'd not vote for?
I actually agree that using the forum to advertise isn't common and 'en masse' would clog up the forum. But currently his post is within the rules and there is no flood of similar threads.
There is something to be said for any new thread that isn't yet another raking of already well burnt coals. Besides which, if there is little interest, the thread will soon become buried. If there is interest we might actually get more regular posters with wider interests and different opinions, that isn't a bad thing, is it?
I actually agree that using the forum to advertise isn't common
I suspect it's more common that you think because it's subtle rather than blatant.
AJ
Yes, according to the site description of that forum.
This is the only site description I am aware of for the 'Story Discussion and Feedback' section -
This is the place to discuss stories publicly. Love an SOL story? Hate it?
If there is something more, point me to it.
Now go back to the original post and tell me which part of his story Emmeran is addressing. The majority of the content in the post that I can see is about his interface with his readers, namely unstated content in the messages in his inbox and a reference to comments, which seems to refer to story comments, but story comments are not enabled. It looks to me that he is addressing himself, not the story. He does refer to the moral aspects of the story, but he doesn't clarify what he has in mind. Perhaps he was thinking of the recent chapters were the MC buys a Pawnee woman as a wife and a white woman from the Pawnees to use as a translator and then uses a switch on their thighs because they don't do what he orders them to do fast enough to please him. Actually, that is very tame for SOL and not a big deal in the BDSM world.
It is a little cynical to exempt him because he is an author as well as a reader.
If you check my posts, I did not exempt him. What I questioned was, his creating a post to draw attention to his story. That seems inappropriate to me; but as you said. doing so doesn't violate any rules.
If you check my posts, I did not exempt him.
You said:
In my opinion, the Story Discussion and Feedback portion of the Forum was originally for readers to talk about a story, and provide feedback.
Yes I did. I also said later in the thread:
You may have missed it, but when I stated my opinion I said the Forum section was for "readers" of a story; unstated was the author of the story under discussion can participate.
unstated was the author of the story under discussion can participate.
If you don't state it you can hardly bitch about being called on it.
But I'm sure authors will be relieved that you will allow them to participate...
I didn't give them permission for they didn't need it. The only thing I did was correct wording that could be misunderstood. Yes, sarcasm does flatter you.
Actually I don't care what you guys discuss in here but I will check in daily and answer where I think it's appropriate.
You would be surprised at how many technical discussions my story has and I'd like to see that continue as I delve into to more technical issues in the near future.
So grab a bar stool and have at it. I can take a punch so don't be afraid to correct me, I've raised 4 teenagers - I'm used to being wrong.
-Emmeran
I'm used to being wrong.
You will get a lot of that in here, the place is full of people who will argue with you just to argue, and a lot of them have never been wrong, just ask them!
a lot of them have never been wrong, just ask them!
When they insist they have never been rong, it is pretty easy to demonstrate they have. Unless they mean a rung of a ladder. The right vowel tends to mutate. "rang, reng, ring, rong, rung and sometimes ryng."
"Webster Dictionary(3.75 / 8 votes)
Rong
imp. & p. p. of Ring
Rong(noun)
rung (of a ladder)"
In the interests of campanology I must chime in.
Those people are at the extreme end of the bell curve, and chime loudly when others ring the changes, however appealing.
:)
a lot of them have never been wrong, just ask them!
As my dad always used to say, "I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken."
:)
I will check in daily and answer where I think it's appropriate.
Is the story complete or are you a 'pantser'?
I've enjoyed what I've read so far - the short chapters, lack of bloat and downbeat narration make it a fun story, even the darker bits.
AJ
The story is far from complete. I did write a blog about my purpose in writing this story and no I'm not here trying to market it. I'm not much on public attention.
It's a first story and some of the writing is passable and some is horrid but I'm enjoying it as it shows up on the screen in front of me. A rewrite might make it better but first I want to find out how it plays out for him on his journey to the graveyard. No there isn't a pre-planned storyboard, timeline or character map.
In the end this is a much better winter hobby than video games or building bird boxes in the shop.
In the end this is a much better winter hobby than video games or building bird boxes in the shop.
My current project is restoring dear wife's first car. 77 (TA28) Celica GT lift back. Besides being stored over a decade in a non-enviromentally controlled location in the P.I., getting it into the U.S. was a years long pain in the ass.
Then there is the fact that it was 50:50 metal/rust. I'm about 75% complete but right about now, some nice simple bird boxes have a certain appeal.
Thanks.
I hope the story finds its way to a satisfactory conclusion.
Then there is the fact that it was 50:50 metal/rust.
There seems to be a significant cultural divide.
In the UK, the rule of thumb is to go for a good body because you can always replace the engine.
In the USA the rule of thumb seems to be to go for a good engine because you can always replace the body.
AJ
There seems to be a significant cultural divide.
In the UK, the rule of thumb is to go for a good body because you can always replace the engine.
In the USA the rule of thumb seems to be to go for a good engine because you can always replace the body.
In this case, both the body and the engine were trash. From a cost analysis perspective, it was a clear looser. The final cost will never be recovered if it's sold.
However, this car was my wife's college graduation present from her father. There was no way I was going to argue against it given that.
Those projects on a profit basis is a different world.
For a memory cost isn't really a consideration if you can shake loose the funds. If the driver is a normal female the esthetics of the final product will matter more than what's under the hood.
I'm toying with a '68 Charger and I'm not concerned about numbers or "true to origin", I'd stick an electric motor in if I could afford it. I just love the design and the memory so I'm all for a modified resto.
I have one original and it's actually a pain in the ass and the stereo still sucks. Replica rebuild for me from here on out.
For a memory cost isn't really a consideration if you can't shake loose the funds. If the driver is a normal female the esthetics of the final product will matter more than what's under the hood.
The metalwork and drive train are already done. If I had to farm that out, the required money would have been more by an order of magnitude or two due to the labor cost.
It lacks the interior, paint, and some wiring at the moment. The restoration of the gauges to OEM specifications is the current bottleneck. That part I did have to farm out along with the seats, carpet, and dash. The paint will be completed in the next few days.
As for esthetics, she wants it just as it was presented to her by her father. She should be driving it in another six weeks or so.
Having helped on a couple of restorations I've concluded the correct sequence is:
A) Cut out VIN number from car to be restored.
B) Buy restored car.
C) Weld VIN number in place in restored car.
D) Crush original car.
W) Drink beer.
This process is often cheaper and always quicker than doing the work yourself.
A) Cut out VIN number from car to be restored.
The biggest issue is that it's not just in one location anymore. Typically it's in nine locations now.
It's still under the windshield on the driver's side.
But it's also on the B-pillar, and on both driver's side doors. Also, on the A-pillar by the driver's door hinges. And in two places in the engine compartment - on the firewall and on the body structure over the radiator. Under the left rear wheel well, under the spare tire, and under the front end, on the main chassis member.
The biggest issue is that it's not just in one location anymore. Typically it's in nine locations now.
It's still under the windshield on the driver's side.
But it's also on the B-pillar, and on both driver's side doors. Also, on the A-pillar by the driver's door hinges. And in two places in the engine compartment - on the firewall and on the body structure over the radiator. Under the left rear wheel well, under the spare tire, and under the front end, on the main chassis member.
This particular car/model TA28 was only available in Asian markets. The markings are mostly the same for the year model. However, one of the problems getting it here was the minor differences in locations. Other problems were up-rating the bumper, emissions control, and a few other minor things to make it US compliant.
Radagast is incorrect in the premise of swapping bodies like that. There was a time when that was allowed, but that was made illegal in recent years. I found that out the hard way on my Bronco restoration.
I know its illegal, I was mainly commenting on how much hard work and cash is required to restore or modify a car vs the value at the end.
I can still recall seeing award winning cars in the sports cars & hot rods section of the classifieds being sold for a 1/3 to 1/2 their build price, usually with a 'Must sell, getting married' note.
It wasn't uncommon among my group to have a car 'in build' and undrivable for two years as we waited for money, tools, time or inspiration to be available.
In no way am I disrespecting the work you have done for your lady.
my primary focus is rehabbing this 150 year old house.
Best wishes and good luck as my parents house was build 1856 so I know and understand the fun.
It is fun in its own way, some interesting challenges. On one hand you know the house isn't going to fall down anytime soon. The sturdiness of a lath and plaster wall is truly something to behold. It is also something to bitch about when you have to repair it.
Over-built was a term that I've heard used on these houses.
some interesting challenges
Our biggest problem is that the wood used in the framing of the house is oak and black walnut and has become so hard over the years that if you don't want to bend every nail you try to drive in you have to drill a pilot hole or cheat and pretend that it isn't wood your nailing into and drive the nails in like concrete.
As to over built well yep and we love it as we had a 100ft (30.4M) by 4ft (1.2M) diameter tree fall on the house during a storm and the end result was it dented the tin roof that was put on the house in the 1920s pretty much any other style or age of house and you would have had a new sky light in the roof with wall damage and all we heard was a soft thud sound wasn't till the next morning when we went outside to see the mess.
And my primary focus is rehabbing this 150 year old house.
Hope that works out for you. Getting the old and new material to match up is a royal PIA
I have no idea why I put a Step W at the end. Probably too many underpants gnomes references in modern media.