Random Ramblings LIII · 9:08pm Apr 9th, 2016
IN WHICH I TALK BURRITOS AGAIN:
So, as promised, "Adagio" has been posted. I really need to figure out when the best time to post is, since it's been up for over a day and almost no one has read it… save for the two downvote fairies who always seem to get to my work before anyone else. Maybe I should have submitted it to the moderator queue instead of just posting it directly?
More thoughts past the jump.
Downvote my work if you must, but I'd at least like to know why. One reader, another author, was kind enough to explain to me why he disliked Highs & Lows and gave it a downvote. I disagreed with his reasoning to an extent (and his tone a lot – I think he was in a bad mood), but at least I understood it and have tried since to avoid that mistake in my later works.
I do not use prereaders or editors. The only feedback I get is from readers commenting. If no one comments or even rates, then I have no idea how I succeeded or failed. More importantly, I can't improve. If you like my work, tell me so. If you hate my work… well, still let me know, as long as you're not a jerk about it. Personally, I rarely downvote anything ("Yes It Matters" was an exception), and I'll often let an author know I enjoyed their story – unless it's Featured, due to the high comment volume – because they deserve no less.
Is it my tone? I know I tend to come off standoffish even when trying to be friendly. Sorry. Or… is it just that my writing is really so boring that no one cares to read it? I've already given up trying to write pure comedy (which I find much easier to pull off in comic form).
Well, I'm torn on what to do next. Do I finally tackle Lows & Highs? Or do I write Aria Blaze Steals A Burrito first? "Aria" would be a simple story in the vein of the other three, and 99.9% likely my final Burrito story. I tried brainstorming it and writing a couple of paragraphs but I don't have it. L&H will chronicle Sunset suffering a severe depressive episode, with Rarity trying (probably failing) to cheer her up.
Honestly, I would urge you to consider using pre-readers and/or editors. I feel like a lot of the anxiety of releasing a story comes from those questions of whether it's good, or just wanting concrete feedback about it. But if you've had someone pre-read and provide feedback prior to release, you have a better sense of whether what you've written is good or otherwise, and you have more of a chance to make your own peace with what you might expect the reaction to be.
That doesn't mean that you'll always get the reaction you're expecting, but at least it gives you a baseline to start from.