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Post by drew on Oct 13, 2010 12:58:29 GMT -5
Rachel, yikes, lately, I haven't been going through a blogs archives, I have been just jumping in and whatever point the person is at and move forward. I have gone back to previous updates and glanced at maybe some plot point that needs clarifying, but I just don't have the time to read everyone's previous entries, that sounds horrible, I know. And I mean no disrespect for anyone's previous body of work! I really don't expect anyone to read all my back stuff either, but I do appreciate it if they do.
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Post by raquelaroden on Oct 13, 2010 13:06:31 GMT -5
Drew: Oh, I didn't mean to suggest that everyone should do that, LOL. I do it, but I know it isn't for everyone. I find it really adds to my enjoyment of the story. Right now, I have a lot of time on my hands, but I know that won't be the case forever!
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tipix
New Member
Posts: 24
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Post by tipix on Oct 14, 2010 21:46:48 GMT -5
As an excessive commenter on almost every blog I read, I think it's really just based on the reader's personality whether they comment or lurk. I quite honestly just like to talk and share my opinions, online and irl. Even if my opinion is usually "I love it!!".
I find myself more likely to comment on blogs where the author replies to me, since it makes the story a personal experience and interactive. There are only one or two stories that I don't comment on religiously, and they're ones that I've never received a reply on. I love being able to say "Hey, I really liked that!" and hear about how the effect was achieved or what the author thought about their own chapter. (Which makes hrootbeer's responses my favourite, they're always in depth about what she was trying to achieve and what she thinks of her characters - as well as other silly things they're up to in game.)
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Post by laura on Oct 14, 2010 22:25:24 GMT -5
Oh, Illandrya, agreed! The dialogue created between the readers and the author is invaluable! Sometimes I'm not sure I'd even be able to write a story without having someone to talk about it with. Just the pinging back and forth of ideas, and the further ideas that are spawned! It's truly amazing!
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Post by celebkiriedhel on Oct 15, 2010 0:44:11 GMT -5
On the other side of that Laura, I sometimes worry about making comments that go against where the writer is going, and causing a resistance to the story, because of differing opinions.
But I do love reading the comments other people put on stories - they often see things that I don't.
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Post by laura on Oct 15, 2010 6:55:57 GMT -5
Kiri, I don't think that's something you should worry about. The story is always going to read differently to everyone because of personal experiences, so that's where the group consensus is most helpful. Every writer needs to know how to handle differing opinions, and nobody is ever going to agree on everything. Hell, my readers very rarely agree on their opinions of my stories, lol!
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Post by heredoncove on Oct 15, 2010 14:20:55 GMT -5
The other reason is that I often find inspiration in the comments I receive. Someone will hypothesise why a certain character did what they did and, although that wasn't the reasoning behind it, it gives me food for thought and often spawns a little side story that I hadn't seen coming (that one happened today - twice!). I got 1000 words out of a couple of comments on one of my characters. Of course I now have to find a way to get that into the story, but I'm stoked! This is one of my favorite parts about reading comments on my blog. I sometimes get comments and questions that force me to ask those questions of my characters and I think it creates a richer character. I find ways to sneak answers to the questions without being explicit so that there is some payoff(?) for the readers and I don't find that it hinders where I'm going with my story. I work really hard to keep a handle on how many blogs I read so that I can comment on them even if it takes me several days to do so. I know what comments mean to a writer. It's validation that you are doing a good job and that what you're doing is appreciated. I also have to work hard to make the stats get to me. It hard to look at the number of people who have visited the blog without saying anything and learning to be okay with that. I find myself saying it really doesn't matter as much as I think it does whenever I update.
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Post by thelunarfox on Oct 15, 2010 15:09:58 GMT -5
Kiri, I don't think that's something you should worry about. The story is always going to read differently to everyone because of personal experiences, so that's where the group consensus is most helpful. Every writer needs to know how to handle differing opinions, and nobody is ever going to agree on everything. Hell, my readers very rarely agree on their opinions of my stories, lol! I have to agree. It's a sign of a good story when there are multiple readings that can come out of a story. Sometimes people see a story in a way that I haven't even seen it. I just keep thinking back to that morning I woke up and had a comment from SB and a comment from Moondaisy ( ) that were complete opposites. One for a character and one against. That was actually very thrilling to see something I'd written come alive in that way that people could actually discuss it and not agree and still both be right.
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Post by Stacy on Oct 15, 2010 15:25:32 GMT -5
Kiri, I don't think that's something you should worry about. The story is always going to read differently to everyone because of personal experiences, so that's where the group consensus is most helpful. Every writer needs to know how to handle differing opinions, and nobody is ever going to agree on everything. Hell, my readers very rarely agree on their opinions of my stories, lol! I have to agree. It's a sign of a good story when there are multiple readings that can come out of a story. Sometimes people see a story in a way that I haven't even seen it. I just keep thinking back to that morning I woke up and had a comment from SB and a comment from Moondaisy ( ) that were complete opposites. One for a character and one against. That was actually very thrilling to see something I'd written come alive in that way that people could actually discuss it and not agree and still both be right. I want Moondaisy back! *cries* She never answered my second email, telling her that we loved her and she would always be welcome whenever she wanted to come back. But yeah - I like it when people see stuff in my stories that I didn't see and tell me their impressions. Even the one person who thought it was more like a cop show than set in the Sims game and that Jason's actions weren't realistic - sure, I maybe got a little overheated about how it wasn't supposed to be uber-realistic. Honestly I scared her off commenting much again, and I'm sorry for that. But later on when I calmed down and thought about it, I came to the conclusion that it was a compliment that she took my Sims story so seriously and expected it to be set IRL and not in the Sims game.
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Post by Velvet on Feb 3, 2011 13:10:32 GMT -5
I've had a few stories I've commented on religiously when time permitted me. That's the big thing with me. I know how little time I have and although I may love a story, adore it in fact, I sometimes will not comment because I know that I can't continue commenting. It's like, don't start what you can't finish.
The few times I've done that, I've felt so guilty for not constantly commenting that I've just abandoned the story all together. Which is stupid. Doesn't make a bit of sense but that's the way I was. I say was because I had to come to the realization that saying a few, "I really like this" kind of statements is better than never letting the writer know anything.
Since I've started blogging, I've come to appreciate other writers, creators in the community. I first started blogging with my sim's art site. I saw and still see very little comments and at first I got discouraged because I felt no one liked what I had to offer. Then I discovered stats and I learned how to check the download tally - boy was I in for a surprise. Then I got mad!
I was like, "those ungrateful people, taking my stuff and not even a "Thank You!"". LOL I had to laugh at myself when I calmed down. I finally realized that the number of downloads alone were "thank you" enough.
Now, I try to comment at least once on stories but I realize that some may take that to mean I don't like the story if I don't continue. I hate leaving that impression and still feel guilty about it; I really have to work around the 'abandonment' thing, either that or never comment and that just doesn't seem right for me.
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pinkfiend1
Full Member
Missing everyone
Posts: 467
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Post by pinkfiend1 on Feb 3, 2011 13:40:44 GMT -5
I'm like Rachel I always work through from the very first entry on a blog, I just need to start at the beginning and finish at the end, although if I'm not best thrilled with what I'm reading to start with I will read the last entry or two just to see if it is any good to decide if I should continue.
I love replying to comments, it seems nice somehow, but if I get a couple in a go before I check I do reply to them all in one comment because it's simpler and then it doesn't seem like I'm clogging up my own blog. Plus with some of them, expecially if mroe suggestions I use I mention them in the post.
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Post by jennifer on Feb 19, 2011 5:20:42 GMT -5
I think time is a big issue and whether the lurker/reader feels confident in leaving a comment. I love to leave comments and recap on what happened in someone's story, also 99% of the time the writer will reply to your comment and I love to read what their thoughts are on what you left them. It's such a fun way of interacting!
Receiving comments I find sometimes helps me to progress on my story or maybe help me to change the path that a certain character is taking that I've wanted to change but didn't know how. I don't class myself as a writer because I'm not really, I mean I've always been interested in it but since writing sim stories I never had the confidence to write. Comments have definitely helped me in a big way there and I appreciate every one that anyone leaves.
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Post by speechless on Feb 28, 2011 7:46:40 GMT -5
I am mostly the lurker, mainly because I just do not have time to comment and it often makes me really sad, as i wish i could. I usually read the stories on my iphone using a feedreader or on my macbook, meaning i read when i am on the go and always have a set amount of time. It takes every effort to keep myself up to date with all the blogs I got on my list, so commenting really happens very rarely. I mean I have over 30 subscriptions to different blogs, but half of them are stories, other half creators or personal etc... so commenting is just often impossible. I often have time to comment on maybe 1 or 2 stories but skip it because I feel undecided who i should comment on, and am afraid it would upset others if I don't pick them. I find something different in each story, and so choosing is difficult.
Of course I like people commenting on my story, but by stats I know people do read and I try not to get upset if they don't comment, specially as I am not real regular updater and probably not the best sims writer either.
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Seera
New Member
Posts: 33
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Post by Seera on Mar 2, 2011 23:30:44 GMT -5
I'm primarily a lurker mainly because I don't feel like I have anything new to add. I'd say that I liked it, but then it pails in comparison to someone else's comment and that I'm just repeating what they said. Which I know is not a bad thing for stories, but it doesn't get rid of the fact that I don't like just repeating what someone else said.
The story that brought me here was Laura's Lakeside Heights. I just can't bring myself to comment.
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Post by laura on Mar 2, 2011 23:36:03 GMT -5
The story that brought me here was Laura's Lakeside Heights. I just can't bring myself to comment. Awww! *hugs you to pieces!!!* No comment ever pales in comparison! I promise you!
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Post by thelunarfox on Mar 3, 2011 0:07:08 GMT -5
I am mostly the lurker, mainly because I just do not have time to comment and it often makes me really sad, as i wish i could. I usually read the stories on my iphone using a feedreader or on my macbook, meaning i read when i am on the go and always have a set amount of time. It takes every effort to keep myself up to date with all the blogs I got on my list, so commenting really happens very rarely. I mean I have over 30 subscriptions to different blogs, but half of them are stories, other half creators or personal etc... so commenting is just often impossible. This is why I love lurkers. A lot of people don't have much time. They have a lot of other things they could be reading or doing. So I love to look at my stats and see someone linger there for 15 minutes. The best is when someone stays there for an hour at a time. A couple of times I've had people stay for 3 to 5 hours! So a comment is really a small thing. I love them, but the fact that anyone is taking some amount of time out of their day/free time/online time to read something I've written feels really good.
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Seera
New Member
Posts: 33
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Post by Seera on Mar 3, 2011 0:51:02 GMT -5
The story that brought me here was Laura's Lakeside Heights. I just can't bring myself to comment. Awww! *hugs you to pieces!!!* No comment ever pales in comparison! I promise you! One of these days I'll get around to commenting ;D
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Post by speechless on Mar 3, 2011 4:40:17 GMT -5
I am mostly the lurker, mainly because I just do not have time to comment and it often makes me really sad, as i wish i could. I usually read the stories on my iphone using a feedreader or on my macbook, meaning i read when i am on the go and always have a set amount of time. It takes every effort to keep myself up to date with all the blogs I got on my list, so commenting really happens very rarely. I mean I have over 30 subscriptions to different blogs, but half of them are stories, other half creators or personal etc... so commenting is just often impossible. This is why I love lurkers. A lot of people don't have much time. They have a lot of other things they could be reading or doing. So I love to look at my stats and see someone linger there for 15 minutes. The best is when someone stays there for an hour at a time. A couple of times I've had people stay for 3 to 5 hours! So a comment is really a small thing. I love them, but the fact that anyone is taking some amount of time out of their day/free time/online time to read something I've written feels really good. This actually made me wonder, do stats count people who read through feedreader. I mean after all isn't it just a piece of software which pulls the feed for you to read, without you ever actually needing to click on the site. Any ideas?
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Post by laura on Mar 3, 2011 7:36:40 GMT -5
Speechless, it won't show up on stats, but you can check subscription numbers to get a feel for how many people are subscribed. It'll only show up on stats if the reader clicks through to the actual website.
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somuchsong
Full Member
...certainement disaster
Posts: 197
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Post by somuchsong on Mar 3, 2011 8:18:22 GMT -5
I'm glad you asked, Speechless, because I've always wondered that as well. I figured it would only count if they clicked through but didn't know for sure. Thanks for the info, Laura.
There's someone right now who is reading through all my archives. She (I'm assuming it's a she, as most Sim blog readers and writers seem to be) is devoting hours a day to reading all of my old entries. This is amazing to me and I definitely take it as a big compliment. She may never comment but I guess I can assume she likes what she's reading.
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