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3 years ago
General
So this journal has been a long time coming.
So there’s been something popping up lately. I wanted to attribute the first couple of times it happened as coincidence, but it’s become enough of a recurring thing that it’s bugging me and I feel the need to address it
Lately I’ve been getting questions. Not intrigue on the plot, or speculation where things were headed, but ones I thought had seemingly obvious answers to them in the story. Questions that I thought would have been answered by simply reading. So for the past couple of months I’ve pondered, why was this happening? Was I not detailing stories well enough? Was I speeding through too much of the smaller scenes to reach bigger plot points that important secondary things were being missed?
But the more I pondered the matter, a question kept coming up in turn that I couldn’t shake. One that got stuck in the back of my mind.
“Is anyone actually reading this stuff?”
I wanted to think that by adding a story snippet to the commissions I was ordering that I was somehow “enhancing” the content, something just the artist posting the piece by itself wouldn’t do. But looking at the engagement, or lack of, it brings, does it even matter? Does my writing add anything of note, or is it just fluff text for porn? Am I wasting my time trying to hash out snippets for these things if they’re just going to be ignored? Am I worrying too much about not getting a chapter finished when the only response I’ll get is “will we see the birth?” (Yes, I’m still mad about that one) Am I worrying for nothing and this is all in my head?
So, this is a test
I want you to tell, point blank, if those fears mentioned above are real or not. Will I be mad if you’re honest with me and say you’re just here for the images? No, I just want you to be honest with me. And before you get comfy, no, one person responding isn’t going to be enough to satiate this. There’s supposedly over a thousand of you getting notifications from me, it shouldn't be hard to get five or so replies, in theory anyway. You have an unspecified time limit on this, assume it’s less than you think. Let's see if you read or not.
Not answering is in itself an answer
So there’s been something popping up lately. I wanted to attribute the first couple of times it happened as coincidence, but it’s become enough of a recurring thing that it’s bugging me and I feel the need to address it
Lately I’ve been getting questions. Not intrigue on the plot, or speculation where things were headed, but ones I thought had seemingly obvious answers to them in the story. Questions that I thought would have been answered by simply reading. So for the past couple of months I’ve pondered, why was this happening? Was I not detailing stories well enough? Was I speeding through too much of the smaller scenes to reach bigger plot points that important secondary things were being missed?
But the more I pondered the matter, a question kept coming up in turn that I couldn’t shake. One that got stuck in the back of my mind.
“Is anyone actually reading this stuff?”
I wanted to think that by adding a story snippet to the commissions I was ordering that I was somehow “enhancing” the content, something just the artist posting the piece by itself wouldn’t do. But looking at the engagement, or lack of, it brings, does it even matter? Does my writing add anything of note, or is it just fluff text for porn? Am I wasting my time trying to hash out snippets for these things if they’re just going to be ignored? Am I worrying too much about not getting a chapter finished when the only response I’ll get is “will we see the birth?” (Yes, I’m still mad about that one) Am I worrying for nothing and this is all in my head?
So, this is a test
I want you to tell, point blank, if those fears mentioned above are real or not. Will I be mad if you’re honest with me and say you’re just here for the images? No, I just want you to be honest with me. And before you get comfy, no, one person responding isn’t going to be enough to satiate this. There’s supposedly over a thousand of you getting notifications from me, it shouldn't be hard to get five or so replies, in theory anyway. You have an unspecified time limit on this, assume it’s less than you think. Let's see if you read or not.
Not answering is in itself an answer
I constantly see the frustration of my close friend, who has been an author for years and years, with several lengthy stories under their belt, over the total lack of interaction over their work. Sure it might eventually wrack up views, but little to no favorites, less so for favorites.
People are more visually engaged, it's a sad truth of today. My own serious/story work is largely ignored because it lacks smut/kinks, and it is a major depressor to pour my life into this story, to share a world and cast I love to see it basically amount to nothing.
I've been told to keep writing for me, because it's from my heart and I love it, that doesn't make it easier when even good friends don't read or say a word over it. I try to go around and favorite, comment, review other works but I am also one person, I can't encourage the world.
Anyroad, I think it'd be a shame to see you stop writing, you have wonderful tales, lovely OCs, and a lot of time and effort invested, that means something more than numbers on a page. You created something that wouldn't exist in the world if not for you, you've inspired or encouraged people like me to draw those for you, allowing us to share your creation together.
And hey, if it's any consolation, I tend to have a lot of that kinda problem too on my own work, especially with my own writing (which is kinda why I haven't really done any serious stories in a while). ^_^;
With that said though, I'll admit that I don't read everything you post, but what I have read I do remember enjoying and I sincerely hope that you'll still keep writing; if nothing else, it's cool to see the context you apply to the artwork that you commission and I've always been curious about at least some of the characters that you develop (Tashi and Alexandria have been some of my favorites, by the way). =3
Anyway, sorry for not having any great "words of wisdom" regarding this whole thing, but as mentioned before, what little I have read I still enjoyed, and I truly hope that you'll keep writing in the future.
Like the other comments say, FA has a problem with comments especially under written work.
But to be honest about that as well I do it for myself, I like having background information/story/flavour on images and scenes, even if it’s for myself, I’m okay with that, but I do wonder if it’s worth sharing that with others, if they care or appreciate it or not. And I have over a thousand watchers as well(which I’m pretty sure like more than 50% are BOTS) and I hardly get much interaction on anything I upload, like maybe one or two people.
I just might post a journal like this myself, and see if anyone responds….
When Someone posts a really nice picture, I will read the short description to see whats going on ... up to a paragraph.
When someone posts a pic, and then adds a 5 page story in the description box ... I never read it. I neeeever read it.
If I was looking for stories, I would not be on the art gallery website. I would go somewhere else.
It is like going to the grocery store for bread and milk, passing the magazine rack at the cash register, and then being stopped at the door by the magazine publisher, begging to know why you didn't buy their magazine and read the whole thing on the spot before leaving, when you only visited the store to get Milk and Bread and Leave. Maybe that is all you have the spare time for.
There is nothing wrong with offering it ... but that is just not what 99% of grocery shoppers are there for.
If I notice an account that frequently uploads content I enjoy, I watch them and fave the highlights.
I usually log on when I have maybe an hour or so to see what is new. Depending on what themes or characters I am looking for, there may be literally HUNDREDS of submissions uploaded in the past few days alone, and browsing through them and reading their descriptions can easily take up that full hour on its own. I have a backlog of several hundred submissions on my watchlist alone right now. Just viewing them all one by one takes a surprising amount of time. When one of them has 5 pages of text attached, but it is only submission 5 of 342 (and that is AFTER filtering down to only the thumbnails I find appealing from an original 500+), I just don't have the time right then.
Occasionally, I will see a premise that catches my attention and leave it to come back to later, or download it if it allows it. Honestly though, on the occasion I chose to read a story someone else wrote about a theme I enjoy, it often becomes clear very quicky that we like the same thing for VERY different reasons, and well written or not, I just don't like it.
A picture is much more open to interpretation for what story is behind it.
Honestly ... a story often can ruin a pic for me. When I disagree too much with the authors taste and perspective, it just makes it harder to enjoy a pretty picture for what it is. I actually enjoy making up my own story in my head instead. Whatever I prefer it to be ... it is that. Enjoyment maximized.
So I'd chalk it up to the readers of your stories being a silent majority. Just because some people don't say anything does not mean they don't enjoy what's in front of them, writing or otherwise.
For what it's worth, I've always enjoyed the stories that accompany the art, they do a lot to enhance it.
But I have similiar views on when I post my own images and ad those lore snipets or even longer story and even after years no single comment on them ^w^;