Readers are Hiding From Authors

[CharlesEBrown]

I'll do the easy thing and condemn the practice of following readers home to demand comments.
There seem to be more polite and efficient ways to solicit comments.

There are also methods less likely to result in restraining orders.

Or so I've heard.

 

[MC-Stories]

Hmm, i see what all are getting at, as long as there are some who actually read my stories, i can sleep a happy dragon and respect their privacy

 

[Little-Moon]

Mhhh, I have never been stalked for my reading. Guess I was lucky then.

I do interact with my own readers by responding to their comments and it's been working fine thus so far ^^ Didn't even know that this stalking was an actual thing.
I mean, it's kind off...contraproductive.

 

[JayMark]

There are also methods less likely to result in restraining orders.

Or so I've heard.

Does this mean I have to let all those readers out of my basement?

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Does this mean I have to let all those readers out of my basement?

Depends. Are they BETA readers or just Readers? Did they sign contracts?

Oh, and are you feeding them?

 

[Alski]

Does this mean I have to let all those readers out of my basement?

You will never catch up to Tonys count with that attitude, he even has @RepresentingWrath down there to manage them all.

 

[thegingernut]

r/LowStakesConspiracies

 

[TinaMigarlo]

To any new authors dont beg for reviews. It makes you look desperate if you want your story to gain traction just release constantly and be patient.
Also you may have to accept what your writing isnt as cool or as interesting as you thought it was

but then you *also* come to accept that even once you have some readers and views going... you still get zero engagement. I have no knowledge of how to convince readers I won't "bother" them, I just want feedback and input to work off of. I think some degree of this stems from when articles started going out, such as :

"How to run being a web-novel author like the *business* that it is !"
(yes, this was a real article, and often cited)

among other "tips", you are responsible for "beating the bushes" to "promote" yourself and your web-novel.
hence, the spastic chasing of reader's reviews and other things.
So chasing reader engagement, killed reader engagement.
this in conjunction with everyone wanting to hide their "preferences".

This whole thing is part and parcel of whenever this turned into a "side hustle". (I hate that term)

 

[JayMark]

Depends. Are they BETA readers or just Readers? Did they sign contracts?

Oh, and are you feeding them?

I have to feed them!? Next you'll be telling me I have to water them like they're plants or something.

 

[Alski]

I have to feed them!? Next you'll be telling me I have to water them like they're plants or something.

8 hours of sunlight and enough water is how you grow your reader base. Once they are big enough you can harvest them for reviews and other engagement activities.

 

[JayMark]

8 hours of sunlight and enough water is how you grow your reader base. Once they are big enough you can harvest them for reviews and other engagement activities.

Yeah.... about that...
Well, I'll save that information for the next batch then.

 

[Alski]

Yeah.... about that...
Well, I'll save that information for the next batch then.

Also of note, your favourite grass is a weed and can choke the life out of other produce so make sure your next pass over the planting field gets it root and all.