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New story announcements

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How should authors announce a new story?

25 votes remaining
PM their entire friend list with a synopsis/link (2 votes) 8%
Use their status update and/or forum banner only (23 votes) 92%
All of the above (5 votes) 20%
None of the above (5 votes) 20%
Dancing_Doll
Alpha Blonde
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I've seen many different methods used for new story announcements. I am curious as to what readers prefer.

I was always under the impression that the point of the "follow the author" option was to allow individual readers to decide whether they wanted to be alerted when someone specific published a new story. I'm noticing more and more people are now choosing to PM their entire friend list whenever they post something, which often results in multiple-announcements if you're already following them.

Outside of the "follow the author" option that every reader has, how do you prefer that writers 'market' a new story?
Do any of these tactics annoy you or do you feel that the more attention an author can draw to their own story, the better.
INNOCENTMISERY
Active Ink Slinger
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To be honest, the "Follow The Author" option works just fine with me. Like the old saying says, "If it ain't broke, why fix it?"

But that's just my opinion.
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Mistress_of_words
Active Ink Slinger
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The new story PMs do get on my nerves a bit. If it's a personal message from a friend to me specifically, then fair enough, but these are like mailshots, lol. And it really bugs me when people send the same message several times.

The way I see it, you choose which authors you want to be notified about as your favourite authors and you choose people you want to have contact with or check on with occasionally as your friends. Authors sending mass PMs to their friend list seems to me like they are trying to make up for not having more followers.

I think posting a link on your blog and forum signature is plenty. It's a passive way of notifying your friends. That and talking about your stories of course. I occasionally send personal invitations to individual people to read certain stories of mine I think they will enjoy, and I will make recommendations if the opportunity comes up in a chat.
Guest
Lurker
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I follow a couple of writers and I'm really glad when The Lush Faerie adivises me they've got a new one up!

I've no objection to friends telling me they've written something new but it's something I don't trouble myself to do....

I don't advertise...... I think it's unnecessary, for me, anyway..... You'll find me if you want me!!!!!

xx SF
Lisa
Moderator
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I voted for option two. It's easy enough to see new stories on the front page or click on "follow the author" if I want to make sure I don't miss a new story. If all that fails I can see their status update or forum signature, which is a friendlier way of advertising. PMing an entire friends list is overkill in my opinion.
Magical_felix
Wild at Heart
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I never announce a new story by mass PM, status update or forum banner. I have told a couple friends about a new story I was posting only once and later felt guilty for it. I felt guilty because after I sent the PM I realized I put them in the position of them either voting for my story or them maybe thinking that I would think it was rude of them if they didn't read and vote. One of the reasons I don't like to ask friends to read a story is because I want a more accurate response. I know that if I bug everyone on my list to read and vote, my stories will have more comments and make them appear more popular than they are. Feels like cheating to me I guess.
nicola
Matriarch
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Good response Magical Felix.

I guess the real factor here is, why do you write?
Guest
Lurker
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Personally I agree with Felix I have been put in situations were I feel guilty if I'm not voting or commenting on a story and have even been called out on it before and even reminded to vote/comment. Follow the author option for me is the best reminder and not an annoyance!
sprite
Her Royal Spriteness
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Quote by Magical_felix
I never announce a new story by mass PM, status update or forum banner. I have told a couple friends about a new story I was posting only once and later felt guilty for it. I felt guilty because after I sent the PM I realized I put them in the position of them either voting for my story or them maybe thinking that I would think it was rude of them if they didn't read and vote. One of the reasons I don't like to ask friends to read a story is because I want a more accurate response. I know that if I bug everyone on my list to read and vote, my stories will have more comments and make them appear more popular than they are. Feels like cheating to me I guess.


i've done it a couple of times, perhaps 3, and each time i felt sort of... eh, like i was whoring myself or something, i don't know, it felt a little wrong, and i think i'm done with it - now, i just state in my blog and down at the bottom of my siggy, when i'm not being too lazy to bother, and just sort of trust that people will read it if they want, and if not, their loss, right? smile

for the record, i would never make an issue of someone not reading, voting, or commenting on a story - yes, i am thrilled to death when they do, but unless i am willing to read and vote and comment on EVERY SINGLE story on the site, how can i get pissy if no one else can, either. :)

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DirtyMartini
Purveyor of Poetry & Porn
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Quote by nicola


I guess the real factor here is, why do you write?


The only reason why I write is so I can send my friends hate mail when they don't vote and comment on my stories...

You're not suggesting there might be something wrong with that...are you???

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CuriousButterfly
Flirtatiously Fluttering
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I personally don't mind receiving messages from friends announcing their new story. I don't necessarily have all of my friends on my "follow author" list or sometimes they are simply new to writing and are excited about having written their first story. Although the forum signature is a great way to promote a story, some authors choose not to participate in the forums so this wouldn't be an option. I don't feel that sending or receiving a message obligates someone to read the story.
Magical_felix
Wild at Heart
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Quote by nicola
Good response Magical Felix.

I guess the real factor here is, why do you write?


I mostly write as a creative outlet. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I finish a filthy little story. I'd be lying that if, like sprite, I said I wasn't absolutely thrilled when people vote and comment, but it feels so much better when they just do it without me asking. I think since my stories are a little... Different, I like just springing them on people Hahahaha!

I do like forum banners though. I don't make them myself but I do like Dancing_Doll's, ladyX's and some of the other authors/forum regular's banners. They remind me of book covers and they do make me want to read their work. I think what might annoy some people about the PM advertising is that some of us don't get stacks of mail... So when I log on and I see I have 6 new messages I say, "oh cool, let's see what's my friends have to say." Then I open my inbox and 5 of the messages are 'read my story and comment' solicitations. It's even more deflating when three of them were from the same person who accidentally sent the message repeatedly.

myself
Active Ink Slinger
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don't like it when people ask me to read their work -thanks for not doing this : )
Torture the data long enough and they will confess to anything.
Guest
Lurker
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Quote by Magical_felix
Quote by nicola
Good response Magical Felix.

I guess the real factor here is, why do you write?


I mostly write as a creative outlet. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I finish a filthy little story. I'd be lying that if, like sprite, I said I wasn't absolutely thrilled when people vote and comment, but it feels so much better when they just do it without me asking. I think since my stories are a little... Different, I like just springing them on people Hahahaha!

I do like forum banners though. I don't make them myself but I do like Dancing_Doll's, ladyX's and some of the other authors/forum regular's banners. They remind me of book covers and they do make me want to read their work. I think what might annoy some people about the PM advertising is that some of us don't get stacks of mail... So when I log on and I see I have 6 new messages I say, "oh cool, let's see what's my friends have to say." Then I open my inbox and 5 of the messages are 'read my story and comment' solicitations. It's even more deflating when three of them were from the same person who accidentally sent the message repeatedly.


Very well put!
CharlotteRusse1
Active Ink Slinger
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I usually add people to my friends list only if they comment on a story or send me email about it. So, I figure they would appreciate it if they got a link to a new one....I don't go out and ask people to friend me just to get them to read. So, I don't really see sending a message to my friends as a big faux-pas.
An old favorite story of mine: The Chaise Lounge
Guest
Lurker
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I think a status update is relevant.

Also think the follow button works great also.
Shylass
Gingerbread Lover
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I like the status updates and I loathe the PMs people send me (sorry!). My story-reading habits are very different to most people on Lush, and it takes me a long time to get round to things. I feel obliged to comment and vote on things I am not yet ready or able to read at times, and that pees me right off Pee Mountain, and then I feel really bad about all the pee. I will get there when I get there, honest! I would especially hate for somebody to feel obliged to read, vote and comment on my stuff because I was bugging them about it. They should only do so if they want to, not because I guilted them into it. Besides, some of the people I know on here are brutally honest, and I might end up getting a kick.

I haven't yet "followed" anybody, but when/if the time comes for me to need it, that's what I will do. As far as publicising my own stories goes, I might tell one, maybe two friends privately, because I like to share things that are important to me. But like Steph said, if they want to read my all stuff, they will. Or at least, they will read it once and decide from there!
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Guest
Lurker
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I have to admit that I have sent out the mass PM's a couple of times but only because people showed an interest in my series but then they weren't following me so I wanted to just let them know that the next chapter was out. It did feel a little weird so I can't say I'm planning on doing it again. Besides I think I have about 40 followers now! smile
Guest
Lurker
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I chose the status answer,I like lush sending announcements of authors I am following also.
adele
Weaver of Words
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Quote by sprite



for the record, i would never make an issue of someone not reading, voting, or commenting on a story - yes, i am thrilled to death when they do, but unless i am willing to read and vote and comment on EVERY SINGLE story on the site, how can i get pissy if no one else can, either. smile


I agree with this wholeheartedly, and with Alan about deleting emails about the stories if I am not interested or don't have the time to read at the moment. I have sent out only one email and have added a link to my forum signature for the current competition. I will probably not send out the emails again, but might put it in my blog.
Guest
Lurker
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I have PMd in the past, but that was before I realised how annoying it can be to get loads of them. I don't mind the occasional one though...

Generally I'll just blog it and maybe use it as my forum sig...