Its very cool with me for anyone on my friends list to send out a new story notice when they have a new one posted. What is NOT cool is to ask for my support on your story for vote & comment and then NOT reciprocate with mine when I ask back.
I had someone send me one of these requests. I responded that I would love to do so and let them know that I also had a new story, my first ever, and asked them to do the same. I gave her a great vote and a great comment but she must have thought she was too good to do the same for me. I discovered that one can delete their comment from a story and delete someone from their friends list. Delete! Delete!
If you have me on your friends list then treat me like a friend! That is not too much to ask! I will treat you good right back.
I am one of those people that send out a new story notice when I finally get around to writing one.
What I don't expect is for everyone on my friends list to like the genre of stories I write.
I don't hold anything against anyone that just delete's my mail.
There are topics and genre's that don't do anything for me so I extend the same courtesy to my friends.
I think it all comes down to reasonable expectations. Like many, many other story-writing members here, I'll advertise my stories by status update (and occasionally by PM, but never as a scattershot. PM's are individual invitations from me). In doing so, I'll hope they read, vote, and/or comment, but I'd never single somebody out and take it personally if they choose not to. That seems petty.
By the same token, though, I do think it's only considerate and good manners to read others' work, especially if you consider them a valued member of your friend list. After all, the feedback from others is a big motivation and reward for many who write, and if my opinion is valued, the least I can do is take a few minutes to share it. I'd feel exceedingly selfish to generally expect people to read my stuff, yet never read any of theirs. And if I did go about it that way, I couldn't exactly claim surprise or cry foul if others chose to leave my stories unread.
Some of us, like LittleBambi points out, are very busy, and aside from time, sometimes it just plain slips our mind to read a story. But we're a writing community, and I think we're at our best when we extend a little for each others' sake, or at least make an effort to do so. Otherwise, what's the point, other than just shameless self-promotion?
I am not an author, or at least not one who has yet to write anything I think is worthy of submission. But if I was and a friend asked me to read and comment on their stories, I would expect them to do the same in return. Seems only fair!!
As an avid reader, I try to vote and comment on my friends stories but sometimes after I read them I am too worked up that other things occupy my mind and then I forget to comment. And for that I do apologize to the amazing authors I am fortunate enough to have as friends!!
When I post a story, I create a forum banner signature and I make a status-update on my profile. That's it.
I've never sent out a mass-PM update, nor have I ever asked someone by PM to read a story I've written. I always assumed that if a person is interested in knowing when I post something that they will follow me as an author and the Lush system delivers the lovely heads-up PMs to the people who want them I think the last time I counted, I have something like 370 followers. I have always placed value in (and preferred) that system - everyone gets a choice, and nobody has to feel obligated to read anything.
I do think that since this is a community, it's only fair to spread the love. I am not naturally an avid reader myself, but I will read stories written by people I know and interact with in order to support their work, and I make sure to follow my favourite authors. Sometimes I'll have a backlog of things I mean to read, but I do try to get to them eventually. We are all writers, and supporting each other is important, both in votes and comments. Any writer who says they don't get a little thrill by seeing a great comment on a story they've just written, or who doesn't wake up in the first few days after posting and wonder how many votes/views their story has gotten is either lying, posturing, or just doesn't value their own writing efforts enough.
I am always humbled by the wonderful comments and support my stories have received on this site. I don't mind if it takes people a while to get to reading them - I haven't posted anything here in a few months and I'm still excited to read comments that trickle in with my stories day-to-day.
If someone asked me to read something and didn't respond with reading my stuff (this has happened once or twice to me), then I still don't take it personally. I just assume they might have forgotten or will get to it eventually.
I can understand how you feel Beowulf. I really like to get comments and all on my stories. I think we all do, why else would we do it? Some people don't look at it as a two way street, giving & receiving. I do try my best to read my friend's stories and always leave them a comment when I do. It is difficult to get to them all but I try really hard. You just have to take how you feel it. If you feel someone slighted you you don't have to keep them as a friend. I'd usually try and give someone the benefit of the doubt though. I for one hope you write some more stories.
I know I like to receive a message notification. I signed up to follow stories but was running out of room for them on my page and there are a bunch more story writers I thoroughly enjoy. So anyone feel free to pm me when you post a new story and I'll get to it as soon as I can.
Maybe I did overreact, I don't know. I feel that the other person considered me too insignificant. I doubt they even realize I deleted them from friends list and deleted my comment from their story. But I figure there is no loss, that person wasn't a real friend anyhow.
I do not mind someone messaging me a story notice if it is a member who is courteous enough to frequently read and comment on other people's stories. In regards to those I actually appreciate their notice. However, those that never read and comment on others' stories should not send out a notice. That is just poor etiquette.
Thank you 
