Date: 02/18/09 02:39 am Title: Game Over?
^^ and sad
Author's Response: 'tis sad indeed.
Date: 02/18/09 01:10 am Title: Game Over?
I just finished reading this whole damn story….0.o Dear god, where have I been and why didn’t I start reading this sooner? This is...You are…Okay, totally not surprised at the amount of reviews this fic has, considering just how damn amazing it is. Oi! Sweetheart, I love you for thinking this plot up, seriously. I love Bill’s character, and I just love how you make us feel emotions towards him, despite the fact that this isn’t real and only a story. Blew me away, honestly. Why hasn’t this been featured?! –goes to send off a request- You just took inspiration to a whole new level.
Author's Response: Your name sounded really familiar, so I looked at your stories (and read a couple) but I still have no idea who you are or where I've heard of you. XD Trust Misa's bad memory... Anyway, THANK YOU for reading this story, it always means a lot to me when someone who hasn't read it before gives it a chance to prove itself. Your comments on my characterization make me happy, and thank you very much for the feature request! Thank you very much for your newfound support of SMRM! *hugs you*
Date: 02/18/09 12:36 am Title: Assumptions
Explain this "ratio" thing to me in more detail, as I am not understanding. Are you saying that the featured fics should be based on both popularity AND how many requests they receive? For instance, a story should be both popular and receive a large number of featured requests?
I will spell out exactly how we feature stories. If your fan fic is not well known and is of high quality, we will feature it.
If your fan fic receives a load of featured requests (regardless of its popularity) we will feature it.
The only two ways to have your story featured on the website is for the mod staff to think it deserves more attention or if your readers send in a butt load of feature requests. If your fan fic does not receive a load of feature requests and it IS extremely popular, your chances of it being featured are very slim. That is just the way it is and just the way it will stay. The featured portion of the website serves two purposes, to spotlight unknown fan fic (as a service to our members) and to feature what our members demand (as a service to our members). If our members demand a fan fic that we hate, guess what? We feature it. We do what the readers say and when we make decisions to feature something unknown, we do it with them in mind.
I hope that clears up any confusion in your mind.
Author's Response: No, I was saying it should be relative. See, I was just thinking over the workings of the system, trying to figure out how it operated, and it occurred to me that basing it on requests alone was not an option, simply because a more popular story has more overall readers, and therefore it has more potential to get more requests. Er, I'm not explaining this properly, sorry, I just got up and my words aren't clicking yet. Uh, what I'm saying is that a less- known story might have fewer requests, but... Hold on, let me just make it an example. I don't know what the numbers actually look like, so let me just make them up and bear with me, okay? Say we have 2 stories. One has 10,000 reads and 100 feature requests. The other has 500 reads and 50 feature requests. So our ratios are 100:10000 and 50:500. Simplified, that is 1:100 and 5:50 or 10:100. Thus, ten people out of one hundred thought the less- known story should be featured, while only one out of one hundred thought the popular story should be featured. So, logically, the less popular story is the one which deserves to be featured. That's what I mean by ratio. (I probably should have used the term 'comparative ratio' but it didn't occur to me at the time. I certainly do NOT mean a story must be popular to be considered for featuring, that's just ridiculous, because some story types will automatically attract more attention. Ex. a lighthearted smut story is more likely to attract readers than a story that deals with serious issues, even if the second one is the overall better story. I know this from experience with my own writing, and I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about.) It levels the playing field for stories that might only attract a niche audience. As for the moderator staff choosing stories that deserve more attention, I view that as another method of leveling said playing field, so that doesn't play into the ratio. It's just two methods of getting to the same thing, and I think that's great. The more options you have, the better. Sorry that this continues to be a misunderstanding, I hope this explains all MY thoughts on the subject, and I hope I am accurately interpreting yours. ^_^
Date: 02/17/09 11:33 pm Title: Assumptions
"But in all fairness, it shouldn't be based on popularity at all, in my opinion with no offense to yours. It should be based on a ratio of popularity to feature requests, with of course consideration of the actual quality of the story itself."
Didn't Darcy just say exactly that? That we feature stories that receive a large amount of featured requests? And that we also feature fan fics that do not, but we think are exemplary? I don't see any confusion here. :)
Author's Response: My point was the matter of the ratio, and if that was what she was saying, then I apologize for my misunderstanding. ^_^
Date: 02/17/09 10:58 pm Title: Game Over?
i cant wait for te next chapter.
this story is so addicting[:
Author's Response: Next chapter come soon! Today, I imagine. XD
Date: 02/17/09 10:04 pm Title: Assumptions
Featured stories don't have a "popularity limit". We try to feature stories that we think are exemplary, that have not received much notice, and that receive an overwhelming amount of featured fic requests. However, if stories receive a large amount of feature requests and are also largely popular, we also feature them. We try to spotlight fics that aren't getting a lot of attention, but fanfics that are popular can still be featured. I just wanted to clarify this.
Author's Response: Ah, thank you very much for clearing that up for me. You did have me slightly worried there about there being bias or prejudice on this site concerning that, as it is not the author's fault if their story becomes popular, and they should not be discriminated against because of it. On the other side of the coin, it is not the author's fault if an especially good story does not gain popularity through normal means, and I think the featuring system is a great way to circumvent that. But in all fairness, it shouldn't be based on popularity at all, in my opinion with no offense to yours. It should be based on a ratio of popularity to feature requests, with of course consideration of the actual quality of the story itself. If that's the way you're doing it, great. That just makes me put more faith in this site as a whole. Thanks again for taking the time to clarify this for me.
Date: 02/17/09 09:49 pm Title: Assumptions
im reading the chapter again!!!! yeah!!!!! im having fun :D
Author's Response: Yay! ^_^ Glad you're having fun! XD
Date: 02/17/09 09:24 pm Title: Game Over?
The tragedy of this is that they both want the same thing, and Bill hurts himself for some inexplicable reason, breaks his own heart, to stop something that they BOTH WANT. There are tears in my eyes...the ending of this chapter is really great, and very profound. This is, hands down, your best chapter yet.
Author's Response: Yeah, it's pretty tragic when you put it that way. And when you think about it, Bill is doing exactly what Tom was doing earlier in the story, stopping something they both want because it's against what he believes.
Date: 02/17/09 07:49 pm Title: Game Over?
I am hoping that I understand your psychology enough to say that there is no way you can keep them apart forever. Their love conquers all
Author's Response: Their love does conquer all, even denial, insecurities, and homophobic mothers. They'll end up together, don't worry.
Date: 02/17/09 07:20 pm Title: Game Over?
i think it was a fabulous sex scene! i am reall excited for the next parts though, now it gets to the really good part, where they get together emotionally, at least eventually. keep up the great work i cannot wait for more! i check this story every day that i can, an update makes my day!!
Author's Response: Thank you, I tried! Yes, now it gets more intense for a while. I'm going to update and make your day again! ^_^ Or try... XD
Date: 02/17/09 06:47 pm Title: Assumptions
Nope, just MSN :(
Author's Response: Aww....
Date: 02/17/09 06:39 pm Title: Assumptions
I don't have Yahoo IM :(
I really wanted to talk to you outside of reviews *pout*
Author's Response: You don't have AIM either? 'Cause I hate Yahoo IM anyway.
Date: 02/17/09 06:27 pm Title: Assumptions
But it's so late in Norway :(
My father is going to force me to go to bed before that time D:
Well I'll read it first thing in the morning I guess *sigh*
Btw, you got an MSN or something?
Author's Response: No MSN. Yahoo IM (which I hate) is misa.sugar and AIM is misasugar XD I may not post it tonight anyway, we'll see how it goes.
Date: 02/17/09 04:43 pm Title: Assumptions
hell yeah that would be epically...depressing...O.o
hmm maybe someone who is close to tom can slap bill? yes? yes? ^_^ you know give him a 'talk' and a couple slaps? lol
Author's Response: Nah, no one is going to slap Bill. XP He richly deserves it, but it's not going to happen. In fact, nothing bad will happen to Bill for this, except for whatever emotional pain he's putting himself through, of course. Disappointed? XD Well, hopefully you won't be after reading ch14. Hopefully. >_o
Date: 02/17/09 04:15 pm Title: Assumptions
Lol I just gotta ask, since you're responding reviews. Are you gonna update something soon? :D
Since you always respond the reviews right before you post a new chapter. Yes, I've studied your every move >:333
(No I haven't, I'm not some stalker xD Lol, I've just noticed XD)
Author's Response: XD Oh, you've caught on to me, have you? Actually, I respond to reviews right after a new chapter is posted, and while I'm writing new chapters, to break up the monotony. (I get bored easily XD) At the moment, I'm working on ch14, yes. XP Because I didn't post 13 for a long time, and I feel bad leaving it like that. XD SO it might be up in a few hours, it might not.
Date: 02/17/09 04:00 pm Title: Game Over?
O_____O
....
OH GOD WHY????????????????????????
*sniffles quietly* *hysteria ensues* hah SluttyBill, u fukin LIAR YOU LIE!!! U LOVE TOMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*hysteria stops*
*sniff* sorry, i just ... u make me sad face :(
anyways as sad as it was, t'was very good, very good. i commend hyuo and i'm featuring you right this fucken second!!!!
Author's Response: He is a liar, but he hasn't realized how crazy he is about Tom yet, either. XP And thanks so much for your support! *hugs*
Date: 02/17/09 02:06 pm Title: Assumptions
Wow i was wondering why this story was so popular, and now that i finally decide to try it out, i completely get it! I am offically you newest fan, update soon =)
Author's Response: *glomps* I LOVE YOU! Thank you for giving me and my baby the chance to prove ourselves to you! *huggles*
Date: 02/17/09 02:04 pm Title: Game Over?
-dies- i thought..
it was..over..
NYAH. i almost dieedd!
I cried just picturing the look on Tom's face while Bill was just being so cruel to him afterwards.
Author's Response: Haha, psyche! And yeah, Bill's a cruel little bitch. I'll smack him around a bit in the next chapter for you.
Date: 02/17/09 01:53 pm Title: Game Over?
Bill's mean. I've had the feeling that he was from the beginning, but it was this chapter that made me realise that he really is mean.
Buut, he is also sweet, and that is ... very confusing x__x
But I liked it ^^
Author's Response: Not just mean, he's outright cruel. He'll get better in a chapter or two, though.
Date: 02/17/09 01:24 pm Title: Game Over?
I believe my heart just exploded.
DDD:
I am going to deck Bill in the face so freakin hard, haha.
Author's Response: Oh crap, did I kill a reader? XD It's okay, I'll get Tom to hit him in the face... XD