Authors & Reviews/Comments (Also, Am I being copied?)

[Comatoast]

So, I just started up my first ever novel and I'm actually having a bit of fun with it. It'd just a little writing project aiming for 1000 words a day to encourage me to write more and to deliver a few laughs to the website.

I got into a bit of a dilemma however, Some guy left a comment on my latest chapter Bashing me for being stereotypical, Making lame dialogue and having horrible pacing.

Usually that wouldn't bother me, People can have their own opinions, But he linked his own work, Not only in the same genre but with an incredibly similar plot to mine.

On top of that, His chapters actually follow an suspiciously similar pacing to mine.
(My first chapter was about the MC almost getting hit by the truck, His was the same. My second chapter introduces you to the MC's friends and a discussion amongst the villains, His does the same.)

BOTTOM LINE,
Where is the line between helpful criticism and trying to beat someone down?

Where is the line between inspiration and pointing to your own work for help vs plagiarism and self promotion?

I'm just so confused because this guy who writes novel after novel to gain fans found me, A small author making a goofy passion project and is trying to beat me down over it by launching his own novel (made very recently after mine) and trying to knock me out of the small niche I found and take my like, 13 readers Slither IO style.
I won't be giving you links to his work until I can trust that there won't be any hate or negative reviews going his way until this whole dilemma progresses further and we can make an actual fair and just conclusion.

 

[Tatsuo]

What a bastard
Have you reported him?

 

[Comatoast]

What a bastard
Have you reported him?

No, It's a touchy topic and the comment isn't incredibly out of the ordinary, Maybe a little harsh and lacking in direction but the motives after a bit of digging made me a bit suspicious.

Would I be just as petty to report him over a bit of self promotion and a novel that seems very inspired?
I'm just really torn by it all, I don't want to be gatekeep-y. ?
There's no question it's inspired either, I wrote my first chapter and premise a few days ago and they went from making numerous isekai novels to making a parody as well.
Their chapter releases also have followed directly after mine so far.
It's just trying to find the line between inspiration and inspired but attacking me.

 

[Tatsuo]

No, It's a touchy topic and the comment isn't incredibly out of the ordinary, Maybe a little harsh and lacking in direction but the motives after a bit of digging made me a bit suspicious.

Would I be just as petty to report him over a bit of self promotion and a novel that seems very inspired?
I'm just really torn by it all, I don't want to be gatekeep-y. ?

Probably
Maybe you could wait a few days and see if he is really copying?
He cant copy what is not written yet.

 

[Comatoast]

Probably
Maybe you could wait a few days and see if he is really copying?
He cant copy what is not written yet.

Uh, He just added a title to his novel and...

Un-Isekaiable: I didn’t become anything

In a world of Man vs Truck, Everything from Aliens to Primal Beasts to Spirits to the Secret Council of Spiritualistic Semi Trucks, Any force on earth seems bent on sending this man to a fantasy world. (A parody of the isekai genre and a personal writing project, Expect 1000 words...

www.scribblehub.com

That's my title and novel cover

No more isekai !

Yuki Ueda is a normal girl with a ordinary life , playing games being lonely and generally remaining invisible The perfect takes a sharp turn when a near-death experience throws her into a chaotic contract with a local god and discoves that she is an S-rank hero material perfect to get...

www.scribblehub.com

That's his
Hopefully that will show you the level of inspiration or close imitation here.
If you guys have any advice, Please let me know, I'm so lost.

 

[Tatsuo]

It really was published the same day as yours.
Really sus.

 

[Comatoast]

It really was published the same day as yours.
Really sus.

GRAH I KNOW
It's just not lining up and it's so scummy to make a hypocritical comment if you look at the writing.

Like he called my characters bland (they're supposed to be annoying stereotypes so I get that) and said my pacing sucked then linked his own novel instead

 

[Tatsuo]

Not to mention, only 8 hours apart today

 

[Comatoast]

GRAH I KNOW
It's just not lining up and it's so scummy to make a hypocritical comment if you look at the writing.

Like he called my characters bland (they're supposed to be annoying stereotypes so I get that) and said my pacing sucked then linked his own novel instead

I'll never understand it. I'll wait for a few second opinions before I make any formal moves and just keep it polite and civil.

Not to mention, only 8 hours apart today

I know, It's so wild. What's your take on what I should do? I'm pretty new to SH, Just been lurking and all.

 

[Tatsuo]

The experts will arrive here shortly sooner or later.

 

[Comatoast]

I'll prepare some tea and cookies for them.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I will be honest, I'm not sure he copied your work. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. Sorry, I won't read and compare your works.

As for criticism part, I think it wasn't beating down on you. Maybe it was very dry and direct, but I think it's not rude. He elaborated on what he meant by "all over the place". Perhaps he could've elaborated even more, but beggars can't be choosers. ?‍

The last part, linking your own story, it's a dick move. I would've deleted this comment. The only kind of self promotion I tolerate is when a person PMs me and asks for a shoutout. That way I might do it myself, depends on the quality of the work and who this person is.

 

[Comatoast]

I will be honest, I'm not sure he copied your work. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. Sorry, I won't read and compare your works.

As for criticism part, I think it wasn't beating down on you. Maybe it was very dry and direct, but I think it's not rude. He elaborated on what he meant by "all over the place". Perhaps he could've elaborated even more, but beggars can't be choosers. ?‍

The last part, linking your own story, it's a dick move. I would've deleted this comment. The only kind of self promotion I tolerate is when a person PMs me and asks for a shoutout. That way I might do it myself, depends on the quality of the work and who this person is.

Alright, This seems like a lot more grounded of a take. I appreciate it and I think I'll let it slide and all.

I'm not looking to beef with other authors, I just wasn't familiar with SH's culture and didn't know if this was typical behavior or not.

I've kindly directed him to my PMs where I got a whole essay on what I had done wrong but also ways to improve.

(It's a bit hypocritical but I digress, One can know theory and not practice and have it still be valid.)

Thank you for your help! I think it's just a really dry and abrasive critic.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Alright, This seems like a lot more grounded of a take. I appreciate it and I think I'll let it slide and all.

I'm not looking to beef with other authors, I just wasn't familiar with SH's culture and didn't know if this was typical behavior or not.

I've kindly directed him to my PMs where I got a whole essay on what I had done wrong but also ways to improve.

(It's a bit hypocritical but I digress, One can know theory and not practice and have it still be valid.)

Thank you for your help! I think it's just a really dry and abrasive critic.

Personally, I think authors(not only you but authors in general) should grow thicker skin. It's internet, it's different culture, and everyone have been here for a long time to understand how it works. Yet for some reason when they start uploading a novel they refuse to abide by the laws of the internet, they get tilted by trolls, etc.

At the same time, I understand that not all of us have the same mental health or even the same level of energy. Some are tired after hard work and don't want to deal with this crap when they get back and upload a chapter. So don't be afraid to delete comments or report reviews if you really think they are not fair, left by trolls, spam, etc. But keep in mind two things. Not everyone are trolls, while real trolls won't stop with just that.

 

[Comatoast]

Personally, I think authors(not only you but authors in general) should grow thicker skin. It's internet, it's different culture, and everyone have been here for a long time to understand how it works. Yet for some reason when they start uploading a novel they refuse to abide by the laws of the internet, they get tilted by trolls, etc.

At the same time, I understand that not all of us have the same mental health or even the same level of energy. Some are tired after hard work and don't want to deal with this crap when they get back and upload a chapter. So don't be afraid to delete comments or report reviews if you really think they are not fair, left by trolls, spam, etc. But keep in mind two things. Not everyone are trolls, while real trolls won't stop with just that.

Gotcha, Yeah I'm not going to get tilted by a singular comment, I just thought it was a specifically whack one when I caught wind of competition.

Regardless, People are all entitled to their own opinions and everyone is a critic! 1 vocal minority isn't worth throwing a fit over and my mental health is pretty stable so I wouldn't have an excuse.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

A question - is the other person copying you or perhaps showing you what they think a properly edited version of your story should look like? Or are they taking inspiration from your work to write something similar? Your best course of action would be to ask that person which they are doing.

 

[Comatoast]

A question - is the other person copying you or perhaps showing you what they think a properly edited version of your story should look like? Or are they taking inspiration from your work to write something similar? Your best course of action would be to ask that person which they

I had a similar situation happen to me before, I'm not the best singer in the world but I've gotten leads in adult musicals and all so I'm not the worst.

With that preface, I had a colleague come up to me and tell me I was extremely off-key and proceeded to correct me by singing off key riffs.

This is a similar situation where I'm corrected but the other's works aren't up to the same standards I'm held to.

It's not a direct copy so no shade toward them and I don't mind inspiration, I just wish they wouldn't pit me down in front of my miniscule audience in such a dry and abrasive way and then link their own competing work.