How the heck to market a story?

[Tyranomaster]

You know, this is incredibly insulting. If I were less of an idiot, I would've blocked you for this. I was very polite and toiled in this thread for 5 pages. I genuinely tried to help and had to repeat my questions so I can help this person. This 'author' didn't answer them on the first try, nor provide any information on their own. That's despite the fact this person clearly doesn't deserve even a minute of my time. And I am not alone who tried to help. And you say I took my frustrations on someone? You know, I'm tired of being kind. Do you want to know what's happened? The fact of the matter is, OP is a huge dick. This person acts like a dick. And I don't know what kind of brownie points are you farming, but you are no less of a dick for enabling such dickish behavior. If the pill is too hard to swallow, and they will keep playing victim card, this author can fuck off from here. No one cares about a dick with inflated ego, and no one will mourn if they leave. You are welcome.

I'm seconding this. OP's initial post was vague, and ultimately, what they asked initially was not what they really wanted. So when people gave advice based on their initial malformed post, they got defensive. If I approach a thread (which by the way isn't even in the right forum), with an honest answer based on what they've posted, and they proceed to get aggressive, I have a right to get mean back. They keep playing victim, making mountains out of molehills, and changing their stance on things. If it's actually a troll post, it's masterful. I think, however, that they are actually a sociopathic manipulator, and they're trying to get people to join in with them to dogpile people they see as enemies.

The thread was mostly dead, and they went out of their way to drag previous posters back into it by claiming everyone was trying to kick their teeth in from the start. I don't think they realize that, for the most part, the forums are used by about the same 40 people who are intently familiar with each other, and you generally can't just lie about other people here and get people on your side. We know who among us are dicks, and even then, we know what flavor of mean everyone is.

If you read through the original posts though, people gave honest advice, and OP got snarky, then played victim. I've cut other manipulators out of my life for less. I wish them well with their story, but goddamn they're an ass.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

You know, this is incredibly insulting. If I were less of an idiot, I would've blocked you for this. I was very polite and toiled in this thread for 5 pages. I genuinely tried to help and had to repeat my questions so I can help this person. This 'author' didn't answer them on the first try, nor provide any information on their own. That's despite the fact this person clearly doesn't deserve even a minute of my time. And I am not alone who tried to help. And you say I took my frustrations on someone? You know, I'm tired of being kind. Do you want to know what's happened? The fact of the matter is, OP is a huge dick. This person acts like a dick. And I don't know what kind of brownie points are you farming, but you are no less of a dick for enabling such dickish behavior. If the pill is too hard to swallow, and they will keep playing victim card, this author can fuck off from here. No one cares about a dick with inflated ego, and no one will mourn if they leave. You are welcome.

Note that I did not single anyone out - just made a general observation (and freely admit that I took part in being snarky early on as well). It does get harder to give out useful advice when you keep seeing different people post the same thing (often which is at least vaguely covered in the FAQs or site guidelines). This thread did seem to get insulting earlier than most (probably because it was in the wrong subforum) but there were a lot of attempts to be helpful at first, then a lot of snark, and then it got messy.

 

[AnneOminous]

I'm seconding this. OP's initial post was vague, and ultimately, what they asked initially was not what they really wanted. So when people gave advice based on their initial malformed post, they got defensive. If I approach a thread (which by the way isn't even in the right forum), with an honest answer based on what they've posted, and they proceed to get aggressive, I have a right to get mean back. They keep playing victim, making mountains out of molehills, and changing their stance on things. If it's actually a troll post, it's masterful. I think, however, that they are actually a sociopathic manipulator, and they're trying to get people to join in with them to dogpile people they see as enemies.

The thread was mostly dead, and they went out of their way to drag previous posters back into it by claiming everyone was trying to kick their teeth in from the start. I don't think they realize that, for the most part, the forums are used by about the same 40 people who are intently familiar with each other, and you generally can't just lie about other people here and get people on your side. We know who among us are dicks, and even then, we know what flavor of mean everyone is.

If you read through the original posts though, people gave honest advice, and OP got snarky, then played victim. I've cut other manipulators out of my life for less. I wish them well with their story, but goddamn they're an ass.

"Give up trying" is not marketing advice.
"Write a different story" is not marketing advice.
"Be a different person" is not marketing advice.
"Be happy with what you have" is not marketing advice.
"Insulting you is hilarious, let's do it more" is not marketing advice.

If that's you being helpful, I'd hate to see what you guys do if you *really* dislike someone.

 

[Tyranomaster]

"Give up trying" is not marketing advice.
"Write a different story" is not marketing advice.
"Be a different person" is not marketing advice.
"Be happy with what you have" is not marketing advice.
"Insulting you is hilarious, let's do it more" is not marketing advice.

If that's you being helpful, I'd hate to see what you guys do if you *really* dislike someone.

You were the first person to mention giving up. I'm not going to read through the whole thing to see if anyone actually told you to later, but you were the first one to say it.

People aren't google. When you say, give me marketing advice after saying "I've tried every tip and trick out there", people will default to trying to give out of the box ideas. If you had asked people to just give you marketing ideas, you would have gotten them.

2,3, and 4 of what you said are not marketing advice are, in fact, indirectly marketing advice.
2. Write a different story to funnel into the original is marketing advice.
3. Present yourself attractively and professionally is marketing 101.
4. Being grateful and humble makes you more presentable and likeable, leading back to 3.

When you see everything as an attack rather than advice, you're actually dooming your chances from the start.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Note that I did not single anyone out - just made a general observation (and freely admit that I took part in being snarky early on as well). It does get harder to give out useful advice when you keep seeing different people post the same thing (often which is at least vaguely covered in the FAQs or site guidelines). This thread did seem to get insulting earlier than most (probably because it was in the wrong subforum) but there were a lot of attempts to be helpful at first, then a lot of snark, and then it got messy.

Wake up, Charles, you shat your pants. If you like observing so much, go observe this thread a couple more times. Maybe that will allow you to figure out from where did the snark comes. Also, you insulted me. Personally. You didn't single out anyone, well I was a part of those 'anyone'. You insulted me by saying my honest attempt and almost AN HOUR of my time was a product of frustration. And you keep insulting me by insunatiang that OP isn't wrong. And I don't care what kind of semantics you use. OP is the only one who is wrong here. And if you are not agreeing with it, you are insulting me.

If that's you being helpful, I'd hate to see what you guys do if you *really* dislike someone.

I usually say, I'm sorry your parents gave birth to a man like you. I'm sorry that even before transition, before cutting it, you had less of a balls than real women. And I'm sorry for mispronouncing you. Do you want me to deadname you as well, Jack? Or was it Bill? Maybe illustrious Bob? Now quickly enter your twitter echo chamber while you are still alive from all the damage my words dealt to you. That's what I say to people I dislike... I dislike you... Bob.

 

[AnneOminous]

I usually say, I'm sorry your parents gave birth to a man like you. I'm sorry that even before transition, before cutting it, you had less of a balls than real women. And I'm sorry for mispronouncing you. Do you want me to deadname you as well, Jack? Or was it Bill? Maybe illustrious Bob? Now quickly enter your twitter echo chamber while you are still alive from all the damage my words dealt to you. That's what I say to people I dislike... I dislike you... Bob.

I'm not even trans, you fucking clown.

You were the first person to mention giving up. I'm not going to read through the whole thing to see if anyone actually told you to later, but you were the first one to say it.

People aren't google. When you say, give me marketing advice after saying "I've tried every tip and trick out there", people will default to trying to give out of the box ideas. If you had asked people to just give you marketing ideas, you would have gotten them.

2,3, and 4 of what you said are not marketing advice are, in fact, indirectly marketing advice.
2. Write a different story to funnel into the original is marketing advice.
3. Present yourself attractively and professionally is marketing 101.
4. Being grateful and humble makes you more presentable and likeable, leading back to 3.

When you see everything as an attack rather than advice, you're actually dooming your chances from the start.

Saying "you will never get more than you have" is telling me to give up.
Saying "write something else" is telling me to give up.
Saying "nobody wants this" is telling me to give up.

If you're such a great writer, why do you struggle so much with words?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

If you're such a great writer, why do you struggle so much with words?

If your story is so good, why do you struggle so much to gain more readers? Oh right, the whole world is against you. How could I forget it.

 

[AnneOminous]

If your story is so good, why do you struggle so much to gain more readers? Oh right, the whole world is against you. How could I forget it.

Because I'm having a hard time getting people to see it. Hence asking for marketing advice. ?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Because I'm having a hard time getting people to see it. Hence asking for marketing advice. ?

Nah, your story is simply less than garbage. Even shit is more valued. PS. When you accuse me of not being able to read, simply read my previous reply. Have a good day.

 

[Tyranomaster]

I'm not even trans, you fucking clown.

Saying "you will never get more than you have" is telling me to give up.
Saying "write something else" is telling me to give up.
Saying "nobody wants this" is telling me to give up.

If you're such a great writer, why do you struggle so much with words?

You can tell yourself to give up. That's what you're doing. I can't know that giving you advice is going to make you feel like giving up. It feels like your subconscious is telling you to give up.

You are reading past the advice people are giving you. Advice that has worked for other people demonstrably. You're being a petulant child saying, "I wanna be able to flap my arms and fly through the sky!", and when an adult says, "Well, you can be a pilot someday." you're saying, "NO! I WANNA FLAP MY ARMS AND FLY." So go ahead, flap those arms and fly. Flap 'em all day and night.

 

[AnneOminous]

You can tell yourself to give up. That's what you're doing. I can't know that giving you advice is going to make you feel like giving up. It feels like your subconscious is telling you to give up.

You are reading past the advice people are giving you. Advice that has worked for other people demonstrably. You're being a petulant child saying, "I wanna be able to flap my arms and fly through the sky!", and when an adult says, "Well, you can be a pilot someday." you're saying, "NO! I WANNA FLAP MY ARMS AND FLY." So go ahead, flap those arms and fly. Flap 'em all day and night.

I'm not expecting to fly in the sky. I'm asking for directions to the stairs leading up to the second floor.

 

[Tyranomaster]

I'm not expecting to fly in the sky. I'm asking for directions to the stairs leading up to the second floor.

People have basically been telling you there is no second floor, and if you want one, you need to go out, buy the parts, and build it. Doing that would require leaving the house though, and you've proven yourself incapable of that.

 

[AnneOminous]

People have basically been telling you there is no second floor, and if you want one, you need to go out, buy the parts, and build it. Doing that would require leaving the house though, and you've proven yourself incapable of that.

I have heard nothing about "build a second floor." I have heard a lot of "burn your house down and move."

 

[Tyranomaster]

I have heard nothing about "build a second floor." I have heard a lot of "burn your house down and move."

Yes, because you're deranged and/or psychotic.

 

[AnneOminous]

Yes, because you're deranged and/or psychotic.

Your literal first response was to torch the story and start over, dude.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Yes, because you're deranged and/or psychotic.

No, you guys are being trolled. There's no way someone is this dense. It's like if you say that those dense JP protagonists are believable. I won't believe you.

 

[Fox-Trot-9]

"Give up trying" is not marketing advice.
"Write a different story" is not marketing advice.
"Be a different person" is not marketing advice.
"Be happy with what you have" is not marketing advice.
"Insulting you is hilarious, let's do it more" is not marketing advice.

If that's you being helpful, I'd hate to see what you guys do if you *really* dislike someone.

I'm not even trans, you fucking clown.

Saying "you will never get more than you have" is telling me to give up.
Saying "write something else" is telling me to give up.
Saying "nobody wants this" is telling me to give up.

If you're such a great writer, why do you struggle so much with words?

You came here, already frustrated it seems at whatever you went through on other sites, and asked for advice on how to market your story, and we told you what advice we had, but you're taking it like we're attacking you. We're not. I apologize if what I said earlier rubbed you the wrong way, but you're not helping yourself by lashing out like this. Respect is a two-way street: I tried my best to connect with you by disclosing a painful episode in my writing life to help you see things in a different light, and you wrote me off with some BS exaggeration of yourself getting hitched to your readers and policing your emotions. If that's how you wanna take it, then be my guest. Since you're denigrating my experience and the experiences of the people here, you're obviously not in the right head-space to take our advice as anything but attacks. So here's my advice: grow up.

 

[Tyranomaster]

No, you guys are being trolled. There's no way someone is this dense. It's like if you say that those dense JP protagonists are believable. I won't believe you.

They've openly admitted to seeing a therapist. Therapists are generally licensed psychiatrists. They're very likely actually psychotic. They've also admitted to eating anti-anxiety meds like they're candy. Anti-anxiety meds can frequently cause psychotic episodes as a side effect (especially if overused).

 

[Nolff]

Your literal first response was to torch the story and start over, dude.

Oh my lord... Get a rest.

You literally managed to reply to all these people quoting you in between 2 to 50 minutes!!

Chill!

They've openly admitted to seeing a therapist. Therapists are generally licensed psychiatrists. They're very likely actually psychotic. They've also admitted to eating anti-anxiety meds like they're candy. Anti-anxiety meds can frequently cause psychotic episodes as a side effect (especially if overused).

So, you're telling me that all these folks with all these blabbers in all these threads' pages are interacting with a mental therapist's patient??!

 

[AnneOminous]

You came here, already frustrated it seems at whatever you went through on other sites, and asked for advice on how to market your story, and we told you what advice we had, but you're taking it like we're attacking you. We're not. I apologize if what I said earlier rubbed you the wrong way, but you're not helping yourself by lashing out like this. Respect is a two-way street: I tried my best to connect with you by disclosing a painful episode in my writing life to help you see things in a different light, and you wrote me off with some BS exaggeration of yourself getting hitched to your readers and policing your emotions. If that's how you wanna take it, then be my guest. Since you're denigrating my experience and the experiences of the people here, you're obviously not in the right head-space to take our advice as anything but attacks. So here's my advice: grow up.

Hard to take well-meaning constructive criticism with grace in a hail of gunfire. I've also got people calling me psychotic, breaking the site's TOS with horrific and repeated attacks on my gender, throwing hate 1-star reviews on my work (something that's beyond the pale for ANY author).

The vast majority of people in this thread *are* attacking me, and *are* enjoying it. And then if I do anything but say thank you and turn around so they can find a place to stick another knife, I'm "egotistical" and "full of hubris" and "psychotic" and... Yeah.

I've been a little bristly, and I won't try to deny it, but the responses have absolutely gleefully turned a spark into a brushfire.