Another Nag

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So where are the comments?

I posted my story "Choices" about a week ago. It's an old story, I admit, but I have been asked several times in the past, to post stories here that were already posted elsewhere.

Some years back, I was asked to write the 8,000th story for FictionMania. Instead of one long stories, I wrote right short one. "Choices" was one of those eight. It was an attempt to write a TG version of the classic tale "The Lady or the Tiger."

For those who aren't familiar with that story, it was written by Frank Stockton and first appeared in the 1880s. Un a barbarian land, a man has been accused of a capital crime. He will be tried by Ordeal. He's stuck in an area with two heavily soundproofed doors. Behind one is a beautiful woman. If he picks that door, he will be declared innocent and will be married to the woman. Behind the other door is a tiger. If he picked that second door, he will be found guilty, and the tiger will kill him.

The man is the lover of the daughter of the barbarian king, as much a barbarian as her father. She has discovered that the woman behind the first door is one who she considered a rival for her lover's attentions, a rival who he may also have slept with.

The man looks to the daughter for help. By body language, she directs him to one of the doors. He opens it. But Stockton ends the story as the man opens the door. It's left to the reader whether the princess directed him to the door that would give him in marriage to her rival, or did she five him to the tiger?

The phrase "The Lady or the Tiger" has entered English to signify such a dire decision.

And that was what I wrote. Joe/Joy has the choice between two pleasant lives. I even asked readers to state their own choice.

I got all of ONE comment.

Why so few?

For that matter, why did nobody comment on the final chapter, chapter 5, of "The Treasure of Eerie"? I admit that there was a VERY LONG lag between the posting of chapters 4 and 5. That was my fault. My real life got in the way, and I apologize to you,

Now you say something, if only to say that you're glad I finally posted the thing.

Incidentally, Chris and I -- Chris, mostly -- are working on the follow-up story, "The Belle of Eerie."

I'm also working -- far too slowly, I admit on the next "main" Eerie story, "Summer."

And, for both stores, a certain amount of reader feedback would be appreciated.

Comments

Challenge

I challenge you to find an author who thinks they get enough comments.
How many do you write?

Hugs Cheryl

Lack of comments?

Probably down to the large number of other posts this month that are part of the January Contest.
There are literally so many that it is hard to read them all.

This is one of the reasons why I decided after failing to write a good story for the contest to not post anything this month. Also I'm doing some more decorating at home which keeps me occupied and with that and real life I don't have that much time to read things at the moment.
Samantha

I have been very hurt.

I've felt really devalued and felt like giving up because I thought the lack of comments was a reflection on my lack of talent. I've even cried briefly over it.

I looked at some of the stories that I have loved. Much to my shame, I've often failed to comment. :(

I promise to do better, inshallah.

Gwen

I can understand how you feel

I can understand how you feel. I'm guilty of not commenting on stories (though I do kudos). I'm also way behind on reading, and the number of stories being posted is daunting. But I know that doesn't make you feel better.

Kris

{I leave a trail of Kudos as I browse the site. Be careful where you step!}

MY> Comments

For the record, I do comment, although, maybe, not as much as I should..