FanStory
Questions and comments17 total reviews
Comment from Jesse James Doty
I agree, Wayne, you ask some of the same questions that I would like to know. These questions and more are a lot of the writer's concerns and you have every right to ask these questions! I have asked some of the same questions and to be honest, when I joined FS I had to learn most of what I know now by trial and error.
Thank you for asking questions of Fan Story and their answers are often not enough.
Jesse
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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I agree, Wayne, you ask some of the same questions that I would like to know. These questions and more are a lot of the writer's concerns and you have every right to ask these questions! I have asked some of the same questions and to be honest, when I joined FS I had to learn most of what I know now by trial and error.
Thank you for asking questions of Fan Story and their answers are often not enough.
Jesse
Comment Written 18-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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Thank you for your great review. I'm hearing the same from every corner.
And thank you for the six stars!
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Yes! I am sure you are hearing the same from many people!
You deserve the six stars!
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
Oh Wayne, your piece here is excellent and I can understand how frustrated you are particularly as, when you raise these issues, you're just thanked for the feedback which obviously promptly goes in the bin. I have only been on this site a few months and, like you, see many positives but also so much unfairness. I don't write much prose but I've often thought about how tough it is for writers when up against these often ridiculous prompts (e.g 6 word verse). The fact that I'm not great on computers has meant that I have felt obliged to settle for very basic presentations but, in any event, it is impossible for me to get coloured font whilst in Advanced Editor (I'm in the UK which seems to make a difference) despite help from other members and little of any use from Support! The other day, I posted something with a visual which was apparently displaying with some readers but not with others (no explanation given). As regards contests, it would help if they were given identification numbers so that you can find yours in the event of not being notified. It would also help if one could communicate with a committee member now and again (when other help is lacking!) -this could obviously be done anonymously. Sorry, Wayne, I could go on about the reviewing system but must stop here. Your post sets out so well your understandable grievances in a balanced and rational way. I hope that something positive comes back and that, of course, you remain on this site. Take care Debbie
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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Oh Wayne, your piece here is excellent and I can understand how frustrated you are particularly as, when you raise these issues, you're just thanked for the feedback which obviously promptly goes in the bin. I have only been on this site a few months and, like you, see many positives but also so much unfairness. I don't write much prose but I've often thought about how tough it is for writers when up against these often ridiculous prompts (e.g 6 word verse). The fact that I'm not great on computers has meant that I have felt obliged to settle for very basic presentations but, in any event, it is impossible for me to get coloured font whilst in Advanced Editor (I'm in the UK which seems to make a difference) despite help from other members and little of any use from Support! The other day, I posted something with a visual which was apparently displaying with some readers but not with others (no explanation given). As regards contests, it would help if they were given identification numbers so that you can find yours in the event of not being notified. It would also help if one could communicate with a committee member now and again (when other help is lacking!) -this could obviously be done anonymously. Sorry, Wayne, I could go on about the reviewing system but must stop here. Your post sets out so well your understandable grievances in a balanced and rational way. I hope that something positive comes back and that, of course, you remain on this site. Take care Debbie
Comment Written 18-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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Thank you.
Yes, I might get the ol' heave-ho!
(smiley face here)
Thank you for your very thoughtful review.
And I thank you immensely for the six stars!
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Most welcome! No chance of the heave-ho!
Comment from Wendy G
This is quite different from most pieces I give a six for, but I am giving it a six because you have written coherently and well about important issues which we all experience regularly. It is presented in a calm, logical and rational way. To save your piece from whining you seek out the good and the fine things which we all enjoy. I have no suggestions for the issues listed, except to say I always select Advanced Editor straight after uploading the image which seems to need to be in JPEG format only. I have found that double quotes in the author's notes (or for title) produce the gobbledygook but a single quote (or apostrophe) pressed twice does not. That at least is helpful.
I agree that reviewing longer pieces should be better rewarded. It takes up to ten times as long to read and think about. And yes, it is hard to write much about a six word poem! I hope you have some success with finding answers. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Wendy
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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This is quite different from most pieces I give a six for, but I am giving it a six because you have written coherently and well about important issues which we all experience regularly. It is presented in a calm, logical and rational way. To save your piece from whining you seek out the good and the fine things which we all enjoy. I have no suggestions for the issues listed, except to say I always select Advanced Editor straight after uploading the image which seems to need to be in JPEG format only. I have found that double quotes in the author's notes (or for title) produce the gobbledygook but a single quote (or apostrophe) pressed twice does not. That at least is helpful.
I agree that reviewing longer pieces should be better rewarded. It takes up to ten times as long to read and think about. And yes, it is hard to write much about a six word poem! I hope you have some success with finding answers. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Wendy
Comment Written 18-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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You have been very helpful. I feel like I am not alone, that it isn't just me. Thank you.
And bless you for the six stars!
Comment from Katherine M. (k-11)
I am very sorry, I have no suggestions to help you, and no influence with the powers to change things. However, a couple of interesting points. I have never had a font type or colour change on me. I paste into basic editor, save then select advanced editor then choose font and colour. I do not know whether the method and results are linked, but maybe it's worth a try. kay
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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I am very sorry, I have no suggestions to help you, and no influence with the powers to change things. However, a couple of interesting points. I have never had a font type or colour change on me. I paste into basic editor, save then select advanced editor then choose font and colour. I do not know whether the method and results are linked, but maybe it's worth a try. kay
Comment Written 17-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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Thank you. I do exactly as you. One of the recent One Man's Calling had the last paragraph in gray. That was at least the second time that it happened, and I see it on other members' posts from time-to-time. Every attempt to fix failed.
Comment from lyenochka
Lol. Well, I was just about to answer some of your questions but then I forgot what I was going to say because you then listed a thousand other questions. So the best I can do is answer just a few.
Thanks to bringing up the Edit mode reverting to the top of the post - that bugs me, too!
I never had the font change issue but when I paste I lose all my spaces so have to do it all over again.
Why it upchucks on a apostrophe is because that's a special character in HTML. You're in raw HTML mode in the not a normal editing mode. So you just have to re-type anything with an apostrophe once in Fanstory.
Why it wipes out the title and description when you switch to Advanced Editor is probably because it's bringing in a whole different set of programs. I always follow the order: Add picture, select Adv Ed, then start typing...
I never got a 100 reviews so your suggestion for awarding the funny money would probably be accepted!
Thanks for the fun post and great questions, Wayne!
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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Lol. Well, I was just about to answer some of your questions but then I forgot what I was going to say because you then listed a thousand other questions. So the best I can do is answer just a few.
Thanks to bringing up the Edit mode reverting to the top of the post - that bugs me, too!
I never had the font change issue but when I paste I lose all my spaces so have to do it all over again.
Why it upchucks on a apostrophe is because that's a special character in HTML. You're in raw HTML mode in the not a normal editing mode. So you just have to re-type anything with an apostrophe once in Fanstory.
Why it wipes out the title and description when you switch to Advanced Editor is probably because it's bringing in a whole different set of programs. I always follow the order: Add picture, select Adv Ed, then start typing...
I never got a 100 reviews so your suggestion for awarding the funny money would probably be accepted!
Thanks for the fun post and great questions, Wayne!
Comment Written 17-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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Thank you for the affirmation!
Yes, I do the same posting order as you - almost all the time. Grrrr when I don't.
The apostrophe is intrinsic to English. It shouldn't be a special character.
Thank you for your very nice review.
Comment from Bill Schott
I cannot address most of your problems with moving data from one platform to another. It is magic as far as I know. I recall way back when, if you wanted to move text from one place to another, it had to be changed to an ASCII font, moved, then changed back to whatever you actually wanted.
As far as photographs go, from experience, sometimes the pixelation count means that the print will be larger than the receiving bin can handle. I have had to go to my picture file and crop it to fit before I attempted to import it.
There are dozens of things about this site that irk people, but even more that they love. The site has responded to many member suggestions over the years, and they are received both warmly and with rolling eyes by the plank owners.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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I cannot address most of your problems with moving data from one platform to another. It is magic as far as I know. I recall way back when, if you wanted to move text from one place to another, it had to be changed to an ASCII font, moved, then changed back to whatever you actually wanted.
As far as photographs go, from experience, sometimes the pixelation count means that the print will be larger than the receiving bin can handle. I have had to go to my picture file and crop it to fit before I attempted to import it.
There are dozens of things about this site that irk people, but even more that they love. The site has responded to many member suggestions over the years, and they are received both warmly and with rolling eyes by the plank owners.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 17-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 18-Jun-2023
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Thank you for your very kind review.
My bet is that most every eye rolled at some point reading this post.
(smiley face here)
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
I don't get the weird symbols either. Tonight I had to go in and edit the author's notes to make it readable. When there are bugs in the software, aren't there people who fix it?
The indentation thing I've seen on other sites too - but I don't have an answer for you.
I agree on the 150 characters. How much can you say about short poetry without moving on to "how's the wife and kids?"
I believe all time best is how we are rewarded for mega reads:-). No, I've never gotten either.
You've written a balanced critique, Wayne. I know others have addressed some of these issues with Tom, but I'm not sure how he has responded, if at all.
I'm here for the members, they're awesome!
Good luck with this.
Pam
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 17-Jun-2023
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I don't get the weird symbols either. Tonight I had to go in and edit the author's notes to make it readable. When there are bugs in the software, aren't there people who fix it?
The indentation thing I've seen on other sites too - but I don't have an answer for you.
I agree on the 150 characters. How much can you say about short poetry without moving on to "how's the wife and kids?"
I believe all time best is how we are rewarded for mega reads:-). No, I've never gotten either.
You've written a balanced critique, Wayne. I know others have addressed some of these issues with Tom, but I'm not sure how he has responded, if at all.
I'm here for the members, they're awesome!
Good luck with this.
Pam
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 17-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 17-Jun-2023
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Thank you - no thrown eggs or tomatoes. Yay!