How would you advertise your Story Hour?

[Piratecat]

Really good advice here.

This forum started after I had a really good game, posted a description of the battle, and people wanted to hear more. Sagiro had been writing up his game notes all along for his campaign; I decided to do the same and post them on Eric's site. Then Ranger Wickett began posting his wonderful Savannah Nights game (predating d20 Modern by years) and the forum was born. Back then there was no "views" counter. You could have 50 people reading your SH, but if one person commented, then you'd think that only one person read it. A little intimidating.

A few other thoughts:

- Change the title to stand out from the crowd; JonRog1's "Drunk Southern Girls With Guns" certainly catches your eye, for instance.

- Put a link in your sig, stressing what makes it fun to read. Steam tech is a good hook, for example, so you'll want to mention it.

- Try to avoid any typos. Check spelling, and leave blank lines between paragraphs. This makes a huge difference in whether or not people stay.

- If you have to pick a spot to start the campaign, consider starting the writing in media res, right in the middle of action. The first post really has to grab people, since it's the first one they'll see. Try not to make it a character or world summary; that stuff can come later.

- Consider asking any readers for constructive criticism. It's helped me quite a bit.

- ultimately, write it for yourself and your players. I try not to let my ego get wrapped up in mine; I write what I like to read, and consider myself lucky if anyone else likes it too.

 

[diaglo]

Remember, Piratecat uses a macro to bump his page views,...

i thought he used pics. and then linked them to other websites. so when someone opened the other website and viewed the pic, it counted as a view over here, too.

p.s.: My story hours have d-ck jokes and lesbians.

so does the one i write. but it's d-ck jokes and gaymers. it doesn't seem to help.

 

[Destan]

I recently started writing a story hour after being a long-time lurker. I have few points I'd like to make.

First, I have read many, many story hour posts without once commenting on them. That may be because I'm lazy, or because I'm generally quiet when it comes to posting. If I do post, I usually ask questions instead of leaving comments.

Since I started writing a story hour, however, I'm now more fully aware of how damned nice it feels to have someone comment on it. With that new-found knowledge in hand, I'm trying to drop notes like benevolent bird droppings on the story hours I most frequent. I tend to favor the less-heralded story hours because the Biggies (TM) don't necessarily need my bumps.

The bottom line is that the majority of story hour readers, I think, do only that: Read. They don't post. Don't let a lack of feedback hinder your enjoyment with writing. As Piratecat said, the page views alone should help give you a warm fuzzy.

Second, and this is probably too self-serving for many folks, I actually sent emails to a few authors of those story hours I most enjoyed. I asked them, should they have a moment, to check mine out.

One of them was Piratecat. His simple praise did more to pimp my story hour than any banners could have done. Continuing in the vein of abject groveling, I attached one of his comments to my sig. Not all of those you email will have the time to read your story, nor will all of those who visit enjoy your writing, but that's coolio and should be understood.

Third, try emailing those readers of other story hours that seem addicted, loyal, and/or vocal in their critiques. I have chosen to subscribe to story hours based on readers whose opinions I generally agreed with.

Lastly, everyone who writes knows it can be difficult to do so within a vacuum. I think the majority of us would rather be subject to negative criticism than none at all. You gotta just keep plodding along, sacrificing what could-have-been quality family time to pound away at the keys like a man possessed.

Best wishes,
Destan

 

[(contact)]

Diaglo wrote:
i thought he used pics. and then linked them to other websites. so when someone opened the other website and viewed the pic, it counted as a view over here, too.

No, that's me-- but no one looks at my website either.

so does the one i write. but it's d-ck jokes and gaymers. it doesn't seem to help.

Mine has really deadly lesbians. Maybe that's the trick.

From the Liberation of Tenh:

Over the course of several days, Elijah watches the Stonefisters engage in a cruel ritual: they release one of the food-bearing slaves, and chase her on foot. They catch her close to the edge of camp, and lame her. Gloating over her struggles, the Stonefisters watch her die. Elijah stoically awaits her opening.

The next evening, she gets it. The Fisters release another slave, but this time they let the young boy run well clear of the camp, chasing him, and apparently intending to run him to death. Elijah slips in behind the four barbarians, following them by their torchlight. She uses her hat of disguise to take the appearance of a fellow Stonefister, and begins the hunt.

She surprises her first victim handily, and dispatches the cruel fellow before he even has a chance to free his greatsword from its scabbard. She assumes his form and begins trailing her next target. The second falls as easily as the first with none of the Fisters the wiser.

Although she does not speak Frosttounge, the third barbarians’ reaction tells her that he was expecting just such a betrayal from his companion. If he is confused by his associate’s use of two swords it doesn’t slow him one iota as his pupils dilate and his skin flushes.

He shouts for help in his cropped tongue, while avoiding the worst of her first assault. The grimy brute bulls his way inside Elijah’s guard and uses his superior height to knock her off balance and force her to absorb the full impact of his greatsword blow. Elijah gives him a hug with her swords, cutting him once, twice and again, slicing him deeply along his back and severely hampering the use of his right arm. The Fister is dead on his feet, but his iron will and adrenaline-fueled rage keep him fighting, even if he seems to have trouble focusing his vision on his enemy.

The last Fister sees two things in short order: the dead body of Elijah’s second victim, and the second victim, seemingly alive and well, cutting his fellow hunter into ribbons. The barbarian shouts a word over and over, then runs for the safety of camp.

Elijah, who had hoped to leave one of the Fisters alive, looks over the badly mangled corpse of her victim, and reflects on how difficult it can be not to kill people with a pair of razor-sharp masterwork weapons in your hands.

 

[(contact)]

Ed's Note: Yes, yes, it's true - I'm naming my next kid after Piratecat.

You think that's messed up-- my mom just changed *my* name to Kevin.

 

[Cinerarium]

Second, and this is probably too self-serving for many folks, I actually sent emails to a few authors of those story hours I most enjoyed. I asked them, should they have a moment, to check mine out.

One of them was Piratecat.

I heard PirateCat's ISP is no longer accepting email for him... I wonder why that is?

 

[CrazyGothBard]

Wow, this thread answers questions I hadn't thought to ask yet. I'm going to be starting a Story Hour thread sometime soon for reasons partly logistical, partly creative, and partly amusement.

Thanks folks!

 

[Snoweel]

You never told me where in Sydney you're from.

So... tell me.

 

[CrazyGothBard]

You never told me where in Sydney you're from.

So... tell me.

Did too!

But since the other 12,000 odd people (er, OK maybe some of you are normal! ) probably don't care, I sent it to your E-mail.

"Nothing to see here, move along!"

 

[Snoweel]

Umm... Can you send it again?

And this time don't include references to bosting my cellphone reception/prolonging erections/nasty college girls/FREE debt reduction/etc.

I have to sift through the spam to find anything in my junkmail folder.

snoweel@hotmail.com