Am I Being too Six-Sensitive?

[Jared Handley]

I get messages from time to time from Six-S friends who want me to read their external work. No biggie, except I've noticed a handful of these have never even read (or commented on) any of my blogs. I pretend to be thick-skinned about it, but it seems a little insulting, especially since I appreciate even harsh criticism, and have always (hopefully) demonstrated as much in replies. Am I alone here or does that seem kind of... ?


Couple notes: I love reading other people's work so don't hesitate to send me (or keep sending me) your links! And if you're saying "Hey, I've read your stuff!" then I didn't mean you.

[Absolutely*Kate]

Good two cents MDB. Folks can make change with that ... and it adds up too.
~ A*K

[Mike Handley]

You're not alone, but I can't really offer any advice. Time is so sparse for me, the only way I can cope is to be selective. I know I'm missing some great stuff, but there just aren't enough hours in the day for me to follow all the urls and read all the blogs. It's all I can do to keep up with my favorites here on 6S.

That said, I agree with lots of the comments here. Sorry I didn't notice this discussion before now. I rarely look at that corner of the main page.

[Absolutely*Kate]

Mike, dang it -- I like the wit of your wisdom or the wisdom of your wit all the more every time I come across it -- which is why both 'selective' and 'timing' and even a bit of 'serendipity' lead us to writers and words and thoughts and contentions that make us all the more how our own writings doth pour. ~ Absolutely*Kate

[Robert Crisman]

I get a lot of those same kind of messages and it used to kind of tick me off. But it's not going to change, so I figured, what's the point of getting upset? Yeah, I've wanted all the responses and love in the world, but so far those haven't arrived, and in fact, some of the stuff I've posted that I like the best has drawn little or no response at all. What I came to was this: in the end, doesn't matter. I'm on here because doing these sixes strengthens my chops, and if somebody digs what I've got to say, great. If they don't I'm not worried; the only thing that matters when all's said and done is that I'm pleased with my work. And I am.

[Absolutely*Kate]

Yikes ... I was gonna reply to this one but I have 1087 Crisman stories to read yet. Kidding! Well kinda -- As long as you're out there pluggin' and plotting and scribing away and you got good stuff you wanta share and have others see and you're out there as well being a "I'll show you mine and I sure wanta take a look at yours" kinda writer ... then go for the flow baby.

I do have to get back to my Crisman stack.
I wonder if he's read any of my Nelle and found it swell.
( smiling RC, smilin' ) ~ Absolutely*Kate

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

You are not being TOO Six-Sensitive. You are being appropriately sensitive. If certain people never comment on your posts (you can't be sure they aren't reading them, though) you have no responsibility to comment on theirs, despite their pleas to read and comment. Of course if you want to, that's something else.

I comment on many posts every day. I post only once or twice (that's unusual) a month and many of those people who receive comments from me almost every day don't comment on mine at all unless I specifically ask them to, a practice that makes me feel weird and overly aggressive. Readers have their own taste in writing styles and will do what they want. I guess a thick skin is a good idea. Just tell me how to grow one!

[Absolutely*Kate]

Toby ... I love you ... forthright and true ... all the time ... all the time.
~ Absolutely*Kate

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

Kate---You must post again. I miss your wisdom.

[Absolutely*Kate]

As soon as I catch up reading your great classic slices of life pieces Ms Toby -- which always provide a thought-provoking lilt. Most humbly, I salute you. Some samples of my scribing in a longer venue of flash fiction and Noir and enchantment do exist over AT THE BIJOU ... popcorn's on the house for you - any day, any time.

~ Your sincere fan,
~ Absolutely*Kate, blushing, I assure you

[Cath Barton]

Hi Jared - I've only just caught up with this thread...reading what you've written and others' comments makes me feel a bit awkward. I am guilty of doing mass-mailings to 6S Friends about things I've had published elsewhere, but I always feel very conscious of blowing my own trumpet and I really do try and read and comment on other people's work too. I think it goes with the territory of writing to be sensitive. After all, we're all baring our souls. And yes we have to take criticism too, because we all face rejection. It's not easy. But I really do appreciate the support I experience at 6S and I hope we can remain an honest community.

[Brian Michael Barbeito]

JARED- i am glad i caught you over here dude. i have some other online writing i'd love you to take a look
at and a book to sell also cause i'm sure you'd like to purchase it. i will provide some links for you and more
info just send me the okay, okay? TOTALLY ONE THOUSAND PER CENT JOKING DUDE! :-)

in all seriousness, you make good points. i read through the topic here and in fact everyone made
good points. i love this network think its cool, but i have even seen some posts that didn't even
have any writing, and were just an adverstisment or arrow pointing to something somewhere else.

that doesn't seem too fair to those writers that try and seriously contribute.

[Absolutely*Kate]

Well Jared, I sure had some insight fun that's always best when just re-begun by the thoughts of my learned 6'y companions and those whom I've yet to pleasurably meet the more through their words. Sorry I can't ask ya to read much of mine here as 100 tales were destroyed in some weird bonfire of a virus Rob said once swept through. That's OK ... it made me begin anew and bolster the further ... as a writer like you seems to do when comin' up against what just doesn't seem 'fair' in playin' ball.

Read and write and write and read and give indeed but not overly when you're feelin' overlooked, even by those who are overbooked. And ... I'll be readin' more of you too, though what I've seen I like in the already -- Any voice that speaks the peace like this piece does ... deserves the "Hey - Check - Out - This - Guy - All - The - More". Thanks man, ~ Absolutely*Kate