Stories that left you disappointed for a reason

[Serpent]

I think maybe you have this perspective because youre closer to the slavic culture and notice the mistakes. i assure you, being south american makes 75% of the latino characters in IFs sooo embarrasing to read. the spanish is always really bad, how hard is it to get a beta tester? im sure thats the case with africans as well. the common theme is most of these writers are from the US and do zero research

Why get a beta tester when you can get a Google translate But yeah, I agree with you, though trust me when I say that there is also a a bunch of writers who aren't from US, and still add the stereotypes. I mean, I'm somewhat cool with it, because I'm mostly used to it by now, but that just makes their work sloppy. If they put half as much effort in researching actual things like that, instead of researching xe/xins or whatever the **** it is when it comes to pronouns and "touchy subjects", I think they would all benefit from it

 

[seneya]

And it’s always the same excuse, like they’ll work on it whenever they get stuck on the main IF or when they need a “break” from it.

I've noticed this as well.
However, a simple fact of writing is that inspiration won't carry you forever and whenever. It's important to be able to sit your a$$ down and write even when it feels like pulling teeth - there always will be moments that just won't inspire themselves, you have to slog through it. But if the logic is it's a hobby -> it should always be fun -> if it's not fun it's not worth doing, chances are you'll never actually finish anything.
It's like getting a new toy, and only playing with it until you get bored.
There's plenty of popular IFs I dislike, but still respect their authors for sticking to their work and providing updates.

 

[stardust9604]

This is the curse of C.C Hill. She throws out absolute banger story ideas with 2-3 chapters and actual plot points, and then proceeds to dump them after a few months and post the world’s most linear and cringe smut instead.

Or that one author of Simping Jade Beauties who has like seven hundred different prologues and keeps posting more.

I honestly don't know why some authors do this. If you can't commit to one idea and see it through to the end why bother overextending yourself by pumping out other works only to have them stuck and inevitably dropped. Another one that absolutely grinds my gears is an author posting Tumblr updates on stuff about lore and answering some borderline questionable RO asks and abandoning the story after, like that one formula one inspired if that the author had to rewrite for no reason when it was getting good,trashing everything and starting over, answering a ton of asks on Tumblr and adding lore information then promptly deleting both his Tumblr and and the entire if and vanishing into thin air. I was so annoyed because it's an idea that's rarely ever explored with all the fantasy and slice of life stuff running around. The only notable sports IF is College Origin tennis story.

 

[Serpent]

I honestly don't know why some authors do this. If you can't commit to one idea and see it through to the end why bother overextending yourself by pumping out other works only to have them stuck and inevitably dropped. Another one that absolutely grinds my gears is an author posting Tumblr updates on stuff about lore and answering some borderline questionable RO asks and abandoning the story after, like that one formula one inspired if that the author had to rewrite for no reason when it was getting good,trashing everything and starting over, answering a ton of asks on Tumblr and adding lore information then promptly deleting both his Tumblr and and the entire if and vanishing into thin air. I was so annoyed because it's an idea that's rarely ever explored with all the fantasy and slice of life stuff running around. The only notable sports IF is College Origin tennis story.

Simple answer?

 

[Serpent]

I've noticed this as well.
However, a simple fact of writing is that inspiration won't carry you forever and whenever. It's important to be able to sit your a$$ down and write even when it feels like pulling teeth - there always will be moments that just won't inspire themselves, you have to slog through it. But if the logic is it's a hobby -> it should always be fun -> if it's not fun it's not worth doing, chances are you'll never actually finish anything.
It's like getting a new toy, and only playing with it until you get bored.
There's plenty of popular IFs I dislike, but still respect their authors for sticking to their work and providing updates.

That's my thinking too, but even if you view it as a hobby right, you publish it, so now, it is public. It's not just you and your four walls, but now, you have people who are waiting for the story to continue, and who are following you along just for the sake of the story that you started. Don't they feel any type of obligation towards them? Why make it public in the first place then? Why not just create it in silence, play it for yourself, and be done with it? Don't go out promoting it, and then saying "oh, it's just a hobby, I can do it whenever I want and however I want", no, you can't. When you involve others, you simply can't. Blue balling people like that isn't cool.
As far as I remember, that's actually a reason L made that post, for the future writers. Like, if you are not completely sure about it, then do it privately first, see if you like it or not, and if you start going public with it, be transparent. If you want to ditch the project because of this reason or that, say so. Don't just disappear, because people are reasonable, they'll understand. And the ones who are not, I mean, ****, you can't please them all.

 

[bosslady]

Hm, I was always under the opinion that an author should write for their story until it is like 3 chapters long and THEN post it, maybe 2 chapters and see the reception. If it is good, then yeah, work on the rest. To me, it seems most have a cool idea, get excited and then realize that the plot doesn't spawn along with the idea and now it's too hard to write.

 

[yourstalkeroutside]

"Let's get through the basics first, then we'll get to the good stuff," Edwards says, retrieving a pen from his inner jacket pocket. "What pronouns would you prefer to use?"

I swear to Hastur that IF writers have never spoken to another person. Who says this? This isn't natural dialogue.

"Let's get through the basics first, then we'll get to the good stuff," Edwards says, retrieving a pen from his inner jacket pocket. "So-" (Insert choice here)

or even

"Let's get through the basics first, then we'll get to the good stuff," Edwards says, retrieving a pen from his inner jacket pocket. "What should I call you?"

makes more sense. Or just have the character customization before hand.

 

[game_hunt3r]

I swear to Hastur that IF writers have never spoken to another person. Who says this? This isn't natural dialogue.

or even

makes more sense. Or just have the character customization before hand.

This has been a gripe of mine for years.

Or when people introduce themselves and say something like, "I'm Connor Jones. My pronouns are he/him." First of all, who asked? It's far more natural for the author to just add the pronoun of the character with internal narration, and if they want to make it obvious that the masculine/feminine looking character isn't actually a man or a woman, but non-binary or the opposite gender, that can be brought up in dialogue with the MC accidentally calling them "him or her", and the character in question can either roll their eyes (tired of constantly correcting people) or just find it amusing, non-problematic or offensive. That way we get even more character building from them that is actually interesting, with the bonus of everyone not standing in a semi-circle and announcing their pronouns like we're at a Twitter meet-up, and not in the middle of some medieval war story lmao

 

[yourstalkeroutside]

The story I was quoting also had random sarcastic profanity despite having 0 instance of it up until that point, LI introductions right out of a booktok story (why is my character drooling over a FBI agent during their father's funeral) and a Patron despite only releasing one (terrible) chapter. Sad, because so few IFs are crime stories and even less have you be a willing participant in the crime.

Edit: Forgot to add the random scene jumps. That whole funeral felt less like a funeral and more like an infodump.

 

[BiscuitB]

This is the curse of C.C Hill. She throws out absolute banger story ideas with 2-3 chapters and actual plot points, and then proceeds to dump them after a few months and post the world’s most linear and cringe smut instead.

The girl has two kickstarters IF which she hasn't finished and like another fricken 3 stories she trying to do. Are you able to complete anything? Last game which was a side IF was It Takes Three to Tango.

Sadly CC has been type casted. If she wants to make something different ,she'll need to spend time learning and researching characters and giving them time to develop, but I don't know if she's capable of doing that.

 

[noahh]

and a Patron despite only releasing one (terrible) chapter

I have to wonder who the hell is even subscribing to patreons for these IFs. some of them barely have a prologue, how do you expect monthly updates. at that point i cant even feel sad you've been scammed, learn to manage your money dude. if you want to tip a writer something like kofi makes more sense. i've only ever subscribed to two patreons, golden rose and fallen hero, because i know the author are consistent and actually post content i wanna read

 

[f8butterfly]

I know people have different standards and tastes but almost every WIP IF thats been recommended here has not been good. Sometimes its a lack of creativity, lack of prowess, lack of correct grammar, a lack of interesting characters in a game that only has the characters going for it, or all of the above. There are some authors where you can't even tell what's going on and where the characters are.

CC Hill is my absolute limit, if your writing is not even her level than I can't even read it. She seems to be a concept writer. I found that once past the description her writing seems to become very monotonous, filled with characters that aren't all that interesting, a lack of variety in gameplay, and bland in both plot and writing. I guess the smut is what people like the most. The best part is that her writing is fun to read and I've never felt confused or that she doesn't know how to write. She just could be better.

 

[seneya]

almost every WIP IF thats been recommended here has not been good

Ah, how does it go...
"We want something different from the usual! There are too many IFs that are X/Y/Z!"
*an IF that is not X/Y/Z appears*
*no one reads it*

Hence, most of the popular stuff is fairly cookie-cutter. Also, it feels like people would fawn over anything that has romance and NSFW, even if badly written.

 

[Serpent]

Ah, how does it go...
"We want something different from the usual! There are too many IFs that are X/Y/Z!"
*an IF that is not X/Y/Z appears*
*no one reads it*

Hence, most of the popular stuff is fairly cookie-cutter. Also, it feels like people would fawn over anything that has romance and NSFW, even if badly written.

In the wise words of Stylish, very unfortue(he doesn't finish the word, don't boo me, that's literally how he says it ) . But yeah, though that is only because people don't view it as a hobby, nor are they going for authenticity. They are just in it for the easy cash, or to be more precise, the promise of easy cash. And if they aren't successful, and if no one reads it, that means no money, and despite what they all claim, yeah, that's the driving force behind their stories, otherwise we'd see much more unique, authentic works.

 

[seneya]

unique, authentic works

I'd argue that even if you're in it for the love of writing, not getting any engagement on your work... sucks. That's just it. If you ain't getting even a single lousy comment, you have no idea if people are liking it, if people are even reading it, if there's something you can improve etc.
So, yes, you can be writing the most authentic work ever, and still drop it if it feels like no one's interested. You can write for yourself without posting, after all.

 

[Serpent]

I'd argue that even if you're in it for the love of writing, not getting any engagement on your work... sucks. That's just it. If you ain't getting even a single lousy comment, you have no idea if people are liking it, if people are even reading it, if there's something you can improve etc.
So, yes, you can be writing the most authentic work ever, and still drop it if it feels like no one's interested. You can write for yourself without posting, after all.

No no, I do agree with this, wholeheartedly even. But that's exactly my point, they are doing it for the money at the end of the day, which is why something like that happens. Hell, that's proof of that! So yeah, unless it is truly just for the fun of it or something, we can continue to expect the same cookie cutter works... Though maybe, just maybe, this will change in the future, which honestly would be awesome to see

 

[noahh]

I know people have different standards and tastes but almost every WIP IF thats been recommended here has not been good. Sometimes its a lack of creativity, lack of prowess, lack of correct grammar, a lack of interesting characters in a game that only has the characters going for it, or all of the above. There are some authors where you can't even tell what's going on and where the characters are.

i agree. i cant believe stuff like highschool revenge gets recommended with any kind of seriousness. might be the worst **** ive ever read and i read mia ballard's ai book. i can excuse lack of creativity in writing, but it has to be legible and have some flow to it. please god raise your standards

 

[Parallax]

I know people have different standards and tastes but almost every WIP IF thats been recommended here has not been good. Sometimes its a lack of creativity, lack of prowess, lack of correct grammar, a lack of interesting characters in a game that only has the characters going for it, or all of the above. There are some authors where you can't even tell what's going on and where the characters are.

CC Hill is my absolute limit, if your writing is not even her level than I can't even read it. She seems to be a concept writer. I found that once past the description her writing seems to become very monotonous, filled with characters that aren't all that interesting, a lack of variety in gameplay, and bland in both plot and writing. I guess the smut is what people like the most. The best part is that her writing is fun to read and I've never felt confused or that she doesn't know how to write. She just could be better.

I remember times when she posted a demo for Midnight Saga on the cog forum. It wasn’t perfect, and neither was the full game, but I liked it back then. I thought she was a promising IF writer. She could have written great stuff. And now what, a Patreon writer of short stories about ****ing. Pathetic and sad.
The last good WiP was the one about lawyers, imo.

 

[f8butterfly]

Why is the IF space especially on tumblr so hateful? And why anecdotally do the most hateful and illiterate people happen to be fans of the most sloppily and poorly written IFs? Almost every time I see an author and their fans being the most rude their writing isn't even all that good. It's also sad that a community based off of reading text games cannot properly read and assume they can read emotions and tone through text even though that isn't possible. So someone online, anon or not, can simply ask if blank is in the game (no, this is not about the poly incident) or will be and a overly defensive, chronically logged into tumblr, dashboard-addicted fan of theirs will jump in to defend the author when nothing needed to be defended. If you or your fans are rude your writing should be phenomenal otherwise that's just embarrassing. I'm honestly shocked that authors who called out the community on the cog forums and said they will never have a forum there have not also called out the overall tumblr IF community for, depending on the individual IF/Author, being just as terrible.

It does kind of make sense though when you figure out that a lot of IF fans are fans of a particular game series that was once voted as a top 5 worst fandom on tumblr...

 

[Serpent]

Why is the IF space especially on tumblr so hateful? And why anecdotally do the most hateful and illiterate people happen to be fans of the most sloppily and poorly written IFs? Almost every time I see an author and their fans being the most rude their writing isn't even all that good. It's also sad that a community based off of reading text games cannot properly read and assume they can read emotions and tone through text even though that isn't possible. So someone online, anon or not, can simply ask if blank is in the game (no, this is not about the poly incident) or will be and a overly defensive, chronically logged into tumblr, dashboard-addicted fan of theirs will jump in to defend the author when nothing needed to be defended. If you or your fans are rude your writing should be phenomenal otherwise that's just embarrassing. I'm honestly shocked that authors who called out the community on the cog forums and said they will never have a forum there have not also called out the overall tumblr IF community for, depending on the individual IF/Author, being just as terrible.

It does kind of make sense though when you figure out that a lot of IF fans are fans of a particular game series that was once voted as a top 5 worst fandom on tumblr...

Because a giant portion of Tumblr is a bunch of retards. Not everyone mind you, since I believe that there also is a good deal of normal people there, but as I said, a good bunch. It is very simple when one knows how they function.
They all function solely based on emotion, and nothing else. They will fill the void that they get from real life by reading some bullshit, and then they'll become simps for that particular writer. After that, the said author becomes like a cult figure for them, since they are all just parasocial like that. So whatever the said writer says or does, they'll all jump to their defense, but even that has some dumb limits.
So yeah, they don't use their minds at all, which is basically the reason for what you described.
For example, I've seen Suevi writer lose their absolute ****ing mind over some ask that was just that. A regular ask. But I guess I'm wrong, and somehow the ask told them to go **** themselves in some very secretive way, hence the reaction to it. And then, the friends of the writer and their readers all just to defend them, like, huh?
Or hell, CC will get an ask along the lines of, when will we get an update, which she'll answer by the famous "when I fell like it, leave me alone. lol" and her dogs will be like yes queen, tell em. Like common.
In future, I recommend posting screenshots, so we can all have a laugh on their expense