I placed several of my stories on a short story internet site for traction. Although each had previously been published several times in small magazines, the readership remains low. A good site, but to my horror it is a review one where members of the site put their views on people's work. While on the surface this seems an excellent idea, it is an invation to trolls-abusive types, hooked on power and with negative mindsets. I consequently got into arguments with a number, quarrelling with their arrogance, tendency to pontificate without the necessary knowledge and indeed with their general lack of writing experience and success.
I was told that my writing (style I think) was not modern but the reviewer was unable to say what he meant by that. Something about my sentences. I pointed out to him that there was not a modern style but modern writers who write in a number of different styles-Leonard is very different to McEwan for example. The impression I got was that his style, excellent in its fashion but dull, was to be preferred and all others rubbish. He later attacked my graphic portrayals of violence, asserting that he did not like that kind of writing and consequently it was bad writing. How do you write about a head being cut off? Politely?
His nonsence in the end got to me. He clearly knows nothing about writing but acts as an expert. Many on these sites are like that. They are trolls and time wasters, eager for vulnerable people. Be wary of them. If you go on them, block the negative types. Incidentally, when I initially challenged the above gentleman he became abusive-calling me all sorts of names in very unwriterly language.
I wondered, and still do, how many young talents their ego-driven manipulative interventions have badly affected or destroyed.
Don't go on these sites if you are a young writer!
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