the ABC effect

I wouldn't worry about it Gabrielle. The ABC staff have said numerous times that the process is entirely subjective. The lack of cherry simply means that your piece did not appeal to whichever editor read it. Far better to see some good stars and receive mail about your work. Richard's point is true too as is mandys. Even I read Looli's poem to see why it had been read an incredible 1800 times, without a cherry, thus boosting the times read myself! I knocked out a quick, tongue in cheek, cliche ridden, piss take story that has now been read more than anything else I have done. Why? Because it is in the erotica section and there is a bunch of pervies out there. Yet, the best piece I have done, IMHO, has only been read 3 times. Finally, imagine being cherried to death. There must be a temptation to think of fame lying in the wings.... a slot on Parki next week...... Richard and Judy soon... the blow when that does not happen could be quiet crushing. Lack of cherries keeps your feet firmly on the ground and should encourage you to try harder with your work and not lie back on the old laurel cliche. keep smiling.

No drugs, no alcohol - I have a pure and beautiful finished-a-project high. I have completed the first chapter of a novel that has lain fallow for so long it was beginning to stink. It is largely due to the lively, warm-hearted stimulation of the ABC crew. (mental, not otherwise - you mucky pups). I have renewed mental energy, my blues are Persil white now. We all need this massage of our fragile egos, friendly voices and bouts of literary silliness; it's as comforting as warm milk (but not Barry's story of the same name, which was so effective that I had nightmares after reading it). I feel so very still and motivated at the same time. A happy wolf, tail wagging in appreciation. Joy.

*dabs eyes with corner of hankie*

I read poems and short stories for a job, and spend extra time browsing the discussion room getting to know the people whose stuff I'm reading, I love it!

ABCtales.com, I believe, is the best site on the net for writers and readers. There's something for everyone. It has certainly been a great incentive to me as a writer.

So true, Liana! Excellent point!

When you buy a book it's all cut and dried between the covers like a pressed flower. ABC's like clicking on a garden, different plants growing at different speeds in different ways . And you don't have to pay loads of money to get something brilliant to read in a couple of seconds E-mailing people and getting emails back. That's the best. Knowing there are loads of funny, clever people who REALLY EXIST and are not just characters in a book, even if I only know of them in print

What a sunny bunch of responses. I can honestly say that ABC has been more uplifting than Caprice's wonderbra for me. I was feeling seriously gloomy beforehand and becoming negative. Now I cannot wait to write.

I have learnt a serious lesson from this site - and that is that I cannot write poetry. I have posted 4 short stories of which 3 have been cherry picked and one (thank-you, thank-you editors I love you all ) was put on the front page but the only poem I have posted has hardly been read at all. I've only written about 6 serious poems in the last 20 years and I think I might just stop now and concentrate on the stories. And I do enjoy reading all the discussion threads and have to force myself not to join in with all of them or I would just spend the whole of my very short writing time (evenings after 8 and before I get too knackered) just reading/writing the threads plus new postings. But this is the only place I get to have discussions about wrriting because as i have said before I don't know any other people that write and I'm too damn lazy to start my own writers group.

dear gabrielle you cant really guess at your poems being any good or not thru them being read much, or being cherried. at the end of the day, the cherrying process is personal opinion, and i have noticed that it is a matter of chance whether they get read or not. at the same time you might be submitting something, there may be 20 other poems being submitted. sorry if this dont make sense, im drunk :)

Looli, who has topped the 'times read' list for weeks, told me she thinks people read much-read work just to find out why it's much read. Personally, I think it depends on the title and description you give it. I changed the title of one of my stories and it got read far more often after that.

Those 'Times Read' numbers are the greatest works of fiction on the site.