Crumbly Writer
Posting Problems:
I posted the following yesterday:
> Due to changes in my ISP's web server, all my internet files have become
> unreadable (all the 'special characters' are no longer being interpreted
> correctly).
> Despite correcting that problem by recreating each and every file I've ever produced,
> I've recently learned that ASSTR is unable to process those files.
> What's more, when I tried to repost the older chapters, I now find that,
> even then, that ASSTR can no longer print 'alternate' characters (like ellipses,
> en-dashes, degree signs, etc.)
> As a result I'm contemplating where to go from here. I really don't want to turn
> readers off by posting stories that are unreadable, but I also hate to pull all
> of my stories from the site.
> If you have any suggestions, I'd be glad to hear it, but as of now, I'm likely
> to pull both my personal website down and remove all my entries on ASSTR
> until I can find a new hosting service that can display my files the way it was
> written. (I've been reluctant to pay a hosting site since I make NO money
> by posting these stories.)
OK, My dire warning about havign to take down my ASSTR stories was a bit premature. I'd spent all day (Saturday) trying to get my stories to display properly, trying one thing after another (and posting mutliple copies of each story). Then, fearing nothing would work, I reverted to my original files. When when I went to check on the submitted stories, they also wouldn't display correctly.
But when the chapters finally posted, everything worked fine (it sometimes takes ASSTR up to five or six hours to post a given chapter). So it looks like I need three separate version of every chapter: one for my website (which ASSTR links to), one for SOL (storiesonline.net), and one for ASSTR. That's a bit onerous, but not unworkable, as long as I know what needs to be done.
It's still going to take some time to get the stories on my site straightened out. So far I've completed "Love and Family During the Great Death", and "Catalyst: An Awkward Beginning". I've also gotten halfway through "Racing the Clock" (chapter 30 out of 41). Unfortunately, "Catalyst: Trying To Be Normal" will take a while (since it's 47 chapters). It's been a while since I've been able to write anything because of this, and I don't want to lose my place and forget what I was doing.
Regarding the recent reposting of an already posted story, this version had been reedited by a new editor and is much cleaner than the previous version, and contains some new material, including a new Prologue which begins a new thread. It doesn't change the story, but adds yet another twist to it.
Comments concerning this are welcomed. Write me either at crumblywriter@gmail.com or on my Crumbly Writer's Discussion Group.