But about that poll.  Aldrich seemed a little surprised that I 
wouldn't keep track of something like that.  The truth is, I avoid 
polls and awards contests like the plague.  I also never read a review 
of my work, if I can help it.  This isn't to say that I ignore 
feedback.  On the contrary, I treasure it highly and respond to every 
individual who gives it to me.  I'm greatly interested in interacting 
with individual readers.  I do not, however, want to know what the 
general public thinks of my work.

My personal take on polls and such is this: They're nice.  If I ever win
one, I'll be ecstatic.  But I'm not going to take one too personally,
for three reasons.

1). My real element is BGC fanfiction, and I know of no real BGC polls. 

2). The sheer volume of 'fics produced means that probably only a small
fraction of the audience reads any given person's work (unless they have
a big name, or the work is both controversial enough and good enough to
start public debate).  So just because a work doesn't get a lot of votes
doesn't mean it's not good... it might well be that it didn't get the
notice it deserves.

3). Finally, my opinion of what makes a story good is often different
from the general public.  While I do hope that people in general like my
stories, I (like Mr. Mathews), am far more interested in individual
opinions, which tell me WHY someone likes or doesn't like it.  That's
criticism I can RESPOND, and use to improve my work.  I do, though, like
public reviews... for the publicity, if nothing else. *grin*  With so
many 'fics out there, a plug now and then is a good thing.

Just my opinion (note that I didn't claim to be humble)

				Stormwalker
				(Douglas A. Reeves)