My first foray into non con was not well received---why?

[joy_of_cooking]

https://www.literotica.com/s/tormented-by-my-muse-750-words

https://literotica.com/s/terrorized-by-my-muse-750-words

I wrote two kinda-dark kinda-noncon no-sex 750 word stories about a struggling Literotica author and his extremely unsympathetic muse. Readers really hated the second one! Why?

 

[AchtungNight]

Probably hit too close to home for many writers. I’m struggling with similar issues right now.

 

[SeraphNocturne]

Almost certain it’s the category. Heavily m-dom focused crowd, there, where as the BDSM crowd from what I have read tends to be much more positive toward femdom work.

 

[Winter_Fare]

https://www.literotica.com/s/tormented-by-my-muse-750-words

https://literotica.com/s/terrorized-by-my-muse-750-words

I wrote two kinda-dark kinda-noncon no-sex 750 word stories about a struggling Literotica author and his extremely unsympathetic muse. Readers really hated the second one! Why?

The whole crowd prefers to see women on the recieving end, not the ones dishing it out

 

[KeithD]

Don't discount the length as being at least part of the issue. Minimal-word stories rarely are well received at Lit.

 

[lovecraft68]

Its seems 750 word stories in general don't get high marks, then to add to it they're sexless-so "non con less" which is another strike.

TBH if there's no sex, go with non erotic in the future, in erotic categories people expect...well erotic

 

[Bramblethorn]

Strong Oglaf echoes: https://www.oglaf.com/blank-page/ https://www.oglaf.com/muse/

Agree with the comments on femdom and word count. I think another factor might be the surrealism. NC in general doesn't seem to be a very adventurous category and things like breaking the fourth wall might not be their cup of tea.

(Also, a lot of readers are ungrateful bastards have different priorities from authors and don't want to hear about the travails of an author, they just want the porn. Kinda like your muse that way.)

 

[yukonnights]

Don't discount the length as being at least part of the issue. Minimal-word stories rarely are well received at Lit.

This ^

I've lost any interest in this '750 Word' event — seems like those reading the entries don't appreciate the challenge of thing.

 

[DarkCosmos]

So, I just read both your short stories. I personally saw nothing so drastically different with the second one as to explain the rating it got. Though I noted your comments on the whole were mostly positive.

I don't know enough about the apparent issue some readers have with femdom to comment there. But I can tell you if you're worried about some technical problem or drastic difference between the two being the root cause. There isn't one. Not as far as I can see anyway.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

I just read both stories and commented.

I'm not really a big fan of the arbitrary 750 story length. It prioritizes the fun of the challenge for the author over the quality of the story.

I'm not saying that either story was poor quality, mind you, but it's a restriction that does nothing for me as a reader.

Writing a 750 story is kinda like a guy giving a girl "the best 30 second fuck she ever had."

"Wow... that... uhh... that sure was an impressive performance that you crammed into such a short space. But personally, I wasn't in a rush. I would have enjoyed a longer fuck story, to be honest. Did we have somewhere to be?"

That said, as 750 word stories go, both of these were enjoyable. But then again, I'm an author. I'm sure readers who don't write probably got very little from either of these stories.

 

[Vintage_DM]

Both Non-Con and LW readers are brutal in their opinions. If they like your story, you'll be showered with five-star awards; if they don't, you'll get one star. I suggest knowing the audience you are presenting to.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Both Non-Con and LW readers are brutal in their opinions. If they like your story, you'll be showered with five-star awards; if they don't, you'll get one star. I suggest knowing the audience you are presenting to.

I won't say you're entirely wrong, but I will say that LW is way more polarizing than NC/R.

I've written plenty of femdom in NC/R (which is unpopular) but still managed to squeak out a red H's out of them.

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't interpret the results this way at all. The comments were positive. The score wasn't what you wanted it to be because a) it's a 750 word story, and that knocks half a point off right there, and b) it's a subject matter mix that some people just don't like.

But who cares? Ignore 'em. Obviously, you found some readers who liked it. Focus on them, and even more importantly on what you want to do.

 

[MrHereWriting]

Strong Oglaf echoes: https://www.oglaf.com/blank-page/ https://www.oglaf.com/muse/

Had to check him out. His concepts aren't ground breaking, but his presentations of them are amusing. (I've spent more time on them than I planned to.)

 

[joy_of_cooking]

Sounds like the general consensus here is

1. Wrong audience. NC/R isn't into femdom, and maybe isn't into surreal stuff.
2. Wrong length. 750 is a writer's game, not a reader's treat.

I initially discounted the effect of the length. They were both 750 words but, at the time I asked the question, their ratings were over a full point apart, 4.5 and 3.5. Their ratings have since converged to 4.26 and 3.83. So now it's easier to believe that the length was depressing both ratings.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Sounds like the general consensus here is

1. Wrong audience. NC/R isn't into femdom, and maybe isn't into surreal stuff.
2. Wrong length. 750 is a writer's game, not a reader's treat.

I initially discounted the effect of the length. They were both 750 words but, at the time I asked the question, their ratings were over a full point apart, 4.5 and 3.5. Their ratings have since converged to 4.26 and 3.83. So now it's easier to believe that the length was depressing both ratings.

Thanks, everyone!

Before you get the wrong idea, don't give up on femdom in NC/R entirely!
It is far less popular than maledom, true. But everyone of my femdom stories has a nice red H. So as long as you're aware of the bias against it, you'll still make a ton of readers very happy with it.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Had to check him out. His concepts aren't ground breaking, but his presentations of them are amusing. (I've spent more time on them than I planned to.)

Trudy goes by "she" AFAIK, but yes, Oglaf is pretty entertaining.

 

[MrHereWriting]

Trudy goes by "she" AFAIK, but yes, Oglaf is pretty entertaining.

My mistake, and my apologies to Oglaf.

 

[Katch123]

https://www.literotica.com/s/tormented-by-my-muse-750-words

https://literotica.com/s/terrorized-by-my-muse-750-words

I wrote two kinda-dark kinda-noncon no-sex 750 word stories about a struggling Literotica author and his extremely unsympathetic muse. Readers really hated the second one! Why?

Maybe it was just bad?

 

[MediocreAuthor]

Maybe it was just bad?

I don't know if this is a joke, but the stories are only 750 words. Read them and see.

I would not call them bad

 

[joy_of_cooking]

Maybe it was just bad?

Like families, bad stories are bad in their own ways. What's hard and interesting is understanding how a story disappointed its readers. That's where I asked for everyone's help.

So, maybe it was bad? Yeah, probably!

But, "just bad"? No, not possible.

 

[Katch123]

In post #19 of this thread the author said "Readers really hated the 2nd story. Why?" Since the author used the word hate to describe readers reaction to the 2nd story , then maybe it was bad as I originally said.

You either write for your own satisfaction, in which case your opinion is all that counts and your satisfied with the outcome or you write for others to receive their approval. Just my opinion.

 

[MediocreAuthor]

In post #19 of this thread the author said "Readers really hated the 2nd story. Why?" Since the author used the word hate to describe readers reaction to the 2nd story , then maybe it was bad as I originally said.

You either write for your own satisfaction, in which case your opinion is all that counts and your satisfied with the outcome or you write for others to receive their approval. Just my opinion.

I believe the author was using hyperbole when he said "hate".

I'm sure the definition of "bad" varies person to person... but if you read the story, objectively, it is not bad. It may not be your cup of tea, but it is not poorly written.

 

[Katch123]

I believe the author was using hyperbole when he said "hate".

I'm sure the definition of "bad" varies person to person... but if you read the story, objectively, it is not bad. It may not be your cup of tea, but it is not poorly written.

Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. The only asshole that counts is really your own if we're being honest about it. I didn't read the story , I was just browsing a thread I wouldn't normally visit.
I agree taste is subjective , varies by individual. Hyperbole or not if you post something people will comment. Authors (or would be) should know better and not take peanut gallery comments to heart.
Nuff said.

 

[Katch123]

I believe the author was using hyperbole when he said "hate".

I'm sure the definition of "bad" varies person to person... but if you read the story, objectively, it is not bad. It may not be your cup of tea, but it is not poorly written.

So I went back and read it and left feedback. I didn't hate it but it's not good.