Ratings–Is It Really That Big Of A Deal?

[Comshaw]

Do story ratings here matter? It depends on the author, but I believe they matter much more than many want to let on. Why?

As has been said, it's a great ego stroke. It's the rare individual who doesn't need, from time to time, an ego stroke for their efforts. We might "write for ourselves" but it is always nice to have someone verify what we think is. As an author I NEED some of that, NEED a pat or two to tell me I'm on the right track.

As alohadave said, "We don't have much else to gauge reception to our stories, so obsessing over it is not surprising." If I were writing in the commercial world, trying to make money from my writing, the gauge would be sales. I might think it's a great story but if I can't sell it, if people won't buy it, then as far as commercial works go, it's a flop. Here the readers don't buy, they give ratings, which tells me how they enjoyed (or not) the story. I will make it plain, I write because I enjoy it. BUT, I also do so to get others to enjoy it. If a reader enjoys my story, I'm happy with that. And one of the only consistent gauges of them enjoying it is ratings. Yeah, comments do too, but they are even rarer than a vote, so the votes are, at this time, the best way to tell if it was enjoyed.

There have been many a thread on stories that get high ratings that in the view of some are trash because of multiple things like spelling, grammar, disjointed storylines and the like. But at the base and in the end, the readers are the arbiters of what is "good" and what is not. No the rating system is not perfect. It is flawed, but no system would be perfect or actually good enough. Hell, when I get a low rating I go looking for a reason and most times I'm pointing at the system, or the trolls, or this that and the other.

For those who don't see ratings as important, or who are too fragile to let some of the trolls take a bite at them or who don't really care if the reader votes, there is an option to turn off voting. Me? I'll keep it on thanks and when I do get a high vote I'll bask in the warm fussys of an ego stroke.



Comshaw

 

[SamBomb]

Although ratings are nice, I prefer likes and comments as a barometer.

 

[madelinemasoch]

There's a contradiction here. On the one hand, a rational breakdown explains why ratings shouldn't be taken too seriously. After all, this is an erotic content platform, and most of the audience is looking for escapistic fun and a quick release; not exactly Pulitzer jury material. The last thing they are looking for is "thought-provoking" content.

On the other hand, it's quite clear that you are indeed bothered by the ratings... a lot. So why not consider giving up the pretense about not caring, compromise a little on the holy artistic values, and do something about it?

If it's any consolation, my experience with stories rated above 4.8 is quite disappointing. It turns out that whatever works for the vast majority, for some odd reason, doesn't work for me. But this is also true for stories rated below 3.5. My comfort zone is 3.7-4.8.

I'd suggest writing that "suffocated, formulaic, and sterile trite story" that will bring that coveted high score.

The required ingredients would include a linear and simple plot, positive characters, a light and liberating atmosphere, sun, sea, flying hearts, and, of course, humor, and a happy ending.

I'd do it for the narrative experience, if not for the score. Step out of your comfort zone and write about topics you aren't obsessed with. It may improve you as a writer. If you find a good idea for a story and wish to collaborate, I'm here.

Nevertheless, I have a strange feeling that achieving that goal may not be as easy as it seems.

 

[AG31]

Is there a way to find out whether you got a lot of 5's and an equal number of 1's vs a lot of 3's?

 

[KitOwsley]

I'm not arrogant or vain about my writing, but I've done it long enough and have enough non-Literotica experience to know I'm good. Also, I'm very aware that most readers on Literotica don't particularly care about my storytelling craftsmanship. They just want their kinks serviced.

My own kinks are peculiar. I'm turned on by odd, even non-sexual qualities in women (and in male/female interactions) that don't even have subcategories in porn or erotica. For most people, my turn-ons might have fleeting, incidental appeal at best, or no appeal at all. The fact that I'm so intensely preoccupied with them is rather isolating. The only reason I decided to publish here was to see if I could make my weird preoccupations sexy to other people. To do so, I have to service established kinks, which, in the case of my recent Literotica debut, are mostly stepcest and vanilla foot fetish. Those kinks don't turn me off and they pair well with my personal preoccupations.

My series is seven chapters, but it's a slow burn, and the characters only fuck in the last chapter. The stuff that's sexiest to me is in the non-sex chapters. It gives me a silly little thrill that the non-sex chapters all have ratings above 4. The last chapter is well over 4.5, a solid H. It also incorporates my kink, but I know that the kinky stuff people like in it has little or nothing to do with my kink. Still, it's fun to think I may have slipped my weirdness into someone else's stroke fantasy.

I'm now working on a sequel that will have sex in every chapter (which seems to be the norm here). If they don't all get H ratings, I won't be heartbroken. But every individual high rating suggests that the person has read the entire chapter, seen my kink from my point of view, and enjoyed it. That's fun. It's why I'm here.

 

[Red_Herring4]

Is there a way to find out whether you got a lot of 5's and an equal number of 1's vs a lot of 3's?

No. The only way to do this would be to manually track each individual vote as it comes in. This may be doable in some of the categories with lower view/vote totals. But it would require pretty frequent refreshing of your author's control panel (especially in the first few days after your story is posted) to see when a vote came in and how it affected your score. You could then track each vote on a spreadsheet as a 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1.

 

[OnlyHappyEndings]

"He pays less dear than I myself; when a verse pleases me I pay myself, and sing it to myself."
-Cyrano

 

[alohadave]

Is there a way to find out whether you got a lot of 5's and an equal number of 1's vs a lot of 3's?

https://www.literotica.com/s/how-to-analyze-your-scores

This will give you estimates.

 

[AG31]

https://www.literotica.com/s/how-to-analyze-your-scores

This will give you estimates.

Thanks!
Now, could you tell me how I might have found this on my own? I couldn't find any path to it from literotica.com after having logged in.

 

[alohadave]

Thanks!
Now, could you tell me how I might have found this on my own? I couldn't find any path to it from literotica.com after having logged in.

It's a story, and I found it because someone linked it in the forums.

I search for 'scores' when I need to find it. It shows up in the search results.

 

[lovecraft68]

Are ratings that big of a deal?

The answer....depends on the author.

I think they mean a little something to every one, but some put way too much stock in them, meanwhile, and to the contrary some claim they mean absolutely nothing and high scores are all fake.

All that matters is what the individual thinks of them and its not right or wrong either way.

 

[Gamblnluck]

Also, I'm very aware that most readers on Literotica don't particularly care about my storytelling craftsmanship. They just want their kinks serviced.

Nope. Many like well told stories. Of course in some categories you need to change that definition a bit. 'Craftmanship' may be your own opinion. I have not read your stories. I did begin your first chapter and it seemed well written. It might be WHERE you posted your story. One of the things I noticed right away is your chapter length is painfully short. Less than 2k words per? Your whole story should have been 2 chapters max.
You did get a very good scoring for your efforts even if the comments seemed almost non-existent. Some categories are like that, though while others comments are prolific.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Ratings–Is It Really That Big Of A Deal?​

I used to get super stressed and anxious about them. But think that was just reflective of other stuff.

It’s nice when people rate your stuff highly. I’d say, even beyond comments, I value other authors saying “good job.” That’s the most precious feedback. People who understand the effort and the difficulties. An author’s compliment makes me .

Em

 

[forgotmyantidepressants]

I'd be lying if I said I didn't want others to read and enjoy my work, and I'd rather have a nice comment or email than a five-star rating. That being said, I'm not going to change my writing based on the opinions of others.

 

[KitOwsley]

One of the things I noticed right away is your chapter length is painfully short. Less than 2k words per? Your whole story should have been 2 chapters max.
You did get a very good scoring for your efforts even if the comments seemed almost non-existent. Some categories are like that, though while others comments are prolific.

Yes, I now realize that my chapters need to be longer here. And I'm enjoying the challenge of working hot, plot-driving sex into every chapter.

Out of curiosity, what categories would you say generate more comments?

 

[ElectricBlue]

Yes, I now realize that my chapters need to be longer here. And I'm enjoying the challenge of working hot, plot-driving sex into every chapter.

Out of curiosity, what categories would you say generate more comments?

Loving Wives, by a long shot. But I'd suggest you go take a random sample first, and decide if you ever want to write there.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Yes, I now realize that my chapters need to be longer here. And I'm enjoying the challenge of working hot, plot-driving sex into every chapter.

Out of curiosity, what categories would you say generate more comments?

Comments in Loving Wives are like sex in prison.
The sex you want you aren't getting, the sex you're getting you don't want.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I'd be lying if I said I didn't want others to read and enjoy my work, and I'd rather have a nice comment or email than a five-star rating. That being said, I'm not going to change my writing based on the opinions of others.

Totally agree, but the more feedback, the better. Comments are the best, though, especially the impassioned ones. I thought about editing and re-releasing a story based on the vitriol around a passage I miswrote that implied the spouse had been cheating on her husband. Then I realized the anger at the character it induced, and the fact that the readers cared enough to add a comment meant they were vested in the story and cared about the characters. (Not in L/W, so the analysis is valid, I think)
I decided the passionate comments were worth more than a 5* vote.

 

[Trionyx]

Comments in Loving Wives are like sex in prison.
The sex you want you aren't getting, the sex you're getting you don't want.

Through your heteronormative eyes, maybe.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Through your heteronormative eyes, maybe.

Interesting, if incorrect, assumption.

 

[Trionyx]

Interesting, if incorrect, assumption.

I stand corrected. A better thing to have written would be “Through heteronormative eyes, maybe” but the best thing to have written would have been nothing. Better to say nothing and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

 

[Gamblnluck]

I used to get super stressed and anxious about them. But think that was just reflective of other stuff.

It’s nice when people rate your stuff highly. I’d say, even beyond comments, I value other authors saying “good job.” That’s the most precious feedback. People who understand the effort and the difficulties. An author’s compliment makes me .

I agree. I regard other author's comments much more than the average Anonymous.
Today I got a comment on a sequel I wrote based on another author's story. He painted the female character as mentally ill but still a cheater. The story was ripped to shreds. Today's comment said "You ruined the original story." How? By portraying the character in a different light? He did not elaborate.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I stand corrected. A better thing to have written would be “Through heteronormative eyes, maybe” but the best thing to have written would have been nothing. Better to say nothing and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Psst. It’s my job to post stupid stuff and upset people. Do I need to contact my union rep?

Em

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I stand corrected. A better thing to have written would be “Through heteronormative eyes, maybe” but the best thing to have written would have been nothing. Better to say nothing and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

It's a line from the movie "The New Guy". All in good fun, I hope.

 

[PennameWombat]

Yes, I now realize that my chapters need to be longer here. And I'm enjoying the challenge of working hot, plot-driving sex into every chapter.

Out of curiosity, what categories would you say generate more comments?

Loving Wives, by a long shot. But I'd suggest you go take a random sample first, and decide if you ever want to write there.

Who knows how accurate this information in terms of 2023 behavior, as it was posted in 2018, but remains the most thorough look I've ever seen.

LW does get the most absolute number of comments, but, interestingly, when normalized over number of views in each Category, Loving Wives isn't so far out of line in terms of numbers of comments, exceeded by Novels & Novellas, and close to SF&F, Romance and NonHuman. Only I&T gets more views than LW, but the I&T readers are much quieter about it

The original post by 8letters is at https://forum.literotica.com/threads/statistical-analysis-of-lite-stories.1487508/ but the new Forum software doesn't render it properly. That's why I'm attaching it as a pic.