Ratings–Is It Really That Big Of A Deal?

[MillieDynamite]

My ex-stripper SO says something like that. "The fucking they want we don't give them, and the fucking to their billfold they endure in the foolish hope for the fucking they won't get. I was super good at fucking wallets."

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.

 

[madelinemasoch]

Better to say nothing and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

That's a fire sentence, though.

 

[Emilymcplugger]

No.

I used to worry about the one-bombers but now I know why they occur (because of their fictional feud with Emily Miller, whom they believe is me…whom? Who?) I just prefer reader numbers and favourites as it seems to be a better metric.

 

[Djmac1031]

Just because a story is rated 4.5 or higher doesn't automatically mean it's well written.

And just because it's rated under 4.5 doesn't make it crap.

I think more of us need to remember that.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Worrying about ratings is like worrying about whether it’s going to rain next Tuesday. You can’t do anything about them. Sure you can give yourself that first 5, but once you do the rest is completely out of your control.

Also, think about the ratings you give. Are they based on in-depth critical analysts of the story or on your immediate reaction to it. Oooh, that made me smile, yessss, I got off twice , Five stars. I hate (insert personal tastes and biases here) one star.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Worrying about ratings is like worrying about whether it’s going to rain next Tuesday. You can’t do anything about them. Sure you can give yourself that first 5, but once you do the rest is completely out of your control.

Also, think about the ratings you give. Are they based on in-depth critical analysts of the story or on your immediate reaction to it. Oooh, that made me smile, yessss, I got off twice , Five stars. I hate (insert personal tastes and biases here) one star.

I don't read or rate a lot of stories here but when I do, I always try to provide feedback that explains my take on the story.

Grammar, punctuation, and spelling typically get a pass from me if the story itself held me to the end. I will be critical on continuity mistakes (character's name changes part way through, etc.) or changes in tense/perspective that destroy the flow of the story.

If I feel that I am being too critical of a story, I will provide feedback but not rate it.

 

[Djmac1031]

I'm gonna shout this from the rooftops every time it comes up because I think it needs repeating:

A four star rating means the vast majority of readers LIKED YOUR STORY.

When did the success or failure of our stories suddenly start hinging on the variance of a a mere 0.5?

Ah, yes; because RED H.

In my two + years here, I've read some absolute GARBAGE stories, by popular, well established authors, no less. No real plot, one dimensional characters, absolutely passionless boring predictable sex scenes, and atrocious grammar.

Yet they still have the Red H.

Why? Because the author was smart enough to write in a particular, popular category and pander to that audience.

I've also read brilliant, heartwarming, touching, funny and incredibly erotic stories that fall short of that Red H status. Sometimes by just a small fraction, sometimes larger.

Doesn't make the story any less entertaining or well written.

Want a Stories Page littered with nothing BUT Red H's? It's real simple to do. The categories where that's possible are easy enough to spot. Just write in those, stick to the formula, and you'll get that Coveted Red H almost every time.

Or... just write a good story. Something that actually means something to YOU.

Trust me, you'll find your audience. And that should be enough.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I'm gonna shout this from the rooftops every time it comes up because I think it needs repeating:

A four star rating means the vast majority of readers LIKED YOUR STORY.

When did the success or failure of our stories suddenly start hinging on the variance of a a mere 0.5?

Ah, yes; because RED H.

In my two + years here, I've read some absolute GARBAGE stories, by popular, well established authors, no less. No real plot, one dimensional characters, absolutely passionless boring predictable sex scenes, and atrocious grammar.

Yet they still have the Red H.

Why? Because the author was smart enough to write in a particular, popular category and pander to that audience.

I've also read brilliant, heartwarming, touching, funny and incredibly erotic stories that fall short of that Red H status. Sometimes by just a small fraction, sometimes larger.

Doesn't make the story any less entertaining or well written.

Want a Stories Page littered with nothing BUT Red H's? It's real simple to do. The categories where that's possible are easy enough to spot. Just write in those, stick to the formula, and you'll get that Coveted Red H almost every time.

Or... just write a good story. Something that actually means something to YOU.

Trust me, you'll find your audience. And that should be enough.

I have published 25 stories here in 6 different categories. Four of these do not have a red H, and it is obvious, to me at least, why these four are rated the way they are. One is too short, two are in LWs, and one confused the majority of readers (those who got it, loved it).

It really isn't difficult to understand why a story scores the way it does if the author takes the time to properly analyze it with an open, objective mind. Even then, understanding why shouldn't be something that makes you deviate from doing what you love to do. As @Djmac1031 says, make it meaningful for you first and foremost.

 

[StillStunned]

And I'd like to add that people tend to vote not only based on what they like but also on what they dislike. A particularly high score may suggest there's almost nothing to dislike about that content, possibly indicating a certain lack of character. It's as if the author intentionally left out their less attractive sides to please the audience.

"Your story has a high score, so you must be a sell-out." Seriously?

 

[Djmac1031]

It really isn't difficult to understand why a story scores the way it does if the author takes the time to properly analyze it with an open, objective mind.

Absolutely. I have several stories rated less than 4.5. If I examine each one, I could probably put a reason as to why.

But I also don't consider any of them "failures." And it really bothers me everytime I see someone upset or disillusioned by the fact that the story they worked so hard on and felt so positive about "only" scored a 4.4. Or worse, gasp! A 4.2!

Gloom! Doom! People only LIKED my story, not LOVED it! Must be trolls! Must be haters!

Etc. Etc.

Authors, especially new ones: be PROUD of any story you publish that rates 4 or higher.

That's an amazing accomplishment. It means your story reached someone and moved them enough to react positively.

Now, I say all this as someone who yes, absolutely enjoys when my latest story achieves that coveted Red H. I won't lie about being happy about it.

All I'm saying is if it doesn't happen, I don't automatically assume my story is a FAILURE.

And honestly, I'd rather see the views numbers go up over the ratings. At least that signifies the potential of more eyes on it.

 

[StillStunned]

Authors, especially new ones: be PROUD of any story you publish that rates 4 or higher.

I'd actually say: be proud of any story you publish, regardless of how it rates.

You did the hard work. You turned an idea into words on your screen. You turned those words into a story. You found the courage to submit it here. It didn't get flagged as AI, or sent back for being technically subpar. It's been published and it's been read. People have read *your* idea, *your* words, *your* story.

The rating is just encouragement to keep doing what your doing, or a clue that you might want to try something different.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Absolutely. I have several stories rated less than 4.5. If I examine each one, I could probably put a reason as to why.

And honestly, I'd rather see the views numbers go up over the ratings. At least that signifies the potential of more eyes on it.

True and true. I also ask for comments(ok more like beg for comments) on all my stories. Some of my lowest rated stories have the most impassioned comments, usually flaming me for exactly what I did wrong in the story. Haven't had one yet, that wasn't deserved in one way or another.

You use that feedback along with your score, views and favorites to get a composite view of how your story is being received.

Funny thing about the comments, especially the vitriolic rampages. They tell me the reader was vested enough in my story that they got legitimately upset. There are two kinds of passion, and I'll take both. it means they cared about my characters. I got under their skin and that's a good thing.

 

[Djmac1031]

I'd actually say: be proud of any story you publish, regardless of how it rates.

Fully agreed. As will happen sometimes when my thoughts are flowing, I tend to miss something or not entirely clear.

Because yes, absolutely, be proud of ANY story, regardless of ratings.

My point is that a 4 is not only an acceptable rating, but a perfectly fine rating.

Can we look for room to improve? Sure. But to me a 4 isn't a BAD score. And I can't figure out why so many people think it is.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I'd actually say: be proud of any story you publish, regardless of how it rates.

I don't know.

Maybe be proud, but not satisfied? I'm all for encouragement, but there should be a limit somewhere.

There are a lot of stories on here that no one should be proud of due to the total lack of skill or effort put into an attempt to transcribe a porno film into a tangible and coherent written tale.

I'm not looking for Pulitzer quality in every story but the ability to type does not equate to being able to tell a tale successfully. Laurel attempts to catch the worst of these, but too many still make it through.

Be proud of you imagination. Be proud of your creativity. Strive to be a writer that you can then be proud of.

 

[StillStunned]

Maybe be proud, but not satisfied?

I don't think writers are ever truly satisfied. That's why we keep writing.

There are a lot of stories on here that no one should be proud of due to the total lack of skill or effort put into an attempt to transcribe a porno film into a tangible and coherent written tale.

But they still wrote it. That's the most important thing about writing. Our little AH clique might get snooty about how bad other people's stories are. But that's none of our business. They wrote a story that meet's the rules for publication, that's all that matters. And they have as much reason to be proud of their work as you are of yours.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

I don't think writers are ever truly satisfied. That's why we keep writing.


But they still wrote it. That's the most important thing about writing. Our little AH clique might get snooty about how bad other people's stories are. But that's none of our business. They wrote a story that meet's the rules for publication, that's all that matters. And they have as much reason to be proud of their work as you are of yours.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

"Participation awards" devalue true effort.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

"Participation awards" devalue true effort.

I don't think the issue is participation awards.

I coached little league for my boys. We didn't win a lot of games, but praising their effort in an honest way, letting them know the importance of 'just showing up' is critical to their development.

How many people that you work with know how good they are and just phone it in on a regular basis? But there's that one guy that always shows up. He's not the best or most talented, but he's there, trying, and that matters. And when you talk about newbies, well, we all sucked when we started. Some of us got better, some may not have, but acceptance and positive reinforcement went a long way to getting you and me where we are right now.

I'd also ask, who's more brave, the Pulitzer winner that drops a story in a contest or the guy that puts his first ever effort up there for everyone to see?

 

[Djmac1031]

Maybe be proud, but not satisfied? I'm all for encouragement, but there should be a limit somewhere.

I think we're all on the same page here honestly.

One can be proud of writing and publishing while still viewing their work subjectively and understanding there's room for improvement.

Also, keep in mind my argument isn't so much about what is or isn't a "successful" story so much as it's about how we the author see it based on a 0.5 variance in ratings that differentiates a Red H or not.

My only real point was that that 0.5 variance is misleading and certainly isn't the stick we should use to measure whether a story is good or not.

A 4 should be a perfectly acceptable rating, and we should be happy and yes, proud of a 4.

The only reason so many aren't is that 0.5 variance that denies them that symbolic Red H.

Now on the other end; if our stories are scoring under 4 on a consistent basis, then there's certainly an indication that we have room to grow as a writer.

 

[StillStunned]

Perhaps there should a rating for between 4 and 4.5. "Lukewarm", "mildly spicy", "alright in a sort of a limited way for an off night", something like that.

 

[samhasstories]

Perhaps there should a rating for between 4 and 4.5. "Lukewarm", "mildly spicy", "alright in a sort of a limited way for an off night", something like that.

Don't I know you from the cinematographer's party?

 

[Djmac1031]

Perhaps there should a rating for between 4 and 4.5. "Lukewarm", "mildly spicy", "alright in a sort of a limited way for an off night", something like that.

I don't even see it that way. I'd reserve that for stories that range between 3.5 and 4.

By the LE Star Rating System, clicking on 4 stars means you LIKED the story.

To which I say, what's wrong with LIKE? Sure, in a perfect world readers would LOVE every story we write and click 5 stars to demonstrate that.

But if we're being HONEST, do we really LOVE every piece of media we consume? Of course not.

To me if someone read my story and at the end clicked 4 instead of 5, I'm perfectly okay with that. In fact, I'm not just okay. I'm PLEASED.

They took the time to read it. They liked it. Their rating reflects that.

But yet I see some that treat 4 like a pariah, or a direct insult. Or worse, an indication of failure.

Why? Only because no Red H.

And I'm just trying to stress, yet again how wrong that mentality is, in my opinion

 

[samhasstories]

I don't even see it that way. I'd reserve that for stories that range between 3.5 and 4.

By the LE Star Rating System, clicking on 4 stars means you LIKED the story.

To which I say, what's wrong with LIKE? Sure, in a perfect world readers would LOVE every story we write and click 5 stars to demonstrate that.

But if we're being HONEST, do we really LOVE every piece of media we consume? Of course not.

To me if someone read my story and at the end clicked 4 instead of 5, I'm perfectly okay with that. In fact, I'm not just okay. I'm PLEASED.

They took the time to read it. They liked it. Their rating reflects that.

But yet I see some that treat 4 like a pariah, or a direct insult. Or worse, an indication of failure.

Why? Only because no Red H.

And I'm just trying to stress, yet again how wrong that mentality is, in my opinion

You're absolutely right. But I feel it, too, when I post a new story, it gets a handful of ratings, maybe sitting pretty for a few tantalizing moments at a perfect 5. I know it's not going to stay there. But that doesn't stop me wanting it to. And a few 4s come in and the drops feel precipitous.

I don't think it's just the red H. And I don't expect a perfect 5, or even a 4.9, ever. If on any given story you told me it would end up anywhere in the 4s I think I'd be fine with that. Like you said, that means most people liked it. But when you watch it go from 5 to 4.6 or whatever, and then maybe start to level out closer to 4, it's hard to not be at least a little disappointed.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Why? Only because no Red H.

I don't think it's just that. As readers, we all set arbitrary lower limits, fair or not, on stories we are willing to take a chance on reading, especially if our time is limited.
The effect of that, is that we transfer that arbitrary rating to our own stories and infer, rightly or wrongly, that other readers are doing the same thing. Hence, we all get super sensitive to what we perceive to be low ratings. Sure that mythical Red H is a marker of sorts, and I like that most of my stories have one, but once I found out what it meant, well, it doesn't matter any more. I still have that personal bias on scores, though.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Low ratings have nothing to do with story quality. It has everything to do with the reader's perception of the kink, other work the reader has read of authors, and factors that can't be quantified.

I don't think it's just that. As readers, we all set arbitrary lower limits, fair or not, on stories we are willing to take a chance on reading, especially if our time is limited.
The effect of that, is that we transfer that arbitrary rating to our own stories and infer, rightly or wrongly, that other readers are doing the same thing. Hence, we all get super sensitive to what we perceive to be low ratings. Sure that mythical Red H is a marker of sorts, and I like that most of my stories have one, but once I found out what it meant, well, it doesn't matter any more. I still have that personal bias on scores, though.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Low ratings have nothing to do with story quality. It has everything to do with the reader's perception of the kink, other work the reader has read of authors, and factors that can't be quantified.

Yup... And as readers, based on our perceptions of what those scored mean, we transfer that meaning to our own stories. My working theory anyway...