The tyranny of category

[SimonDoom]

I got nuthin’.
That said, folks had a lot to say in LC68’s “you just bought literotica” thread - there were a number of QOL suggestions that would benefit authors specifically. Whether they’re reasonably doable, I wouldn’t know.
But I would say that they maybe oughta be considered, in the spirit of my “take care of the authors who take care of your readers” idea…

The question you have to ask is, "Will this change, which I think will benefit authors, place even the teeniest, tiniest roadblock in the way of readers getting what they want?"

And if the answer is yes, you immediately stop. You do not pass go.

That's why it's fruitless to discuss limitations on the ability of anonymous readers to vote or comment. Never going to happen. And many authors, like me, don't want it to happen.

If I were the site owner, I would think exactly the same way.

 

[SoCalAshley]

Isn’t one problem with categories that people are restricting themselves to a narrow section of stories and are possibly missing out on things they might actually enjoy?

That is exactly the problem with categories. Before becoming a writer, I was long time reader. When I first started reading stories, I exclusively used categories to pick the stories I would read. Eventually I started to seek out new categories and to my surprise, it opened a new world for me. It took some time for this to happen, and I suspect many Literotica readers will never get there.

 

[Victoria14xs]

The question you have to ask is, "Will this change, which I think will benefit authors, place even the teeniest, tiniest roadblock in the way of readers getting what they want?"

And if the answer is yes, you immediately stop. You do not pass go.

That's why it's fruitless to discuss limitations on the ability of anonymous readers to vote or comment. Never going to happen. And many authors, like me, don't want it to happen.

If I were the site owner, I would think exactly the same way.

Agree 100%.
The reader-first principle is bedrock. But there’s that other fork, the one that doesn’t in any way burden the reader while benefitting authors. For those situations, hey, consider it.

I think we’re in agreement.

 

[intim8]

Isn’t one problem with categories that people are restricting themselves to a narrow section of stories and are possibly missing out on things they might actually enjoy?

Yes. For instance, I don't read the Lesbian category, but if something in another category has a lesbian scene in it, I generally enjoy it. I don't read the category because I don't want just that, I don't want it to be the total focus. But I do like reading it.

I just read a story in NC/R that had lesbian anal in it. I didn't mind, because the story was good, as a story, as the kind of story that could almost have been mainstream if it was all euphemisms and indirect references. I read a story recently in some category that wasn't GM that had a more than brief male/male (both straight) scene in it. Doesn't turn me on (kinda the opposite, to be honest), but it worked with who the characters were, it wasn't gratuitious, so I didn't mind it.

Not every single thing in every story has to be my thing to be a good story, and some things are a little bit my thing, but not enough to go looking specifically for them.

It's the same with other categories. My stories tend to wander that way. Things happen, my characters do things, and I tend not to write single-scene stories. But I try to put it in the category that represents what the story is focused on. I try to hit tags for other stuff, but I admit I'm somewhat inconsistent on that. Makes me wish there was a "psychological erotica" category.

 

[intim8]

There is a decent EV audience here. It’s not my kink

I started out here reading mostly EV. Partly because public nudity is one of my things, but partly because once I started reading there, there was a lot of diversity in the kinds of stories and the kinds of sex people had, and a lot of them were introspection oriented. So of course, I started posting there too.

I do need to broaden out some, in both regards.

 

[intim8]

Only if you can think of a specific way to juggle both these sets of balls. Most cannot.

One way is to provide more ways for authors to cultivate and interact with their audience. Comment threads with notifications for replies, author blogs. View count vs read-all-the-pages counts. A histogram of ratings instead of just an average. Maybe an optional subcategory.

Even some things that would serve the readers well would help the authors. Like showing word counts (or page counts) in the browsing pages. Showing tags in the browsing pages. The ability to sort stories on different attributes. Things that give the readers more ability to make better choices of what to invest their time in would also give authors more ability to target their presentation and see better metrics.

 

[Gamblnluck]

I get it’s reader-centric. But it seems to me that at least some readers are stuck in a narrow category and would be better served by looking elsewhere (but they probably don’t know it).

Not necessarily. While I admittedly open my morning reading session on four or five categories, I follow by looking at the new story area. There, title and description either catch my eye or not.
I think may readers do the same. I do not follow anyone, but when i see a story written by an author who writes stories I've found interesting, generally read it. Sometimes that turns to a skim when i find it is a verbose exercise of descriptions and look for the plot.

 

[Gamblnluck]

That’s kinda assuming that the contents of categories are fixed and immutable. Why would an errant woman who happens to be in a same sex marriage not have her story told in cheating central?

That’s kinda assuming that the contents of categories are fixed and immutable. Why would an errant woman who happens to be in a same sex marriage not have her story told in cheating central?

I think that could be an EXCELLENT story and would fit nicely. It would all come down to how you told the story. I can think of several scenarios for a story like that. Of course using the old tropes and changing just the sex of the characters will get negative comments, but adding a few twists and turns and you'd have a hit.

 

[EmilyMiller]

One way is to provide more ways for authors to cultivate and interact with their audience. Comment threads with notifications for replies, author blogs. View count vs read-all-the-pages counts. A histogram of ratings instead of just an average. Maybe an optional subcategory.

Even some things that would serve the readers well would help the authors. Like showing word counts (or page counts) in the browsing pages. Showing tags in the browsing pages. The ability to sort stories on different attributes. Things that give the readers more ability to make better choices of what to invest their time in would also give authors more ability to target their presentation and see better metrics.

I’d support that. Not that I get a vote of course .

Em

 

[madelinemasoch]

does it even matter what category we post in at all? I'm gonna get hatred and loathing either way.

 

[intim8]

View attachment 2290690
does it even matter what category we post in at all? I'm gonna get hatred and loathing either way.

Sounds like you enjoy the punishment. More than just enjoy it...

 

[madelinemasoch]

Sounds like you enjoy the punishment. More than just enjoy it...

Swing and a miss.

 

[M_K_Babalon]

View attachment 2290690
does it even matter what category we post in at all? I'm gonna get hatred and loathing either way.

That's like a place in Vegas, right?

 

[Cagivagurl]

So - given that 50% of AH threads are about Loving Wives - why am I adding to the noise?

Well something struck me. When I publish something in LW that goes against the grain for some, I get comments like:

• Wrong category
• Should be in lesbian
• Take your deviant shit elsewhere

But this is the minority of comments. Most are polite and some encouraging.

One type of comment I have had a lot is along the lines of:

• I’m glad you published your story here as I’d never have read it in Lesbian Sex (or Fetish, or Anal, or whatever)

Isn’t one problem with categories that people are restricting themselves to a narrow section of stories and are possibly missing out on things they might actually enjoy?

Em

Having written a couple of stories for the LW category. I can offer my opinion. It is only that, an opinion.
The noisy little club that is the BTB crowd in LW, the angry anonymous commenters. They are a very small minority of the readers in LW.
Yes, they make a lot of angry noise when you don't write what they like. BTW... That's every story I ever posted in LW...The category was origionally designed for couples who enjoyed extra curricular sex...
Slowly over the last few years, the BTB crowd have tried to take over the category. They noisily shout down anything and everything that doesn't fit their agenda.
Those readers are 1005 dedicated to LW, they don't read in other categories. All they want is their murder porn.
Wives burnt at the stake.
I do believe they are the minority. If it's not a BTB story, they go straight to the ending, lkeave their 1 bomb and their angry comment in the hope they will scare you away.
Leave them to play with their tractors and trucks....
I believe that the majority of readers within LW, are sensible people who are their to read a well told story, regardless of the content.

It is a good category to post in. I say that because as somebody who is trying to become a better writer.... IMy stories get read by more people, and some of them are sane descerning readers. Who do leave helpful comments. Reach out and send emails of support.

Don't let the disgusting vitriol of a few angry old men scare you away. I promise that the majority who read it. Will enjoy it.
In my opinion....

Cagivagurl

 

[madelinemasoch]

That's like a place in Vegas, right?

So I've heard.

 

[Duleigh]

Isn’t one problem with categories that people are restricting themselves to a narrow section of stories and are possibly missing out on things they might actually enjoy?

That's their narrow sighted problem. If you scatter your work across multiple categories, your followers will... follow! It's up to you to lead them. Take them somewhere they never thought they would go... like romance or Foreign Language (ok, maybe that's a bit far)