This is probably silly but...

[Thomas Drablézien]

I have been having a bit of a writing frenzy recently and have submitted five new stories and one older, revised, but previously unpublished one in the last few weeks. As well as writing a few non-erotic pieces not destined for this fine site.

I am wondering though, with all this volume of output is the quality suffering?

I am not writing for competition, but for pleasure, my own and I hope that of my readers. However it does give a warm feeling to see that red H pop up beside your title, doesn't it? But my recent stories don't seem to be making the grade.

It could be that my style has changed. I have been concentrating more on characters than action in my recent work and my sexual references are less direct, less graphic than my older stories. Perhaps the readership prefer something more pornographic than I am currently writing?

There is a link below to my submissions page if you want to look at some samples.

Your thoughts and comments welcomed.

TD

 

[jomar]

I don't think the quality necessarily has to suffer with increased output - it depends, you know?

It does sound like you're evolving as a writer in a different direction. I know I am. I'm less interested in general writing sexually graphic scenes these days. Though I do have an idea for another variation of one of my strokers.

 

[michchick98]

I have been having a bit of a writing frenzy recently and have submitted five new stories and one older, revised, but previously unpublished one in the last few weeks. As well as writing a few non-erotic pieces not destined for this fine site.

I am wondering though, with all this volume of output is the quality suffering?

I am not writing for competition, but for pleasure, my own and I hope that of my readers. However it does give a warm feeling to see that red H pop up beside your title, doesn't it? But my recent stories don't seem to be making the grade.

It could be that my style has changed. I have been concentrating more on characters than action in my recent work and my sexual references are less direct, less graphic than my older stories. Perhaps the readership prefer something more pornographic than I am currently writing?

There is a link below to my submissions page if you want to look at some samples.

Your thoughts and comments welcomed.

TD

Unfortunately, this is a sex stories site. With that in mind, don't necessarily make your stories pornographic, but make them appeal to those looking for sex in what they read.

It'll talk awhile for you to establish a fan base and to figure out what your readers expect from you. Oh sure, you'll still get the trolls who love nothing more than to trash your writing, but that's a good thing.

What? Trolls are good things?

Yeah, it means you've obviously sparked something in someone enough for them to leave nasty comments on your stories when it's clear they don't like them. Sometimes trolls can help with gaining you new readers. People will be curious what was so bad about your story and they'll read it for themselves.

Another good way to gain more readers (and more trolls unfortunately) is to enter one of the special contests. The Valentine's Day contest is currently underway (I think the final day for posting entries is Feb 5) so you could write something for that too. It doesn't have to be a Romance story, it can be in any category, as long as it deals with Valentine's Day.

Quantity isn't always a bad thing. It'll get your writing exposed quicker. If you're writing for the Literotica Survivor Contest, quantity is definitely a plus. Just make sure you have a good editor who's willing to work with you to get your stories out quickly.

It is nice to get the red H's when you first start out writing, but after awhile, it doesn't matter as much. I know I focus more on the feedback from my readers now than I do the scores. In my opinion, the feedback is what counts. Yeah, the red H's help gain more readers, too, but not always.

If a title catches my eye and it's in a category I normally read, the red H doesn't matter, even if it's a new author. Although it is nice to strive for that.

When I have more time, I'll look over your stories.

 

[cantdog]

The voting method has changed, as well. I think the new mode of voting tends to get more 3s and 4s.

 

[hmmnmm]

Ah, an AH topic I can respond to. I tangoed with the same kind of dilemma. I want to do it like This. But, the main body of Lit readers don't want This. They want That. Just about every H I had (they've been few and they didn't hang around very long) were not really the kinds of stories I'd want to invest chunks of valuable time into doing. And every time, just about, and I should learn to no longer be surprised, if I have something I really put a lot of loving time and attention into, wanted to make it just a beautiful work, and I look at it and feel like it at least approached what I envisioned, and all that nonsense... what's it do on Lit? Bomb. Every time. Every single time.

There's a few who have succeeded in blending the two: the This and the That. Zoot has done it admirably well. And I think, those few like Zoot who have hit that sweet spot, those readers are plenty satisfied enough so they don't need to go elsewhere.

I just think you have to decide - I've had to try and decide - do just what you/I wanna do and do it how you/I wanna do it, or try to find out what others want and attempt to satisfy them.

This came to mind: remember the movie, Planes, Trains, Automobiles... something like that, can't recall the entire title right now. It starred Steve Martin and John Candy. Steve Martin's character was dumped into Traveler's Hell, met up with John Candy's character... anyway, one segment of the movie, they're on a bus. And someone suggests that to pass the time they sing some songs. Steve Martin's character say, "here's a nice one" he starts it off, but it's too obscure for the crowd on the bus. They don't sing along. They don't recognize it. They don't want something they don't recognize. They just stare and they're thinking 'what the fuck is that?' Then John Candy's character breaks into the theme from The Flintstones. Immediate and positive response. Everybody recognizes that one. They join and sing along. I think that scene says a lot.

Anyway, to the OP, try not to let it get into your head. That sucks. Your happiness is not worth it. Those damn doubts ricocheting and you risk losing the joy of the Doing.

Hang in there.

 

[Thomas Drablézien]

Thanks for your thoughts, I suppose I was going through one of those male angst moments that strikes from time to time

At the moment I am working on re-writing an old and abandoned piece that promises to be a lot more raunchy than my newer ideas. The characters are 'old friends' and they dance pretty well without my prompting. Could be a magic H in it perhaps

There is another piece, awaiting my final review, culminating in a "monumental gang-bang" should be a winner by definition, but to me the who and the why were more important to me than the big action scene - a thinkers 'stroker' perhaps?

I suppose in the end one has to be 'true to thine self' what I like to read is not the kind of stuff that has my hand instantly delving into my fly. To be honest, men with unrealisticly large penises doing physically dangerous if not impossible things to unusually accommodating women leaves me cold. Suspension of disbelief does have it's limits! - A good mind fuck is much more satisfying in the end, and those images stay with you longer than the throw away world of porn. So that is what I aim to write.

I am not writing to order for some porn mag. So I suppose I shall just have to keep writing what I enjoy and hope some like minded readers enjoy it too.

Your contributions have encouraged me. Thank you

TD

 

[MagicaPractica]

I have noticed in the past that the more I submit, the more likely people are to recognize the name and click on the story to read. Not as much output, and people kind of start to forget you.

No matter what, enjoy the writing.

 

[cloudy]

Unfortunately, this is a sex stories site. With that in mind, don't necessarily make your stories pornographic, but make them appeal to those looking for sex in what they read.

I disagree with this absolutely.

I have lost interest in writing pure sex, and so have focused on non-erotic work for the last year or so, and have found that I have lost no readers, and have probably gained some.

There's a Non-erotic section for a reason.