Votes aren't that important. BUT...

[sr71plt]

(This is a response to Second Circle's post directed at me. Another post intervened while I was composing this)

I enjoy associating with other authors and sharing points of writing with them. To do that I feel I have to contribute writing. Beyond that, I hadn't thought about it.

But, again, why is it so important to pin down why any author posts stories here? Why is it important enough--to you--to pursue it?

I haven't given it a lot of thought, and, no, I don't slit my wrists over how my stories are received here. I have a few commenters I enjoy reading because they seem to "get" my writing. I don't have anyone I take seriously commenting negatively (I don't have anyone commenting negatively that I know of other than those who obviously are out to denigrate me personally for my forum posts). And I don't receive much of any complaints on my stories here--not even a lot of GM hate mail. They are nearly all favorable comments. And I get lots of views across my total holdings. I'm always surprised at how many of the backlisted stories are being read and favorited; that's contrary to backlist patterns for the mainstream. I am perpetually at the top of the "most popular author" list for the GM category--and it's no secret I don't think the ratings of my story are reflective of much other than there being a few detractors who want to make sure the ratings are under 4.5 if they can manage it.

In this name, I write mostly GM (as my detractors love to point out). This isn't a gay-friendly site. I post stories at gay-friendly sites also. So this one doesn't really rank high on my "needy" screen in terms of rating. Its the only one I post stories to that has a forum, though. And I like to have something to check into throughout the day as a break from writing and editing (just because my account is turned on throughout much of the day, LC, doesn't mean I'm on the forum 24/7).

 

[sr71plt]

Surprising the reader is always bad for your scores. It's a much worse offence than poor writing.

That isn't a particularly bright or sophisticated reader, so they aren't ones who concern me. That particular offense, I think, is that category of reader's offense.

(So, I guess I'm agreeing with what you went on to post.)

 

[SecondCircle]

(This is a response to Second Circle's post directed at me. Another post intervened while I was composing this)

I enjoy associating with other authors and sharing points of writing with them. To do that I feel I have to contribute writing. Beyond that, I hadn't thought about it.

But, again, why is it so important to pin down why any author posts stories here? Why is it important enough--to you--to pursue it?

I haven't given it a lot of thought, and, no, I don't slit my wrists over how my stories are received here. I have a few commenters I enjoy reading because they seem to "get" my writing. I don't have anyone I take seriously commenting negatively (I don't have anyone commenting negatively that I know of other than those who obviously are out to denigrate me personally for my forum posts). And I don't receive much of any complaints on my stories here--not even a lot of GM hate mail. They are nearly all favorable comments. And I get lots of views across my total holdings. I'm always surprised at how many of the backlisted stories are being read and favorited; that's contrary to backlist patterns for the mainstream. I am perpetually at the top of the "most popular author" list for the GM category--and it's no secret I don't think the ratings of my story are reflective of much other than there being a few detractors who want to make sure the ratings are under 4.5 if they can manage it.

In this name, I write mostly GM (as my detractors love to point out). This isn't a gay-friendly site. I post stories at gay-friendly sites also. So this one doesn't really rank high on my "needy" screen in terms of rating. Its the only one I post stories to that has a forum, though. And I like to have something to check into throughout the day as a break from writing and editing (just because my account is turned on throughout much of the day, LC, doesn't mean I'm on the forum 24/7).

What I asked wasn't meant as a jab or anything. In a way I guess it was an extension of LustyWolf's point earlier.

I'm not saying someone has to slit their wrists and dwell on reader reception. But I'd like to think I write what I enjoy, what I want, but like any writer I prepare the stories for an audience to view and then submit them for display.

I was merely asking if you submit to your Lit audience or your Lit archive, and which you think takes precedence. Is it just an archive here? Surely you do write for the following here.

And it was simple curiousity. Just saw a practice that was different to me so I asked. I'm not asking to attack you or stalk you. I don't stay wondering about other Litsters and about their "back stories". That's not my game. It's not why I ask.

No this was more like... chatting.

 

[sr71plt]

Yes, I post my stories here to broaden the audience for those who enjoy them. I don't worry that much about those who don't enjoy them--and I wonder about seems to be an insistence here that an author please those who aren't enjoying his/her stories. Why isn't it enough to know that there are those who do enjoy them as conceived and written by an author who isn't using a committee to write them?

 

[lovecraft68]

(This is a response to Second Circle's post directed at me. Another post intervened while I was composing this)

I enjoy associating with other authors and sharing points of writing with them. To do that I feel I have to contribute writing. Beyond that, I hadn't thought about it.

But, again, why is it so important to pin down why any author posts stories here? Why is it important enough--to you--to pursue it?

I haven't given it a lot of thought, and, no, I don't slit my wrists over how my stories are received here. I have a few commenters I enjoy reading because they seem to "get" my writing. I don't have anyone I take seriously commenting negatively (I don't have anyone commenting negatively that I know of other than those who obviously are out to denigrate me personally for my forum posts). And I don't receive much of any complaints on my stories here--not even a lot of GM hate mail. They are nearly all favorable comments. And I get lots of views across my total holdings. I'm always surprised at how many of the backlisted stories are being read and favorited; that's contrary to backlist patterns for the mainstream. I am perpetually at the top of the "most popular author" list for the GM category--and it's no secret I don't think the ratings of my story are reflective of much other than there being a few detractors who want to make sure the ratings are under 4.5 if they can manage it.

In this name, I write mostly GM (as my detractors love to point out). This isn't a gay-friendly site. I post stories at gay-friendly sites also. So this one doesn't really rank high on my "needy" screen in terms of rating. Its the only one I post stories to that has a forum, though. And I like to have something to check into throughout the day as a break from writing and editing (just because my account is turned on throughout much of the day, LC, doesn't mean I'm on the forum 24/7).

So going by whaT you say all positive remarks are people who get your writing

But any negative remark is a detractor.

Translation is that you do not feel your work ever rates a legit negative remark

Also for someone so unconcerned with numberd here we constantly hear about your number one spot which is earned by flooding a site you don't care about with story after story.

And this site seems plenty gay friendly for other authors.

Just so you know I was not going to reply until you went out of your way to mention me

 

[sr71plt]

No, I don't mean any of that. Fuck off. Everyone here knows your agenda and what lengths you'll go to to serve it.

What it does mean is that I discount pretty much everything you post about me in your sick obsession with me. Your opinions are exactly what have no affect on me or what I write or what stories I post here or what I want to get out of doing so.

 

[SecondCircle]

Yes, I post my stories here to broaden the audience for those who enjoy them. I don't worry that much about those who don't enjoy them--and I wonder about seems to be an insistence here that an author please those who aren't enjoying his/her stories. Why isn't it enough to know that there are those who do enjoy them as conceived and written by an author who isn't using a committee to write them?

I can agree with that. Writing for the audience that you know already enjoys your work, and reaching that audience that hasn't yet read the work. Rather than stressing over not being able to please everyone all the time.

I can sympathize with those that try to analyze the small stuff. After all I think that only comes from striving to be better.

 

[sr71plt]

I guess it's whatever floats your boat, but, while not being against analysis, I'm not really taken with the constructiveness of catering to a committee of faceless strangers yammering about what they want your stories to do for them (in trade for a 5 vote on Literotica).

 

[SecondCircle]

I guess it's whatever floats your boat, but, while not being against analysis, I'm not really taken with the constructiveness of catering to a committee of faceless strangers yammering about what they want your stories to do for them (in trade for a 5 vote on Literotica).

I'm not either. Though I probably couldn't have put it as sweet as you did.

Just saying I can understand where it comes from. Good intentions and all, just some writers sweat stuff too much sometimes. But still good intentions.

But I don't think I'll ever condemn any kind of constructive thought or conversation, not me personally I mean. Sometimes it does good to start spinning wheels and to hear how they turn inside the heads of other writers. (Which, was only why I was curious earlier).

Seems like a trend I've noticed lately is that someone will start a thread on the AH either pondering something or wanting to discuss something and they are getting a lot of "Yuh, So what? Big deal." Which is kinda rude I think.

Ah, but that's neither here nor there. Back to work. Gotta make these dolls dance.

 

[sr71plt]

Yuh. So what? Big deal.

 

[SecondCircle]

Yuh. So what? Big deal.

Heh. Indeed.

 

[SamScribble]

The voting readers on Lit are a funny lot. My stories don’t generally rate that highly. I just checked and my current average score is 4.52. There is a smattering of red Hs; but there are also quite a few near misses. However, many of the really positive personal comments I get are for the lower scoring stories (4.20-ish) – and I’m pretty sure that the readers who send those comments generally don’t even bother to vote online. So what is that all about?

 

[sr71plt]

The voting readers on Lit are a funny lot. My stories don’t generally rate that highly. I just checked and my current average score is 4.52. There is a smattering of red Hs; but there are also quite a few near misses. However, many of the really positive personal comments I get are for the lower scoring stories (4.20-ish) – and I’m pretty sure that the readers who send those comments generally don’t even bother to vote online. So what is that all about?

I get glowing e-mails from readers who didn't appear to either vote or favorite the story. That's pleasantly frustrating.

 

[StrangeLife]

I get glowing e-mails from readers who didn't appear to either vote or favorite the story. That's pleasantly frustrating.

Careful with those "glowing e-mails." If they're from Chernobyl or Fukushima you probably shouldn't open them...

 

[sr71plt]

Good one.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

Careful with those "glowing e-mails." If they're from Chernobyl or Fukushima you probably shouldn't open them...

That's how I read at night.

 

[StrangeLife]

Good one.

You'll thank me later. Nothing is better for maintaining the blood flow in your feet than a healthy dose of toe-cringing jokes...

 

[Edward Teach]

True. It's a readers' site, not a critique site. Few are voting on how well a dilemma is written up and resolved. They aren't voting so much on delivery of the elements of writing as on the enjoyment/arousal factor of the storyline itself. The story file thereby exists in a disconnect with much of the forum discussion on story quality. The forum discussion tends to discuss what makes a story a well-written story. The actual readers, though, tend more to be looking for a turn on or a personal connection to the storyline.

Good writing means very little to Lit readers. If all the past year's short stories from Playboy were posted here, I doubt that any would get a red H. Hell, I doubt any would get a green E.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Good writing means very little to Lit readers. If all the past year's short stories from Playboy were posted here, I doubt that any would get a red H. Hell, I doubt any would get a green E.

Define "good writing".

;-)

 

[Acktion]

Define "good writing".

;-)

Good question.

I always thought "good writing" was writing that kept a reader turning the page and then, when that story finished, to open another by the same writer to find out where else they had gone.

I guess here on Literotica.com it could be defined as making their left hand go still as they lean forward with their eyes ping-ponging from one side of the screen to the other?

Sorry, just dropped by to clear my head before diving back into my current literary masturbatory masterpiece and couldn't resist. (Isn't that what writing that no one but the writer ever sees really is?) I'll let the real authors return to their more cerebral discussions. Oh, and somebody may want to tell the nurse I "accidentally" doubled my meds again.

 

[TimothyM]

Or like I had happen with the new one that went live today...you get bitched at in the comments for having the audacity to post a story that involved incest without posting warnings at the beginning. (I did use incest as a tag hoping that would prevent this)

Hard to explain to someone with that mindset, that those of us who write in GM don't get the option to post in the incest category instead. Then factor in that the story build up was structured around two cousins that hadn't seen each other since they were first hitting puberty.

But cousins aren't really incest. Not legally anyway. So forget the silly complaint and any 1 bombs you get are totally unfair. The story was great, both well written and hot. Even if you did mix up their names a couple of times.

Anyway, I have to admit that votes and feedback (whether comments or favorites) mean a lot to me, and I like to know that readers enjoyed my stories. I'm grateful for every 4 and 5, and I'll take 3s with a smile too. And readers who comment or send feedback are awesome, and every favorite is a thrill. It's a huge part of the fun and I try to vote and comment too when I read.

But getting 1 bombed upsets me, and I don't care if saying so will tempt the trolls. If they are the kind of scum who get off on hurting other people like that, I'm happy to report them to Laurel every time (just did with the two who hit my new GM story).

 

[sr71plt]

(just did with the two who hit my new GM story).

To any satisfactory result? The 1 exists; the Web site put it in place and keeps it there. Would/should Laurel just delete every 1 complained about?

I don't like to be 1-bombed either, but it happens constantly. It irritates me, but I don't allow it to have power over me beyond the slight irritation. This isn't a GM-friendly site, but only mildly not so. It has other redeeming virtues, though, so I just set my expectations accordingly.

 

[patientlee]

Not every 1 is a bomb. Sometimes readers genuinely don't like a story, for whatever reason.

 

[TimothyM]

Not every 1 is a bomb. Sometimes readers genuinely don't like a story, for whatever reason.

If I don't like a story, I just leave. I don't give it a 1, and especially not if the average is above 4.3. Because that means that plenty of other people liked it, and it's probably me who has the problem.

And if it's in GM and the story is inoffensive and rather mainstream (maybe even slightly boring), the only reasons to hate it enough to give a 1 would either be because you don't like gay sex (and what are you doing reading in GM, then) or if you are a troll wanting to be nasty. I really don't think GM readers give 1 scores just because they are bored with a story.

But I'd accept a score of 1, if the voter left a comment or sent feedback to explain why. Even just a simple Anon 'I really disliked this story' would suffice. But I guess that would be too hard to express for a troll ;-)

And the site may not be GM friendly (I have no idea if you are right about that, pilot) but the readers in that category are ususally very kind, both with votes and comments. I think someone in AH said that the only category who has nicer readers is NH.

I have no expectations about having those specific 1 votes deleted, but I have seen it happen on my stories, both in the monthly sweeps and during contest sweeps (and that was without reporting the suspicious votes). So some 1 star votes are clearly considered fradulent (the term Laurel used in the automatic PM response to my message). I'll keep you posted if they disappear.

 

[sr71plt]

You'd save yourself grief, Timothy, if you permitted readers to decide how they want to vote for whatever reason they want to vote. It's really their choice and reasoning, not yours.

As far as being gay-unfriendly, just look at how the categories break out--some twenty categories for straight stories, one (or one and a half, if you want to included cross-dressing, some of which is GM) for GM, one for lesbian, none for bi. And look at the forum categories. All GBLT lumped into one forum.

But that's the way that it is here, and, despite that, there is probably a larger GM readership of stories here than anywhere else on the Net. So, if you can discipline yourself to filter out the disparity in access and in reader population interest in the various categories, and in a little homophobic blowback on your stories and in the forums, and in having other posters attack you and your stories on the forum by using Web site stats against you simply because of the comparative the size of the GM readership and the differences in its commenting and voting patterns as compared to categories with larger readership and different response patterns, you can find the readers who do read you here with appreciation enough of a reward.