Slight concern

[BloodyIdiot]

So far I have published only two parts of a story, the third one is almost ready and I have begun writing a new story as well. I have to be honest with you. I look my submission board every single day.

The first part of my story has about 10.000 views. It has been rated 40 times and there are only two comments. Out of 10,000 people who have actually read my story, only two of them have spent two minutes of their lives to write a comment and another one has sent me an email. I think that's terrible

There's a similar problem in almost all Literotica stories. I know that many of the viewers are not registered Literotica members but I believe that about half of them are.

I believe feedback is very helpful for any author, especially for the new ones like me.

What do you believe? Do you rate and comment the stories you read?

 

[Coconut_Joe]

So far I have published only two parts of a story, the third one is almost ready and I have begun writing a new story as well. I have to be honest with you. I look my submission board every single day.

The first part of my story has about 10.000 views. It has been rated 40 times and there are only two comments. Out of 10,000 people who have actually read my story, only two of them have spent two minutes of their lives to write a comment and another one has sent me an email. I think that's terrible

There's a similar problem in almost all Literotica stories. I know that many of the viewers are not registered Literotica members but I believe that about half of them are.

I believe feedback is very helpful for any author, especially for the new ones like me.

What do you believe? Do you rate and comment the stories you read?

hmm interesting, your viewership to vote ratio is much different from my first story, at the moment i am sitting on 40 000 views and 800 votes.

I guess it is a matter of how many people finished your story. What you are saying suggest a high drop rate before finishing the story in your veiwership.

 

[HeyAll]

1) Just because someone clicked a story doesn't mean that they've read the whole thing. The vast majority of stories I click, I don't read. It's like going to the bookstore, you open a book, and if it's not your style of writing, then you move on.

That's what the overwhelming majority of readers do.

2) It helps to leave a comment on the bottom of your story ie "please vote or leave a comment"

3) Some categories have more votes/comments than others.

4) If possible, write a hotter story.

 

[lovecraft68]

To echo Heyall some categories get more views/votes/comments than others.

Also you are still new, building a steady readership takes time so be patient.

I do comment on the few stories I have time to read, but its because I write as well so I know how important they are to a writer.

No one knows how many actual reads are associated with views and no way to figure that out.

It is a sad fact that readers will come here and enjoy stories people have put a lot of work into and for free and many can't take two seconds to vote, let along two minutes to comment....but oh, don't make them wait to long between chapters

Write for yourself and take everything else as icing on the cake.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I know that many of the viewers are not registered Literotica members but I believe that about half of them are.

Really? I'd have guessed registered members to be a very small minority. People are shy about their porn-reading habits.

 

[sr71plt]

So far I have published only two parts of a story, the third one is almost ready and I have begun writing a new story as well. I have to be honest with you. I look my submission board every single day.

The first part of my story has about 10.000 views. It has been rated 40 times and there are only two comments. Out of 10,000 people who have actually read my story, only two of them have spent two minutes of their lives to write a comment and another one has sent me an email. I think that's terrible

There's a similar problem in almost all Literotica stories. I know that many of the viewers are not registered Literotica members but I believe that about half of them are.

I believe feedback is very helpful for any author, especially for the new ones like me.

What do you believe? Do you rate and comment the stories you read?

These aren't problems with how the Web site is structured--they are perceived problems of those authors who want this to be a praise and critique site (not all authors have that priority here) when it's not a praise and critique site. It's a reading site. The readers aren't pressured in any way by the Web site to either vote or comment. That capability is provided, but it's not required--nor is accountability for reader response (although the authors are given the power to erase comments they don't like). So, the perceptions of many authors on what Literotica is all about aren't the same as those of many of the readers or of the Web site as set up.

So, really, this is your problem of perception, if you wish to see these as problems, not problems for the readership or the Web site administration.

 

[HeyAll]

Another thing:

I find it perfectly understandable that people don't want to vote. (contrary to how most authors feel)

I see it like this: I go to youtube almost every day, and I watch/listen to tons of content. Yet, I never vote or leave a comment. Same thing with a bunch of other internet activities.

My personal theory is that most people have a passerby mental or something almost voyeuristic (for lack of a better word). They might think 'my vote won't make a difference, neither will my comment.'

That's my simplistic way of looking at it. People come here to read stories, not join a conversation. Same thing with youtube. People go there to listen to music, not to post comments in the comment sections.

 

[Sammael Bard]

My $0.02...

Here's what I think:

Truth #1:

The more involved the readers feel with this website's story section, the more likely it is that they leave a comment/vote after they read a story.


Truth #2

Leaving a request for feedback/vote in the end increases your chances of getting one.

This ain't a site for getting feedback, so no one's ever going to concern themselves with the author's headache. If you put up a request billboard, you merely increase the chances. So take it.


Truth #3:

Categories are also an important factor. An Incest/Taboo story will get you more feedback/votes/views as compared to other categories*.

*T&C: It better be a good story, or else don't expect a good reception in there.


Truth #4:

A plot heavy, well written, slightly longer story will gather more votes, comments and feedback as compared to short strokers. With the former one, you're getting readers who'll be more invested in your story. And, IMO, that's the best thing you can ask for as an author.

 

[jezzaz]

I have a feeling it's really to do with the quality of the writing and the quality of the characters presented.

The better you do that, the more people will comment.

I agree that it's made much harder than it needs to be, by the structure of the site - having to go to the last page to see the comments sucks, for example. I'd like to be able to see that on any page. I'm totally ok with not being able to vote or add a comment till the last page, but why hide them? What's gained from that?

But ultimately, while you can lead a horse to water, you'll never make them drink. And Literotica readers are a flighty lot, which is understandable when you think of what the content her is

 

[NaokoSmith]

Hey there! Welcome to the board.


Like Pilot says, this site is really set up for readers to discretely access smut. It actually does get better quality and more comments and feedback than any other sites, I find, so that's why I continue to publish to here.

It also offers other ways to get feedback. You can go in the Story Feedback board and either ask in one of the threads which SoulfulBard and Lien_Geller have set up for feedback from them, or set up your own thread and then others come and offer you their reading of the story. They can be quite harsh, mind, since you have invited their commentary.

If you have a particular issue you are wondering about, you can also come in here and ask about that.

It's also true that number of votes and amount of comments varies enormously depending on which category you post to. Putting in pleading messages saying you are seriously interested in feedback and don't mind if it's not gushing praise helps too. Some people post stories on here for an ego-stroke, not because they want to hear how they could improve their writing, so readers aren't always sure you will be grateful for their incisive comments on your grammar (or inclusion of your Grandma as a major character ).

BTW, put a link to your story in! we are so lazy here, we will not go hunting for your story. In your signature line is an excellent place.


PS If your story is safe sex, I may be able to review it on my blog.

 

[49greg]

How about when a reader 'favorites' a story, but doesn't vote?

I've got a story that has bounced between 4.49 and 4.5 for a few years. Right now it's at 4.49 and within the last six weeks or so I've gotten 3 favorites on it, yet the vote count hasn't changed.

I don't keep track of votes on all my stories, just this one since it goes back and forth from a red "H" and not a "H".

My assumption is that they just favorited it to come back and read later, but since Lit no longer shows when they unfav a story I can't tell for sure.

 

[sr71plt]

How about when a reader 'favorites' a story, but doesn't vote?

I think that happens to my stories frequently, especially after they've been up for a while. I figure they aren't thinking about the separate effects of the mechanisms, nor is there any particular reason a reader should think about them. Responding isn't pushed here. A site like this will naturally attract a lot of folks who don't want to leave tracks of any sort. That's understandable, I think.

 

[rjordan]

1) Just because someone clicked a story doesn't mean that they've read the whole thing. The vast majority of stories I click, I don't read. It's like going to the bookstore, you open a book, and if it's not your style of writing, then you move on.

That's what the overwhelming majority of readers do.

I'd probably drive many authors nuts if they knew my habits as a reader. I do exactly what you say above. I bet I don't get past the first page on 90% of stories that I open. The same holds when I'm browsing on line or at a real B&N store.

I don't see any value to the voting so that's probably why I don't think to do it very often. And a vote that extends out 2 decimal places gives a sense of precision that is silly.

rj

 

[legerdemer]

...And a vote that extends out 2 decimal places gives a sense of precision that is silly.

rj

A scientist, yes! (or possessing a lot of common sense!) Either way, too right. LOL

 

[rjordan]

I have a feeling it's really to do with the quality of the writing and the quality of the characters presented.

The better you do that, the more people will comment.

Yes, the high quality of writing and character development explains why LW readers are so forthcoming with comments.

Generalizations about reader behavior are on very shaky ground.

rj

 

[rjordan]

How about when a reader 'favorites' a story, but doesn't vote?

I've got a story that has bounced between 4.49 and 4.5 for a few years. Right now it's at 4.49 and within the last six weeks or so I've gotten 3 favorites on it, yet the vote count hasn't changed.

I don't keep track of votes on all my stories, just this one since it goes back and forth from a red "H" and not a "H".

My assumption is that they just favorited it to come back and read later, but since Lit no longer shows when they unfav a story I can't tell for sure.

Uh oh...another confession. I favorite stories all the time to come back to later. Then I do a wholesale delete of nearly all favorites when the list gets too long and reading all those stories is too daunting.

I probably should bookmark them instead, but you know how contrary us readers can be.

rj

 

[SikFuk]

.....I've got a story that has bounced between 4.49 and 4.5 for a few years. Right now it's at 4.49 and within the last six weeks or so I've gotten 3 favorites on it, yet the vote count hasn't changed.....

If you turn voting off while you have a red H, it will stay there forever. I did that on a couple of my stories, back when I was raising hell here in the forum (under a different screen name) thinking the AH trolls were going to come after me. Apparently, I don't need trolls to keep from getting Red H's. Ever since they changed the qualification for getting the Red H a few years ago, I've been Red H free. (The fact that I'm a shitty writer prone to snarkiness and religious satire has nothing to do with it.)

Back to the OP: The discrepancy between views and votes suggests you're losing readers before they're invested enough in the story to finish it. You need to look at the story structure, or ask for a second opinion from an objective - as in not your friend - reader. If you can't hook the reader somehow, they'll move on. It's just the nature of a site like this.

 

[Bramblethorn]

How about when a reader 'favorites' a story, but doesn't vote?

I've got a story that has bounced between 4.49 and 4.5 for a few years. Right now it's at 4.49 and within the last six weeks or so I've gotten 3 favorites on it, yet the vote count hasn't changed.

I don't keep track of votes on all my stories, just this one since it goes back and forth from a red "H" and not a "H".

My assumption is that they just favorited it to come back and read later, but since Lit no longer shows when they unfav a story I can't tell for sure.

Is it possible that they voted earlier, then came back and decided they liked it enough to favourite?

 

[MatthewVett]

I usually rate everything that I finish, but comments are pretty rare. I have to actually care about what I just read. But I don't automatically finish every story I look at, either. Sometimes I just open it, glance through, and see if I want to actually read it or not. I think most readers don't really get the importance writers place on feedback, so a little ending note will always help.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

My ratio of views (note that each PAGE counts as a view, so it's not a reader count) to votes is roughly 100:1 or 150:1. Votes to comments varies more widely; some stories trigger a lot of comments and some almost none.

I was really pleased at some of the comments I got until I started nosing around at other stories. Even ones that I think of as very badly written get "wow this is amazing" comments. Bottom line, voting and comments are chaotic functions; what you get depends on who bumbles into your story and what mood they happen to be in.

 

[sr71plt]

(note that each PAGE counts as a view, so it's not a reader count

Is this true/confirmed? I thought what constituted a view had never been pinned down or revealed by the site administrators.

 

[RejectReality]

It's been 10+ votes and a score of 4.50+ for as long as I've been here, and as far as I can tell from comments by authors, for a very long time before that. ( If not since inception )

Ever since they changed the qualification for getting the Red H a few years ago, I've been Red H free.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

Is this true/confirmed? I thought what constituted a view had never been pinned down or revealed by the site administrators.

No, just my best guess based on what I've seen. I imagine there's some algorithm; if you're on a page for over n seconds it counts as a hit, etc.

If you have a handful of willing friends, it wouldn't be hard to create a test.

 

[sr71plt]

No, just my best guess based on what I've seen. I imagine there's some algorithm; if you're on a page for over n seconds it counts as a hit, etc.

If you have a handful of willing friends, it wouldn't be hard to create a test.

We have a secret mutual-admiration/support clique here who might do this for you. Pick out most any name on the thread.

 

[sr71plt]

It's been 10+ votes and a score of 4.50+ for as long as I've been here, and as far as I can tell from comments by authors, for a very long time before that. ( If not since inception )

I think what must be meant was when the definitions for the star levels were redone.