How stories are rated

[lurchman007]

As authors, it's important that we know in which areas we can improve.

With the current 5 star rating system it is impossible to understand how each reader is rating what they read.
Are they rating the story line?
Are they rating the grammar?
Are they rating how horny it made them?

I've had one of my readers send me feedback stating they'd given me one star because there was gay content in the story, yet it clearly stated in the intro that it did, so in theory, the reader shouldn't have continued reading, therefore not rated the story at all.

This is not my point though. My point is that the rating system should be changed so each reader can rate each aspect of the story so that if they liked the plot but didn't like the way it was told, they could rate each of those separately... Or if they found mistakes, they could rate that with one or four stars depending on how many mistakes they found.

I'd love to hear other views on this.

 

[Darkniciad]

It's not going to happen. There are too many years of this system being in place. Trying to retrofit an entirely new scoring system would be a nightmare that would make Freddy Krueger cringe.

One of the sites where I post had an optional multi-faceted scoring system for a while. Few people used it, and most of those who did ended up "voting straight ticket" with the same score for all elements, so it was eventually scrapped as pointless.

The same site has a 10 points scoring system instead of 5, and it has exactly the same problems the 5 point scoring system has.

Unfortunately, there is no place to post Bi-Male stories on Lit. Unless the sex is exclusively M-M and can be placed in Gay Male, it's going to get blasted in most categories, even when people are warned up front.

 

[sr71plt]

What authors can't get into their minds is that this basically is a reading site, not a critique site. The rating panel would have to be longer than the story is to force those rating to come into any sort of uniform approach--and most readers just wouldn't bother with that sort of grilling, even for a free read.

Other than increasing the spread of ratings (like 10 stars rather than 5) and taking the pressure off of how close to a perfect rating the story has to be to get a distinguishing mark (the red H)--there's nothing to be done that won't change the emphasis (and reality) of this site.

Suggestions have been batted around here for decades. My view is that it ain't going to be made into a critique site any more than it is now--and that authors will just continue to moan that it isn't loaded up with readers who will gush their praise all over the author's work (and not that of other authors).

 

[SamScribble]

Even Lit readers have another life. They come here to read; not to fill in detailed questionnaires. Just be thankful (or not) that they give you a headline opinion. And, anyway, why would you base your future writing efforts on the opinions or ratings of someone who can’t even be bothered to leave their name or non de plume? In my book, Anonymouse’s opinion is worth nothing. In time, you’ll build a following (or not). If it matters, follow these boys and girls. Good luck.

 

[AZMotherLover]

Uber has a similar 5 star rating syatem for its drivers. Only at Uber, the driver is fired if their rating falls below 4.6.

Here at Literotica they're a bit more lenient, thank God.

 

[partwolf]

I'd like to see a modification

to the scoring- the top 5% and bottom 5% of ratings once you get past 20 are not considered for the final score. That way one person who hates your story can't overcome 20 people who love it.

Reduces the heckler's veto.

 

[Bramblethorn]

to the scoring- the top 5% and bottom 5% of ratings once you get past 20 are not considered for the final score. That way one person who hates your story can't overcome 20 people who love it.

Reduces the heckler's veto.

As far as I can tell, sweeps already do something along these lines, though it can take a little while for them to process.

 

[Bramblethorn]

This is not my point though. My point is that the rating system should be changed so each reader can rate each aspect of the story so that if they liked the plot but didn't like the way it was told, they could rate each of those separately... Or if they found mistakes, they could rate that with one or four stars depending on how many mistakes they found.

It'd be nice to get that kind of feedback BUT... as it is, maybe 1% of readers take the time to vote. I'd worry that making the voting process more involved would drop that even further.

Those who really feel like telling you why they voted will leave a comment, or send feedback, if you have those options enabled.

 

[Hypoxia]

Obsess not over ye numbers lest thou go nutz. The ratings do not reflect a piece's quality of writing, but how those readers motivated enough to vote felt when they finished. They do not follow ratings guidelines. They feel and thus vote. Pander well and you score well.

 

[lurchman007]

The rating panel would have to be longer than the story is to force those rating to come into any sort of uniform approach--and most readers just wouldn't bother with that sort of grilling, even for a free read.

Not necessarily. Ebay has a very quick rating system in which each category has the five star system.

 

[RejectReality]

The site I was talking about requires membership. Even people who are willing to take the time and effort to sign up for an account weren't utilizing the extended voting system. The vote to view ratio is dramatically higher there as well.

( I pull somewhere around 1 vote per 130 views here, and 1 per 27 views there with almost the same story catalog )

There's little to no chance that anonymous folks passing through on Lit are going to do any better.

 

[lurchman007]

why would you base your future writing efforts on the opinions or ratings of someone who can’t even be bothered to leave their name or non de plume?

I've had some good comments from anonymous users that have been of great benefit to me.

Unfortunately some just vote which doesn't help me in the least because I don't know what their vote is based on.

 

[lurchman007]

Obsess not over ye numbers lest thou go nutz. The ratings do not reflect a piece's quality of writing, but how those readers motivated enough to vote felt when they finished. They do not follow ratings guidelines. They feel and thus vote. Pander well and you score well.

Does anyone even read the ratings guidelines?

I've read a lot of other peoples work. In cases where I've enjoyed the story, I've taken the time to comment on maybe their grammar or mistakes or whatever I've found that spoils it for me. I don't rate any stories, not even the one's I've enjoyed.

The reason I only comment on those ones is because of the time it takes. If it were a case of clicking on a star in one line for the story line and another in another line for mistakes and so on, then I'd rate every story I read in the hopes that it will help the authors write their stories better.
That way my future reading will be more pleasurable.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

For all of my professional career I wrote legal documents and papers. All kinds of customers required my wares. I made stories from piles of records. The stories ranged from simple probable cause theses to pre-dispositional reports. What I did was guide the judge's thinking from start to finish. That is, I spun the facts towards their natural conclusions.

Judges complimented my work, social workers hated it. Judges want stories that expose legal truth, social workers want stories with happy endings. Like, if a person uses drugs in Lower Slobovia, where drug use is legal, and a school social worker here doesn't like it, the court has no jurisdiction to act on the drug use elsewhere where its legal. Even here drug use alone isn't enough by itself to warrant court action. There must be harm and injury, too. So social workers were often unhappy with me and my wares.

Fiction writing is the same. I don't do happy ever after. I do que sara, sara style (what will be, will be). My satisfaction comes from tying disparate elements together for a congruent disposition not AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPY EVER AFTER. My audience wants what I want. Many readers want HEA and one-bomb me.

 

[lurchman007]

So basically just write how and what I want and be happy?

 

[oggbashan]

So basically just write how and what I want and be happy?

Yes. And ignore the negative feedback UNLESS it is justified. If it is, use the comment to improve your writing.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

So basically just write how and what I want and be happy?

Write for the outcome YOU want.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

It's real easy to get comments in Loving Wives, if the kind of comment you want are along the lines of...

"I hope the cheating bitch dies of AIDS! I hope she gives it to you! You suck!"

 

[Handley_Page]

So basically just write how and what I want and be happy?

Yes. And ignore the negative feedback UNLESS it is justified. If it is, use the comment to improve your writing.

Settle back, relax and enjoy learning to write better. . .

 

[Handley_Page]

Not necessarily. Ebay has a very quick rating system in which each category has the five star system.

The results of E-Bay assessments can reflect upon the trust put on you as either a vendor or buyer.
It is important to have a good reputation in your dealings.

Lit is not so encumbered. There are no stats for readers, as far as I know.

 

[lurchman007]

Yes. And ignore the negative feedback UNLESS it is justified. If it is, use the comment to improve your writing.

That's what I've been doing.

Write for the outcome YOU want.

I always do. I don't allow readers comments to influence the story if I'm working on sequels. What I'm looking for from readers and other authors is how I'm doing with getting the story across and if they spot errors either in the story or in my spelling. It will help show me what to look for when I'm proof-reading.

The results of E-Bay assessments can reflect upon the trust put on you as either a vendor or buyer.
It is important to have a good reputation in your dealings.

Lit is not so encumbered. There are no stats for readers, as far as I know.

It's not me that I'm looking for feedback on here on Lit, it's my writing.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

That's what I've been doing.



I always do. I don't allow readers comments to influence the story if I'm working on sequels. What I'm looking for from readers and other authors is how I'm doing with getting the story across and if they spot errors either in the story or in my spelling. It will help show me what to look for when I'm proof-reading.



It's not me that I'm looking for feedback on here on Lit, it's my writing.

I cant recall one comment, ever, that illuminated any of my writing issues. LIT readers are notoriously inarticulate and favor the worst writers. Plus 99% of LIT writers are pathologically thin-skinned.

 

[lurchman007]

I've had a few illuminating comments, and a lot of notoriously inarticulate ones, lol. It makes you wonder if they even understand what they're reading.

I guess I'll have to find myself a good volunteer editor. One who'll point out my weak points as well as my errors.

 

[oggbashan]

I cant recall one comment, ever, that illuminated any of my writing issues. ...

I have had a few useful comments.

The most useful point out my errors. Some of the others have made me think about my writing techniques.

But most of my feedback is reasonably complimentary.

I did have a few repetitive trolls that targeted many of my stories in a single day but they have reduced now I have reluctantly turned off anonymous feedback.

 

[lovecraft68]

I've had a few illuminating comments, and a lot of notoriously inarticulate ones, lol. It makes you wonder if they even understand what they're reading.

I guess I'll have to find myself a good volunteer editor. One who'll point out my weak points as well as my errors.

I cut the inarticulate ones some slack because this is a worldwide site so my thought is many of those are English as a second language posters and appreciate the effort they made.