Do you want your story read?

[dback8058]

This may have been mentioned before somewhere on this Site. I get on this Website almost daily to check out what stories I might like to read. Like most readers, I don’t have the time to start reading every story that looks like it maybe a story I would like to read. I first look at the Title of the story, if that looks interesting then I read the description of the story, then I check the story Tags, if the story has tags that I am interested in, then I will start to read the story to see if it a story I like and is worth my time to read. There are a lot of very good stories on this Site and the Authors spend a whole lot of time writing them. An Author may have written a great story but, if he or she does not show it in the Story Title, Story Description and Story Tags, the story maybe easily overlooked.
Authors, I know you spend a lot of time to write a good story, please also take the time to put in a good story description and story tags. It would help us reader a lot. Thanks for all of your good work.

 

[KeithD]

There are hundreds of thousands of readers here, with nearly that many different opinions of what a good title, blurb, and tags would be. When you try to write like every reader wants the same thing, you are writing twaddle. I just use the titles, blurbs, and tags I think are both honest and catchy (to me) and let the reader worry about finding me--or not.

 

[Hypoxia]

I may write something for a specific category with its corps of readers. The placement, and title and sub, are what draw eyes, more than the quality of the piece. (My most-ironic is my most-viewed and lowest-scored.) To grab eyeballs, show off to incite temptation. To grab votes, pander to the crowd. For many views and absurd comments, post to LW. For minimal views, post Poetry.

 

[SimonDoom]

I think the OP is right on. If I can do something to increase the chance of connecting my story with readers who will like it, other than changing the content of the story, I want to do it. It doesn't mean everyone should write tags, blurbs, titles, etc. the same way. But being careful and mindful can make a difference. Even with poetry, as far as I can tell!

 

[CoffeeWithMonkeys]

I think we need more space to write a blurb. It's so limited right now. I wish it was at least doubled the amount of characters.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I think we need more space to write a blurb. It's so limited right now. I wish it was at least doubled the amount of characters.

I agree. Even more though, I want to be able to subtitle chapters.

 

[Bramblethorn]

An Author may have written a great story but, if he or she does not show it in the Story Title, Story Description and Story Tags, the story maybe easily overlooked.

Maybe you could talk some more about how an author can use those fields to say "great story" to their readers?

I'm not a bad writer, but I find it very hard to write a story description. Different readers like different things in the same story and it's hard enough to convey even one of those things in the limited space that the description allows. If I could convey the heart of a five-page story in ten words of description, it wouldn't have been a five-page story in the first place.

So what is it that you find useful in those fields to decide whether it's going to be a great story for you?

 

[Bramblethorn]

I agree. Even more though, I want to be able to subtitle chapters.

This is already possible, if you can do it within the length limitations.

Example here:

Betty Ch. 01: A Bad Day At The Office
Betty Ch. 02: A Lesbian Awakening
Betty Ch. 03: A Wild Threesome

Just don't use more than one chapter tag at a time; something like "Ch. 01 Part 3" will break the auto-chaptering.

 

[LexxRuthless]

Yeah...but when my title is Spinal Meningitis Is No Joke Ch.08, where am I going to fit a subtitle?

That, by the way, is my highest-rated story. The description was simply, "What does Mom know?"

I agree with MelissaBaby. I think that if we were allowed an optional additional line for a subtitle that would take care of it.

 

[MelissaBaby]

This is already possible, if you can do it within the length limitations.

Example here:

Betty Ch. 01: A Bad Day At The Office
Betty Ch. 02: A Lesbian Awakening
Betty Ch. 03: A Wild Threesome

Just don't use more than one chapter tag at a time; something like "Ch. 01 Part 3" will break the auto-chaptering.

I know that it CAN be done, but I don't consider it practical.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Yeah...but when my title is Spinal Meningitis Is No Joke Ch.08, where am I going to fit a subtitle?

That, by the way, is my highest-rated story. The description was simply, "What does Mom know?"

I agree with MelissaBaby. I think that if we were allowed an optional additional line for a subtitle that would take care of it.

I just looked through a list of my chapters with their subtitles. Out of 34 chapters in two series, I think about three would fit.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I agree. Even more though, I want to be able to subtitle chapters.

Agree this. The extra character count would make a huge difference in the ability to sort and sequence content according to some master plan (my story world is progressively becoming interconnected in my head), and at the same time making sense of an individual story to grab eyes.

Over the course of four years and nearly eighty stories, I've learned a few lessons in what to do and what not to do in terms of selling a story through its title - but I'm still too idiosyncratic and will never include Mom in a title, so I make do with what we've got, and use it not very well.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I know that it CAN be done, but I don't consider it practical.

Oh OK, I thought you were talking about it as a separate issue from the length limit. My bad!

 

[Bramblethorn]

Over the course of four years and nearly eighty stories, I've learned a few lessons in what to do and what not to do in terms of selling a story through its title - but I'm still too idiosyncratic and will never include Mom in a title, so I make do with what we've got, and use it not very well.

Well obviously. It would be "Mum".

 

[Athalia]

I think we need more space to write a blurb. It's so limited right now. I wish it was at least doubled the amount of characters.

I'd like to see that, too.

I'd also like for the titles themselves to be a few characters longer (maybe ten).

 

[ElectricBlue]

Well obviously. It would be "Mum".

Not in my world .

That's not quite true - my pride of place for my nearly lowest score was a Dad, Son buggery scene, whilst Mum was engaged with a demon bird-girl. Even Erotic Horror fans were shocked at that one - my first encounter with the Category Police. Oh the outrage! I took pity, and put up a warning sign in the comments of the previous chapter - nobody's moaned since, but that chapter is definitely the dip in the road, lol.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Agree this. The extra character count would make a huge difference in the ability to sort and sequence content according to some master plan (my story world is progressively becoming interconnected in my head), and at the same time making sense of an individual story to grab eyes.

Over the course of four years and nearly eighty stories, I've learned a few lessons in what to do and what not to do in terms of selling a story through its title - but I'm still too idiosyncratic and will never include Mom in a title, so I make do with what we've got, and use it not very well.

I think I am going to keep on writing series, so I'd really like to see this change.

My contribution for the One Night In XXX event was meant to be a stand alone, but I keep thinking of more things I want to do with the characters!

 

[MelissaBaby]

Oh OK, I thought you were talking about it as a separate issue from the length limit. My bad!

No problem. The length limit s always going to be a problem, I think, but even if it were not, I like the idea of a separate sub title option.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I think I am going to keep on writing series, so I'd really like to see this change.

My contribution for the One Night In XXX event was meant to be a stand alone, but I keep thinking of more things I want to do with the characters!

Yes, I've got a set of thematically linked stories which aren't a "continuation" as such, more a "step sideways and dance" kind of a thing, where characters go off and get lives of their own; more precisely, where a known character engages with a completely different set of protagonists.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Yes, I've got a set of thematically linked stories which aren't a "continuation" as such, more a "step sideways and dance" kind of a thing, where characters go off and get lives of their own; more precisely, where a known character engages with a completely different set of protagonists.

I've got a couple of concepts I am kicking around. One, coming off my One Night contribution would be different stories about a group of people who all hang out at the same bar together. The other would be the interlocking stories of four women who all dance at the same strip club.

Of course, Mary and Alvin has a good ways to go though...

 

[JamesMiehoff]

My contribution for the One Night In XXX event was meant to be a stand alone, but I keep thinking of more things I want to do with the characters!

I tend to like to write episodic entries that are not even remotely chronological. It may have something to do with my OCD or ADHD. Or possibly just a character flaw. My first batch of stories was done in this way and I have considered retitling them with a date in the title so readers can figure out which stories are in which order.

When I tried to write a 4 chapter series, I had to break the story arc at 10 chapters. There are at least 2 more story arcs clamoring to get out.

So do what feels right to you. The readers will love it or hate it and there is not much you can do. Pleasing one group will mean pissing off another group.

james

 

[MelissaBaby]

I tend to like to write episodic entries that are not even remotely chronological. It may have something to do with my OCD or ADHD. Or possibly just a character flaw. My first batch of stories was done in this way and I have considered retitling them with a date in the title so readers can figure out which stories are in which order.

When I tried to write a 4 chapter series, I had to break the story arc at 10 chapters. There are at least 2 more story arcs clamoring to get out.

So do what feels right to you. The readers will love it or hate it and there is not much you can do. Pleasing one group will mean pissing off another group.

james

I figure that if I want to know more about the characters, they are worth writing more about.

My first two series could not be much more different, and I have some wonderfully loyal followers who appreciate both, so I don't worry about it. My goal here is to be a good writer, i don't expect to ever be a particularly popular one.

 

[SimonDoom]

- but I'm still too idiosyncratic and will never include Mom in a title, .

I laughed at this and had to count my own stories. 24 stories and 13 have Mom in the title. In fact, I have a rule that EVERY mother-son incest story of mine will ALWAYS have Mom in the title. And I can tell you, it works. I've been on here just a little over 2 years, and my 13 mom-son incest stories average about 200,000 views per story.

If others want to adopt a more aesthetically driven or personal approach to titles and tags, that's fine with me. Go for it. But it's not how I'm going to do it. Once the body of the story is done, I'm ruthlessly practical. I do what I can to get eyeballs on the story. That's what I want and I don't apologize for it. This site offers tools, and as far as I'm concerned they are there to use so I can connect with readers. And I've been reasonably successful at doing just that by taking this approach.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I laughed at this and had to count my own stories. 24 stories and 13 have Mom in the title. In fact, I have a rule that EVERY mother-son incest story of mine will ALWAYS have Mom in the title. And I can tell you, it works. I've been on here just a little over 2 years, and my 13 mom-son incest stories average about 200,000 views per story.

Ah yes, but you sold your soul to the devil, while I'm still getting to the crossroads.

As you very well know, Simon, every penguin's got a mom. Or a sister .

 

[rebel_code]

I think we need more space to write a blurb. It's so limited right now. I wish it was at least doubled the amount of characters.

Check the E&V hub right now. There's a new story on there with a blurb that goes at least half again over the limit. The author has pulled off that trick a few times before too. The key seems to be to enclose the blurb entirely in quotes, or maybe at least to enter a quote mark before the limit is reached and then keep on typing.