My stories are being zero bombed!

[DuncanMc]

Hello all,

So I basically have two stories, although one is split into 7 chapters. So a total of 8 gradable entries. At one point I had 3/8 hot gradings, with an average score of 4.45. But slowly and surely someone has been zero bombing me and now I’m down to 2 “hot” stories and my average is about 4.3. I’ve had some lovely positive comments, and my works have been published for over a year. I am humble enough to know I’m not the world’s greatest erotic author, but the stories had stabilized at a decent score, and I was pretty certain that most of them would reach hot status soon enough.

If any of you fellow authors have the time to critique my stories I would appreciate any comments you could send my way. I need encouragement to write the next chapter….here’s a link to my most recent…..

https://literotica.com/s/tha-maid-and-the-butler

Cheers,

Duncanmc

 

[gunhilltrain]

Hello all,

So I basically have two stories, although one is split into 7 chapters. So a total of 8 gradable entries. At one point I had 3/8 hot gradings, with an average score of 4.45. But slowly and surely someone has been zero bombing me and now I’m down to 2 “hot” stories and my average is about 4.3. I’ve had some lovely positive comments, and my works have been published for over a year. I am humble enough to know I’m not the world’s greatest erotic author, but the stories had stabilized at a decent score, and I was pretty certain that most of them would reach hot status soon enough.

If any of you fellow authors have the time to critique my stories I would appreciate any comments you could send my way. I need encouragement to write the next chapter….here’s a link to my most recent…..

https://literotica.com/s/tha-maid-and-the-butler

Cheers,

Duncanmc

You can't be zero-bombed, but you can be one-bombed! Actually, series chapters usually drop after the initial submission. You've done pretty well to start off with if your average is 4.3. "Hot" stories can be hard to hold on to because of such voting. If I counted right, I only have ten out of 131 entries. My most recent chapter in a series was a pretty dismal 2.77. Who knows, maybe it was too downbeat, not enough sex, something didn't click with the readers. You just keep going with the next one.

 

[ronde]

I didn't read your stories but I did look at the ratings. You're not doing bad at all. A lot of authors on Literotica would do almost anything for a rating of 4 or better.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

So I basically have two stories, although one is split into 7 chapters. So a total of 8 gradable entries. At one point I had 3/8 hot gradings, with an average score of 4.45. But slowly and surely someone has been zero bombing me and now I’m down to 2 “hot” stories and my average is about 4.3. I’ve had some lovely positive comments, and my works have been published for over a year. I am humble enough to know I’m not the world’s greatest erotic author, but the stories had stabilized at a decent score, and I was pretty certain that most of them would reach hot status soon enough.

The scores have dropped from 4.45 to 4.3 but the stories haven't gotten any worse.

When the score goes down, the story doesn't get worse. When the score goes up the story doesn't get better. Your stories are just as good as the day that they were published.

 

[countdowntolov3]

I think the other commenters here are right that you shouldn't worry too much about the scores.

But if you do want them to be higher I bet you'd benefit from making sure all your chapters are at least two literotica pages long. It seems to help. I assume it's because folks who didn't resonate with a 1-page story are more likely to vote on page 1 Many of your chapters are only just short of the cutoff already.

 

[MiaBabe23]

Hello all,

So I basically have two stories, although one is split into 7 chapters. So a total of 8 gradable entries. At one point I had 3/8 hot gradings, with an average score of 4.45. But slowly and surely someone has been zero bombing me and now I’m down to 2 “hot” stories and my average is about 4.3. I’ve had some lovely positive comments, and my works have been published for over a year. I am humble enough to know I’m not the world’s greatest erotic author, but the stories had stabilized at a decent score, and I was pretty certain that most of them would reach hot status soon enough.

If any of you fellow authors have the time to critique my stories I would appreciate any comments you could send my way. I need encouragement to write the next chapter….here’s a link to my most recent…..

https://literotica.com/s/tha-maid-and-the-butler

Cheers,

Duncanmc

Tbh the same thing happened to me - I guess maybe, the more people read it, the more it finds its general level
Mine went down from around 4.5 to 3.5, with some useful feedback from a couple of readers about why the rating was low - length and need for more graphic detail
So I wonder if rather than ‘someone’ zerobombing, it’s the leveling out as more read it?

 

[THBGato]

Hello all,

So I basically have two stories, although one is split into 7 chapters. So a total of 8 gradable entries. At one point I had 3/8 hot gradings, with an average score of 4.45. But slowly and surely someone has been zero bombing me and now I’m down to 2 “hot” stories and my average is about 4.3. I’ve had some lovely positive comments, and my works have been published for over a year. I am humble enough to know I’m not the world’s greatest erotic author, but the stories had stabilized at a decent score, and I was pretty certain that most of them would reach hot status soon enough.

If any of you fellow authors have the time to critique my stories I would appreciate any comments you could send my way. I need encouragement to write the next chapter….here’s a link to my most recent…..

https://literotica.com/s/tha-maid-and-the-butler

Cheers,

Duncanmc

This has been happening a lot lately. There's another thread about it: https://forum.literotica.com/threads/malicious-voting.1620359/page-5#post-99795465

I mean, it's always happening, but seems to be a serious trolling campaign at the moment. I don't know if you've been caught up in it.

 

[Britva415]

You can't be zero-bombed, but you can be one-bombed!

I zero-bomb lots of stories.

Good thing it doesn’t affect the score!

 

[Rob_Royale]

If the story features any sort of non-monogamy it's to be expected, frankly. Which is a real shame. BDSM isn't my usual stomping grounds but your description sounds interesting so I'll give it a read.

 

[gunhilltrain]

If the story features any sort of non-monogamy it's to be expected, frankly. Which is a real shame. BDSM isn't my usual stomping grounds but your description sounds interesting so I'll give it a read.

There seems to be a surprising conventional streak among a lot of readers here (mostly the male ones?). It's as if one can write about any kink one wishes, but if monogamy is threatened (especially in a male-female relationship) that pushes a lot of people's buttons. I used to think it was most prevalent in the Loving Wives and Romance categories, but it seems to appear it other places as well.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

There seems to be a surprising conventional streak among a lot of readers here (mostly the male ones?). It's as if one can write about any kink one wishes, but if monogamy is threatened (especially in a male-female relationship) that pushes a lot of people's buttons. I used to think it was most prevalent in the Loving Wives and Romance categories, but it seems to appear it other places as well.

Yes, the monogamy crowd will throw out the baby with the bathwater in almost any category the moment hat they see any infidelity.

Although there is another crowd that loooooves to see a married woman cheat on her husband with THEM (guys who want to be the other man). A few years ago it was big big trend in chat, tons of guys wanting a cheating scene, cheating meaning that married me would screw him behind my husband's back. It's less prevalent now but still very much a thing. I wonder how much those two crowds overlap. I honestly don't know.

 

[THBGato]

There seems to be a surprising conventional streak among a lot of readers here (mostly the male ones?). It's as if one can write about any kink one wishes, but if monogamy is threatened (especially in a male-female relationship) that pushes a lot of people's buttons.

Although there is another crowd that loooooves to see a married woman cheat on her husband with THEM (guys who want to be the other man).

Interesting that you say this. My feeling is - and this is based on the comments on the thousand or so stories I've read here, so only 3% - is that:
a) female readers of lesbian stories don't like cheating
b) male readers of lesbian stories do
c) polyamourous set ups seem fine with readers, but get fewer views.

No Science behind this, just my gut feeling based on my insatiable reading habit!

 

[pink_silk_glove]

b) male readers of lesbian stories do

Interesting. Would you say that it makes a difference to the male reader whether a lesbian cheats on her girlfriend with another woman or if a bi cheated on her boyfriend with another woman? Or have you noticed?

 

[lovecraft68]

Yes, the monogamy crowd will throw out the baby with the bathwater in almost any category the moment hat they see any infidelity.

Although there is another crowd that loooooves to see a married woman cheat on her husband with THEM (guys who want to be the other man). A few years ago it was big big trend in chat, tons of guys wanting a cheating scene, cheating meaning that married me would screw him behind my husband's back. It's less prevalent now but still very much a thing. I wonder how much those two crowds overlap. I honestly don't know.

There are two factions of the monogamy crowd
1-Cheating is wrong no matter who does it and they're fine with a burn the bastard as much as a burn the bitch
2-Cheating is only wrong if a woman does it, because it's a man's right to dick anyone he wants.

The issue with both is they don't keep their opinions to flat out cheating stories, but somehow still think its cheating even when the husband is into it.

Back when I was younger I used to think when the 1950's housewife handbook crowd died off, we'd move away from a lot of this crap. Then I realized that the 'values' of 'real men' are passed down from generation to generation. A decent man will do his best to raise a good man. A pig begats nothing but pigs

 

[THBGato]

Interesting. Would you say that it makes a difference to the male reader whether a lesbian cheats on her girlfriend with another woman or if a bi cheated on her boyfriend with another woman? Or have you noticed?

Cheating on husbands and boyfriends is far, far more common, and can score highly if other aspects are in place. Which is why I thought your comment was interesting: I wonder if there is a certain type of male reader who fantasises about their SO cheating on them with another woman and thus seeks those stories out?

Cheating girlfriends always play an antagonistic role and the reader is rarely invited to sympathise with them. Isle of Poppy's Don't Say It is probably the closest I've seen to a story where the reader is invited to sympathise with a cheater... but the cheating was years ago and not with her current partner

 

[DuncanMc]

Thanks for the replies everyone. My stories do not involve cheating.

 

[DuncanMc]

The scores have dropped from 4.45 to 4.3 but the stories haven't gotten any worse.

When the score goes down, the story doesn't get worse. When the score goes up the story doesn't get better. Your stories are just as good as the day that they were published.

That’s an excellent point. Thanks!

 

[MillieDynamite]

If you pin your writing asperations to scores on a free site, you can't help but be disappointed. Don't worry about the scores; be happy when they are high. Don't get down when the scores are down. No one is everyone's cup of tea. Write what you like, and you'll find your niche, and the followers will come. If you write it, they will come.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Interesting that you say this. My feeling is - and this is based on the comments on the thousand or so stories I've read here, so only 3% - is that:
a) female readers of lesbian stories don't like cheating
b) male readers of lesbian stories do
c) polyamourous set ups seem fine with readers, but get fewer views.

No Science behind this, just my gut feeling based on my insatiable reading habit!

I admit I don't have an insatiable reading habit here. Writing for Lit and dealing with the forum are about the maximum amount of time I want to commit to this site. So I'm only going by what I see on the boards and a few comments I get myself. That is a pretty small sample. So if you've seen those opinions, I'll take your word on it because you would certainly would know better than I do.

 

[GeorgiePorgy]

Thank you for this. I’m a new author and it was disheartening to see scores where somebody’s tanking my average, there are a few where the (scarce) ratings I have had to be fours and fives, then a 1 because of the averages changing dramatically.

The bad reviewers don’t leave comments or anything, except one person said it was boring. After reading several threads, I deleted that comment and my reply of “you won't like my other ones either”.. So I’m not going to take them seriously, and not sweat the trolls.

And, troll-person, sorry about whatever has upset you. If you want stories that reflect your tastes, you can find them here. If what I write isn’t your cup of tea you aren’t obliged to read it. And if it was almost your cup of tea but you’d like improvements, that’s what feedback is for.

I’m not shooting for ratings, just trying to tell a story. And maybe give someone a few thrills along the way.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Thank you for this. I’m a new author and it was disheartening to see scores where somebody’s tanking my average, there are a few where the (scarce) ratings I have had to be fours and fives, then a 1 because of the averages changing dramatically.

The bad reviewers don’t leave comments or anything, except one person said it was boring. After reading several threads, I deleted that comment and my reply of “you won't like my other ones either”.. So I’m not going to take them seriously, and not sweat the trolls.

And, troll-person, sorry about whatever has upset you. If you want stories that reflect your tastes, you can find them here. If what I write isn’t your cup of tea you aren’t obliged to read it. And if it was almost your cup of tea but you’d like improvements, that’s what feedback is for.

Okay...

Everybody's been where you and the OP are, but some general things to keep in mind.

First off, why one-bombs? Some, one must concede, are legitimate scores for truly wretched writing. I personally find it hard to credit that somebody will stick with the chore or trial of reading a bad story long enough to finish it, but it's possible. Laurel, the owner, has reportedly stated that even Ones are indeed scores.

Other reasons are less ethical. There is a group apparently lurking on the New Stories page to automatically down-vote virtually every story. Others may have taken a dislike to particular authors, either for a story having trod on their corns or for a comment made in the forums. Some, the truly unscrupulous, may be trying to skew scores for competitions. Some, unable to write themselves, take their pleasure in one-bombing, like toddlers knocking down stacks of blocks they're not able to build.

In any case, the worst thing we can do is to complain about our falling scores. Trolls in their basements generally live for that. To complain is to acknowledge their efforts. Again with a toddler analogy, if one gets angry at a toddler spouting potty words, the problem will only get worst.

Hang in there and welcome to the shadier side of Lit.

 

[StillStunned]

First off, why one-bombs? Some, one must concede, are legitimate scores for truly wretched writing. I personally find it hard to credit that somebody will stick with the chore or trial of reading a bad story long enough to finish it, but it's possible. Laurel, the owner, has reportedly stated that even Ones are indeed scores.

One trend I've noticed is that, if I've published a story in I/T, my other stories in that category go up (they're almost all one series anyway), but all my other stories go down. Clearly, my I/T readers enjoyed the new story, then went to check out my other work. The low scores presumably express their disappointment that most of my stories don't feature any brothers and/or sisters.

And because the I/T readership outnumbers the other categories by a factor of up to 100, their few disgruntled votes have a disproportionate impact.

 

[THBGato]

In any case, the worst thing we can do is to complain about our falling scores. Trolls in their basements generally live for that. To complain is to acknowledge their efforts.

Yep. Instead, come on here and boast about how many favourites, followers and views you have, because there is nothing trolls can do to take those away from you.

 

[Wifetheif]

Textually and punctuation wise you are fine. Your story didn't grab me. Not because it is bad, but it's not the sort of style I prefer. I like stories that open in Media Res. There is an awful lot of description before you get to the action. Info dumping is one of the hardest skills for a writer in any genre to master. Imagine how your story would read if it opened with the husband fresh back from the camp and then backfilling information from that point. This is an erotica site, people read for juicy action. A story doesn't have to open with sex, of course, but a memorable situation certainly engages the reader from the beginning and encourages them to continue to the end. "Opening with dialog is a good attention grabber. Even an exclamation, "Oh, Shit!" grabs the reader by the lapels. It almost ensure that they read far enough along to see what lead to the exclamation. By that point, you should have them hooked.
I can see that with a few tweaks I would enjoy your stories.

 

[ElectricBlue]

One trend I've noticed is that, if I've published a story in I/T, my other stories in that category go up (they're almost all one series anyway), but all my other stories go down. Clearly, my I/T readers enjoyed the new story, then went to check out my other work. The low scores presumably express their disappointment that most of my stories don't feature any brothers and/or sisters.

And because the I/T readership outnumbers the other categories by a factor of up to 100, their few disgruntled votes have a disproportionate impact.

You reap what you sow. Don't these people understand categories? That's depressing. Maybe I/T will become the next LW.