A Question of Votes

[wildsweetone]

In a recent email I received from another author, it was suggested that I did not put a comment pertaining to voting at the end of my stories. I was told that some other authors purposely lower their vote because of the comment.

I would like to know if there's a rule I've missed regarding an incentive for voting, written or unwritten.

I have noticed a big difference in the voting totals between those stories I've made a comment on, and those I haven't.

Please advise, thanks

 

[Weird Harold]

In a recent email I received from another author, it was suggested that I did not put a comment pertaining to voting at the end of my stories. I was told that some other authors purposely lower their vote because of the comment.

I suppose it's possible that some authors would downgrade a story for "shameless self promotion", but there are far more people out there who will vote what they think the story's worth because you reminded them that votes and feedback are the only payment we get for posting here.

Go ahead and put what ever author's comment you want at the end of the story.

 

[lobito]

I suppose it could be shameless self promotion, but it is also the part about this being your only way of knowing if your writing is worth your time and effort in other peoples eyes.

I submitted my first story 8 days ago, between the two parts of the story, I've gotten over 9000 views already. But only 15 votes and 3 feedback emails. I HOPED for more, but dont' really expect it, since I didn't tell people I'd appreciate votes. I probably WILL put something at the end of my next story though, and see how things change. (if they change)

Lo

 

[wildsweetone]

Weird Harold,

Thank you. I wasn't sure if vote encouraging was allowed or not. I haven't gone through all the lit.com info yet.

I would hope that the majority of people vote on the story, not the comment.


Lo,

I've also found it interesting that by adding the reminder comment about voting, it has also encouraged feedback. That's what I find very helpful.

 

[Axeltheswede]

Vote Request

I have been posting stories for just a short time too. The difference between putting a note at the end and not doing it has a big impact on the number of votes I have received.

I was a long time reader before I posted a story. I was always more inclined to vote if the author asked at the end. Some notes are more tactful than others.

Find an ending message you like and paraphrase it at the end of your story. It increases feedback email too.

 

[KillerMuffin]

Some people can't stand shameless self-promotion or pandering. However, you didn't do that. I've been considering adding a "please vote" to all of my stuff as well, but haven't really done much about it. I think, because I've noticed this in myself, that most people read a story and just move on to another one without thinking about voting. Most readers never show up at the BB and they never know what a vote means to the author. Reminding them at the end is a good idea. Some readers do know what a vote means, but when they've finished a story they just don't think about votes so they move one.

There's people who vote 1's to every story in the Interracial category. There's people who vote 1's to every story based off of the WWF or WCW. There's people who vote 1's to every single story above them in the lists. There's people who vote 1's just because they didn't cum. There's people who vote 1's because the story was written by a female. There's people who vote 1's because their personal fetish wasn't mentioned. Hell, I get voted down all the time because I'm a Republican.

You're doing fine, like WH so eloquently said. Ignore the 1 voter. The idiot voted based on his or her reaction to you, not based on his or her reaction to the story. This means what? It's a vote that doesn't matter.

 

[Axeltheswede]

You make some interesting and valid points, KillerMuffin. The only way an individual author can know the impact of a note at the end of the story is to do it both ways. In the same category, one story with end note, one without. Compare the results short and long term.

I have five stories posted, three with a message at the end. Those three each get ten times the votes compared to the other two. I like feedback. I like it when people vote. The obvious answer for me is to include the note.

One other thing about votes. It seems to me that when a story gets a lot of hits and few votes, it means readers aren't staying to the end to get a chance to vote. True, people probably surf for the particular thing that floats their boat. They don't find it in the first few graphs, they're on to the next. But for others, it is up to us writers to hook the reader in the beginning and hold them to the end.

As a reader I have two quick tests for a story. 1. Interesting subject or premise. 2. Readability. If I have to struggle through awkward syntax, bad spelling, cliche overuse and one of those terrible physical descriptions of the woman as some "Annie Fannie" look alike, I'm gone. I don't think I'm the only one that looks at it that way.

I would like to hear from more authors, with more experience, about these issues.

 

[MysteryWriter]

votes getting them and giving them

muffie say it ain't so... you a republican...
I honest to god though I was hid from the one dropper fairy, but I was wrong he found me in the non erotic section. Forget the "He was disappointed" defense.... The bastard hunted me down. rofl