about voting and views

[eric shawn listo]

OK, new here for about a month, I've had a lot of good response with only one story under a 4.5 average. Thing is, I'm not interested in the contests but about getting feedback. Obviously, some folks aren't getting what they want but without the feedback I don't know what. Am I in the wrong category (novels and novellas)? Is there a better place to be viewed? My oldest story is about 7000 views and 60 votes at just over 4.52. My personal viewing/voting "thing" (my son says "thing" is not good writing specific enough) (no, he's not reading this but he's a writing nut at nine) is I vote only if I finish a story. I sometimes click on and after a few sentences know I can't finish it. Because it's not my taste. But why finish reading one and not, especially if you hated it, give a PC--even if anonymously. I mean, a 5 tells so much but if you give a 1 and don't tell me why then that's worth nothing.

 

[jakebarnes48]

I posted my first story earlier this week and have more than 4000 views thus far with 13 votes. Only one person offered feedback and that feedback was limited to the category in which the story was posted. Interestingly, the 13 votes consist of 10 5s, 1 4, and 2 1s. I really wish the 1s had said something to suggest the reason for their low scores.

 

[wishfulthinking]

Hi Eric and Jake, welcome to the boards. Also, drop into the Authors hangout and say hello, they are pretty friendly.

As to view/votes, it does depends on category. For example, my incest stories racks up over 20,000 views and over 150 votes in the first day. My non-human stories gets only about 6,000 views in the first week and about 60 votes. There is a BIG difference.

One thing you may be able to do is post chapters of your story individually in the most relevant category eg. romance, rather than novels. Also, posting chapters individually gets you feedback as you go along, which keeps you motivated.

Some people also put a note at the end requesting feedback, but I am not sure if this helps.

I also find the more detailed your members page, the more response you get. The fact that I am from Australia raises a few questions, like what is the weather like.

But as you write more stories, you will start to build a readership base, and eventually more feedback.

Hope that helps.

And again welcome

 

[eric shawn listo]

Thanks Wishful. Very helpful. Jake, how can you tell what the voting is? I can't figure that out.

esl

 

[Shallkneel4u]

Hello:

Yes, not sure why there are so few comments, or for that matters votes on this site. I posted my third story this week, and so far have only 11 votes and two comments....one of the votes must have been pretty low as I went from a 4.9 rating down to a 4.5 with the casting of one vote.

I decided to post some of my work on here to get feedback on my work, be it good or bad so that I would have some idea of what I was doing right, and what needed worked on...so far, have been highly dissappointed in that way. I posted a story just a few weeks ago that has over 35,000 reads (or clicks) yet there were only a total of four comments posted to the story, and all of them stated I posted the story in the wrong area...now there is some feed back on my writing that does me a lot of good....NOT.

 

[Kirk482002]

How I see it from my my end,

I’ve used quite a few different categories for my stories and I can tell you that by far, the incest category gets the most views, but not necessarily the most feedback. I have one story that I posted last November that has over 100,000 views, but has no comments and I never received an e-mail response.
The story with the most public posts is in the erotic coupling category and has 14, yet only has 12,251 views and 114 votes.
The other category that gets good public and private response per number of views is mature. There are a lot of us older farts out there wishing they were twenty-five years old again. I have one that has 31,560 views, 163 votes and 10 public posts.
Categories that get some response, depending on how well it was written are romance, BDSM, and group sex. Any other category I’ve tried had very few views or votes, let alone any feedback.
I have also been the recipient of those anonymous and dreaded 1’s that someone insists on casting on no matter what story is posted. I have had stories that have nose dived in a single day from 5.00 or 4.8 all the way down into the 3’s because of people voting 1’s. Luckily, all of my stories recovered in their scores, but how high could they have been if it weren’t for all those 1’s placed by unknown faces out there.
By the way, has anyone else gotten the dreaded comment by e-mail that states…
“Don’t quit your day job…”

Kirk482002
e-mail: KIRK19055@aol.com

My Stories:
http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=261623&page=submissions

 

[jakebarnes48]

Thank you also Wishful.

Eric, in my case figuring out the voting was easy. After 10 votes the story had a rating of 4.9, so 9, 5s and 1, 4 was the only possibility. The next time I checked, the story had dipped to 4.25 with 12 votes. 12 x 4.25 is 51, so the last two votes had to be 1s.

Oh well, there's a sequel I'm about to submit. We'll see what happens to it.

 

[stray_girl]

Feedback is not the job of the reader

Hello:

Yes, not sure why there are so few comments, or for that matters votes on this site. I posted my third story this week, and so far have only 11 votes and two comments....one of the votes must have been pretty low as I went from a 4.9 rating down to a 4.5 with the casting of one vote.

I decided to post some of my work on here to get feedback on my work, be it good or bad so that I would have some idea of what I was doing right, and what needed worked on...so far, have been highly dissappointed in that way. I posted a story just a few weeks ago that has over 35,000 reads (or clicks) yet there were only a total of four comments posted to the story, and all of them stated I posted the story in the wrong area...now there is some feed back on my writing that does me a lot of good....NOT.

You might keep in mind that most people on Lit. read stories to be entertained and not to make you a better writer. Writing comments is work and not particularly entertaining. Just my $0.02.

 

[Lying Eyes]

Put a note at the end of your story (for those that actually finished reading it) and let them know that your a new writer who would apreciate any comments, advice, or constructive criticism in order to improve. That should help increase feedback.

Also putting up a link in your signature to your latest story might help also.

As for votes, I personally wont vote unless I'm willing to give someone else's work a 5. The way I see it is I am no better judge then anyone else and I don't want to lower the average voting score with my opinion. It might discourage the writer and I certainly don't want to do that. And anyway their are plenty of trolls out their content to use the infamous 1 votes to knock down a perfectly well written story. I rather send off constructive criticism and point out what I personaly like and dislike about the piece.

Ironicly I think I could use some more votes for my latest story which was plagued with a few bad votes untill I fixed an inadvertant formating problem that I'm sure iritated a few readers.

 

[wishfulthinking]

Opps. I forgot to tell you guys about 'trolls' (lit term). They vote '1' simply because it entertains them to see a story with a 'H' (a score above 4.5 is hot) plummet. In a majority of cases it has nothing to do with the story.

As to 'Anon' (another lit term ), s/he often doesn't speak english, and sometimes leaves nasty little comments because they know of no other way to have fun. Eg. I got feedback last week saying I was sick and 'needed to resolve some issues, girl'. You have to laugh the off, because why would someone take the time to write that?

As to links to your stories, go to your control panel, and signature, and copy and paste the link to your story or your members page there.

Keep writing! Cheers, WT

 

[Rainbow Skin]

I've got to agree with stray_girl here: Feedback is not the job of the ordinary reader. I'm here for good writing more than wanking, and I would love to encourage writers, but even that is hard, as writing is hard. If I like something I could e-mail saying 'Liked it', but what would that do? A little bit. I want to encourage people specifically: your choice of long adverbs, the way your characters flick their hair, the abrupt transition here, the humorous segue there... but even that amount of criticism takes time and thought I can't always apply here. Don't expect any commentary. You're writing into wind and silence: Literotica is mainly a reading community, not a writing-comparing one. If you do get intelligent commentary, it's a bonus.

 

[eric shawn listo]

Thanks so much for respnding. Lying Eyes probably hits my own voting thinking well, but I do make exceptions. Usually for execution rather than content. Wishfulthing, for the expertise and Rainbow Skin for the praticality, lest I forget how I started reading here. Don't know if I'll change where I post my stories but food for thought. Anyone who'd like to check a story and give feedback is, of course, encouraged.

esl

 

[Shallkneel4u]

Rainbow and Lying Eyes:

Call me an old fashion country boy here, but there is such a thing as manners...would seem to me, that if someone (a writer) has written a story that entertained you, that common courtesy would dictate a small note, a thank you at bare minimum. I can assure you that a writer puts in FAR MORE TIME writing a story that entertains than you as the reader spend in enjoying the words. But then, if out of over 35,000 views one of my stories only garners four comments (all of them telling me it is in the wrong category), then I guess we have a true clue as to the selfish nature of most individuals on this site.

Shall

 

[Lying Eyes]

Rainbow and Lying Eyes:

Call me an old fashion country boy here, but there is such a thing as manners...would seem to me, that if someone (a writer) has written a story that entertained you, that common courtesy would dictate a small note, a thank you at bare minimum. I can assure you that a writer puts in FAR MORE TIME writing a story that entertains than you as the reader spend in enjoying the words. But then, if out of over 35,000 views one of my stories only garners four comments (all of them telling me it is in the wrong category), then I guess we have a true clue as to the selfish nature of most individuals on this site.

Shall

I do, I do, I do send feedback!

After starting writing myself I did realize how important feedback can be to a writer. After recieving some warm and surprising feedback for my first story I scrambled back to a dozen or so old stories I enjoyed and sent feedback, better late then never! Suprised that of the two authors that responded to my email thank you and apology for my tardiness were from authors that had not submited anything in ages.

I prefer to send feedback via email rather then the Public Comment because I have no idea if the author has checked back to see if he recieved any PC's. Sometimes I wonder if my feedback email even reached the author since some don't respond. I make sure to reply back to those who went out of their way to send me feedback. I'm grateful for those that let me know how much they enjoyed my piece.

Sometimes I am a little hesitant to send feedback to a few more outstanding experienced writers that create a story with allot of depth and a well developed story line. I have to admit I'm a little intimidated when comparing their work to mine.

But for those that have not written much I do try to help them out if possiable even though I am not qualified enough in writing. If I send out constructive criticism I always make sure to let the author know the strong points about the work also.

As for your lack of feedback for your story I would be careful what genre you put a story in. The discription should hint where the story is going to go or whether it is a simple raunchy tale or something with more substance. You want to lead the right reader into the right story, if it seems to be a "stroke" piece and it happens to be a long mushy tale with little sex then allot of readers will bail out before getting past the first page and even fewer will send feedback. Sometimes a note in the beginning would be a useful warning for let's say a story in the voyeur genre but it has an incest theme. Some readers taken off guard will be pissed off.

Sometimes the reason for the lack of feedback can be as simple as picking a busy week to have your story submited. If their was allot of new work to chose from especially in your same genre then your story will recieve less attention. I forget which ones but some genres recieve allot of views but have a tendency to get very little feedback.

 

[mismused]

OK, new here for about a month, I've had a lot of good response with only one story under a 4.5 average. Thing is, I'm not interested in the contests but about getting feedback. Obviously, some folks aren't getting what they want but without the feedback I don't know what. Am I in the wrong category (novels and novellas)? Is there a better place to be viewed? My oldest story is about 7000 views and 60 votes at just over 4.52. My personal viewing/voting "thing" (my son says "thing" is not good writing specific enough) (no, he's not reading this but he's a writing nut at nine) is I vote only if I finish a story. I sometimes click on and after a few sentences know I can't finish it. Because it's not my taste. But why finish reading one and not, especially if you hated it, give a PC--even if anonymously. I mean, a 5 tells so much but if you give a 1 and don't tell me why then that's worth nothing.

=========================

Eric, for you, and any of the others it might help:

I've been posting on Lit for a few months (all but one have been removed by me). For you specifically, Eric, I first posted a novel/novella in 23 different installments (25 total chapters).

The response was great if I can go by the views. The votes weren't great, about 1.5%, or less of the views, but the comments and e mails were terrific.

Like you, I got the nice 5 votes until I hit about ten of them, then the bombers began to hit them with the 1 votes.

As a brand new writer who had never posted anything before, I was elated, then deflated. The 1 votes didn't jibe all of the e mails and public comments. I wondered why, and then learned about the trolls.

The trolls who bomb you are an interesting sort, nebulous and unknown though they are. For me, fortunately, I have the ability to sit and watch. That finally gave me some measure of peace, though I'm thoroughly unhappy about it.

In watching my latest (and only posted story now) with a very vigilant eye, there is some funny business going on here, and I suspect that it's more than just interested trolls looking out for their own stories. I suspect that there may be a mole in Lit, and have allluded to that in a thread on the Authors Hangout about "Resolving What Really Happens," (not the full title of it, about a month ago at most) on the voting.

Anyway, I posted some interesting results that are hard to fathom any other way.

That said, you're doing great on the novels/novellas side, at least by my experience. Don't expect much from readers who get free pron/erotica to feed their needy libidos; it's hard to think of voting when a story turns you on so much, eh?

All that said, I still love posting on Lit, and plan to do so again soon (as I get my rump moving). It is a great place to post your stories to get a feel for how you write, and a few comments that are not from family or friends that are much more objective.

One other thing, many post announcements of their stories on the Story Feedback thread asking for comments on their writings. I never have, but have seen other do so. You may wish to try that, and seek some feedback from other writers/posters on that thread.

Luck to you, and keep writing,

mismused

 

[mismused]

(double posted)

 

[eric shawn listo]

Thanks so much for this. It's beginning to make some sense. Trolls, indeed! Mismused, thank you for your particular imput. I feel a sense of loyalty to those readers who like my stuff to make it easy for them to find it, so I guess for now I'll remain the same. I have three more chapters already pending the same way, anyway. And I have received positive emails so....

esl

 

[mismused]

Know what you mean, Eric

Thanks so much for this. It's beginning to make some sense. Trolls, indeed! Mismused, thank you for your particular imput. I feel a sense of loyalty to those readers who like my stuff to make it easy for them to find it, so I guess for now I'll remain the same. I have three more chapters already pending the same way, anyway. And I have received positive emails so....

esl

==========================

Frankly, the e mails and comments really did a number on me -- elated -- that is. I did feel a great sense of loyalty to all of those who wrote glowingly about my writing, and I loved it. I gave me a sense of knowing that Idid/do have something to offerf in the way of story telling that would be appreciated. I still do.

Further, though I seem to read less, I now feel a greater sense of urgency to write and let other authors know when I like what they write, though it's not always appreciated. I wrote to one that though I didn't like the story type, I loved the writing. I think it was taken the wrong way. *Sigh!*

mismused

 

[Boxlicker101]

I've noticed that some posters have mentioned getting some good votes (mostly fives) and then suddenly getting bombed. This happens to everybody. At least three times I have posted new stories and had ten or more votes and been listed as number one in the particular category. When that happens, the trolls notice it and cast one bombs so my stories were knocked down, and they take a long time to climb back. I don't know why people do this, maybe just out of contrariness and maybe for some more sinister reason.

It feels nice to be ranked number one, and when I am, and a new story suddenly ranks ahead of mine, I can vote a one and knock it back down so I am number one again. Personally, I would never do such a thing but there might be those who would.

Others might do this for personal reasons, such as being against interracial sex and casting ones on such stories or casting one bombs on celeb. stories if they like the celeb or don't like the celeb. or other reasons like that. It doesn't make much sense to me either and I am certainly not going to defend or justify those who do the, just mention that it happens.

 

[Teenage Venus]

Some thoughts on BOMBERS:

Every site I frequent that allows anonymous comments suffers from crap from idiots needing a life.

Every site I frequent which has a rating system has problems. The ratings do lttle other than give a spot for BOMBERS to play, and to allow jealous writers, or those seeking a good rating position to feed ONE's to anyone above them.

The only comments usually of real value are from persons happy to be identified, who give honest critique.

I started my own writer's site for writers seeking honest critique, and happy to reciprocate. New writers often get a shock when they get told the truth. They depart hurriedly to seek 5's or "I really liked it's" comments from 'mutual appreciation' sites. The ones that stay are the ones with a genuine interest in improving their own work, and helping others.

Lit. is very good for what it is and provides. Excellent help IS available, but I advise anyone not to take 'ratings,' or 'positions' too seriously. They can be an indicator - but little else. (For instance: The 'Most read', probably occupy those high positions for a few main reasons:

They have been up a long time.

The author has 'pushed' them by some of the advertising means mentioned on this thread.

Because they initially held a high spot/rating, readers click on them first - and possibly ignore lower positions/ratings.

Because some of them are actually good - and other readers/authors take time to acknowledge this.

For me: beyond postings and feedback on my own work, I get to learn from the rest of the material up here. The big thing about Lit. to me, is the people you meet on the forums, and what you can learn from them.

PS: I'm a self-opinionated brat

 

[Teenage Venus]

PPS:
PLEASE REMEMBER:

Not ALL anonymous votes/comments are crap. I have also recieved very helpful comments/critique, from genuine members, for which I am most appreciative, and gratefull.

Make useful comments yourself, and others reciprocate.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I have to agree with what Venus says. I like to get honest criticism but some of it is pretty dumb. On most of my stories, which are written in the first person, the narrator is named George Boxlicker, which is an odd name but none of the characters ever comment on that. One guy did complain about thae name, though. On a group sex story, somebody complained because nobody stopped to piss. Some persons complain because the characters almost always use condoms except for oral sex. I'm not going to change the way I describe things just because some people object.

I must admit that my favorite kind of comments are something like: "I LOVED your story. I got so wet reading it that I had to go to bed with my vibe." or words to that effect.

 

[eric shawn listo]

Ok, I get it. Thanks for all your comments. And hopefully soon, I will be over that troll/blocker. I appreciate all who comment and actually tonight got a new comment on my first story. So...that's nice. I guess i must lower my expectations and get real in this fantasy world.

I think it was Dickens: One good reader is worth a thousand bad.

Of course he wrote by the "word".

 

[Teenage Venus]

I have to agree with what Venus says.

WARNING: Doing that can get you in more than a mite of trouble - but it's fun though

 

[Sunnie]

As to view/votes, it does depends on category. For example, my incest stories racks up over 20,000 views and over 150 votes in the first day. My non-human stories gets only about 6,000 views in the first week and about 60 votes. There is a BIG difference.

I'll second that. I notice that my Erotic Couplings and Lesbian Sex submission(s) get a LOT more views than the shitty Letters and Transcripts or Romance sections. My single Lesbian Sex story (Dazzlers) racked up 15,000 views in two days. The Letters and Transcripts submissions have been up for two or three months and only have a couple hundred views on them still.

I sell myself a little, though, posting links to my profile wherever I can, and of course the links to stories down there in my siggy.