Anticipated vs. actual scores

[Trionyx]

Some of my works which I am the proudest of seemingly do not do that well in the readers’ voting and a couple I almost decided not to publish have done much better. I have tried to analyze my stories to see if there is any common thread as to why some do better than expected and some do worse. I have found no simple explanation. This does not mean I want to change my writing style or themes to generate higher scores, but I am simply curious about this dichotomy.

Has anyone else wondered about why the scores are significantly different from your expectations and the potential reasons?

 

[Hypnobitch01]

I have one story: Bessie’s New Job, that has done really well. I expected people to hate this one, it’s super weird and out there.

I think it did well because it is pretty unique.

However my story: Pathokinetic has not been scoring well.

This was due to a category issue, and some poor character development I’m working on, and I posted the sequel in a better category for it, so I’m hoping that it starts to do better.

 

[pink_silk_glove]

If you write to the expectations of the category/readership (intentionally or not) you will score better. The scores have pretty much nothing to do with how well you may or may not have wrote.

 

[StillStunned]

Avoiding the whole category issue:

My two most recent stories are Not A Soul and Rulk the Rat and the Demon Dagger. They were published eight days apart, both for Pandemonium, both in SF&F. The rating-to-viewing ratios of the two stories are 1/47 and 1/33. They're both dark, with dark endings. Not stroke material, either of them.

"Not A Soul" is standing at 4.42/43, and "Rulk the Rat" is at 4.76/38.

I expected these scores to be reversed. "Not A Soul" is essentially "Alien" with a shapechanging demon, "Rulk the Rat" is a nasty story with a mind-control rape scene, in which the POV character ends up much worse than he started.

So why the scores? Who knows? Maybe readers like grimdark fantasy more than hard sci-fi?

 

[MrPixel]

Several of my stories score lower than expected because I hit an squick with certain readers, and they punish the story for it. Even allusions to gay sex in a story mostly of hetero and lesbian seem to draw the down-votes. In a few cases, though, I'm starting to think that some are hammered because a troll is having a bad day and wants to take it out on somebody.

IOW, there is no "simple explanation".

 

[NotWise]

Shouldn't even think about the score unless/until your story has enough votes to be representative, and it's hard to say where that limit it. Where my scores fall outside my expected range, the vote totals are also low. I think in most other cases where my expectations missed, I had problems with category selection and/or unlikable characters.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

I think mine should be fives.

Readers think they should be threes.

Scores are around fours.

 

[SimonDoom]

I'm rarely surprised by my scores anymore. Like everybody, I think they should be a little higher than they are. When my scores are lower than my average, it's almost always because of a) the story's length (excessively short), or b) subject matter that defies the normal expectations of the readers of the category in which the story is published.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

I think I am finally writing up to my expectations. My last six submissions, the last two parts of an I/T story and four lesbian standalone stories, are sitting at 4.8 or higher.

I think I have finally figured out show vs. tell ...

 

[NotWise]

I think I have finally figured out show vs. tell ...

Just in time for the story stylists to decide it doesn't really matter.

 

[MyBareTorso]

I've wondered a lot about scores, but there seem to be too many variables behind them to form any real opinions. write what I write, and hope for the best.

Like other good folk have hinted at here already, however, I do sincerely believe that all my stories should be better rated, should have more views, should inspire more new followers, should have more red Hs, and should win as many contests as is permissable.

 

[SimonDoom]

I've wondered a lot about scores, but there seem to be too many variables behind them to form any real opinions. write what I write, and hope for the best.

Like other good folk have hinted at here already, however, I do sincerely believe that all my stories should be better rated, should have more views, should inspire more new followers, should have more red Hs, and should win as many contests as is permissable.

Nobody ever got anywhere by thinking negatively!

 

[Flybynite1892]

I *want* to say that stories here are like a lot of other art: if the story knows exactly what it wants to be, and it succeeds in that, then a reader will feel like the story delivered - even if they can't quite say why it checked all the right boxes. If it's a more straightforward stroke story done and told well, it makes sense - to me - that it would score as high as anything more complex and experimental. I think the key is knowing what you want to write and then holding up your end of the promise to the reader.

That's what I *want* to say. And I do think that is at least partially true. That said, I really have no idea how or why readers vote the way they do sometimes. It's honestly one of my favorite parts about writing here: I can just write kind of out-there stuff and then we're off to the races to see how everything scores compared to my other stories. It's kind of fun.

 

[THBGato]

All of mine have exceeded expectations. When I started, way back in the mists of February, I figured I'd be happy if I got some 4s. So I'm happy.

 

[shelleycat1]

My expectations were just to get a story out. That over a thousand people would read one was not even in my mind. I’m just going to have to wait until enough people have read and scored, nothing else I can do.

Of course the one I liked best is very slow to score, but I think it’s been out there long enough that it might get to an H in a year or two.

In the words of a songwriter, Don’t worry, be happy.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Lit readers are unpredictable at best.

 

[Shady_Lady]

I have the same question about what I think is good versus what turns out to be voted a turkey. (One of my highest-rated stories nearly didn't get published because I thought it was rubbish)

I suspect that some of it is down to mathematics.

A story rating doesn't appear until it has received 10 votes. If your story doesn't fit the profile of what one of the first 10 readers thinks it should be if they rate it 1 then the consequences are disproportionately bad.

E.G. New Story gets 2 x 1, 5 x 5 and 3 x 4 = 39

This gives a rating of 3.9 once the ratings go public, so any scanning for 'good' stories will simply ignore it.

Even if the next 10 rate it as a 5 that will now give you 89 = 4.45 which is still below the requirement to get the magic 'H'

However

If the first 10 rate it 50/50 between 4s & 5s then you get 45 = 4.5 (and the magic 'H')

Passing scanners now read the story and hopefully give it 4s or 5s so preserving your 'H'

If after 20 or so votes you pick up a couple of 1s the impact is far less.

I think for me choosing the right category is very important as I have had more than one fall foul of what the readers of that category are looking for.

 

[StillStunned]

A story rating doesn't appear until it has received 10 votes. If your story doesn't fit the profile of what one of the first 10 readers thinks it should be if they rate it 1 then the consequences are disproportionately bad.

This isn't actually true. There's a lag in the votes appearing in the category's New Stories list, but it isn't about needing 10. If one of your followers rates your story during the half hour between when it goes live and when the the New Stories list is updated (or if you cast your own vote in that time), that vote will appear as soon as the story appears in the list.

 

[Shady_Lady]

This isn't actually true. There's a lag in the votes appearing in the category's New Stories list, but it isn't about needing 10. If one of your followers rates your story during the half hour between when it goes live and when the the New Stories list is updated (or if you cast your own vote in that time), that vote will appear as soon as the story appears in the list.

Interesting as every time I look at the stories they always seem to have x.xx in the public view until they reach 10. I can see the story rating but that doesn't show. Will have to pay closer attention next time I post.

 

[StillStunned]

@Shady_Lady I have to ask: does your screen name come from "Yes Minister"?

 

[alohadave]

A story rating doesn't appear until it has received 10 votes.

The red H is what doesn't appear until 10 votes. Ratings show after any votes.

 

[Ellies_adventures]

I joined as a reader as many of you likely also did, then decided to have a crack with a few true tales. Similar to Shelleycat1 I just wanted to put something out there and see I'd people liked it, wasn't sure how the reception would be.


I don't get a lot of time to write, usually bits and pieces when i pop outside for a smoke to keep the kids prying eyes away from the smut, but my latest series has received 6 out of 9 chapters as H ratings which made me proud.

I figure as long as you enjoy the tales you craft and you can string a few words together well, at least someone is going to like what you put out there.

Keep on writing folks!

 

[Ellies_adventures]

https://www.literotica.com/s/the-neighbours-internet-porn-ch-01

Forgot the shameless plug ...

 

[Shady_Lady]

@Shady_Lady I have to ask: does your screen name come from "Yes Minister"?

No it has been my pen name for many years. Back when I first started writing I was worried people would scorn my writing so I wanted a pen name (to hide behind). At the time I was deeply into D/s hence the 'Lady' (I was Lady Julie of the house of Avalon). 'Shady' stems from the fact I did a lot of my work in the shadows so the name was suggested to me and has stuck ever since. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then so can't change it now. The only addition has been to add 'Julie' (being my name) so you will see me elsewhere as Shady Lady Julie.

 

[Shady_Lady]

The red H is what doesn't appear until 10 votes. Ratings show after any votes.

Makes sense now