Are intermittent low scores par for the course, or am I doing something wrong?

[soulhouse]

I published my first erotic story a week ago on Literotica in the mind control category here:

https://www.literotica.com/s/fucked-stupid

It took me about 3 days to discover it had been published, by which time it had attracted about 50 ratings and an average score of about 4.33, I think. Over the next day or so, it crept up to 4.48, so I got excited by the thought that maybe it's customary for things to start slowly and before long I'd have my first story rated hot. However, when I returned to it the next morning, it had plummeted to 4.32 within a very few additional ratings, much to my disappointment. It has slowly crept up again since and had hit 4.41 on 88 ratings a little while ago. Out of curiosity, I refreshed the page, only to discover it had gone back to 4.38 from just 1 more rating. My maths doesn't stretch to working this one out properly, but I assume that means somebody gave it 2 stars or so, after a fairly long sequence of 5s.

My question is: is the occasional exceptionally low rating the norm for Literotica, or could it be something about a story, such as not fitting reader expectations for the mind control category, a misleading title or introduction, or a flawed or poorly sold premise, makes them more likely?

It’s really a pretty simple fantasy and almost non-existent plot, but I’m pleased overall with the comments, followers and favourites it’s attracted. Maybe 50% of the comments have criticised the drug element of the story though, which suggests I’ve got something wrong. As I’ve written in my own comments to the story, I still feel it’s a reasonable premise, but maybe I’ve done a poor job of writing it.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Maybe 50% of the comments have criticised the drug element of the story though, which suggests I’ve got something wrong.

Without reading your story, I reckon there's your answer. If half your commentary is objecting to the drugging element, those readers don't like it, and they're telling you so. Your concern about writing style and so on is probably irrelevant - some readers don't like your content, it's that simple.

But then, your ratings aren't in fact too bad - other readers do like your story.

You've alienated part of your audience, and satiisfied others. You'te worrying about nothing.

Just write the next story. Try writing a character who can seduce, who doesn't need soporifics .

 

[jaF0]

My question is: is the occasional exceptionally low rating the norm for Literotica

Yes.

Just like life in general.



As are those who obsess over ratings and pats on the back.

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

Without reading your story, I reckon there's your answer. If half your commentary is objecting to the drugging element, those readers don't like it, and they're telling you so. Your concern about writing style and so on is probably irrelevant - some readers don't like your content, it's that simple.

But then, your ratings aren't in fact too bad - other readers do like your story.

You've alienated part of your audience, and satiisfied others. You'te worrying about nothing.

Just write the next story. Try writing a character who can seduce, who doesn't need soporifics .

I apologize for commenting without reading your story, but those numbers look good! Don’t be discouraged. It’s a topic you like and it’s getting interest from your readers too.

 

[soulhouse]

Yes.

Just like life in general.



As are those who obsess over ratings and pats on the back.

Or those who take their pleasure in life from making snide comments

I'm new to this, so am looking for constructive feedback from more experienced contributors on what I can read into ratings. Thanks for your input.

 

[soulhouse]

Without reading your story, I reckon there's your answer. If half your commentary is objecting to the drugging element, those readers don't like it, and they're telling you so. Your concern about writing style and so on is probably irrelevant - some readers don't like your content, it's that simple.

But then, your ratings aren't in fact too bad - other readers do like your story.

You've alienated part of your audience, and satiisfied others. You'te worrying about nothing.

Just write the next story. Try writing a character who can seduce, who doesn't need soporifics .

Thanks. That was my instinct too. The drugs aren''t soporific in this case though and are a necessary element in this particular story, to my mind, so either I need to improve the way I write them, or accept I'll alienate readers, if I'm to continue with them. I think the mind control genre generally seems to use a device like hypnotism or supernatural powers to explain it though, so I'm not sure naked seductive ability is an option.

 

[Inkhorn]

I published my first erotic story a week ago on Literotica in the mind control category here:

https://www.literotica.com/s/fucked-stupid

It took me about 3 days to discover it had been published, by which time it had attracted about 50 ratings and an average score of about 4.33, I think. Over the next day or so, it crept up to 4.48, so I got excited by the thought that maybe it's customary for things to start slowly and before long I'd have my first story rated hot. However, when I returned to it the next morning, it had plummeted to 4.32 within a very few additional ratings, much to my disappointment. It has slowly crept up again since and had hit 4.41 on 88 ratings a little while ago. Out of curiosity, I refreshed the page, only to discover it had gone back to 4.38 from just 1 more rating. My maths doesn't stretch to working this one out properly, but I assume that means somebody gave it 2 stars or so, after a fairly long sequence of 5s.

My question is: is the occasional exceptionally low rating the norm for Literotica, or could it be something about a story, such as not fitting reader expectations for the mind control category, a misleading title or introduction, or a flawed or poorly sold premise, makes them more likely?

It’s really a pretty simple fantasy and almost non-existent plot, but I’m pleased overall with the comments, followers and favourites it’s attracted. Maybe 50% of the comments have criticised the drug element of the story though, which suggests I’ve got something wrong. As I’ve written in my own comments to the story, I still feel it’s a reasonable premise, but maybe I’ve done a poor job of writing it.

*chuckling* My first story just got published a little over a week ago and is holding at 3.74. You're doing fine.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Thanks. That was my instinct too. The drugs aren''t soporific in this case though and are a necessary element in this particular story, to my mind, so either I need to improve the way I write them, or accept I'll alienate readers, if I'm to continue with them. I think the mind control genre generally seems to use a device like hypnotism or supernatural powers to explain it though, so I'm not sure naked seductive ability is an option.

I'm of the school of thought that says if you write really well, readers will tell you; if you write really badly, they'll tell you that too. If you write just okay, you won't hear a thing.

If your comments are more about content, less about style, you can take it from that that your writing passes Go, Collect $200, but I'd say this is more your first encounter with the Category Police. You've obviously hit some folks' squick buttons with the drugs, because they're telling you; but by the same token, that's floated other boats, but they're not saying. For Mind Control (not my thing, so I'm not going to read the story) I suspect that's a pretty normal divide.

It seems like a good run out the gate, though. Keep in mind that deliberate one-bombing will be cleared out next time there's a sweep - probably during the Halloween's Day contest, next month. That will remove the junk votes, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up a Red H, or close to one.

 

[KeithD]

A score about 4.0 isn't a low score. This is a high-volume site with thousands of readers passing through on no regular schedule on either them being here or what they choose to read when they are here. There's no "way" to control where the scores are going to be other than submitting the best writing you can and hope you attracted interested readers.

 

[gordo12]

Categories that have low readership and voting patterns make the stories susceptible to the one or two vote crowd and can generate some large fluctuations.

Anything over 4 is great and hopefully a sweep in the future will eliminate the lousy votes and the story will pop again.

 

[soulhouse]

I'd say this is more your first encounter with the Category Police. You've obviously hit some folks' squick buttons with the drugs, because they're telling you; but by the same token, that's floated other boats, but they're not saying. For Mind Control (not my thing, so I'm not going to read the story) I suspect that's a pretty normal divide.

I'd been wondering about that. It seemed from the comments that the story had seriously divided opinion between those who felt the drugging was unnecessary and not to carry on and those who absolutely loved the slow slide into surrender and wanted more. Maybe dividing opinion isn't such a bad thing anyway, if that's the price to pay for stepping outside the usual conventions of the category to a degree, which is what I wanted to do.

I'd noticed the occasional author's note to some stories along the lines of "This story contains such-and-such, so please don't read on if..." and wondered if that's writers trying to preempt poor ratings from readers expecting particular content and being disappointed or offended. I can't see myself doing that, but would be interested to know to what degree experienced writers consider reader expectations in their categorisations, tagging and story titles, for instance.

Regardless, it sounds from what you've all said that score bombing is more of a thing than I'd realised and that I should not read too much into it. It would be nice to be able to see an itemisation of scores in addition to the average (which I assume isn't possible) to see the spread, but that would probably just be feeding the geek in me. I might just take your advice instead and get on with my next story .

 

[MelissaBaby]

Without reading your story, I reckon there's your answer. If half your commentary is objecting to the drugging element, those readers don't like it, and they're telling you so. Your concern about writing style and so on is probably irrelevant - some readers don't like your content, it's that simple.

But then, your ratings aren't in fact too bad - other readers do like your story.

You've alienated part of your audience, and satiisfied others. You'te worrying about nothing.

Just write the next story. Try writing a character who can seduce, who doesn't need soporifics .

I have had some negative response to drug use in my stories, even when showing it as a very bad thing. Some people are just uncomfortable with the subject.

Also, some people are just assholes.

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

I'd noticed the occasional author's note to some stories along the lines of "This story contains such-and-such, so please don't read on if..." and wondered if that's writers trying to preempt poor ratings from readers expecting particular content and being disappointed or offended. I can't see myself doing that, but would be interested to know to what degree experienced writers consider reader expectations in their categorisations, tagging and story titles, for instance.

.

Many authors use this A/N to make sure the story gets published. There’s lots of differing opinions on this. But if you’re posting outside of certain categories, like I/T or BDSM, it’s best to include an A/N designed & formatted to your preference (e.g., “This story contains __” or “Please Note: other chapters of this story contain __”) Otherwise, Laurel will likely stick her own editor’s note at the top of your story which may not match with your formatting.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Thanks. That was my instinct too. The drugs aren''t soporific in this case though and are a necessary element in this particular story, to my mind, so either I need to improve the way I write them, or accept I'll alienate readers, if I'm to continue with them.

My advice is to write the story you feel compelled to write, in the way you feel it is best told. Anyone who doesn't like it can ask for their money back.

 

[8letters]

It took me about 3 days to discover it had been published, by which time it had attracted about 50 ratings and an average score of about 4.33, I think. Over the next day or so, it crept up to 4.48, so I got excited by the thought that maybe it's customary for things to start slowly and before long I'd have my first story rated hot. However, when I returned to it the next morning, it had plummeted to 4.32 within a very few additional ratings, much to my disappointment. It has slowly crept up again since and had hit 4.41 on 88 ratings a little while ago. Out of curiosity, I refreshed the page, only to discover it had gone back to 4.38 from just 1 more rating. My maths doesn't stretch to working this one out properly, but I assume that means somebody gave it 2 stars or so, after a fairly long sequence of 5s.

An important thing to learn as an author is that the 2's and the 5's are equally valid votes. Even a great story will hit the occasional person wrong. Too many authors think that people who gave them a 5 are those with discerning tastes, and those who gave them a 1 or 2 are ninja trolls who derive extreme pleasure from lowering the rating of a story.

 

[KeithD]

Laurel will likely stick her own editor’s note at the top of your story which may not match with your formatting.

Has anyone ever had Laurel stick her own editor's note on top of a story? Haven't experienced it. Just checking on whether it actually ever happens.

And I don't believe in defensive author's notes. They zero in on where the criticism can be given. If it's covered in the keywords and other descriptions that should be good enough for adult readers on an adult site. If it isn't, screw 'em--they're going to dump on it anyway.

 

[KeithD]

An important thing to learn as an author is that the 2's and the 5's are equally valid votes.

Oh, I don't think this is true at Literotica with its legions of game players and intentional slammers. I don't think this can go any further than saying "the 2s and 5s can be valid votes."

 

[gordo12]

Has anyone ever had Laurel stick her own editor's note on top of a story? .

Nope, but she did edit a recent story and removed something with a global S&R. It generated a nonsensical line in the story that stood out like a sore thumb. I was pissed, but didn't make an issue of it.

 

[OneAuthor]

Low scores happen, either from those who just feel like one-bombing or from those whose expectations weren't met. Neither can be controlled, so it's best not to worry about it. I focus more on reader comments, the number of folks who favorited my story, and the number who are following me.

Regarding editor's notes from Laurel, I have not seen that with any of my submissions. However, I did see some extra tags added to my most recently published chapter - aside from those I included with the submission. I found that interesting (and pretty cool, actually).

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

Has anyone ever had Laurel stick her own editor's note on top of a story? Haven't experienced it. Just checking on whether it actually ever happens.

And I don't believe in defensive author's notes. They zero in on where the criticism can be given. If it's covered in the keywords and other descriptions that should be good enough for adult readers on an adult site. If it isn't, screw 'em--they're going to dump on it anyway.

I have. Multiple times, even after trying to add the preemptive A/N. Annoying, but less annoying than the editor’s note.

https://www.literotica.com/s/investing-time-ch-02
https://www.literotica.com/s/lamentations-of-psyche-ch-03

I completely agree; I don’t believe in defensive notes.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I have. Multiple times, until I began using my own A/N. Annoying, but less annoying than her editor’s note.

I completely agree; I don’t believe in defensive notes.

Interesting. I don't recall seeing anything that looked like a Laurel note added up front. She's changed tags for my stories several times which was fine, she'd included better tags I'd not thought of. But editorial notes? That's the first time I've heard that. Out of curiosity, what was added?

But content warnings up front? I've only done it once that I remember (to head of stupid comments), and I don't think it made much difference. I assume I have adult followers who can decide by themselves if they don't like it, but catering for marshmallows and the delicate - that's their mother's job, not mine.

EDIT: I've just seen the editor's notes in the links you added. Thanks. That's something new, I think. My guess is Laurel is being more careful to corral incest and non-con into their categories (or leave warnings), in case she has to cut them loose. Blame your nation's puritan backlash/double standard.

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

My guess is Laurel is being more careful to corral incest and non-con into their categories (or leave warnings), in case she has to cut them loose. Blame your nation's puritan backlash/double standard.

Quite puritan. There’s neither non-con nor incest in those chapters.

 

[gunhilltrain]

Interesting. I don't recall seeing anything that looked like a Laurel note added up front. She's changed tags for my stories several times which was fine, she'd included better tags I'd not thought of. But editorial notes? That's the first time I've heard that. Out of curiosity, what was added?

But content warnings up front? I've only done it once that I remember (to head of stupid comments), and I don't think it made much difference. I assume I have adult followers who can decide by themselves if they don't like it, but catering for marshmallows and the delicate - that's their mother's job, not mine.

EDIT: I've just seen the editor's notes in the links you added. Thanks. That's something new, I think. My guess is Laurel is being more careful to corral incest and non-con into their categories (or leave warnings), in case she has to cut them loose. Blame your nation's puritan backlash/double standard.

The note on the mind control story seems odd. One would think that mind control is almost by definition a subset of reluctance/non-consent. I guess there could be a comedy in which the subject of the control goes along with it and is happy with the results.

 

[soulhouse]

Low scores happen, either from those who just feel like one-bombing or from those whose expectations weren't met. Neither can be controlled, so it's best not to worry about it. I focus more on reader comments, the number of folks who favorited my story, and the number who are following me.

That's sensible. I see my story has attracted 2 more favourites overnight, while receiving only one more rating, and that a down-vote, so neither bothered up-voting it, unless one of them simultaneously favourited and down-voted it!

 

[RelentlessOnanism]

That's sensible. I see my story has attracted 2 more favourites overnight, while receiving only one more rating, and that a down-vote, so neither bothered up-voting it, unless one of them simultaneously favourited and down-voted it!

I was also in the middle of something of an existential crisis about the scores for my stories. My first solo story got a very high score (as did an earlier story I had co-written with another author which was 'published' under her name). I was feeling quite cocky and thought I had this erotic storytelling lark down to a fine art. But then none of my subsequent stories have ever scored so highly.

To begin with, I freaked out a little, doing the usual thing of endlessly checking and re-checking my scores, looking for any uptick at all. But, I think I've just now decided that it's a waste of time. All this is subjective and a matter of personal taste. I actually prefer some of my later stories, but the entirely random cross section of readers who marked them (and a totally different group of readers may have read the separate stories) think differently. That's fine, I just have to accept it and move on to my next story.