Choosing a story to read

[hairyhead]

How do people decide which story to invest time in and actually read?

My process has been fine tuned over the years I have been exploring Literotica but I still choose some which are not that great.

I have my goto topics - Loving Wives, First Time, E & V, Erotic Coupling. I also have my never touch topics - Gay Male, Taboo/Incest, BDSM, Transgender.

I'll start with the list of new submissions. Then I look at the title and if it suggests, to me, that there is a story to be read I will then look at the author's profile. Once in the profile I'll look at the topics he/she covers and then look at how their stories are rated. If they regularly rate below 3.5 I will, generally, go elsewhere except I may still look at the new story which attracted me in the first place. If it starts with a good introduction I may stay but if it's not to my liking I'll simply go back to the new submissions list.

If the author has a good general rating I'll Follow and then explore the rest of their stories ignoring any which fall under my "never touch" list of topics.

If I find a theme within a story I will, sometimes, then search for that theme and try other authors who incorporate it in their stories.

There are some fantastic stories here and I really appreciate the effort put in by the authors. There is also a lot of poorly written stuff and whilst people need feedback to improve there are some people who, despite feedback, guidance and suggestions, will never produce something worth reading.

 

[UnexpectedLuggage]

I'll usually pop into the categories that interest me and browse through the latest postings. Anything that has a chapter number I tend to avoid, and descriptions help a lot.

That said, I feel like a lot of stories lose me pretty quick for a variety of reasons: no build up or character development, everyone being built like generic porn stars (no, I don't need every girl in a story to have E cups tits, thanks), or just a total lack of detail in the writing.

But when I find something good, they can certainly hook me.

 

[hairyhead]

Completely agree.

 

[Brains_N_Boobs]

Choose wisely my friend!


https://www.literotica.com/s/attorney-cum-laude

 

[Shaglus_Ziegler]

How do people decide which story to invest time in and actually read?

My process has been fine tuned over the years I have been exploring Literotica but I still choose some which are not that great.

I have my goto topics - Loving Wives, First Time, E & V, Erotic Coupling. I also have my never touch topics - Gay Male, Taboo/Incest, BDSM, Transgender.

I'll start with the list of new submissions. Then I look at the title and if it suggests, to me, that there is a story to be read I will then look at the author's profile. Once in the profile I'll look at the topics he/she covers and then look at how their stories are rated. If they regularly rate below 3.5 I will, generally, go elsewhere except I may still look at the new story which attracted me in the first place. If it starts with a good introduction I may stay but if it's not to my liking I'll simply go back to the new submissions list.

If the author has a good general rating I'll Follow and then explore the rest of their stories ignoring any which fall under my "never touch" list of topics.

If I find a theme within a story I will, sometimes, then search for that theme and try other authors who incorporate it in their stories.

There are some fantastic stories here and I really appreciate the effort put in by the authors. There is also a lot of poorly written stuff and whilst people need feedback to improve there are some people who, despite feedback, guidance and suggestions, will never produce something worth reading.

I just look for titles that intrigue me. Sometimes hit gold usually not. Check some of mine!

 

[AG31]

I've tried several approaches, without much success in any. I have very narrow tastes. I started out skimming the new stories in my favorite category, but that led nowhere. My latest planned approach is to look at the favorites of people who have favorited me, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[dirk2024]

One thing to look for is the Story Tags an author may use to help potential readers find their stories when performing a search. See the image below, this is what you'll see when you first open a story. Click on the second image from the left (the one circled in red below). When you click on it, the tags will show. (next image down). Some authors either don't use tags or forget to insert them when they submit for publishing. But it helps me when I am deciding on whether or not to read a story. Some authors get...quite "creative" with their tags. They insert words or phrases that no one is going to use to in a search field. Oh well.

Story tags might also offer words that would be red flags for you, stories to avoid.

 

[StillStunned]

There are some fantastic stories here and I really appreciate the effort put in by the authors. There is also a lot of poorly written stuff and whilst people need feedback to improve there are some people who, despite feedback, guidance and suggestions, will never produce something worth reading.

I'm probably one of the more vocal posters in the Authors' Hangout, and I spend a lot of time going on about "the craft".

But not every writer here feels the same way, and nor does every reader. For a lot of people, it's enough for a story to present a premise that turns them on, and lists the acts and dialogue that move the action forward through the scene. Those writers and readers are happy, from what I can tell, to picture what's happening and fill in the details for themselves.

A sort of written description of a porn clip, as it were. To me, it's not erotica, but for thousands of writers and readers it's all they want from a story.