Experience: NonCon elements in SciFi/Fantasy category

[ThePracticeShortStories]

Hello everyone,

I want to share my recent experience introducing noncon elements into a series that isn't in the noncon category.

In a previous thread I expressed concern that noncon elements might not be accepted in the SciFi/Fantasy category, but I just submitted part 6 of my "Across Black Seas of Infinity" series and so far it seems to be getting a good reception. The series has some noncon elements and other dark material, but apparently that isn't turning off the category audience.

Interestingly, my earlier cosmic horror series, "The Practice", that was posted to the NonCon category has lower ratings but 10x as many readers. The series definitely deserves the lower ratings, but perhaps NonCon gets a lot more readers than SciFi/Fantasy does?

- TPSS

 

[AwkwardMD]

Sci-Fi has one of the lowest ratios of writers to readers.

 

[ThePracticeShortStories]

Sci-Fi has one of the lowest ratios of writers to readers.

Do you mean that there are few writers and a lot of readers, or vice versa? (Sorry to be dense.)

 

[NotWise]

Readers in SciFi&Fantasy rate stories very high compared to most other categories. As of a few minutes ago, 12 of the 25 stories on the category hub where rated > 4.5 and some were rated 5.00. Scores over 4.8 are common.

By comparison, in the NonCon hub, 2 of the 25 stories rate > 4.5.

Not long after I started reading these forums someone posted a comparison of average scores in all of the categories. It seems like something RejectReality may have done, but I haven't found it. There is a large range in the normal scores in different categories.

 

[CyranoJ]

. . . perhaps NonCon gets a lot more readers than SciFi/Fantasy does?

Yes.

Sorry, maybe I should've mentioned that on the earlier thread but you didn't seem chiefly concerned with size of readership at the time.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Sci-Fi has a moderate number of stories posted to it relative to the other genres, though there are fewer readers. That means that the few that do read have a relatively high volume of material to choose from.

 

[ThePracticeShortStories]

Thanks, I think I understand everything in this thread now

Is there any good way to draw the attention on non-con readers to a story outside their preferred category? "Tags", I guess.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Yes, tags. That's only as effective as readers are at asking a search function for what they really want.

Lit is very divided by it's genre cassification system.

 

[ThePracticeShortStories]

Yes, tags. That's only as effective as readers are at asking a search function for what they really want.

Lit is very divided by it's genre cassification system.

Is it possible/acceptable/advisable to switch categories if suitable? Just do a story edit and request a change?

 

[sr71plt]

Is it possible/acceptable/advisable to switch categories if suitable? Just do a story edit and request a change?

You can try, but Laurel has the last word on where anything is categorized, so you might explain in the notes box why you want the change. You might also give a thought to the added work you are causing. Making your change will cut into the effort that can go to posting submissions by others--mostly by those not fussing around with their submissions like you'd be doing.

 

[Nezhul]

I think it really boils down to what's the predominant thing of your story. Is it more Sci-fi or Noncon? That's what determines the reception.

Basically, Sci-fi readers won't mind a lot of topics that belong in other categories as long as it's stil Sci-fi.