Feedback/voting questions

[slvjenn]

I submitted my first story to literotica and it was posted yesterday.

I was very happy when I got a few "feedback" emails. From the memebers page it says that it's been read over 500 times!

First, is that accurate?

Second, what is the general ratio of reads to votes? I think I only had about 25 votes.

Next, what is the feedback:read ratio? I've only gotten 3 feedbacks.

Is all of that basicly normal? or is something amis?

So far the feedback emails have all just been fluffy "Your story was really hot" and so on..While I like to hear that people enjoyed it, I'd also like to hear what people think I could do to improve it or future stories. How often do people do that? I would assume that is fairly rare since people won't feel comfortable saying bad things. (if you can't say something nice don't say anything at all mentality)

Just some basic questions that if I searched long enough may have been answered in the past. Sorry if that is the case.

Jenn

 

[slvjenn]

hrmm..now the members page says that it's been read 1200+ times...still only 3 feedbacks...

I think I read in here that votes are only done daily..so I guess I should wait till tomorrow to see if that has changed..but I'd think i should see more feedback...no?

 

[Karinthia]

Don't count on ALOT of people participating in the scoring system or giving you feedback. Too many people only lurk and wank. It's a shame, but that's the truth. Most times if you get a "good job" count yourself lucky.

K

 

[ronde]

My experience is that there is little correllation between readership, voters, vote tally, and feedback. It does appear to me that higher numbers of votes do go along with higher feedback, but there are contradictions to this theory even in the few stories I have written.

I believe the number of readers is more a factor of the reader following, if any, a writer has developed and the category in which the story is posted. A story that is good may generate votes and feedback. High vote tallies and high feedback seem to be the result of a story with which people can identify.

Most feedback I get is of the form "I really enjoyed your story". Sometimes I get the "why", but not usually. On my highest rated story, many of people who wrote feedback said it was one of the few times they had bothered to comment, so I think most people just read and enjoy unless something about the story really grabs them.

A few of my stats to demonstrate:

Reads Votes Score Feedback Category

11645 110 4.61 10 Erotic Couplings
6209 177 4.59 30 Romance
1642 26 4.58 0 Non-human

The feedback scores are approximate, but note that the scores are nearly the same for each story.

 

[Singularity]

Reads, Votes, and Feedback

I jot down the total reads, and the votes for my stories every once in a while. Overall, it is pretty consistent for me to see about a 110:1 ratio of reads to votes.

The first story I posted, back in April, has been read (or at least clicked on) 20,000+ times, and I have 179 votes. One of the more recent ones has 11,000 reads and 69 votes. That is about the biggest variation I have seen. Another has 82 votes for 7,000 reads.

Now for feedback, the ratio of votes to emails from readers is about 5-8:1 for me. I have no idea if this is average or not.

Don't be discouraged by the low ratios. I don't think your experience is at all unusual.

Most people who send a feedback note will only do so if they like the story, and most will not be very specific.

If you want feedback from the more erotica-as-literature oriented readers and other authors, this forum is the place to get it. It will be a lot more detailed, and you will get mostly solid, constructive feedback.


Singularity

 

[slvjenn]

wow..thanks for the detailed answers!

I'm just really excited about actually having people read what I write. I have always in the past wrote it, then deleted it after i was done.

I've read and reread it over and over again. Every time I see a mistake or 2 that should have been fixed before it was submitted, but mostly just small typos. I remember one was "lit" instead of "lip"

I'd really love to get more detailed critiques of the story. If anyone who happens to read this has some time and likes stories about bdsm, power exchange etc I'd live to get your opinions...

Other than that, thanks again for the detail in your answers. I appreciate it.

 

[ezgoin]

slvjenn,
Thanks for your story. You would like detailed responses: as a writer, I appreciate that.
I liked your story very much because you approached the BD/SM genre from a different angle: I really liked how both characters were learning as they went, discovering what they wanted. The pre-date ritual (her getting dressed, etc.) was realistically described, with humor. I liked that they were both consenting (not that I can't enjoy a non-consent story, too, but that wasn't what I was looking for in your story). My only criticism: just proofread a little more carefully. I guess since I'm a school teacher, it's just a pet peeve of mine.
I look forward to more chapters of your story. By the way, I also voted!

 

[slvjenn]

ez, thanks for the response. I agree that I should have proofread it better. I think i was just so excited about having people read it I didn't take the time it needed.

I'd love to hear from more people. I'm especially interested in hearing what people think of the first chapter or 2. I've had some people tell me it takes too long to really get started.

I kind of like the details the first part goes into, but I can also see why some people would want to skip that and get right to the meat.

What is your opinion of that?

Thanks again

Jenn

 

[the_bragis]

Welcome

Hi slvjenn,

Welcome.

I think almost every author here suffers from premature publilcation at some time. You can of course resubmit your story if you wish. Check the FAQ page.

Your questions regarding feedback voting etc; well it's a very fickled thing. Heaven knows there has been enough discussion on it around here. Check the threads on the "Authors' Hangout Forum".) Do people vote on how well it's written, or how easy they get off on it? Well the way I look at it is, if it's not well written, your not going to get excited by it are you? ~grinning~

You know, it's kind of interesting, of my stories, two of the higher voted, rated, most viewed are a D/s story about a sub male, and a D/s ponygirl story.. (nothing to do with bestiality by the way) Now, I get lots of nice feedback on the pony story, all from women, but none for the other story. Since the latter has had over 15,000 hits, someone must have an opinion about it surely. Or maybe they just like the title. I don't know.

As a general rule, or aleast as I have found it to be, a story will receive many viewings, and most of it's feedback in the first week.

Ok, i'm going to check out your story now...

Well, have a great day,

Alex

Read me please:[http://literotica.com/stories/story...0&author=the_bragis&Submit=Search+The+Stories]

 

[rennie]

i am knew to writing stories and have so far postd 3 stories in the past couple of weeks. altogether the stories have had about 9,000 hits but i have had no feedback so i should count yourself lucky to have got any at all.

 

[ezgoin]

on getting to the meat

sylvjenn, you asked:
I kind of like the details the first part goes into, but I can also see why some people would want to skip that and get right to the meat.

I LOVE meat (I'm a carnivore), but when I read erotica, in addition to enjoying the meat, I like to know the characters, setting, and the main character's dilemma/problem. Then I can really identify with him/her and get into the fantasy, just like in any writing. Continue to up set your situations so they can be more real to the readers!

 

[slvjenn]

Wow...I just got my first feedback from the *type* of person I really was aiming the story at. Yeah, I knew that the story would be read by mostly men, but I really always thought that the story would be best liked by another submissive woman.

I am quite happy about getting this email. I'd love to post it if people think that would be ok...

I'd take the username out of course...

I'm gonna go read it again

 

[the_bragis]

Rennie,

I would be delighted to read your stories and give you my feedback, for what's it's worth. Some would say not much. I would have read you stories the other day, and I think others would have too, but the links were all messed up, and then I got distracted with something else.

Alex