Got a question.

[Sunnie]

How do you decide what stories you're going to read? There are so many available portals to stories, how do you pick which avenue to take?

Me, I look at the newest submissions and usually don't read stories unless they're rated 3.5 or higher. Then I look at the Feedback Portal to see what's been most popular recently, and I look at the story to see why.

 

[minsue]

I'm pretty random. Sometimes I'll scan the new stories to see if something catches my eye. Often I'll do the same in a category I like.

I must admit, though, that I re-read old favorites more than anything.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

How do you decide what stories you're going to read? There are so many available portals to stories, how do you pick which avenue to take?

Me, I look at the newest submissions and usually don't read stories unless they're rated 3.5 or higher. Then I look at the Feedback Portal to see what's been most popular recently, and I look at the story to see why.

I gnerally just pick the cat I have a fancy for and then browse the tile and blurbs till something catches my eye. It's not very scientific, but youhappen onto a gem occasionally that makes it all the back clikcing worthwhile

 

[Sunnie]

What about increasing the traffic to your own stories? How do you go about that?

 

[rgraham666]

I go to the New page.

First I look for authours I know.

Then I look for category.

Then I check for H's

Oh yes, I also check the story description. Since very often, the story description is badly spelled, has poor grammar and says this story has been written 1,000 times before, I'll skip it.

 

[rgraham666]

What about increasing the traffic to your own stories? How do you go about that?

The best way is to write good stories. You gain a fan base.

My latest story has six times as many reads as my first.

 

[Bridget69]

I'll usually just skim through the new submissions first, then I'll go through whichever category I like best.

 

[Belegon]

lately I am just trying to keep up with the Author's I already know and respect...other than that I am pretty random.

 

[ChilledVodkaIV]

What about increasing the traffic to your own stories? How do you go about that?

Write better stories.

VIV C

 

[Sunnie]

Write better stories.

VIV C

OK, apart from that... lol. The hits on my Teacher's Pet chapters seem to be getting lower as the chapters go on... I couldn't be getting WORSE could I? lol.

 

[rgraham666]

OK, apart from that... lol. The hits on my Teacher's Pet chapters seem to be getting lower as the chapters go on... I couldn't be getting WORSE could I? lol.

I don't think Lit lends itself well to stories in chapters.

The people who read and liked the first chapter may not be around long enough to read the rest.

My first story was written as a longer piece, but I broke it up into four parts. That was a mistake in hindsight. A few people stuck around for the whole thing, not many though.

 

[MLyons]

How do you decide what stories you're going to read? There are so many available portals to stories, how do you pick which avenue to take?

I wish there were an easy way to do this. To me, red "H"'s are not a very good indicator of a whether I will like a story or not. My tastes are sometimes out of the norm, which I suppose is why I have to write my OWN stories, so that I can cater to my own individual ideas of what's sexy. When it comes to my favorite erotic stories on Literotica, I've found them in different ways. One was found on the recommendation of someone else. One was found on a random search through the BDSM category, truly by pure dumb luck. Others I've found because of my interactions with other authors on the Story Discussion Circle.

There are so many stories on the site, and so many of them are so very much alike, that it's very hard to find one that really works for me given the tools that Literotica has in place to search for them. I wish Lit incorporated story codes somehow--that MIGHT help. I don't know.

I'm all for the free exchange of stories, and the idea that everyone comes to Lit to read and write for different reasons and purposes. However, I do heartily wish sometimes that people would pour their heart into perfecting ONE story, instead of making only half-hearted attempts at writing many stories. I'm not talking about grammar and spelling, I'm talking about pure passion--trying to write the very best story you can.

My tendency is to follow authors who aren't as prolific as they are focused on creating a very special story, even if it takes a long time. The effort and care that goes into their work shows in the finished product. I also most enjoy authors who are fearless above all else--who aren't afraid to go places that might make them and others uncomfortable.

This may be sacrilege, but most of my very favorite erotic stories of all time are not hosted on Literotica at all.

So to answer the question... It's hard. It's very very hard. I know I'm missing a lot of good stuff, but there's just no easy way to single out the one story that I'd absolutely LOVE from the thousands that would bore me to tears. I just plod along, reading away and relying on friends and good old dumb luck to guide me.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

One of the things you can do to try and attract more attention is to use a grabby, splashy title.

I know, this is easier said than done, and I'm no better at thinking up titles than anyone else. But which would you rather read: "Amanda"? Or "Flying Saucer Underpants"?

So what I try to do now is just really go over the top with titles on the theory that too much is not enough. Better "Choked On Flaming Balls Of Passion" than just"Jennifer, Part 6" or "A Birthday Surprise".

---dr.M.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

... which would you rather read: "Amanda"? Or "Flying Saucer Underpants"?...

So what if your heroine is named Amanda, but your story contains no mention of flying saucers or underpants?

 

[OldScotlandYard]

pervs, you are all nicked!

 

[oggbashan]

So what if your heroine is named Amanda, but your story contains no mention of flying saucers or underpants?

You get down rated for disappointing the audience, as I have been with 'The Stag Party' and 'The Hen Party'. My descriptions for those don't match what I deliver.

I should edit and resubmit those two.

An unusual title sometimes works. 'Hedgehog Feud' got attention.

Og

 

[Colleen Thomas]

OK, apart from that... lol. The hits on my Teacher's Pet chapters seem to be getting lower as the chapters go on... I couldn't be getting WORSE could I? lol.

No matter how good the story, your views will go down with each chapter. You have to think of it this way, if 1000 people read the first one and it's good perhaps 3/4 of them will read the second. And so it goes, with each chapter you stand to loose some of the original readers if it goes in a direction they don't like or if they stop coming to lit or what have you.

Conversely each chapter will pick up fewer random reads. Most people won't read chapter 3 first. And most stroke readers won't open a long series as they are just looking for a quick bit of help getting off.

If you carry half the numbers of reads into the final chapter, you should consider it a major accomplishmnet. In my ecperience, though, the PC's and feedback go up with each chapter.

-Colly

 

[Lisa Denton]

You get down rated for disappointing the audience, as I have been with 'The Stag Party' and 'The Hen Party'. My descriptions for those don't match what I deliver.

I should edit and resubmit those two.

An unusual title sometimes works. 'Hedgehog Feud' got attention.

Og

Hedgehog Feud? I didn't even know you did any beastiality stories Og. Maybe if its all hedgehogs and no humans its not beastiality. (?) I dunno, that is probably a question for the deep thinkers cause I don't know much about hedgehog sex with or without humans. Heck, I dunno even what a hedgehog looks like, kinda hoggish I would assume.

I read stories just by bouncing around in my favorite categories mostly (sorry Og I never even look in the hedgehog category) but I have seen some I liked just from people PMing or e-mailing me and saying will you look at this.

 

[rgraham666]

Actually Lisa, hedgehogs are rather cute little animals.

 

[gauchecritic]

Actually Lisa, hedgehogs are rather cute little animals.

But the ones on that site had been in makeup for 6 hours before the shoot.

Gauche

 

[Lisa Denton]

Actually Lisa, hedgehogs are rather cute little animals.

Yhanks for the pics but Eeeeeeeeeeuw!!!!!

Rg thanks for that link, you are a nice person and I like your posts and you seem intelligent but, well I'm trying to find a nice way of saying if you think that is cute then you are one sick puppy. It looked like a deformed mouse. I am going to start looking on bacon labels to make sure I don't get any made from hedgehogs.

Og, I am really surprised at you, first I find out you are doing sex with farm animal stories, (which is a category I never would look at) then I find out you picked the ugliest farm animal in the world.
Thank goodness we don't have any hedgehogs on texas farms, that must be like one of those european type farm animals or something. Anywho, it is ugly, I will continue reading your other stories which I like but I am not going to look at an erotic story about hedgehogs, Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeuw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Guest]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeuw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lisa, honey, for a Texicanista you've acquired an odd perception of cute. Just saying. - Mum

Texas hedgehog: http://www.bastroplibrary.org/txreading02/armadillo.jpg

 

[Lisa Denton]

Lisa, honey, for a Texicanista you've acquired an odd perception of cute. Just saying. - Mum

Texas hedgehog: http://www.bastroplibrary.org/txreading02/armadillo.jpg

Mum, armadillos ARE cute, well, maybe not the smushed ones on the highway.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

Mum, armadillos ARE cute, well, maybe not the smushed ones on the highway.

Speaking of Eeeeeeeeeuw!

 

[Lisa Denton]

Speaking of Eeeeeeeeeuw!

Hi lil duckie!!! How do you decide what stories to read? Seen any steamy duck tales recently?