How do I get people to vote?

[Isabelle Jacqueline]

I am working on a novel and am about 60 pages into it. I've posted the first few sections

http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=276868
http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=273593
http://english.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=276873

The story is about a woman who gets this typewriter. Everytime she writes a letter, she dreams about having sex with the intended recipient of the letter. She doesn't understand the connect between the letters and the dreams. She also doesn't realize that she is living out his fantasies and that he experiences the dreams with her. As she progresses from one letter a day into two, the dreams change into BDSM. They both become so engrossed in the dreams that they become physically involved blurring the barrier between reality and fantasy.

I am pushing myself to finish this story in my spare time. I don't know how long it will be, but I am hoping for over 100 pages. I really want comments, feedback, and votes so I can judge how well it is going. How do I encourage this?

Right now I have 3-6 votes on each section. I have only posted 8 items total on literotica so I don't know what is considered a good rating. Does anyone have comments on that as well.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Not to be flip, but when you figure it out let us know.

I have nothing to complain about, actually, except the abyssmally small response rate per story view that we all experience - my strories run from a .1 percent to a .6 percent rate of votes per view. My stories tend to be long, so readers probably view each several times, meaning the percentages would be higher if calculated on a per-reader basis. Still - how hard is it for a reader to enter a simple vote?

My comments range from three to 35 per story, with the latter a contest story. These get much higher numbers or reads, comments and votes. Much higher numbers of trolls, too, and also sincere votes from readers who are more discriminating, and therefore who grade a bit lower.

I think the problem is that readers just don't appreciate how much those RCVs mean to the authors. It's the only currency with which we are paid, so each payment is priceless. Some authors say they don't care, and write for themselves and the pure joy of creation. A few who say that may even mean it. But the rest of are attention whores, and unashamedly admit it.

I think if readers appreciated how much their RCVs meant to us, they would do more of it. They should be educated and encouraged in this in every way possible. I post the following at the end of all my stories:

If you liked this story please vote, and either leave a public comment or send feedback! Feedback from readers is priceless to me, and is what motivates me to keep writing, so I promise to respond personally to all non-anonymous comments and communications. In fact, whenever you see a story here you especially like, do be generous and write the author to say so. Your praise is the only currency with which the writers are repaid for their work, and it is appreciated more than you can imagine.

 

[rgraham666]

I ask. I put a little blurb at the beginning and the end of the story asking for votes and comments. So far the results have been mixed.

It depends a lot on the category you put the story into. I'm not sure, but I believe that Novels and Novellas doesn't get a lot of reads. Let's face it, most people come to this site to jerk or jill off. So many aren't willing to spend the time to read the many pages of a novel.

Looking through my submissions, the categories I get the most votes and comments on are Romance, BDSM, and NonConsent/Reluctance. My most commented on story though is the one that won last year's Halloween contest.

I also believe it depends on how frequently you put up stories. People who do a story every couple of days garner a readership who tend to vote and comment. Also people who have been submitting for a long time get the same results.

My first story on Lit, which I serialized, got about the same response as yours. I've been here over two years and I notice that my stories are getting more comments over time.

It seems you're doing OK, to me.

Welcome to the AH.

 

[rachlou]

Yes, as has already been said, it does depend on category - my one and only foray (so far) into LW gained 100+ votes in a couple of days, plus 11 PC's. Naturally a fair number of these were trolls and the current score reflects this (3.85!). On average, my stuff gets about 36 ish votes. The higher stuff has had 70 ish over a couple of months, the lowest is 12 votes. I do post fairly regularly however and a few have been reviewed on the AH. I was very lucky in that respect, my first piece was reviewed by Red which probably gained me some speculative readers i might not have had. It takes time for people to find your work and if they like it, they do come back and read new stuff you post. It certainly doesn't do any harm to put a note at the end asking for feedback tho - so try it!

keep plugging away!!

 

[Aurora Black]

Plug your story by posting in the "Plug Your Own Story" thread here in the AH and "New Story Advertisements" in Story Feedback, and carry the link to your latest story (stories) in your signature as you post around.

Welcome to the AH.

 

[NoJo]

Alternatively, post a thread like this one.

 

[Boxlicker101]

This is the note I add after my stories. It helps get votes and comments. I have been doing this for the last couple of years and I get more votes and comments than I did before I included it.

Thank you for reading this story. I hope you had as much fun as Cindy Lou and Brian did. I like writing stories on Literotica, but I like it a lot more when I know that people are reading and enjoying them, and I appreciate it when readers take the time to express their opinions by voting. Like most authors on Literotica, I practically live for feedback from readers, either public comments or email to me. Such feedback, whether praise or criticism, helps me to write more and better stories, and I respond to it whenever I can.

 

[Guest]

Get your name out there, read other people's work and vote and comment on them. Especially authors who have big followings, if you can get there name on a comment for you story, a lot of the time, there readers will read your work also.

Take the time to read the story though, don't just post a comment. And good luck.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Get your name out there, read other people's work and vote and comment on them. Especially authors who have big followings, if you can get there name on a comment for you story, a lot of the time, there readers will read your work also.

Take the time to read the story though, don't just post a comment. And good luck.

Take DK's advice, she's got a huge following!

where is Scouries when you need him, eh? Isn't he the "most popular author on Lit" by vote count?

 

[Guest]

Take DK's advice, she's got a huge following!

where is Scouries when you need him, eh? Isn't he the "most popular author on Lit" by vote count?

Oh yeah, look whose talking Miss 119 Favorites list...

 

[Aurora Black]

How can you tell that, anyway? I have no idea if I'm anyone's favorite, much less 119.

(Sorry for the threadjack, Isabelle.)

 

[Guest]

Sneak peek on the front home page of Lit.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Oh yeah, look whose talking Miss 119 Favorites list...

what!? where!!?

ETA: Oh. There. Wow. Who knew?

ETA again: Hey DK, you beat me by 73, sweetie...

 

[Guest]

Gosh am I the only person anal enough to keep track of it...lol. Check post above, SK. You've been kicking butt and taking names for the past month. Went from 52 to 119 in that time. Well actually, when your Under Mr. Nolan's Bed series was out.

Oh and Isabelle, always remember to thank the people who post comments. They seem to like it a lot.


ETA'd: Shhhh don't tell but I'm after Sarahhh's place. It's my goal in life to knock her down one...lol.

 

[Aurora Black]

Sneak peek on the front home page of Lit.

Funny.

 

[rgraham666]

Sneak peek on the front home page of Lit.

My spot on that list hasn't moved since it went up.

I've got to write more.

 

[Guest]

Take DK's advice, she's got a huge following!

where is Scouries when you need him, eh? Isn't he the "most popular author on Lit" by vote count?

Scouries is posting his stories on another site...

 

[Selena_Kitt]

You've been kicking butt and taking names for the past month. Went from 52 to 119 in that time. Well actually, when your Under Mr. Nolan's Bed series was out.

I never even knew that page existed! I remember something like it ages ago, but could never find it again...

ETA'd: Shhhh don't tell but I'm after Sarahhh's place. It's my goal in life to knock her down one...lol.

a noble and worthy goal!

 

[Guest]

I'm sneaking up on her slowly, don't want her to know what I'm doing, she might flash me or something.

 

[Alex De Kok]

Congratulations, ladies. I'm slightly gobsmacked to find myself even on the list!

Alex

 

[Aurora Black]

I was surprised to find I had as many as I did. Check's in the mail, fellas.

 

[Guest]

I was surprised to find I had as many as I did. Check's in the mail, fellas.

Goodie, cuz you're on my list...lol

 

[Boxlicker101]

I'm on the list too, but so far down on it that it doesn't mean much. I'm tied with Rob and slightly ahead of ADK, though.

 

[Aurora Black]

I wish I hadn't clicked.

 

[Alex De Kok]

I'm on the list too, but so far down on it that it doesn't mean much. I'm tied with Rob and slightly ahead of ADK, though.

Boo! Hiss! (But laughing)

Well done, that man.

Alex