How do you rate?

[smutpen]

It seems that rating a story should be much easier than writing one.

But I'm finding it difficult to establish standards I'm comfortable with, specifically because of the erotic element.

I'm curious as to how more experienced members approach this. Compared the criteria you would apply to any story, how important is the arousal factor?

I'm reluctant to downgrade a story because I didn't find it arousing; what excites us can be so idiosyncratic.

And yet this is, primarily, a site dedicated to erotic literature, so I think it should be considered.

Any thoughts?

 

[herecomestherain]

I vote mostly on gut feel, no science to it. I have no established standard as such. I don't compare stories. If I don't enjoy a story, I don't finish reading it and I don't vote on it. If I read and I like it a lot, I vote, usually 4 or 5. It doesn't necessarily have to be arousing for me to enjoy reading it. Generally if it arouses me I will vote and usually leave a public comment. ( Oh and save it to my favourites and read it again and again )

If the story really moves me , I'll vote, leave a comment and send a feedback email to the author. Those are rare. To a large extent it depends what I'm looking for at the time, stroke material, good reading or both. All this goes for poetry too. The are many talented poets writing and posting wonderful work at Lit.

I appreciate any votes, comments and feedback I receive. It's a huge pleasure to know folks read and enjoy something I've written.

Occasionally I'll read a not so well written but nevertheless arousing story where I'm a little torn about voting. Oh the dilemmas of reading porn!

 

[McKenna]

.

 

[Liar]

I think I'm a little bit more critic than McK there. A 4 is a very well written story without any apparent flaws. A 5 is something exceptional that grabs me by the balls and gives me a mental blowjob. Doesn't have to be the erotic part of it, but if the story and storytelling is engaging, that is what counts.

#L

 

[oggbashan]

I agree with McKenna's criteria above except that I tend to judge the story as a story, with no rating change on whether it arouses me or not.

I vote rarely and would not usually vote at all unless I could give a 4 or 5. Anything that I might vote below 3 would not get a comment because the story and/or author is beyond redemption. If it is only the story, and the author has produced a rare lemon, then he/she probably knows that without having it emphasised by a comment.

There is much fine writing here on Literotica, some of which gets bombed because the reader hasn't understood the story or it doesn't appeal to the reader's particular fantasy.

If I were into a sub-set of BDSM, which I'm not, I wouldn't vote down every BDSM story that doesn't meet my particular sub-set, yet from the feedback I get it is apparent that some readers treat Lit authors that way. If you don't ring the right Pavlovian bell then you will get a 1 vote and a derogatory comment. And no, I do not want to write every story about f**king my sister, thank you.

If the story is good but I don't like the subject matter, I will not vote unless the technique deserves a reward.

Og

 

[wishfulthinking]

Nothing rigid like '5 if no spelling mistakes' etc. It is the feel, flow and freshness/originality of a story that really make an impact on me, and determine what I vote. But I only vote 4 or 5, because I don't like to low vote a story that doesn't appeal to me when I know it appeals to others.

I feel like the village idiot when it comes to leaving public comments though - wow, great story, sequel please - is about the extent of my ability. Most times other people have already said it, and much better than I could.

 

[FlyontheWall99]

I'd say I'm pretty liberal with my voting on stories. I probably gravitate more to the top end of the spectrum. I vote solely on feel and enjoyment of the story. Spelling and grammar can sometimes play a part, if I see something which is just sloppily written I will generally hit back and abstain from voting. Otherwise a few errors is no problem and I don't really have a set criteria for rating.

I should say though that I have started a strange habit of checking an author's submission list and if they are a new writer perhaps being more generous. That doesn't mean a bomb an existing writer, but I tend to think as a new writer a little encouragement is what is needed. I found that was what drove me to keep writing when I was new to the scene.

Oh yeah, I also now give feedback to every story I vote. I used to be real lazy about personal feedback. But now I make it a priority before voting .....

 

[smutpen]

Thanks to all.

Time and experience should make me more comfortable.

McKenna, I like your structured approach, at least for now, because it will make me feel like I'm being fair.

Eventually, I'll probably learn to trust my gut...