I need feedback please

[AchtungNight]

My stories have suffered lately. "Running Down a Dream" had a 5, then both votes vanished. I am pretty sure that the only person who voted on "Passion Ch.4" (it has a 5 too) was my editor, though I will not confirm it. I know my stories are getting read, but are they being enjoyed? I don't hear from readers as often as I would like.

So I am opening this thread in hopes people will be prompted to look again or for the first time at my stories and give some feedback. I want honest appreciation, constructive criticism, whatever folks want to give as long as it's respectful.

Some things about my stories that aren't in the description field:

The "Passion of Erika Christensen" chapters are connected but each is stand alone. You don't have to read one to fully enjoy the rest. Each chapter takes a significant experience in Erika's life and covers it from the standpoint of my fictional universe.

Passion Ch.1- Erika's sexual awakening, loss of virginity.
Ch.2- Erika's first swinging experience with Benicio del Toro.
Ch.3- Erika's first bisexual experiences with Busy Phillips, Geena Davis, Katherine Heigl, & Alicia Witt.
Ch.4- Erika, a rebellious follower of Scientology, picks up a moderate Scientology Internet critic in a bar. Neither knows what the other is. What will happen when they find out? Kate & Sarah Hudson guest star as Erika's gal pals.
Ch.5 (forthcoming, early next year)- Erika is asked to save Tom Cruise's marriage. How will she do it and will Tom and Katie appreciate her efforts?

"The Rendezvous" (Erika bonds with Keri Russell, Evan Rachel Wood & Alicia Witt while making "Upside of Anger") and "Rekindled" (Erika seduces Scarlett Johansson in the past and present) are connected to "Passion". They could also use some votes and reviews, as could all my stories.

I will be releasing a new story called "Counseling" this weekend. It reunites Erika with Evan and pits her against misunderstanding (Marilyn Manson), corrupt papparazzi, and serious evil (the dark Scientology cleric Jessica Feshbach). Like "Rendezvous" and "Rekindled", "Counseling" covers the years between "Passion" Chapters 4 and 5.

Many of my other stories are connected to the same fictional universe (Erika has small roles in "Inside Out" and the ever popular "Fear, Lust & Vanity"), but none of them really depends on the others. I hope people will realize that. I will take any feedback given. I recognize that the topics about which I write are often risky and unpopular. To me, that is part of their appeal. You don't need to point it out to me. I just want people to enjoy the results of my creative sparks.

 

[AchtungNight]

There are links in my signature if anyone needs them. Thanks.

Link here also for those who have sigs turned off: http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=688894&page=submissions

 

[ellynei]

My stories have suffered lately. "Running Down a Dream" had a 5, then both votes vanished. I am pretty sure that the only person who voted on "Passion Ch.4" (it has a 5 too) was my editor, though I will not confirm it. I know my stories are getting read, but are they being enjoyed? I don't hear from readers as often as I would like.

What you say here gives me the impression that you don't have many readers/voters.

As you said, this is the genre you want to write in, this is the type of stories you want to make. I don't know how large the readership is for the genre. Two votes sounded so low...


The best piece of advice I can offer, given your speech of the goals of your writing, is to cut the standard text you place before each submission to a tenth of the word size, so new readers don't stop reading before they even start reading.


Second best piece of advice, from the very beginning of the story, give them a reason to keep reading, a feel of a promise that along the way this will get erotic/thrilling/exciting.


Other than that, I must have to say I don't understand the appeal of the genre as a category in itself, so I cannot give you further advice on how to build a reader base. I have no idea what the readers you are aiming for would want, so I cannot tell you what you do wrong for them.

 

[poppy_cock]

I have to say I don't understand the appeal of the genre as a category in itself, so I cannot give you further advice on how to build a reader base. I have no idea what the readers you are aiming for would want, so I cannot tell you what you do wrong for them.

Yep, it's the category that's the problem. Even looking at the top list for the 'Celebrities' category, there are very few stories there with more than 50 votes.

The thing is, you write well. The dialogue's nicely done, the descriptions are good. So why do you confine yourself to stories about celebrities? Have you never considered creating your own characters?

The trouble with 'Celebrities' is that you have to want to read a story about that celebrity in the first place. Many of us either don't know who the celebrities are, or find that the particular individual being written about simply doesn't turn us on. I have to confess that I don't actually know who Erika Christenson is. Though maybe I should...

I think you could do a great job of writing stories using your own characters, you know. If the thought of characterisation fills you with dread, cheat! Use the celebs you're already writing about but change the names, change the famous settings. Try an erotic couplings story for a change and see how that flies. I have a feeling you'd pick up a lot more votes and comments that way.

Go on, give it a whirl...

 

[AchtungNight]

Thanks, y'all. I'll try it after I finish my Celebrity series with "Free Katie". (aka "Passion Ch.5")

 

[AchtungNight]

Update: "Counseling" Ch.1 is now posted on Lit. Thanks, Laurel. Thanks also to my editor. I hope the other chapters will follow soon. I have stories about original characters in the pipeline and "Free Katie" almost ready for the editor.

Happy Holidays, y'all. - AN

http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=688894&page=submissions