If you thought so, how would you improve the site?

[cumallday]

Personally, I'd make the 'Novels and Novellas' more specific. I don't want to start reading one and find out its sci-fi, which I don't care for.

 

[drksideofthemoon]

Personally, I'd make the 'Novels and Novellas' more specific. I don't want to start reading one and find out its sci-fi, which I don't care for.

Hmmm, if I improved the site, then I'd have nothing to bitch about...

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Hmmm, if I improved the site, then I'd have nothing to bitch about...

ROFLMAO!!!!!

 

[Stella_Omega]

Personally, I'd make the 'Novels and Novellas' more specific. I don't want to start reading one and find out its sci-fi, which I don't care for.

Do you find yourself compelled to continue reading?

I skim the first page, myself- to see if it's anything I would want to read. If not, I move on.

But a responsible writer would put "Sci Fi" in the description, wouldn't they?

(*edited to add;
It's all too treue that "Novels and Novellas" is a grab-bag. It's all about length, and nothing to do with content.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Personally, I'd make the 'Novels and Novellas' more specific. I don't want to start reading one and find out its sci-fi, which I don't care for.

Purrleese yes. 'Novs and Novs' is a bit of a briar patch. Posts range from half a lit page to more than 20 pages, there is often little clue as to what the genre is and writers change category from one chapter to the next.

For an N&N, can't we have a minimum length of 3 pages - about the size of a book chapter. By the time you start posting Ch. 25, you are only singing to the choir.

What about an abbrieviated set of categories (say - SciFi & Fantasy, Romance, Erotic Couplings, Gay & Lesbian, S&M[including non-consent and non-t/s fetish] and T/s). Book imprints generally stick to these classifications to help readers.

A bit like the blurb on the back of a bookstand paperback, there needs to be a summary introduction to tempt you in to an N&N. Perhaps then they would attract more votes/readers.

The other beef I've got is when I'm happily following an good mainstream erotic romp then it suddenly morphs into some farflung fetish or something. IMHO this is not a novel.

Thanks for the opportunity to vent - rant over.

 

[Lil_Mama]

Look, I'd make a sub-category for Lesbian/Bi BDSM

 

[S-Des]

I hate when authors post endless chapters over long periods of times. When I read a book, every chapter is 10-20 pages and they are all finished before I ever start the damn thing. Half the time, people here write something that I can read in less than 10 minutes, submit it, then a few weeks later decide to write the next chapter. It's a complete waste of my time (and has caused me to ignore all stories like that...good or bad). I would at least archive the stories under one title so, when you were trying to find one in a category, you wouldn't have to wade through 20-50 chapters of something where it appears the author just wants to see their name a bunch of times.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

I hate when authors post endless chapters over long periods of times. When I read a book, every chapter is 10-20 pages and they are all finished before I ever start the damn thing. Half the time, people here write something that I can read in less than 10 minutes, submit it, then a few weeks later decide to write the next chapter. It's a complete waste of my time (and has caused me to ignore all stories like that...good or bad). I would at least archive the stories so when you were trying to find one in a category, you didn't have to wade through 20-50 chapters of something where it appears the author just wants to see their name a bunch of times.

like the Baumgartner's?

 

[Alessia Brio]

I'd set up a "Suggestions" forum as a repository for ideas. The rest is up to Laurel & Manu.

 

[Equinoxe]

I don't have any real complaints about the site, but I do think the categorisation could be improved somewhat by being redesignated, since, at the moment, some of the categories seem overly specific and others overly broad.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I don't have any real complaints about the site, but I do think the categorisation could be improved somewhat by being redesignated, since, at the moment, some of the categories seem overly specific and others overly broad.

Every time Laurel responds to this request she says that the sheer number of stories that would have to be moved makes it impossible. I am sure they spend more time administering this site than they ever expected to- both of them have day jobs.

 

[Equinoxe]

Every time Laurel responds to this request she says that the sheer number of stories that would have to be moved makes it impossible. I am sure they spend more time administering this site than they ever expected to- both of them have day jobs.

I know and for that I don't blame them at all. Not only would it be a momumental task, it would actually probably confuse so many people that, even though it might be easier to navigate in theory, it would actually have the opposite effect, at least in the short term.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I know and for that I don't blame them at all. Not only would it be a momumental task, it would actually probably confuse so many people that, even though it might be easier to navigate in theory, it would actually have the opposite effect, at least in the short term.

And short term is what it's all about...

Damn, I would volunteer to help- and I know my way around php databases.
Anyway, bookmarks wouldn't change. Each story is designated by its own ID number, not by its category.

 

[Equinoxe]

And short term is what it's all about...

Damn, I would volunteer to help- and I know my way around php databases.
Anyway, bookmarks wouldn't change. Each story is designated by its own ID number, not by its category.

Well, no, but it does matter. Especially since people are fickle and if something is perceived as being different and difficult, they may be inclined to look elsewhere. There was much complaining when the boards last changed, but I suppose I don't recall anyone leaving on account of it. People would probably adjust.

Out of curiosity, is there any reason why you couldn't help? Other than presumably not being asked to as of yet. I know nothing of php databases.

The unique IDs would be beneficial to the those that are kept bookmarked and I imagine a number of people do keep certain favourite stories bookmarked—although, considering the occasional "I'm looking for..." threads, perhaps more people should!

 

[hmmnmm]

Really, when you consider all that must be kept up with, and who knows how many PMs Laurel and Manu receive every day, "I need this, I want that. Somebody bombed my story, you should do this, you should do that..."
That among the whole of the work that entails running and maintaining such a site, the constant arrival of new minds and names...

I can't see how anyone could say that much improvement is needed at all.

However, if I were forced to come up with something, it might be in the story categories. Maybe some sort of Experimental Category. You know, "stories, ideas that aren't necessarily in their final form, but the author is interested in pursuing them. What do you think of this so far?"
But on the other hand, the author could add such a disclaimer at the head of their stories anyway.

I say the only improvements necessary are for Laurel and Manu to continue as they are.

 

[shereads]

I still pine for the 'cancel PM' function. As does anyone who sometimes composes PMs while under the influence of Ambien, clicks 'send' and then...OMIGOD. Did I say that? WTF was I thinking?

We used to be able to undo those if we logged back on before our mistakes had been opened and read. Those were the days.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Well, no, but it does matter. Especially since people are fickle and if something is perceived as being different and difficult, they may be inclined to look elsewhere. There was much complaining when the boards last changed, but I suppose I don't recall anyone leaving on account of it. People would probably adjust.

Out of curiosity, is there any reason why you couldn't help? Other than presumably not being asked to as of yet. I know nothing of php databases.

The unique IDs would be beneficial to the those that are kept bookmarked and I imagine a number of people do keep certain favourite stories bookmarked—although, considering the occasional "I'm looking for..." threads, perhaps more people should!

Yeah... And the "loving wives" trolls would be the most vociferous!

The main reason I couldn't help would be; security. Laurel and Manu do not know me, and have no idea if I can do what I say.

On many- including this one- php websites, all of the stuff you are seeing on your computer at home is stored in one or more databases. The pages are generated "on the fly" as they are requested.
The DB's for this site must be gargantuan, and fucking them up would be
I know from booting my entire site more than once- much smaller, but what a nightmare!

 

[Equinoxe]

Yeah... And the "loving wives" trolls would be the most vociferous!

The main reason I couldn't help would be; security. Laurel and Manu do not know me, and have no idea if I can do what I say.

On many- including this one- php websites, all of the stuff you are seeing on your computer at home is stored in one or more databases. The pages are generated "on the fly" as they are requested.
The DB's for this site must be gargantuan, and fucking them up would be
I know from booting my entire site more than once- much smaller, but what a nightmare!

Undoubtedly! Though from what I hear they have very particular tastes for what belongs in the category, so maybe they'd be enthusiastic supporters.

That is very true, the security issue would be prominent; when one is running a site it is important to know exactly who is working on it and what they can do.

With regard to the nature and size of the databases, I should imagine so, just in considering the issues with the site on occasion when it goes down, and how sometimes only certain parts will be dysfunctional and others will functioning perfectly—like yesterday when the board was fine, except the User Control Panel, which wasn't even accessible.

 

[elfin_odalisque]

Surely, though, you could just close a site - say, loving wives - and replace with two new categories, cheating wives and loyal wives?

 

[Stella_Omega]

Surely, though, you could just close a site - say, loving wives - and replace with two new categories, cheating wives and loyal wives?

I think the last time we talked about this we came up with 3 "wives" categories?

And someone wished there were a bisexual section as well. I have to agree with that- lesbian action is percieved as hot, but if two guys begin to get it on in the middle of a group sex story- watch the shitstorm rage!

 

[Guest]

Hmmm, if I improved the site, then I'd have nothing to bitch about...

No one here believes that! LOL

 

[glynndah]

Every time Laurel responds to this request she says that the sheer number of stories that would have to be moved makes it impossible. I am sure they spend more time administering this site than they ever expected to- both of them have day jobs.

What? Free porn isn't enough for them?!

 

[drksideofthemoon]

I hate when authors post endless chapters over long periods of times. When I read a book, every chapter is 10-20 pages and they are all finished before I ever start the damn thing. Half the time, people here write something that I can read in less than 10 minutes, submit it, then a few weeks later decide to write the next chapter. It's a complete waste of my time (and has caused me to ignore all stories like that...good or bad). I would at least archive the stories under one title so, when you were trying to find one in a category, you wouldn't have to wade through 20-50 chapters of something where it appears the author just wants to see their name a bunch of times.

Guilty! Lock me up and haul my sorry ass away. I am one of those of which you speak. In my own defense, I never intended Montana Summer to go more than a couple of chapters, now I'm writing Chapter 14, and there will most assuredly be a 15.

I don't think I could have written this story all in one shot. To date, there are almost 500 pages in MS-Word, and over 250,000 words, my god, that would be near 70 Lit pages.

I can most certainly assure you that my intent was never to see my name a bunch of times. It's just a story that took on a life of its own.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I would create the following subcategories in the Lesbian Sex cat:

Adult Friends - Stories about Adult Friendships that become Relationships
Athletics - Stories involving Athletics, Gyms, Sports, and Athletes
Authoritarian - Stories involving Control, Domination, S&M, and Authority Figures
Battle - Combative Stories
Beginnings - Stories about Budding Relationships between Strangers
Bondage - Stories involving Bondage and Domination
Celebrity - Fantasies about Celebrities, Fan Fiction, Slash Fiction
College - Stories involving Colleges, Universities, and Sororities
Encounters - Stories about Fleeting Encounters and One Night Stands
Hookers - Stories involving Hookers and Prostitutes
Incest - Stories about Relationships among Siblings and other Family Members
Interracial - Stories involving People of Different Ethnicities
Masturbation - Stories about Masturbation and Solitary Exploration
Miscellaneous - Stories without a particular theme
Romance - Stories in the style of Romance Novels
Science Fiction or Fantasy - Stories involving Science Fiction or Fantasy
Urination - Stories in which Urination or Raunch is a Primary Plot Element

I stole the list from the Nifty site. It could be applied to other cats as well, I'm sure. Maybe they could convert that useless story tag function to make it possible to search for stories by category and subcategory.

 

[cumallday]

how about the main page?

The home page to this site is, in my opinion, quite boring. How many years has it been? I'd like to see an upgrade.