My Weakest Story is My Most Popular?

[Jessewett]

I'd like to say I'm surprised by that but I'm not, in fact it only confirms my negative view of mass taste. I wrote the first one as a sort of trial effort -- the most banal, least challenging, and quickest to finish -- just to find out about the process of publishing at Literotica. After ten stories, with no desire to further repeat myself, I've likely written my last here. I certainly accept other sexual tastes, consenting adults after all, but would find no joy in pretending to them just for the purpose of writing more stories. But it's been interesting here, sometimes a pleasure. Good luck to everybody...
Yours, Jesse

 

[NotWise]

I hope you find a more accepting outlet for your work.

Yours, Notwise

 

[BelleCanzuto]

whelp, I guess making a post bemoaning the pleibian tastes of the troglodyte horde is as good as way as any to get folks to read your "masterpieces". I'll confess it worked on me.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I'd like to say I'm surprised by that but I'm not, in fact it only confirms my negative view of mass taste. I wrote the first one as a sort of trial effort -- the most banal, least challenging, and quickest to finish -- just to find out about the process of publishing at Literotica. After ten stories, with no desire to further repeat myself, I've likely written my last here. I certainly accept other sexual tastes, consenting adults after all, but would find no joy in pretending to them just for the purpose of writing more stories. But it's been interesting here, sometimes a pleasure. Good luck to everybody...
Yours, Jesse

Okay then.

 

[SamScribble]

There are at least two ways of looking at these things, aren't there? Your view ... and the averaged view of Lit readers who read your stories.

I have posted some cleverly-crafted little tales on Lit (I know they are cleverly-crafted; I cleverly crafted them) and they were lucky to chin the bar at a little over four stars. I have also posted a few 'nothing' tales. They bask in star dust. Does it matter? No, not really.

Write for yourself, Jesse.

 

[Hypoxia]

The saloon door slowly stops swinging. Dust settles behind the trotting nag leaving town. Regulars lean back and resume discussions, washed down with foamy brew. Hey, how about the doings over at the Weatherby spread?

 

[Voboy]

The saloon door slowly stops swinging. Dust settles behind the trotting nag leaving town. Regulars lean back and resume discussions, washed down with foamy brew. Hey, how about the doings over at the Weatherby spread?

I was gonna say.

Does this need its own thread? If Jesse had flounced out of the AH Coffee Shop, it would probably cause much mirth.

Too bad. Missed opportunity.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I'd like to say I'm surprised by that but I'm not, in fact it only confirms my negative view of mass taste. I wrote the first one as a sort of trial effort -- the most banal, least challenging, and quickest to finish -- just to find out about the process of publishing at Literotica. After ten stories, with no desire to further repeat myself, I've likely written my last here. I certainly accept other sexual tastes, consenting adults after all, but would find no joy in pretending to them just for the purpose of writing more stories. But it's been interesting here, sometimes a pleasure. Good luck to everybody...
Yours, Jesse

The view looking up your nose is no more appealing than the view looking down it.

 

[SimonDoom]

I think we need a permanent, one-size-fits-all "This place sucks -- I'm out" thread where all these kinds of posts can go. It could make for some interesting reading.

 

[LexxRuthless]

I think we need a permanent, one-size-fits-all "This place sucks -- I'm out" thread where all these kinds of posts can go. It could make for some interesting reading.

Ooh! With a Cartman meme: "Screw you guys..."

 

[Voboy]

I think we need a permanent, one-size-fits-all "This place sucks -- I'm out" thread where all these kinds of posts can go. It could make for some interesting reading.

Complete with links to the threads they start when they come back.

 

[eroticstoryspinner]

I can see the point. When you've written everything you wanted, you're done.

I also can see the frustration about the better stories not getting the better ratings, but I'm just happy enough to have the opportunity to share my scribbles with others; I'm not writing for the masses, so I don't care too much about their votes (just a little ).

To me, when one story is finished, the next pops up, but when it stops, there is no need to force it. I don't get paid for it, and no-one is depending on my work. Perhaps in time, the urge comes back again and people return to post their new work; that's nothing to be ashamed off, nothing to resent them for.

Hear, hear.

By the way, I am relatively new to AH. Does this kind of flouncing happen often?

 

[KeithD]

Hear, hear.

By the way, I am relatively new to AH. Does this kind of flouncing happen often?

Not often and that one was rather mild, not slamming either the Web site or other authors. I think the responses have been a bit over the top. A perception that the readers don't, as a whole, seem all that sophisticated isn't a revelation, but then, there's no requirement that they be so.

 

[ElectricBlue]

By the way, I am relatively new to AH. Does this kind of flouncing happen often?

Some of the arrivals have been far more spectacular. We had someone a little while back hammer a proclamation to the door like Luther, and some dude who thought he was the next best thing since sliced bread. They were fun, but they're a little lonely back there in the ocean in their little rowing boat.

Most of the departures though, are quieter affairs; writers just fade away.

This bloke though, all done in ten stories? That's quitting before you've begun.

 

[jaF0]

I'd like to say I'm surprised by that but I'm not, in fact it only confirms my negative view of mass taste.

Television convinced me of that years ago. So I turned it off.

 

[HeyAll]

I've always had a similar feeling, which I've come to accept.

Sometimes I'll think, "Yes, this is one of my very best, it'll be a huge hit." Then it becomes a huge hit as expected.

Sometimes I'll think that, then it underperforms and there's less reaction than usual, and I'm suprised.

Other times I think a story will tank, and I'll expect it to, then it becomes a surprise hit.

 

[SamScribble]

Television convinced me of that years ago. So I turned it off.

Reminds me of a New Yorker cartoon from long, long ago. A man and woman are peering from out of the gloom at a bright TV screen. 'When you consider television's awesome power to educate, aren't you glad it doesn't?'

 

[eroticstoryspinner]

Some of the arrivals have been far more spectacular. We had someone a little while back hammer a proclamation to the door like Luther, and some dude who thought he was the next best thing since sliced bread. They were fun, but they're a little lonely back there in the ocean in their little rowing boat.

Most of the departures though, are quieter affairs; writers just fade away.

This bloke though, all done in ten stories? That's quitting before you've begun.

Thanks or the information. I was kind of thinking that ten stories is really only starting, hardly time to throw in the towel.

 

[NotWise]

Thanks or the information. I was kind of thinking that ten stories is really only starting, hardly time to throw in the towel.

Some writers come here with a strong belief in their own abilities, and it's hard for them to handle readers' reactions that don't match their expectations.

I looked at a couple of his stories and they seemed to be fairly well-written, though I didn't read enough to say whether they were well-constructed stories. The problem I see is that Jessewett is a pee fetishist, and writes (and wants) dominant female characters. His stories are published in BDSM and E&V, so they probably don't have much of a chance.

It's possible that his highest-rated, weakest story was the one in which he developed those fetishes the least.

 

[colddiesel]

I read chunks out of 5 of the ten stories. Thematically they are all very similar and I don't think that any one of them is any better or worse, weaker or stronger, than others. I don't think it would be helpful to comment further on the quality of the writing.

The only interesting point I could observe, is that despite the similarity of the stories, the scores and reactions to them from the readership were quite sharply varied. Dunno why?

He might have done better posting them in Fetish. I suspect that the pee thing puts a few folk off.

 

[BelleCanzuto]

Some writers come here with a strong belief in their own abilities, and it's hard for them to handle readers' reactions that don't match their expectations.

I looked at a couple of his stories and they seemed to be fairly well-written, though I didn't read enough to say whether they were well-constructed stories. The problem I see is that Jessewett is a pee fetishist, and writes (and wants) dominant female characters. His stories are published in BDSM and E&V, so they probably don't have much of a chance.

It's possible that his highest-rated, weakest story was the one in which he developed those fetishes the least.

I read one of Jesse's most recent stories, in the BDSM category. (The title is something about palaces and pleasure, but I can't remember it exactly). I didn't find it well constructed or all that interesting. In addition, it's not really a BDSM story, the only actual sex acts described are with unwilling partners, one of whom is characterized as mentally disabled. I thought it should have more accurately be in NonCon.

Other than that, there's a lot of references to pissing, but that isn't even elaborated on well enough to be a hook for someone who's into that (imho).

I grant that there weren't major errors in spelling or grammar, and he has a decent vocabulary.

 

[SimonDoom]

I didn't read the stories and can't compare them, but a big factor in ratings is whether the stories meet or don't meet the expectations of readers based upon what category they're published in. It has nothing to do with "mass taste." It has to do with the very peculiar tastes of specific reader groups. Many readers don't like pee stories, so if you publish stories about pee in a category other than fetish there's a big risk of getting some disapproval no matter how well written the story is.

I think what some Literotica authors (in my opinion, foolishly) forget is that the readership here is much bigger than that on most erotic story sites. The chances are that, regardless of what score you get, you will get more appreciative readers here than on other sites. To me it seems like a small price to pay that you might get a lower score (because you pick up some readers who don't like your story) to know that you have many more readers who like your story than you would on another site. If you don't like mass taste, then ignore it, and focus on reaching out to those who appreciate your stories.

 

[A_Little_Show]

Hear, hear.

By the way, I am relatively new to AH. Does this kind of flouncing happen often?

Full disclosure: I did this. My stories all date from 2013/14, and 2019. I was gone for 5 years. My reasons were slightly different though. I can probably dig up the old thread about it and post a link if anyone cares. I probably have the PMs too.

 

[blozo]

I'm outta here.

The doctor started me on antipsychotics and I'm no longer warped enough to write a decent story.
It's been fun!


Just kidding. It's golf season. I'll be back when it gets cold outside.

 

[Athalia]

I can see the point. When you've written everything you wanted, you're done.

I also can see the frustration about the better stories not getting the better ratings, but I'm just happy enough to have the opportunity to share my scribbles with others; I'm not writing for the masses, so I don't care too much about their votes (just a little ).

My sentiments as well. For a while, I had a lot of stories to tell, and was posting regularly. Now I may submit one story a year, if that. If the story isn't there, I don't grieve, as I'm not getting paid for them, anyway. Since part of my real job is writing, and deadlines loom, I enjoy the freedom to not write if I don't feel like it.

And, as I've said elsewhere, I write for my own pleasure, and for others who happen to enjoy my take on eroticism. I like the high scores and positive comments when I get them, but I won't bend my storytelling to attempt to garner a bigger audience.