Negative ratings

[Priscilla_June]

I agree with 8letters, except I also think, having scanned your story linked to in the signature line that there are mechanical issues that could be improved to get a better response.

Something 8letters said that I agree with 100% is this: read stories of the type that you like, with high ratings, read them carefully, and figure out why they get high ratings. You can learn a lot from that, even if you don't emulate the stories. I was an avid Literotica reader for about 15 years before I wrote anything, so I knew EXACTLY what I liked and why I liked it, and I've always tried to write that way.

About your story:

1. The category is wrong. This is the first obvious problem. It's published in reluctance/non-con, and it's not a non-con story. The FMC (female main character)'s conduct is voluntary. It sex doesn't even really come across as play non-con. It's more BDSM flavored. If your story does not satisfy the wishes of the readers of the category in which it is posted, it will not do well. My first thought is Loving Wives, since she's married. You will get a much bigger response, but also some negative responses, which might bother you. But you'll also probably get some positive response too.

2. You have significant punctuation mistakes in your story. Periods missing at the end of sentences, commas omitted from lines of dialogue. It feels like you rushed the editing process. You will get dinged for this.

3. The buildup is a little dry. It's a fun concept, but I'd like to see you focus more on her internal motivation and excitement, and less on telling us every single line of text that she's writing for her site.

4. You could use more dialogue, especially between the FMC and her husband. Dialogue is a good way to provide exposition without it seeming like exposition. She and hubby could talk more near the beginning of the story about WHY she wants to do this, and how they both feel about it. That's a key to making this sexy.

5. The sex seemed a bit rushed to me. It could be drawn out a bit more, with some more dialogue, more anticipation, more delving into how she feels. Again, read stories that have sex scenes you really like, and figure out what you like about them, and then use that learning for your own sex scenes.

Keep it up, good luck, and have fun. Remember that it's totally unimportant whether you please everybody. Find your audience and enjoy the process of writing.

Oof thanks Simon for reminding me as well to not flood my story with exposition, I have a bad tendency.

 

[8letters]

That doesn't mean we shouldn't TRY writing other things besides the usual "beats, tropes and expectations."

Otherwise every story here would sound the same.

You can write a unique story that is full of the usual "beats, tropes and expectations." I feel that most of my stories are unlike any story I've read on Literotica, but at the same time, they are full of stuff that the readers of my category like. Beach House Weekend with My Sisters to me is absolutely unique, readers have loved it, and I think they've loved it because it manages to hit them in all the right spots while being unique.

 

[alohadave]

That doesn't mean we shouldn't TRY writing other things besides the usual "beats, tropes and expectations."

Otherwise every story here would sound the same.

True. I'm trying to be a more literary writer in general, but I'll take views as a measure of what readers here like.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Negative ratings are going to happen. I’m new but I get that.

I’ve been through the “bad ratings hurt” arc. I struggled a bit. I even left here for a while, though there were other factors. Let me help you try to avoid the pain.

Write what you want and how you want to write it. Cover what subjects and kinks you want to. Never write what you think some audience wants or expects. That’s formulaic and will come across as fake.

If you were getting paid, then of course pander to your market. But you’re not. It’s lovely to get good ratings, but they are ultimately totally unimportant.

What is important is three things. That you feel you improve a little with each story. That the feedback from other authors is helpful, encouraging, and enables you to grow. That you enjoy what you are doing.

Getting caught up on ratings is a sure path to misery. Trying to write for ratings is a sure path to bland conformity.

You’ll get good and bad ratings. Treat those two imposters just the same.

It took me a while. I hope your journey is shorter.

Em

 

[Djmac1031]

Not saying NOT to use the usual tropes. Hell I have too.

My only point is we need to be careful about limiting ourselves to JUST the tropes in the chase for a bigger audience and higher ratings.

 

[alohadave]

I’ve been through the “bad ratings hurt” arc. I struggled a bit.

This never really goes away IME, I've just learned not to let it get to me too much.

 

[EmilyMiller]

This never really goes away IME, I've just learned not to let it get to me too much.

I tend to take criticism personally. It’s something that can go with ND. But… I can also work out if something is causing me sadness and try to cut it out.

I honestly prize the feedback of authors that I respect much more than anything else. I also appreciate honest feedback on areas for improvement from the same group.

I get it. But try to find a way to reprogram yourself. CBT has helped me in other areas and I kinda self-apply that approach to ratings.

Em

 

[alohadave]

I tend to take criticism personally. It’s something that can go with ND. But… I can also work out if something is causing me sadness and try to cut it out.

I honestly prize the feedback of authors that I respect much more than anything else. I also appreciate honest feedback on areas for improvement from the same group.

I get it. But try to find a way to reprogram yourself. CBT has helped me in other areas and I kinda self-apply that approach to ratings.

Em

I find that closing the page and doing something in the real world helps to put it in perspective. Touching grass, so to speak.

 

[StillStunned]

CBT has helped me in other areas and I kinda self-apply that approach to ratings

I have to ask... cock-and-ball torture?!

 

[EmilyMiller]

I have to ask... cock-and-ball torture?!

Yeah - obviously.

Em

 

[Djmac1031]

Negative ratings are going to happen. I’m new but I get that.

But It hurts when something you’ve done gets knocked in the ratings without any semblance of feedback . It’s obvious when someone gives the lowest rating as it drops so fast. Oh well

If you feel my story is utterly useless at least tell me why xx

To answer your original post; others have already pointed it out but your story First Time is definitely in the wrong category. It should be in Fetish, or maybe even Reviews & Essays since it's more a biography piece than a sex story.

Because there's no actual sex scene. Which is fine, I get what it's supposed to be; an introductory type story.

But your gonna lose points for no sex especially in a category readers expected sex in, and with a description that insinuates sex scenes.

I haven't read My Destruction yet, but a 4.23 isn't a terrible score at all. Anything 4 and over means voters LIKED your story.

 

[StillStunned]

Yeah - obviously.

Em

Well, whatever works, I suppose...

 

[KeithD]

Looking at ratings and comments is unavoidable and often interesting, but are they a side issue or the central ones for you? Ask yourself if you have confidence in your writing and choice of themes and outcomes or not regardless of reception by a changing mix of anonymous strangers reading on a porn story site. If not, maybe it should become one of your resolutions for 2024 to work toward.

 

[AlinaX]

Just add at the end of the story:
My Master has promised to give me a spank for every star I get, so... you know what to do.

 

[CurvyMrs]

Just add at the end of the story:
My Master has promised to give me a spank for every star I get, so... you know what to do.

I’m actually on here directly due to my owners instructions. That is actually truer than you know or might believe.

 

[rthnck]

Haters are gonna hate and there are few stories that have universal appeal. If a story has the moniker "Daddy" in it, I'm out. Not a negative rating, but not my cup of tea. I think most authors here write for themselves in the hopes that their imagery will appeal to others. Some write only for themselves (i.e. SamuelX) and some live and die by ratings. I personally write for myself and share with this site. I enjoy the feedback and comments and criticisms equally. I probably won't change anything (except for editing types of criticisms). Take it or leave it. I hope you take it. After many years, I finally have a new short story in the hopper that I hope to submit shortly and I look forward to the feedback (both positive and negative)

 

[Cagivagurl]

Negative ratings are going to happen. I’m new but I get that.

But It hurts when something you’ve done gets knocked in the ratings without any semblance of feedback . It’s obvious when someone gives the lowest rating as it drops so fast. Oh well

If you feel my story is utterly useless at least tell me why xx

Forget the damn ratings.....
The only important rating is the one you give it....
Questions to answer.
1) Did you enjoy writing it?
2) Are you happy with how it turned out?
3) Were you happy to post it, knowing that not everybody would enjoy it?

If the answer is yes, then you have achieved something wonderful.
You will never please everybody. That's just life.
If you enjoy writing, then write and to hell what others think.

Remember, you're not getting paid for it. You are doing it for fun.

Cagivagurl