Ouch, a 1... [gay male sex category] what am I doing wrong?

[JasonClearwater]

So, I've noticed that after managing to keep respectable ratings, I'm starting to drop as I go on, with the first rating on my latest entry a 1. I respect people's opinions... I just wish I understood why that's started happening.

Too much story? Was the sex unsexy? Didn't meet expectations? It's quite painful watching your *cough* art get voted down so harshly. I know, I know, don't be so thin-skinned, if you put it out there, expect critique... but recovering from a 1 at the rate at which people vote vs the rate they view, means it's going to sit in the crap pile for a long time, even if it should be closer to average. Which means fewer views, which is fewer chances to prove itself.

Why do people do that? I'm careful with my grammar, I try and place things in the right categories. But the last three things I've put up have all started with one or two really low ratings before they've started to climb back up. Do people troll deliberately or what?

When I read something, if it's not my thing but it's well written, I just move on. I don't get penalising people for writing something you personally didn't enjoy, unless it really was badly written or horrible in some way.

Anyone who's into the category if you could give me some feedback on where you think I'm going wrong and PM me if you don't want to post here, it'd be greatly appreciated.

https://www.literotica.com/s/nates-evil-exploits-pt-07

Needily yours,

JC

 

[SimonDoom]

You didn't do anything wrong. It's very common for trolls to lie in wait and 1-bomb stories when they first are published. A lot of authors experience this. After a while the trolls go away and the the story's score recovers as other readers vote.

Your story crosses categories, as well, and some readers who like the nonconsent part won't like the gay male part. Lit readers can be picky and punishing if your story doesn't meet the needs of their own kinks. It's not a reflection of anything wrong you've done in your story.

 

[holliday1960]

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[JasonClearwater]

Thanks for replying... I don't know why I thought this forum would be immune from trolls. Picking a category is always hard. I've also noticed that gay non-con doesn't do too well in the standard non-con category. Well, mine at least.

 

[JasonClearwater]

JC, your PM's are not open in Control Panel options. If you want feedback, you should allow messages.

I read the chapter just posted, not the entire series...this is not a category I am familiar with, but I see nothing wrong with your technical skills. The things I can tell you are that the down-votes happen with everyone, but especially with new writers. You have to be patient, and sometimes that means several months of being patient.

You have to keep writing consistently to build a regular fan-base. You cannot expect others to just "move on" here on Lit. It doesnt work that way, unfortunately, so you have to wait until the sweeps remove any 'unfair' votes on your behalf. If you want more feedback open your PM box in your CP options. Cheer up...things do get better.

Hey holliday1960, still coming to grips with the forum... and how to reply to individuals it seems. I've got PM turned on now. I just assumed it was on by default. I am a little disgusted with my own need for validation. Still can't help wanting it.

 

[AwkwardMD]

Everyone reading this thread, in this forum, is sympathetic about not getting as much feedback as we think we should, or different feedback from what we thibk we should.

 

[JasonClearwater]

Everyone reading this thread, in this forum, is sympathetic about not getting as much feedback as we think we should, or different feedback from what we thibk we should.

It's just so hard to improve without any feedback. I mean, no one owes the writers feedback, much less positive feedback, but God it makes a difference.

 

[ChloeTzang]

It's just so hard to improve without any feedback. I mean, no one owes the writers feedback, much less positive feedback, but God it makes a difference.

No kidding. As far as feedback goes, you'll get ratings, including those from the trolls, and you'll get the odd comment. I average one comment for every thousand views and around one vote per hundred views but there's wide variations on that for all of us. But you've come to the right place for a few sympathetic ears anyhow and good on you for that. I was writing on LIT for months before I discovered this haven from the real world.

 

[SimonDoom]

It's just so hard to improve without any feedback. I mean, no one owes the writers feedback, much less positive feedback, but God it makes a difference.

You might try the story feedback forum. Or if you want feedback on topics relating to writing and authorship in general you can pose questions here. Feedback to stories through comments is very hit or miss. I feel that comments, taken collectively and over time, are helpful, but it's rare to get an individual comment that offers valuable constructive criticism.

 

[lovecraft68]

What you're doing wrong is worrying about the score

 

[holliday1960]

.....

 

[lovecraft68]

Don't you wish you had a nickle for every time you've tried to explain this? To someone new, scores are everything...until they realize they aren't.

True and it's too bad because a lot of people taking them seriously get discouraged by them and stop putting things up.

But I guess it's growing pains and everyone has to realize in their own time how meaningless most of the numbers are

 

[sr71plt]

I think what you're doing wrong is reacting precipitously. The chapter only went up today. As others have posted, there are vote zappers roaming around giving 1s and 2s to anything that pops up. The rate is up to 4.00. You just are being impatient. Of course now that you've come to the forum to complain about it, there's another form of vote zappers who might be visiting your story. (I didn't look at the content as it's seven chapters into your story. There may be nothing wrong with the content; the voting doesn't always have anything to do with the content of a story).

 

[ChloeTzang]

I think what you're doing wrong is reacting precipitously. The chapter only went up today. As others have posted, there are vote zappers roaming around giving 1s and 2s to anything that pops up. The rate is up to 4.00. You just are being impatient. Of course now that you've come to the forum to complain about it, there's another form of vote zappers who might be visiting your story. (I didn't look at the content as it's seven chapters into your story. There may be nothing wrong with the content; the voting doesn't always have anything to do with the content of a story).

You are so right. When I started here I was like Jason, checking my story, the views, the scores. Every 5 minutes. Like that contest a while ago with that little table. Lol. Now? Maybe I'll take a look once a week or so. One learns.

 

[holliday1960]

.....

 

[sr71plt]

Absolutely. After 958 stories, I only check about twelve times a day.

 

[holliday1960]

.....

 

[Areala-chan]

So, I've noticed that after managing to keep respectable ratings, I'm starting to drop as I go on, with the first rating on my latest entry a 1. I respect people's opinions... I just wish I understood why that's started happening.

Too much story? Was the sex unsexy? Didn't meet expectations? It's quite painful watching your *cough* art get voted down so harshly. I know, I know, don't be so thin-skinned, if you put it out there, expect critique... but recovering from a 1 at the rate at which people vote vs the rate they view, means it's going to sit in the crap pile for a long time, even if it should be closer to average. Which means fewer views, which is fewer chances to prove itself.

Why do people do that? I'm careful with my grammar, I try and place things in the right categories. But the last three things I've put up have all started with one or two really low ratings before they've started to climb back up. Do people troll deliberately or what?

When I read something, if it's not my thing but it's well written, I just move on. I don't get penalising people for writing something you personally didn't enjoy, unless it really was badly written or horrible in some way.

Anyone who's into the category if you could give me some feedback on where you think I'm going wrong and PM me if you don't want to post here, it'd be greatly appreciated.

https://www.literotica.com/s/nates-evil-exploits-pt-07

Needily yours,

JC

Some categories are just rife with busybodies with nothing better to do than 1-vote every fetish they don't agree with (Gay Male, Incest/Taboo, and Loving Wives seem to be the kingpins, but you'll find trolls under every bridge). It sucks, but you'll see the scores rebound and balance out in a couple of weeks.

 

[holliday1960]

.....

 

[sr71plt]

I went from GM to Lesbian to Erotic Coupling to GM to Group Sex across the chapters with "Tuscan Twilight" and managed it without slamming comments that I can remember.

 

[holliday1960]

.....

 

[sr71plt]

it takes guts to do that.

Thanks for noticing that. I wrote that series precisely in search for an indication that something that wasn't safe, formula pablum could get affirmation here--and although, over time, the ratings have been whittled down, I was gratified that it initially was recognized as innovative and was given four green Es (so the editor, at least, noticed it was laying down an anti-pablum gauntlet here).

 

[lovecraft68]

Thanks for noticing that. I wrote that series precisely in search for an indication that something that wasn't safe, formula pablum could get affirmation here--and although, over time, the ratings have been whittled down, I was gratified that it initially was recognized as innovative and was given four green Es (so the editor, at least, noticed it was laying down an anti-pablum gauntlet here).

That whole going against the grain and not writing pablum. I did that with my SWB incest series. It sounds more arrogant than I intend it, but I will tell you there is no other series like it here. It set a standard for darkness ina category that's mostly "yay family fucking"

Interesting that throughout all the dark depressing content what seemed to turn people off the most was mixing hardcore BDSM sex with incest. I got comments like "That is no way to treat your sister"

Score wise? A success, all H's many 4.8+ but....at the time maybe 75 votes a chapter while 'look mom has tits' was getting a 1000 from other authors.

But I didn't let it affect me. It was my baby my way.

I think that's the way to be and not to ask "what gets people hot here? What works here? Anyone can put together a meal with all the ingredients, the great cooks improvise....cooks like me? Make grilled cheese.

 

[holliday1960]

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[sr71plt]

Hey...maybe I'll put my new romance with softcore sex in LW...and give it a HEA ending??? Would that work? (On second thought...I think I'll just sit quietly over here and shut the hell up.)

I did that once, and at least the Literotica editor gave me a Green E for it, no matter how much the LW people hissed--which made it worthwhile to write and put in Loving Wives.

https://www.literotica.com/s/the-quality-of-love