Question about ratings and feedback

[LedAstray]

When you get your story rated, what do you want the reader to rate your story on -- the quality of your writing or how much the story turned us on? What do you want in your feedback regarding this same issue?

I've found that some of the best written stories on here don't turn me on at all, but some very average ones had my hands down my panties by the end Naturally, that's not true in every case, but it's something I've noticed. And, there are some that are just plain incoherent, but I never get very far in the story and I rate it a 1, but send no feedback.

So, anyway, when I'm rating a story, if it's beautifully written and I think it's something that should be published, but it didn't turn me on at all, I give it a 4. If it's not so well written, but I'm wet, I give it a 4. If I have an orgasm by the end, it gets a 5 no matter how bad it is and I definitely send the author some feedback. Oh, and for all the authors who hate Mr./Ms. Anonymous, for those of us who do give our e-mail addy, it would be nice to get a little reply in return I mean, hey, you got me off, the least you could do is say "hi". LOL

 

[daughter]

Led--

I'm confused. Is anonymous feedback the norm? There's a forum for indepth discussion. There's a forum for story and poetry feedback. Why send a note privately when what you say might benefit others?

When I read a story or poem, I post it publicly. This site is for writers. I think a public post accomplishes a few things. One, it gives others a review and hopefully a nod will entice others to read the story. Two, it allows for discussion about what works or doesn't work in a story. Three, if the story isn't in the focused discussion, it's still getting some attention.

I don't like anonymous mail. If I can't say it openly, I don't bother saying it at all. A little thick skin is necessary if you're going to share your work publicly. My feeling is if someone bothers to take time to comment, I'm pleased. If the piece sucks, well, I have an opportunity to fix it.

As far as rating, I don't rate based on my personal taste. I rate based on how well a piece is written. I rate on basic standards: clarity, cohesiveness, grammar and syntax, plot. Rough spots won't stop me from ranking a piece favorably. Sloppiness and lack of basic skills will. If a story is appealing that's a bonus, but I don't have to like it to recognize it's well-written.

What's disappointing is reading well-worn themes that lack style, originality, and development. If I wanted Bob picked up Sally, ripped off her clothes and fucked her brains out, I could rent a b rated video. I like smut, but I want it to be creative and engaging. My preference is literary works. Something that has layers. Doesn't have to be excessively formal and complicated just something that engages a few more brain cells.

Good post.

Peace,

daughter

 

[Couture]

Amen Daughter!

Nothing pisses me off more than for someone to give a story a poor rating just because they didn't get off on it. If an author has taken the time and energy to write a compelling story with characters, dialogue, plot, and a good edited copy, then you have no business giving them a bad rating.

For me, the author gets an automatic three/four for this alone. If it is original or I find it erotic, then it gets a four. If it is all of the above, then it gets a five.

Couture

My Stories

 

[Couture]

LedAstray, one of the problems with replying to e-mails from Literotica is that you can't reply. Your addie is sent in the body and that makes it much more difficult. This week I've only received around 10 letters and I've replied to every one. However, last week I received around 200 for the two stories I posted. Cutting and pasting all those addies, in order to reply, would mean that I wouldn't have time to write.

In that case I will only reply to those people who took the time to really write something useful, had questions, or are repeat fans.

Not, those that told me they creamed their panties.

Couture

My Stories

 

[daughter]

All righty then

Couture--

Well, good to hear from the like-minded. Submitting clean copy is important to me, too. I'm the worst speller on the planet so I sit with a dictionary. You'll catch errors in my forum posts, but I try to be more dilligent with copy.

I pay attention to how much detail, pacing, creativity someone puts into his writing. I'm not into some practices so I might not find some stories particularly arousing, but that won't stop me from appreciating a tale in a genre that I don't prefer. There's only one genre I won't read--incest. I find the topic unmigatedly repulsive. I respect others' tastes, but I won't read nor comment on anything written on this subject.

Hope to hear from you on my stories and poems. Glad to reciprocate.

Peace,

daughter

 

[Mickie]

There are just some people who prefer to contact the author directly and give anonymous feedback. Personally, anything constructive is worth my time to read, and I do like those ego boosting 'I creamed my jeans -- twice!' kinda feedback. Face it, we're working on a sex story site. The purpose of a sex story is to arouse, to seduce, and to get the reader as hot as possible. If you aren't writing for that purpose, then why are you writing on a sex site?

Yes, there's a spot for non-erotic stories here, and I'll bet the criteria people use to vote is very different for those stories.

Basically, the purpose of writing anything at all is to engender a response from the reader, no matter what genre it's in. Erotica differs from porn in that it uses more of the traditional literary rules to accomplish the same thing. Porn ignores the rules and goes straight for the sex. Some people are turned on by stories that go in curves for the sex, and some people prefer stories that go in a straight line.

If I write something and a reader is kind enough to respond, I ALWAYS answer email. (Unless my computer is on the fritz and I lose the feedback section of my mail ) It may take me a while to get to it, but I end up answering sooner or later. Most of the writers do here.

As for cut and pasting the email addy -- have you tried just clicking on the email address in the feedback mail? It should bring up a reply form for that address instead of the feedback address. It does on my old machine.

The Discussion Circle Forum is there mainly for authors who want more constructive criticism. We talk about style, setting, characters, dialogue, and try to give helpful advice to aspiring authors. (Although there is an amount of that ego boosting stuff ) The Feedback forum is mainly for people requesting readers, and any kind of feedback they can get. Since the wait in line on the Discussion Circle is anywhere from a month to three months, the feedback forum is really good for immediate responses from the world at large. Most of what you'll get is readers thanking you for a good come. Some of it actually addresses some issues you can learn from, and some of it is flaming nonsense that belongs in the trash can. Anonymous or not, most of it is welcome to most authors.

The bottom line is that you can't please everyone all the time, but you can please some of the people some of the time. If someone votes me a 1 because my story didn't get them off, then I failed in my purpose as a writer for that single reader. The next person votes a five because I write grammatically correct. The next person votes a three because they got hot, just not hot enough, and my grammar was good enough to read. There are so many reasons why people vote the way they do that it isn't worth dickering about what you hate or don't hate when someone votes. Just be thankful there are readers out there at all.

Mickie

 

[Couture]

Daughter, could you could post a link to your stories?

Moderator, the literotica email account I have doesn't work that way. If it does, then I must be doing something wrong.

I enjoy every feedback I get, but when I have to start weeding out, it is the shortest ones that go first.

I do not feel that writing porn is beneath me. Hell, most of my stories are filthy-dirty-nasty. *However,* they aren't just a sex scene that has been hashed and rehashed. They have characters, there is a plot, and much of the sex described is fairly original. My goal is not to write generic formula type stories that have been hashed and rehashed. My goal is to write original stories that people will read five years from now. Now, I realize that most of mine will not make the cut, but a few of them hopefully will.

 

[Rrrosyn]

I prefer feedback, even anonymous, over trying to rate my story by scores and number of votes. I get more emails than votes anyway. LOL

I also will always reply if there is an email listed. I admit it cuts into my writing time and I am sure I get less feedback than many writers here, but I feel the need to express gratitude.

I don't write my story and accept your feedbak as a thank you. I didn't write it for you. I write for myself, my muse when I have one. So when someone enjoys it and offers some constructive criticism, I am the one who feels the need of saying thanks.

 

[LedAstray]

good answers

I do appreciate all your responses to this question.

My attitude towards the work on here is for pure brain candy entertainment. I recognize that there are some excellent writers here and I could analyze their work ad infinitum, but that's not what I'm here for. I'm a graduate student in English lit, so if I want to read fine literature, I'll do it for school. On the other hand, I hate weeding through some of the riff raff to get to the gems that I know people are putting out.

I have one story on here (under a different name) and I have written several others. But right now I feel like being an "audience" instead of a writer.

Daughter -- you asked about anonymous feedback. The reason I want to send feedback to some of the writers is to give them some encouragement (not to say my panties are wet, LOL). I see so many of the writers extremely discouraged because of negative, and sometimes nasty, feedback and I would like to show them my appreciation. If I have something negative to say, I won't say it. For one thing, you might know many writers are like this, they won't listen to anything negative about their work. If someone wants some kind of constructive criticism, they'll use the volunteer editors, but I am guessing that not many people use them. I've had my name there for a while and I haven't gotten one story.

Anyway, keep up the great work!

 

[daughter]

Couture--

I'm new. I only have submitted one story, a quickie that hopefully will be in the "Humor and Satire" category soon. I have one Tanka in non-erotic.

Led, I hear you. I'm not looking for D.H. Lawrence here, I'm just hoping for a good read that's above that poor writing we get in b-rated porn. Give me smut, just make it interesting.

While I am guilty of saying less than flattering things, my goal isn't to belittle anyone. I try to be helpful, tactful and sensitive. Funky notes ain't my style. I might be too candid for some, but I assure you my intent is good.

My biggest turn-off about private notes is that a public one could benefit more than just one. Anonymous ones robs me of the opportunity of thanking the readers or asking for clarification or suggestions about how to improve what someone felt was poor writing.

I ignore people who waste keystrokes deliberately being mean. There's too many folks interested in encouraging the writer and they're the people I'd like to thank and to seek their opinions in the future.

Good topic.

Peace,

daughter

 

[Couture]

LedAstray,
I sent my first story to nine of the volunteer editors to no avail.

Let me see, I sent it to one of the editors and after not hearing anything back for a week and a half, I sent it to another. After a week another. Third try, same thing.

Then I got upset and sent it to six editors at once, asking them to email me back if they could work on it. One blessed me out for the mass email. However, another was kind enought to write back and said she would edit the story.

Okay, then I wait another week and a half and she sends me back not an edited copy, but a statement that it was a good story and I should go ahead and post it.

Well, I did and what do you know, some kind sole read the story on alt.sex.stories, took pity on me and sent it back to me edited. Well, this guy is a greatest bestest editor around. However, the only fault is that I can write faster than I get edited copy back. As a result, not all of my stuff goes to an editor, but it's not like anyone is paying to read the stories either.

 

[amyfirst]

I'm not an author, I'm the reader you want to reach. I send feedback when I like something. I usually sign it.
I think authors like to know their stories make my panties wet or that it was so exciting that I print it so I can read it in bed.

I do wish authors would add a link to their stories when they post on the bulletin board. If you really want me to read your stories don't make me do the work of lookiing you up in the members section. I probably won't and you will miss getting another reader.
And I might miss a fantastic story.

I don't like authors who make nasty comments about certain genres of stories. If you don't like it, don't write it or read it; but don't put down people who do like gay stories or incest stories or non-human stories, etc. I will not read your stories if I know that you put down readers.
One would think authors especially on an adult story site would be less likely to insult other readers .

 

[Couture]

Sole = soul

Beer + late hours = misspelling



My Stories

 

[daughter]

insulting others

Amy--

I disagree. Saying you dislike something is not a personal attack. I talk about writing not writers. There is a difference. Authors who can't differentiate often have difficulty receiving feedback. I stated upfront that I do not like incest stories. I don't read them. Stating I dislike them alerts authors not to ask me for my opinion on this genre. It's no different than saying I'm not into cybersex. Just because I'm on a sex site, doesn't mean everything goes. I do respect individual choice.

I don't know any authors here personally. I come here to discuss the writing process and the pleasure found in reading. I don't make judgement about individuals based on the limited information provided here. Well, not completely true. We all form perceptions. What I won't do is purposely make derogatory comments about an author's character.

It's nice to hear that someone has enjoyed my work. If my panties make you hot, please tell me why. My principal reason for joining this site is to interact with my peers. I'm interested in the technical aspects of writing. There are writers who are great at characterization, plot development, tone, setting. I'd like to glean some of their knowledge and strengthen my own skills.

Peace,

daughter