Question for BDSM Writers

[DPMaster]

If you check, you'll find I'm new to Literotica. I've hired writers from here before, and published them with some of my own material on my website, but I've just posted my first four stories here. The experience has been eye opening already.

First, I need to learn to proofread my own stuff better. I'm already wincing at some of the minor problems.

Second, and to the point of the thread, is I'm seeing a love/hate thing going, and I was wondering what the expeirence of other BDSM writers that post here has been.

Basically, I'm generally getting ratings of either zero or five. From the few comments, it appears that the more vanilla readers are reading my stories and wishing worse torments than my characters received on me - in a totally not-nice sort of way. I've actually had a couple that have made me wince, and I'm pretty thick skinned after having been in the business awhile.

The BDSMers in the crowd have been very positive, either liking the story as is, suggesting even more dastardly deeds, or giving positive critique even if the story wasn't their cup of tea. I'm starting to get the opinion that the detractors deliberately track down stories they disagree with so they can screw with their ratings.

So, my question is - How seriously do you take the ratings and the comments?

It would be nice if people critiqued a story based on quality and content within a genre, but since that doesn't appear to be the case, I was looking for thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Otto26]

My stuff has been well received for the most part, but it's pretty tame stuff. I've gotten a few accusations of being a sick fuck, but that's for one non-consent story and they generally forgive me after they've read the second installment in the story.

If you're writing for other people you're going to unhappy about half the time. So my advice is to be happy with what you're writing and fuck 'em.

 

[SweetErika]

I take the constructive feedback (whether it's positive or negative) seriously, and leave the rest. Honestly, a lot of the bad comments are ridiculous enough to make me laugh.

I don't put a lot of stock in ratings because, like you said, low ratings can drag a great story down. Also, popularity on the forums and such can push up the rating of a not-so-great piece, and sometimes excellent stories only get a few votes.

"Zero-bombs" and idiotic comments are more common in some categories than others. Stories in BDSM, Loving Wives, Nonconsent and Taboo/Incest seem to be bigger targets, but everything's fair game. There are many threads on this in the Author's Hangout especially (check out the "Anonymous" thread, for instance). It's unfortunate there are people whose only aim is to drag stories down (and they often don't even really read them!), but it's just a fact of public comments, anonymous votes and feedback.

I edit for someone who writes a lot of incest stroke stories because they get lots of positive comments and high ratings. They're not very good plots, IMO, and I would never write with the same goal, but that's just me. If YOU'RE happy with what you're putting out there, and the readers who matter are enjoying your work, then ignore the losers who throw out negative comments and votes out of ignorance and jealousy. Or, like my author, you can write with scores in mind, or you could always disable ratings and/or comments (but, really, is there any fun in that?).

Oh, and did you know we have volunteer editors to help you catch those irritating little mistakes? If you post in the Editor's Forum on wanting a second set of eyes, just some good feedback before you submit, or whatever, you shouldn't have much trouble finding someone.

 

[A_Kefka]

My story seems to have good ratings, but then its pretty tame I think. I wrote it because I enjoyed it and thats it. I'm glad others like it but if they didn't I wouldn't really care.

Don't let people who don't like it get you down. Just write what you want and be glad some people like it. Can't please everyone.

 

[catalina_francisco]

We have done well with ratings and most comments in the past, but also became aware that some put more importance in ratings than actual writing skill and will do anything to get theirs up to the top by marking the competition down with 1's. At first we didn't realise what was going wrong, but then noticed a pattern whereby as soon as we started to rise to the top position or remotely near it, it would quickly plummet and keep doing so whenever it began to recover. We learnt this is not unusual and is a practice used by those who do not appreciate competition in what they perceive as their territory.

We haven't published here for awhile, partly because of the BS and partly because of lack of energy, but have published elsewhere and had nothing but rave reviews and requests from some other sites for our writing which sort of backed up what we had been told about the reasons for low voting on Lit. My advice is to write in a style which suits you, be realistic (although that may not be a concern to you), and read the criticism with an open mind and take the good from it and leave the BS where it belongs. Lit did help a lot in developing further in terms of writing, but you just need to remember that maybe not every vote or comment really has to do with your writing as much as scores and personal opinions of the lifestyle. LOL, a lot of the newer members to BDSM and vanilla people were not to keen on our more graphic writing and wanted it tamed down to hearts and flowers stuff...that isn't my style overall.

Catalina

 

[Softouch911]

As the OP well knows, if you're gonna do this, you damn well better be ready to market. If you want readers to "buy" it -- either with $$ or with votes -- you need to make them feel valuable. It's easy, because they are.

We all get comments that are insulting, or nonsense. If a comment makes me cringe, it makes me also wonder if it's something I need to think about ... even if expressed badly. Likewise, glowing comments can be as silly.

If a comment is signed, I write a thank you. I keep a file of the addresses and when I publish, they get a note.

I've found the reaction of readers here representative of readers interested in BDSM fiction across the country: from the purely prurient (i.e., "stroke") to erotic (i.e., literary). As such, the reactions have been useful (when not satisfying) feedback.

Like others, I'm grateful for occasional good luck with commercial publishers -- some tied to Lit postings. The story ref'ed in my sig, for example, is in an anthology later this year. The first story I posted on Lit is, in a revised form, in its third edits with a publisher. I submitted both based on consistently decent reactions from the readers, even though many found them not enough/too much.

I"ve been making a partial living of freelancing for years so, like the rest of the posters, am used to the craziness of readers.

There are lots of others. Other than those who have posted here, Dr. Mabeuse is a fine writer on the toplist at Lit. BDSM who publishes commercially. One male/female team that I first saw on Lit. has a series of novels both as ebooks and hard copy.

Welcome, DPMaster, by the way!

Respectfully,
ST

 

[WriterDom]

I had one titled "New Shoes" or something to that effect and I felt it got low ratings because the foot fetish people were expecting a foot fetish story.

I had incest story that didn't go over well because I killed off Daddy in the end.

 

[neonflux]

DPMaster,

I haven't submitted any prose here (write a lot about sex but it's not erotica). However, I do submit poetry - often of an erotic nature, and just as often containing BDSM references - and ask for feedback in the poetry forum in preparation for submitting work for print publication. There are some great writers on this site who are also skilled at giving constructive critical feedback, and I've found their comments invaluable. Their criticism is often quite different from that I get from my queer writing group.

That said, I have learned to: 1) separate the "wheat from the chaff"; 2) take what I find relevant and disregard the rest. I have, for instance, had people tell me that they didn't like the work "fuck." Generally because they want sex to be "sweet" and "gentle." I have also had interesting conversations over the use of archane references that has influenced the work...

It is clear that you have a vision for your work. If you're publishing here first to hone your work, I would concur with others - disregard those who seem to have some sort of ax to grind - they won't be your final audience, anyway!

Neon

 

[Recidiva]

Don't take them seriously.

The things I take to heart are the ones where people like what I've written and I've made friends in corresponding with them.

Otherwise, I already know I'm not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[NALA CAYENNE]

DPMaster,

That said, I have learned to: 1) separate the "wheat from the chaff"; 2) take what I find relevant and disregard the rest. I have, for instance, had people tell me that they didn't like the work "fuck." Generally because they want sex to be "sweet" and "gentle." I have also had interesting conversations over the use of archane references that has influenced the work...

Neon

DPMaster,

As a publisher, editor and writing coach, I have to concur with Neon's comment and what others have said. First off, you need to be satisfied with your writing because you are, after all, writing for the enjoyment of writing. It's great to get the compliments and frustrating to get the negative feedback, but writing what we write, not everyone is going to love it- to each his own.

I've had folks that love my poetry and stories and at the same time I've had folks that weren't happy with either- c'est la vie. In the end, I write for me.

Those who appreciate your work will most likely become friends that will be honest with you when you want a second opinion. Everyone here has been great since I started becoming active- have even had requests to edit others work. Keep the faith in what you have to offer the select few that both enjoy and understand your need to write what you do.

In the end, it's all about what makes you smile at the end of the day and makes you want to continue to pick up your pen every time you have an idea for a new story.

Nala

 

[FurryFury]

I've had a pretty good reaction to what I've written and put up at Lit.

Recently someone tried to help me get published with a more, how shall I put it, mainstream piece. I don't mind constructive criticism but this person in editing ripped out anything that distinguished the story in my mind.

If I'd taken it and gotten it published as suggested, it wouldn't have felt right for me because it would have had no reason to exist other than to get published. It was rendered completely generic and bland.

I chose not to submit it anywhere. I'd rather never be published than have things that mean nothing to me published in my name. I'd rather write what I enjoy writing and never be published.

However, I believe I can become published by the right house eventually. If not, let me toil happily enjoying the journey.

Or, in other words, don't worry about strangers telling you what is good, bad and ugly, unless it makes you happy to do so.

 

[Chicklet]

First, I need to learn to proofread my own stuff better. I'm already wincing at some of the minor problems.

one absolutely lovely thing to do is resubmit a story with fixes that irritate you when you catch them, if you don't catch them the first time.

you can pre-post the stories in the 'story feedback' section, if you can't ask a friend to proof read it for you first.

when you go back and change the story, just resubmit it with the same title, and the posted story will be replaced.

don't worry about feedback... i found that people either apparently really hated my story, or really loved it. and very rarely do i ever agree with story ratings when i read. don't take it seriously, just enjoy yourself, and wade through the trolls without stressing to get the the positive, real feedback.