Ratings Bombed or Wrong Category?

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

Hi all,

Not new to writing, but new to lit and still trying to get a sense of the reader culture. After sharing a few short and sweet standalone stories of under 2k words, I finally posted the first part of a longer slowburn series. Right now its ratings are in the twos--ouch. My best guess is that I'm either getting ratings bombed by some diehard anons who hate Loving Wives (we've all seen that happen!) OR that actual fans of Loving Wives are mad that she hasn't fucked someone besides her husband yet (which I say up front happens a few chapters in...). I could try shifting it to the novels or romance categories, but the main topic being explored is his desire to see her fuck other men and her journey of pursuing it.

The story is HERE. Please let me know if you think it's in the wrong category. I'll take other feedback if something is bothering you, but I'm not actively seeking it.

Thank you!

EDIT: I'd especially love if anyone with experience in the novels and novellas category weighed in! Since my story is chaptered (not episodic), has a character arc, and encompasses a few categories I'm wondering if that might be the better fit, but I'm having trouble getting a sense for what kinds of stories do well there.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

Very hot. I don't spend much time in LW, so I'm not the expert, but from what I've heard, it is in the wrong category. I'd have put it in Exhibitionist & Voyeur.

 

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

Very hot. I don't spend much time in LW, so I'm not the expert, but from what I've heard, it is in the wrong category. I'd have put it in Exhibitionist & Voyeur.

Oh, I hadn't even considered that one, but I guess it does apply to this chapter! It won't apply to other chapters though, and I'm wary of splitting chapters across different categories. I'll sit tight for now and see what other folks think, but I'll keep this in mind.

Thank you!

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Even for the best of writers, ones with a dedicated following, publishing in LW is like test-driving a pogo stick in a minefield. I avoid the place like the plague just for that reason.

 

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

Even for the best of writers, ones with a dedicated following, publishing in LW is like test-driving a pogo stick in a minefield. I avoid the place like the plague just for that reason.

Haha, that's so real! At the end of the day, I'm writing for myself and my partner, my most important and most dedicated follower. But I don't want to self-sabotage by misunderstanding the code, if I can help it.

I suspect this story is going to have a pretty niche audience regardless because in many ways it's hotwife for female consumption rather than a pure male fantasy. But I figure there must be some out there who will feel validated by experiences similar to their own, and others who might be curious-but-nervous about the topic and interested in the slow approach. So I figured it would be worth a try!

 

[FrancesScott]

Hi all,

Not new to writing, but new to lit and still trying to get a sense of the reader culture. After sharing a few short and sweet standalone stories of under 2k words, I finally posted the first part of a longer slowburn series. Right now its ratings are in the twos--ouch. My best guess is that I'm either getting ratings bombed by some diehard anons who hate Loving Wives (we've all seen that happen!) OR that actual fans of Loving Wives are mad that she hasn't fucked someone besides her husband yet (which I say up front happens a few chapters in...). I could try shifting it to the novels or romance categories, but the main topic being explored is his desire to see her fuck other men and her journey of pursuing it.

The story is HERE. Please let me know if you think it's in the wrong category. I'll take other feedback if something is bothering you, but I'm not actively seeking it.

Thank you!

This image may help you to better understand Loving Wives.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Hi all,

Not new to writing, but new to lit and still trying to get a sense of the reader culture. After sharing a few short and sweet standalone stories of under 2k words, I finally posted the first part of a longer slowburn series. Right now its ratings are in the twos--ouch. My best guess is that I'm either getting ratings bombed by some diehard anons who hate Loving Wives (we've all seen that happen!) OR that actual fans of Loving Wives are mad that she hasn't fucked someone besides her husband yet (which I say up front happens a few chapters in...). I could try shifting it to the novels or romance categories, but the main topic being explored is his desire to see her fuck other men and her journey of pursuing it.

The story is HERE. Please let me know if you think it's in the wrong category. I'll take other feedback if something is bothering you, but I'm not actively seeking it.

Thank you!

I recommend that you check out the top stories in the categories you are considering to see how tolerant the readers are in each for chaptered submissions. Loving wives, as an example, has some successful multi-parts series made up of related stories or episodes, but stories broken into chapters don't do as well there as they do in some others.

 

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

This image may help you to better understand Loving Wives.

View attachment 2565434

It actually really doesn't! I've surfed around a fair amount, and the category seems to encompass both cheating/betrayal and cuckholding, consensual and not. I'd appreciate advice on where my story should go though if you think it should go somewhere else.

 

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

I recommend that you check out the top stories in the categories you are considering to see how tolerant the readers are in each for chaptered submissions. Loving wives, as an example, has some successful multi-parts series made up of related stories or episodes, but stories broken into chapters don't do as well there as they do in some others.

Huh, I hadn't considered the fact that standalones and series or different types of series might perform better in different categories. Thanks for that insight.

Do you have thoughts on splitting chapters across multiple categories? It generally seems like a bad idea to me, but I am still learning.

 

[iwatchus]

I did it with reasonable success in my original series but it probably cost me views

 

[yowser]

Huh, I hadn't considered the fact that standalones and series or different types of series might perform better in different categories. Thanks for that insight.

Do you have thoughts on splitting chapters across multiple categories? It generally seems like a bad idea to me, but I am still learning.

The general advice is to keep things in one spot, it makes sense if the overall theme is 'X' to make that the default.

LW may be an exception. In a couple of my LW series, I put a few chapters in other categories (when the chapter focus make sense to do so.) Ha! Scores rose by .2 or more (same characters, same writing...) without much loss of views. And a couple complaints from the LW bomb crew (hey, no fair switching categories on us!) since they had to look harder for their bullseye.

It is a maze sometimes here, good luck learning as you go forth.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Half the readers bomb any story that doesn’t end with eternal shame and poverty for the offending party. The other half reacts equally shrilly to the offended-against party not being forgiving. Anybody in the middle gets mugged by both sides. Some apparently get so peeved that they follow authors around in other sections.

Life’s too short to be picnicking in Chernobyl.

 

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

It is a maze sometimes here, good luck learning as you go forth.

Thank you! I could use a little luck in these trying times.

 

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

Half the readers bomb any story that doesn’t end with eternal shame and poverty for the offending party. The other half reacts equally shrilly to the offended-against party not being forgiving. Anybody in the middle gets mugged by both sides. Some apparently get so peeved that they follow authors around in other sections.

Life’s too short to be picnicking in Chernobyl.

Ha!! Honestly, that's a good argument for shifting it into novellas. It sounds like it's much more quiet over there but the people who see it are more likely to be receptive. This essentially sounds like an argument to abandon the hierarchy of "least squick" and instead pursue the greatest peace of mind. For unpaid writing, that's probably a smart gambit!

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Huh, I hadn't considered the fact that standalones and series or different types of series might perform better in different categories. Thanks for that insight.

Do you have thoughts on splitting chapters across multiple categories? It generally seems like a bad idea to me, but I am still learning.

I would never do that. IMO, it is a visible demonstration that the author didn't know what he or she was creating and just tossed pieces out rather than focusing on the whole.

A story can contain multiple kinks and subjects, but without a clearly defined purpose, I can see where someone would vacillate with categories.

Again, this comment relates only to chapters that are part of the same ongoing story and not episodes or serials.

 

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

I would never do that. IMO, it is a visible demonstration that the author didn't know what he or she was creating and just tossed pieces out rather than focusing on the whole.

A story can contain multiple kinks and subjects, but without a clearly defined purpose, I can see where someone would vacillate with categories.

Again, this comment relates only to chapters that are part of the same ongoing story and not episodes or serials.

Yeah, that's what my instinct is, too. You can't advertise the patty and the bun to different people when what you have is a sandwich and what people want is a complete meal. Thanks for the confirmation.

I've definitely got a clear plan, and most of it's already written. But although that plan is solidly LW, it seems like it's going to be tough to get the LW community to trust that I know where I'm going, which would make another category a better fit.

Thank you for your thoughts, all! This has been really helpful and I appreciate everyone taking the time to comment.

 

[FrancesScott]

I'd appreciate advice on where my story should go though if you think it should go somewhere else.

I’ve not read it. But personally I’ll never write another LW story.

 

[FrancesScott]

Half the readers bomb any story that doesn’t end with eternal shame and poverty for the offending party. The other half reacts equally shrilly to the offended-against party not being forgiving. Anybody in the middle gets mugged by both sides. Some apparently get so peeved that they follow authors around in other sections.

This was my experience. Several unrelated stories had their ratings go down.

Life’s too short to be picnicking in Chernobyl.

Precisely.

 

[TheLobster]

It actually really doesn't! I've surfed around a fair amount, and the category seems to encompass both cheating/betrayal and cuckholding, consensual and not. I'd appreciate advice on where my story should go though if you think it should go somewhere else.

What Frances meant was that you can be an otherwise capable writer, as evidenced by the rating on her Lesbian Sex story, and still get savaged way below the 4.0 waterline in Loving Wives.

 

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

I’ve not read it. But personally I’ll never write another LW story.

Once again, this is not helpful or constructive. If you don't want to take the time to read the brief description of the situation that I've offered here or to skim through the chapter, no sweat, but there's no need to chime in.

 

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

What Frances meant was that you can be an otherwise capable writer, as evidenced by the rating on her Lesbian Sex story, and still get savaged way below the 4.0 waterline in Loving Wives.

Thanks for translating lol. That wasn't how I took that at all.

I think that's true overall but, as I said in my original post, I'm already aware that the category is full of intensely opinionated folks who can downvote otherwise good stories. The question was if not LW, then where. Because if the rest of the class thought LW was the best category, I'd probably leave it there and deal with the rating. But, as I've said in previous posts in the thread, it sounds like I probably should move it to novels and novellas.

 

[FrancesScott]

Once again, this is not helpful or constructive. If you don't want to take the time to read the brief description of the situation that I've offered here or to skim through the chapter, no sweat, but there's no need to chime in.

Wow! Message received. Good luck in life.

 

[CreamyPeachyKeen]

I'm not sure how to take "I've not read it" as anything but a dismissal on a thread where I'm asking for help with a specific story. I'm sure it's not how you meant it, but it feels like you're talking past me to vent about your own experiences in the LW category without addressing my question.

 

[Gamblnluck]

I'm going to give you some short quick advice here, because it is NOT going to be well received by others here in AH. Many authors here don't even read stories, much less try to understand their audience. But they LOVE to complain when their brilliantly composed stories are panned and blame it on 'trolls'. ESPECIALLY in LW.

Loving wives is one category that the slow burn, multi-chaptered stories work IF you give them enough to set the hook. Have a plot where there is some angst in the character and the reader wants to see what happens next. Your story was only a little over a page long. What you really gave us was a couple lovers talking smack, expressing fantasies and teasing each other. You didn't even begin to really tell whatever story you intended. Better in another category.

Unlike what many here seem to think a successful story in LW is not just a BTB. There have been a few dozen stories lately where BTB is the whole story. They are so over the top and childish that most barely get above a 3 and despite being told, the author continues.

A successful story in LW has three basic components. 1. A decent plot where there is some kind of angst/drama 2. A logical resolution to that drama. This is where most authors fail. Their idea of logical is often not what the readers see as reasonable. Simpering cuckolds accepting their wive's abuse is not logical to much of the audience. The resolution needs to be justifiable whether a BTB or a reconciliation or somewhere in between. 3. There usually needs to be enough to hold the reader's attention beyond the sex described. Make the story interesting enough to get the reader to identify with the characters.

Stories where the audience gets involved in the characters' lives get more comments and typically do better. But you need to stay true to the character or expect to hear about it. Even then you will get comments about how the character should have acted considering the circumstances. Often that is the reader putting himself in that position, but usually you will see they want the character to stay true to form.

My advice went longer than I'd planned.

 

[Gamblnluck]

In addition to what I said above, I do not cross categories with my stories, nor do I like to see that in series I read. Chapters tend to get lost unless the reader decides to go looking for a chapter 3 and 4 when he happens to like chapter 5 and has no idea what happened.
Make your chapters longer to get the reader involved.
I can't give you much advice into what other category this story might fit if not LW. I don't read several unless I follow an author there after going to his/her home page and a story catches my attention.