Success or failure rating?

[oggbashan]

I'm stuck on my next contest entry so I started playing with my calculator. Well? What else should I do?

I have 92 stories posted on Lit as Og (and more as jeanne_d_artois).

Just taking the Og stories I have 29 Hs and one E (which isn't an H).

That is a success rate of 31.5%. Or a failure rate of 68.44%.

How do I improve the success rate?

I know. The easiest way is to delete all the stories that don't have an H.

I can't see any consistent pattern in what the readers like or don't like except for the obviously weird and experimental stories that have a success d'estime and poor ratings.

Perhaps the lack of sex and the trademark length is part of my problem.

Has anyone worked out why some of their stories are popular and others aren't?

Og

 

[carsonshepherd]

My popular stories are the ones that include penetration. In the "gay" category, a blow job just won't cut it.

H 's I've got. But no E's. And no W's.

Anyway, as far as success to failure ratio, that's all in your mind anyway. It's not about votes. Any story I can re-read after its posted without wanting to crawl into a hole is a success for me.

 

[Bandit1]

All but two of my stories have a red H.

Until recently, it was all but one story.

I think that you have to have either lots of hot sex or else a well defined and interesting storyline to get the coveted red H.

Either way it give a warm feeling inside to see those litttle colored letters next to your titles!

 

[Guest]

suck-cess is in the eye of the beholder or the mouth of...

erm...
what i mean to say is that i consider it a success, just completing a story. though, i love that little red H, its enough to have full feelings conveyed...and if i get some good PC's well, then thats awesome and the cherry on top...

envious of the W and the E. i have never received either though that is a goal to work for.

as for what i think makes a hot story? well, if i squirm or enjoy the character involvement, then to me, the story is awesome. draw me in, make me want more...sex or no sex...enthrall me and ill be a devoted fan.

 

[Sabledrake]

My secret is to have a small readership with discriminating tastes, so that I don't get all that many votes but the ones I get are usually pretty good

No E's or W's here, either.

Sabledrake

 

[gauchecritic]

I have very few H's although if I remember I did have H's for all the stories at some point.

The one's that remain are for extremely differing stories so I have no theories whatsoever.

Do poems suffer trolls?

 

[Alex De Kok]

Og,

looking through my stories, there are four things that stand out.

1. Don't write a dialect story! Mine was quite well received by the fellow Geordies who read it, but spurned by most of the rest of the world, although a couple of adventurous Americans seem to have liked it!

2. If you have a brother and sister in bed together, don't stop with a blow job.

3. Although a contest entry can garner more views, the voting tends to be more critical.

4. Be careful in Humor and Satire!

Apart from those points, I have no idea why my stories are successful. I write them as well as I can, and they're usually grammatically correct. I can only surmise that what I write strikes a chord with my readers. I started writing erotica because I couldn't find what I wanted to read, a well-written story of normal people enjoying the pleasure of sharing their body with a loved one. I think I need to take some chances and try some work more out in the fringes, but then, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I think the voting generally is a barometer of reader reactions to me. Trolls excepted, of course, and on that point, why would anyone want to one-bomb a 'How-To' written for the sole purpose of helping my fellow writers with their submissions?

In response to Gauche's query on poems, I have no idea. My four have only amassed 30 votes between them, although I'm quite proud of my 'H' for my 'Sonnet for National Nude Day'!

Alex

 

[impressive]

I have slightly over 50% Hs. My problem is (I think) two fold: (1) length -- as I write shorter pieces; and (2) variety -- as I write in several categories. I think "niche" writers tend to develop loyal readers more so than switch hitters like me.

Poems? Yes, they have trolls. They also have a very active, very serious cadre of readers/reviewers. I don't think "5 bombs" are as common in the poetry circles.

 

[R. Richard]

Og:
One thing I can tell you from experience:

Stories need to be specifically written for the category. What works well in one category will get you lynched in another category.

JMHO.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I have slightly over 50% Hs. My problem is (I think) two fold: (1) length -- as I write shorter pieces; and (2) variety -- as I write in several categories. I think "niche" writers tend to develop loyal readers more so than switch hitters like me.

I think that length may indeed have something to do with it. I have a decent H ratio, but nearly all of my pieces are longer ones. Only one fits on a single web page. My guess is that people who don't like the first few paragraphs of a long piece often don't bother to read it all or to vote on it. That probably ends up selecting for voters who liked it.

Having people who know you does help. I'm sure that my poor Hesperus crew would be suffering even more in the ratings if the votes had not been bouyed by some friends with similar tastes to mine. It's in the gay section and while there is penetration, it's not "hardcore" - the focus and language downplay physical elements. As Carson says, that can be a hard sell. Fortunately I got "E'd" on that one, which let me ride out the lower ratings without feeling utterly crushed.

The other thing is the category issue. When reading through new stories, I have often noticed that some categories - notably "loving wives" - seem to have especially virulent resident trolls. I've seen some quite good stories get bombed in "group" as well, possibly due to dialect - hard to say.

I like where I am now. I have a group of fellow writers whose opinions I trust. If they like it, I'm pleased. If they hate it, then I am concerned. Accolades from random strangers are nice, but I have no idea what criteria they use to judge a story or whether we agree on what makes good writing.

 

[CharleyH]

Well, I can't tell you what brings on an H, but I can tell you a story about why two of my stories don't have h's, and why one of them did not until recently:

1. A chain story with the premise of increasing sexual adventure. Unfortunately, I had an early chapter, and the stipulation was - NO SEX - mind you it is a rather sensual shaving scene But - no penetration is a killer in any genre.

2. Straight group sex with a female controlling everything, including using a dildo to fuck her husband. The exchange is not between him and her, but the desire to have another man, who happens to be having sex with his wife. They have a kind of voyeur/exhibition sex play. I put it under erotic couplings, and perhaps I should have chose another genre, since it's a cross genre story better suited to something else. Nonetheless, this story was popular with women. Men seemed to be quite pissed off with it (like I give a shit), and since more men than women read - well -

3. Again, a wrong category choice. A story about a controlling lesbian who fucks her lover infront of a window while a guy looks on, and then she metaphorically castrates him. Lesbians loved it but I decided to see what the reaction would be putting it in the voy/exhibit category. Not well received by men, as expected Still, it did stay at 4.48 for quite some time before I switched it back to the lesbian category, where it has since been steadily climbing. It is, without a doubt, my best written piece.

I have a feeling many men don't tolerate self-empowered women in stories unless those women are found in the "appropriate" categories such as lesbian and bdsm.

Just a thought.

 

[oggbashan]

Og:
One thing I can tell you from experience:

Stories need to be specifically written for the category. What works well in one category will get you lynched in another category.

JMHO.

Thanks for that. And thanks to everyone who has responded so far.

My two worst rated ones were experiments when 'Erotic Horror' was new. They didn't need bombs to sink to the bottom of the heap and stay there.

I have written long. I have written short. There doesn't appear to be any correlation in the Hs.

As for 'anonymous' - I have been slammed for too much sex - Me? and too little or no sex; and for being to obscure, too literate, not literate enough, and for writing that my hero and heroine get MARRIED. If I quote 'Anonymous' I can prove that whatever I write is wrong. If 'anonymous' is typical of Lit readers then I am surprised I have any Hs at all.

The trolls will probably ensure that in the next few days.

Og

PS. Trolls can't take away the E!

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

I am still too new, with too few stories upon which to do any worthwile research, but what I have learned from the contests that I have entered:

Its not nearly so difficult getting an H as it is keeping an H.

The H on my contest entries have been blinking on and off so much that I was beginning to think they were caution signs.

And NO do NOT add any Shakespeare to your story. I did that nearly seven weeks ago and it still has only collected 8 votes, total!

 

[BlackShanglan]

And NO do NOT add any Shakespeare to your story. I did that nearly seven weeks ago and it still has only collected 8 votes, total!

Oh dear, my tail is in the wringer then. I have two in the works - one littered with poetry quotations (although admittedly from the Decadence and not the Bard), and one written from the point of view of Mercutio.

Shall I just bomb them myself now?

 

[rgraham666]

So far, my longer pieces get the most and best votes.

I think it's because I work very hard on the characterizations. The readers who bother to read all the way through get caught up in the characters, identify with them and share their emotions.

My 'short pieces of smut' generally don't do as well. They still get 'H's, but barely.

I think a fan base helps too. My first stories didn't get many reads or votes. Now both are climbing.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Oh dear, my tail is in the wringer then. I have two in the works - one littered with poetry quotations (although admittedly from the Decadence and not the Bard), and one written from the point of view of Mercutio.

Shall I just bomb them myself now?

Nah. You'll get another E.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Nah. You'll get another E.

In my fondest dreams.

And not before you do (K)

 

[davidwatts]

My theories, as a relative newcomer to writing in general and Literotica in particular, are as follows:

1. If you are trying to inject humor or sarcasm in a story which is not in the humor category, place a red flag next to that part of the story. Not all readers need this, but it's scary how many trolls do.

2. The vote results have no relationship to the amount of time and effort I placed into the work. The same is true for the level of emotional involvement. I have found the exact opposite to be true in many instances

3. I consider a comment the equivalent of ten '5' votes. A comment from an person that identifies themselves by any moniker is worth double that. A comment from an writer whose work you admire is off the scale.

4. Take something that you wrote that you feel was unappreciated because of the lack of sex. Retitle it, and put a sizeable section in the middle of it containing the most lewd, crude and lascivious sex you can conjure up. Context is unimportant, and so are character names. Submit the altered story. Take your bows.

5. In answer to the original question, I have no idea. I know how to inflame and incite, but the sure route to a story's popularity has eluded me so far.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I have a few H's. If you ask me, the key is to build a readership. That is most easily accomplished by posting to one cat consitantly over time. For the longest time I posted nothing but Les stories to les sex. When I did experiment, I took les sex to new areas like Sci fi/Fantasy or N/C/reluctance. I have posted only one tale with het sex in it and that was in the Lit. olympics chain story.

People who read me regularly know what to expect from me. While the stories are all different, the writing is the same and the theme is pretty consistant too. I think I have grown as a writer, and I benefit immeasurably from the editing skills of Lauren-hynde, and Lucky. I have some very good sounding boards in Minsue, mats, and Becca.

I think if you are consistent over time in a cat you will build a readership. Mine has proven to be very tolerant of my experiments.

-Colly

 

[Liar]

I dunno.

I don't have all that many stories. Only six of them, and 5 has the H. Those are all semi long (not as lengthy as some here, but going past the first Lit page at least) and they all have more surrounding story than actual sex in them.

Then one that is rated lower has only sex, and lots of it. It's an experiment in form and style that I and Honey did collaboratively. One woild think that since she has far more H's than me and is a kickass writer in her own right, that our combined efforts would melt the servers. But not so. I guess the readers want the proper traditional narration POV's in their stories...

#L

 

[china-doll]

I have a few H's. If you ask me, the key is to build a readership. That is most easily accomplished by posting to one cat consitantly over time. For the longest time I posted nothing but Les stories to les sex. When I did experiment, I took les sex to new areas like Sci fi/Fantasy or N/C/reluctance. I have posted only one tale with het sex in it and that was in the Lit. olympics chain story.

People who read me regularly know what to expect from me. While the stories are all different, the writing is the same and the theme is pretty consistant too. I think I have grown as a writer, and I benefit immeasurably from the editing skills of Lauren-hynde, and Lucky. I have some very good sounding boards in Minsue, mats, and Becca.

I think if you are consistent over time in a cat you will build a readership. Mine has proven to be very tolerant of my experiments.

-Colly

"A few H's" she says.

 

[rgraham666]

3. I consider a comment the equivalent of ten '5' votes. A comment from an person that identifies themselves by any moniker is worth double that. A comment from an writer whose work you admire is off the scale.

Agreed. Every time I get a positive comment from another writer, I end up dancing on the ceiling.

 

[Guest]

Well, I only have 12 stories. My two H's are for my contest winner, "Drunk on Wednesdays", and "Naked Nun" (highest rated). I can only presume why NN is Hot . My lowest rated (3.80) story is "Ofrenda", written for the H'ween contest a year ago; got great feedback but it does focus on death.

Btw, "Drunk" has a Shakespeare quote that fits very well and is erotic in itself, so as far as quoting Sh're or other classics it's a matter of making them part of the whole.

Perdita

 

[scheherazade_79]

Difficult question... You can submit something one day and it's the most popular thing since sliced bread; but submit it another day and it goes down about as well as a turd in a public swimming pool.

I've only submitted four stories, three with the coveted H and one without. I've noticed that a lot of the most popular stories involve incest, so I guess that's one sure fire way of bumping up your score.

Other than that, I'd say the 'H Factor' was a combination of the following things:

1. A good, clear written style - grammatically correct, but not too highbrow.

2. 'Fanciable' characters - strong and assertive, but soft in the right places.

3. An interesting and well-researched setting.

4. Lots of sex, but not at the expense of a good storyline.

5. Maybe one or two really kinky sexual acts that take the reader completely by surprise.

At least that's what I think. I'll tell you if it works when I've submitted my next story

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

... a fan base helps too. My first stories didn't get many reads or votes. Now both are climbing.

After all the talk about AH being cliquish, we can now see that the charge should have been lodged against another community.

When one considers how different the writers here are: different genres, different fetishes, different styles, different aspirations, different abilities, and different degrees of professionalism, it is amazing that anyone is speaking to anybody.

From what this thread has exposed, one road to success is to stick it out until you have written enough in certain genres to be accepted into one of the giant cliques of readers.