They Like It! Really Like It...And I Don't Know Why!

[3113]

Heaven knows, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when it comes to readers liking my stories. And critical as I can be about my own writing, I am pretty much pleased with what I've done.

But have you ever had a story that you didn't expect people to like that much...and they did? And you can't understand what it is about that one story which makes it such a hit. It's not that it's bad or you're ashamed of it...it's just that you never expected that particular story to nab the gold ring. And while you're enormously proud and pleased that it's gotten such accolades, you're still mighty puzzled.

Name a story that keeps surprising you, one you didn't expect to be so popular, but is.

The one that keeps suprising me is Down to the Bone.

 

[rgraham666]

I'm not surprised, it's a damned good story.

The one that surprises me the most is Librarian.

It's really just a quick piece of smut. But boy, do people like it.

 

[EHawkins]

The one that continues to amaze me over and over again, is Sirocco.

The outpouring for this piece was just... incredible. I was really and truly shocked, and it was my fourth offering here at Lit. I don't know what it was that captured people, being that I wrote it rather hurriedly, but...

Sometimes you just can't ask why--sometimes you just gotta go with the flow and ride the wave

 

[3113]

Sometimes you just can't ask why--sometimes you just gotta go with the flow and ride the wave

Oh, I agree! And I'm also well aware that writers sometimes miss the depths or charm a story has. There've been plenty of instances where readers have had to explain to bewiltered writers why a work is so wonderful. It's just odd to be on the other side of that head-scratching fence

 

[S-Des]

My first story got brutalized (I submitted the 1st chapter, then waited to see what the response would be). I had people begging me not to finish it. I took a lot of time, got some help from a couple of other authors, and rewrote the last 3 to make it the best I could. When I submitted it, I was really nervous and expecting the worst. The response was very gratifying. All three chapters made the hot list, and Ch4 is on the top list in LW. It isn't exactly a masterpiece, but I thought it was a clever piece about crime and revenge. Thankfully, most of the readers agreed.

 

[EHawkins]

Oh, I agree! And I'm also well aware that writers sometimes miss the depths or charm a story has. There've been plenty of instances where readers have had to explain to bewiltered writers why a work is so wonderful. It's just odd to be on the other side of that head-scratching fence

Absolutely!

I just finished "Thy Flesh, Consumed" Part II not too long ago, and I really struggled with it, (Erotic Horror is often like that for me...), and I thought some of the scenes were somehow lacking in a way, but I guess the votes speak for themselves because people have enjoyed it.

I often felt that way about parts of "Sirocco" as well. But as you said, sometimes the reader has to explain it to us And sometimes that's really enlightening because it shows that a work really isn't as "bad" or "not up to par" or whatever, as you thought, and gives you a different point of view to look at your work from.

Since I've joined Lit, I've had a ton of moments where I've read feedback and said to myself : "Huh--I never thought of it like that!" And it's really changed the way I view my work in some respects.

 

[pop_54]

Well I'm totally amazed any of mine ever got accepted here let alone most remaining above 4 average for all these years... I've yet to post a story here that I wrote as a serious piece of work... everything I've posted is just tongue in cheek smut or experimental... So I guess I have to say all of mine have surprised me

The other thing that amazes and amuses me about posting on Lit, where the hell else would most of us gain over 50,000 readers for our works.

 

[carsonshepherd]

But have you ever had a story that you didn't expect people to like that much...and they did?

Uh, yes. I thought it was sentimental and hokey and not only did people love it, it won a contest.

Also, my last story I submitted was an unedited mess, and I got the best feedback and votes I'd ever gotten.

 

[joeys-game]

I've only subbed 2 stories and then two with a co-writer. I had never intended to sub anything to Lit, just to meet some people and read the erotic stories.
I recieved good feedback and i guess that j ust surprised the crap out of me..was cool though.

 

[JPMMURPHY]

Hell, the fact ANYONE takes the time to send comments on ANYTHING I've written surprises me. But I always enjoy it.

Don't worry, be happy...

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

3, I'm surprised when anyone like any of the crap I write

 

[TE999]

I received a very nice e-mail from a person who had read two of my stories and wanted to tell me how much he liked them. One was the first story I ever posted on Lit. He encouraged me to keep writing and signed his name.

Many of my stories have H's and all have reasonably high scores. I'm satisfied.

Like Pop says, where else could you post a story and have 79,000 people read it?

And the best is yet to come. (No pun intended )

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I'm not surprised about any of my stories. The ones I thought would be liked are, the ones I don't particularly care for aren't very liked. It all makes sense to me.

 

[3113]

3, I'm surprised when anyone like any of the crap I write

They don't, Jenny. They just live in fear of what you'll do to them if they don't say nice things

And thus continues Jenny's reign of terror

 

[TheeGoatPig]

They don't, Jenny. They just live in fear of what you'll do to them if they don't say nice things

And thus continues Jenny's reign of terror

I loved her gardening story that she started in the forums. That was a great piece of comedy, and surprisingly erotic as well.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

I loved her gardening story that she started in the forums. That was a great piece of comedy, and surprisingly erotic as well.

I love you madly, Thee

 

[elsol]

I'm surprised when people don't like my stories... I put down to the world being full of weirdos.

Yeah... I hit the self-esteem line twice in Heaven, the arrogance line twice too.

 

[Frank Noir]

For some reason, the rating for the latest chapter of "Lusting after Michiko" stands at 5.00 (based, of course, on very few votes - but still...)

Not my best work by far, but I will bask in the glory of that, knowing it will only take one voter to mess up that impressive score.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

The personal letter I wrote to my husband and posted on Lit for our anniversary surprised me...

Riverbanks

It's got an incredibly high score although not a lot of votes... I was really surprised that people even paid attention to it... it was just my own little thing, kwim?

 

[Stella_Omega]

if we're talking about high scores low volume- every chapter of Sarabande stands at 5.00 but not one of them has more than six votes

My highest ranking story, both in score and number of votes, is "Meeting Robby" and it's is the most conventional story I have up. So that kind of doesn't surprise me...

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

The personal letter I wrote to my husband and posted on Lit for our anniversary surprised me...

Riverbanks

It's got an incredibly high score although not a lot of votes... I was really surprised that people even paid attention to it... it was just my own little thing, kwim?

Maybe because it was so touching and heart felt, SK. We don't see that kind of exposure often enough.

 

[Elsie Grey]

My poem Angels, only took two minutes to write and it has some of the nicest comments on it.

Elsie

xxx

 

[pop_54]

I just checked the actual scores/stats on my submissions for the first time in about 6 months... One of the H rated tales I notice has stats as follows:

Voting score: 4.54... Number of votes: 171... Number of Views 103,483... Submitted: 22/01/03... Public comments: 1 (??)

F**k that's a lot of readers for a rank amateur... (But they don't have a lot to say by way of comment)