Trends, Scores, Curiosity, and Feedback

[PrevertOne]

Recently I've started posting a new batch of stories on the site; the first in well over a year and the most I've posted over a short period. Like many writers, I pop in to check the scores occasionally and look for feedback, favorites, etc. With all the new stories I posted, and the short time involved, certain trends I hadn't noticed before, seem to have emerged: (1) My stories seem to have initially high or favorable scores for roughly the first ten votes, then drop precipitously over the next ten; (2) I attract favorites but mostly from readers who are new or relatively new to the site.

The faves are flattering and very appreciated. I'm just curious what the veterans and long timers think. I seem to maintain solid scores in the four range, but I wonder if the drops indicate backlash against earlier high scores. I hesitate to call them one bombs. Some people may just not like my stories, I accept that. Certainly, the Gold Peony story doesn't have pleasant characters. The feedback I get is somewhat scant and mostly in the "Please write more," category, with little information as to what people really think, beyond wanting more. I need a clearer picture, so I'm going to take a risk and do something I rarely do: ask for feedback. So I ask the readers, what do you think? Here are the stories:

http://www.literotica.com/s/gold-peony-and-the-sinuous-wife-ch-01

http://www.literotica.com/s/hentai-world-ch-01

http://www.literotica.com/s/skin-ch-01

I'm looking for truth, but also something constructive, and maybe some conversation, in spite of my poor communication skills

 

[sr71plt]

You might also notice some of those new readers unfavoriting your stories. Apparently it's a "thing" to index stories for future reading by marking them as favorites, reading them sometime later, and then unfavoriting them.

 

[PrevertOne]

Unfaves

You might also notice some of those new readers unfavoriting your stories. Apparently it's a "thing" to index stories for future reading by marking them as favorites, reading them sometime later, and then unfavoriting them.

I suspect it will happen at some point in the future, regarding the stories. A lot of the faves are author faves, so maybe I've made an impression on some of the new people.

 

[PrevertOne]

Well, it was worth a shot.

Well, it looks like this post is bust. Some nice responses to my stories, though, albeit the scores aren't where I'd like them to be. Seems a few think my chapters are too short. I guess there's no interest in this post though. Ah well, c'est la vie. :shrug:

 

[sr71plt]

Readers linking from here may have put their comments there. One phenomenon that you might be careful of, though, is that if you complain on the forum about voting and comments you don't like, you are likely to attract detractors who will give you more of the same.

This is a wide-ranging site on reading tastes. If you had noted what category your stories are in you might have gotten more business from here.

Your OP comments indicate you are seeing the same patterns that most other authors here see as well, so, other than "join the crowd," there might not be much else to say.

 

[PrevertOne]

Readers linking from here may have put their comments there. One phenomenon that you might be careful of, though, is that if you complain on the forum about voting and comments you don't like, you are likely to attract detractors who will give you more of the same.

This is a wide-ranging site on reading tastes. If you had noted what category your stories are in you might have gotten more business from here.

Your OP comments indicate you are seeing the same patterns that most other authors here see as well, so, other than "join the crowd," there might not be much else to say.

I never, if any complain about voting or comments. People like what they like or don't. I was just looking for specifics. I noted a couple who think my chapters are too short. That's useful information. Forgetting to specify categories was a mistake on my part; for further info, the stories are in the sci-fi/fantasy, and nonhuman categories. If other authors see the same pattern, maybe there's an overall trend, possibly indicating changes in readers' tastes? Presuming the others write in various categories?

 

[sr71plt]

Time to haul out the mantra, I guess. The readership at Literotica is huge. There are legions here who will both love and hate nearly everything you could possibly think of writing. Just write and post what you like to write. You'll have some detractors, no matter what, but you'll also have a following. If you can convince yourself that you never can please everyone and to enjoy having a connection to an audience you do please, you'll save yourself a lot of grief (and a lot of repeated discussions on the forum).

 

[StoryOfMy_Life]

I have a story with more Favorites than votes. I'm thrilled when readers choose my story as a favorite, but I'd love the corresponding 5* vote. I'm worried the favs are just bookmarks, and I'll wake up to a string of broken hearts.

 

[sr71plt]

Know how you feel. I received glowing e-mails and then check back to see that the vote total/rating on the story hasn't changed since the last time I looked.