Trouble choosing a category...

[Stefan_J]

I've recently written a story that can be slotted into three different categories and i'm really unsure which i should put it in. It could go in Erotic Couplings, First-Time and Romance...but i guess i'm leaning more towards Romance and First-Time because the content isn't 'hardcore' enough to go in Erotic Couplings. I'll give a quick rundown of the plot and see what you guys think.

Two highschool friends who have been in love with one another for years finally end up doing it, there's a bit of a storyline at the beginning and while there is sex, it isn't crude and gratuitous - yet the emphasis is on their final pairing and not the fact they're both losing their virginity, that doesn't really come into the story at all.

I know that isn't much help without actually reading the story, but your views and opinions would be appreciated.

Have any of you ever had similar problems with your stories not really meeting a particular criteria?

 

[damppanties]

Romance?

It is difficult to tell without reading the whole story but going by the summary you posted, I'd say romance. You should get the complete story read by someone and then ask them for their comments. Try the Volunteer Editors. If you're still not sure about the category, you can leave a message in the NOTES field of your submission page saying that you're having trouble deciding on a category and asking Laurel to pick a category for you. I guess she'd have a fair idea by now where it should go to.

 

[Jenny _S]

Two highschool friends who have been in love with one another for years finally end up doing it, there's a bit of a storyline at the beginning and while there is sex,it isn't crude and gratuitous

Not crude and gratuitous? You can't post that kind of smut on Literotica ! The sex has to be steamy, crude and gratuitous. Otherwise nobody will ever read it. (We are talking Wankers here for readers. Ok?)

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Re: Trouble choosing a category...

Not crude and gratuitous? You can't post that kind of smut on Literotica ! The sex has to be steamy, crude and gratuitous. Otherwise nobody will ever read it. (We are talking Wankers here for readers. Ok?)

Dear Step,
Jenny beat me to it, but that's what I would have said. Besides, if you post it to "Romance," nobody will read it.
MG

 

[Icingsugar]

Re: Re: Re: Trouble choosing a category...

Besides, if you post it to "Romance," nobody will read it.

Uh, just asking, how many reads in the first weeks is a good "normal" number here?

I thought my Romance story got a shitload of reads. But since I only have one more story to compare it with, maybe I have underestimated the power if Lit?

 

[Stefan_J]

It's steamy......but just not flat out sex, sex, sex.....I dunno, I know there's not much of a market for that sort of story around here where characters 'love' each other, but hey, I had the story in my head and i had to write it...well, if no one reads romance (lets face it, okay, I never touch those stories either) I guess i'll chuck it in the 'First-Time' bin then....it's written, the deed is done, i may as well put it up, the worst that can happen is it gets rubbished, no biggee.

Thanks for your honesty Jenny and MG.

 

[Weird Harold]

well, if no one reads romance (lets face it, okay, I never touch those stories either) I guess i'll chuck it in the 'First-Time' bin then....

Thanks for your honesty Jenny and MG.

Romance doesn't have the massive numbers of readers that other categories have, but it does have a higher quality of readers who are tatistically morelikelyto actually vote and/or send comments.

From your synopsis, Romance seems to be the proper place for your story. Jenny and MG are just a bit more pessimistic than I about the readership here at Lit.

 

[Alex De Kok]

Under two names, I have three Romance pieces, but only one First Time. My First Time piece has garnered 96385 views and 576 votes - a 0.6% return. First posted February 22, 2001.

My Romance pieces, however, have many fewer views. One has 173 votes from 8280 views (2%), first posted December 10, 2001, another has 112 votes from 8441 views (1.3%), first posted October 15, 2000, and the last has 155 votes from 7678 views (2%), first posted July 12, 2002.

The feedback has been noticeably better from the Romance pieces, although I have no figures for that - it's from memory.

It would seem that if you want views, go for First Time but if you are more interested in Feedback, go for Romance.

It is highly probable that other writers have figures which disprove mine, but what the hell, that's my take.

Alex

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

My experience in the Romance category is similar to that of Alex De Kok: fewer views, higher percentage of votes, and more feedback. Maybe it's because they've been relatively kind to my submissions, but readers in that category seem more interested in the quality of the story than the quantity of the sex. So, for what it's worth, I'd suggest you heed Weird Harold's advice.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Stefan_J]

I don't really care about views or votes, that sorta stuff is good to have as a bonus, but more importantly i want people to read it who are its target audience...maybe i was presumptious of thinking about putting it into First-Time...it's a Romance story so it really should go there, thanks guys, you've been a great help, your input is appreaciated.

 

[gauchecritic]

higher quality of readers who are tatistically more likely to actually vote and/or send comments.

I realise it was a typo but I read this as tasteistically and thought it a much better word given the context.

I agree with Harold.

Gauche

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Trouble choosing a category...

Uh, just asking, how many reads in the first weeks is a good "normal" number here?

Dear Ic,
3 to 5. Sometimes as many as 7 if the traffic is heavy.
MG

 

[Icingsugar]

Right. I had that coming, didn't I?

 

[MaxSebastian]

If you're after shed loads of people to read your story, make 'em brother and sister and slot it into 'incest', then book yourself in with a shrink.

Sounds to me like a 'romance' story, straight down the line.

 

[gauchecritic]

slot it into 'incest', then book yourself in with a shrink.

For why?

Gauche

 

[MathGirl]

Right. I had that coming, didn't I?

Dear I,
Yes. I considered it an open invitation.
MG