Votes aren't that important. BUT...

[lovecraft68]

Early on, some readers expressed annoyance at writers submitting stories formatted as chat transcripts or love letters/hot emails. Placing them in their own category - so that readers who enjoyed that format could find them and those who didn't could not-read them - made sense at the time because this was long before one could click on a tag.

Honestly, were I to start the site from scratch, I would probably have half the categories we have now. Starting from scratch with a library and membership this size just isn't an option.

I will say that the Category Hubs are growing in popularity as far as a navigational tool. We eventually plan to expand them and make them more community-oriented, so that readers can share and discuss stories within the category.

Now this is irony. Most of this thread turned into complaining about limited categories.

You post if you started over there would be less.

Not sure why but I find that funny

 

[Laurel]

Now this is irony. Most of this thread turned into complaining about limited categories.

You post if you started over there would be less.

Not sure why but I find that funny

Honestly, I think tagging covers a lot of the ground that Categories once did, and more effectively.

Since we have Categories, we're working to use them to generate more reader feedback to writers, integrate them with relevant tags, and eventually reader-generated category reading lists. And other stuff.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Yep, if I was starting from scratch I wouldn't have any categories per se.

What I would have is hundreds and hundreds of indexes based on tags provided by the authors and readers. The indexes would make the access of the database quick, yet give it the flexibility to have readers make up their own category lists based on tags.

Instead of the story file being the main access, the indexes would be bundled together in a story cloud. Each user could build their own cloud of tags they would look for.

Eventually, tags like "cheating wife", "slut wife", MFm, etc. would accumulate the same stories into a list for the reader.

Of course without the ability to easily assign a tag to a story this becomes moot. Especially after the story has been posted.

 

[sr71plt]

I will say that the Category Hubs are growing in popularity as far as a navigational tool. We eventually plan to expand them and make them more community-oriented, so that readers can share and discuss stories within the category.

And thereby increasing the disparity in reader service?

 

[Bramblethorn]

Early on, some readers expressed annoyance at writers submitting stories formatted as chat transcripts or love letters/hot emails. Placing them in their own category - so that readers who enjoyed that format could find them and those who didn't could not-read them - made sense at the time because this was long before one could click on a tag.

Honestly, were I to start the site from scratch, I would probably have half the categories we have now. Starting from scratch with a library and membership this size just isn't an option.

Oh yeah. I'm not volunteering to help recategorise hundreds of thousands of stories ;-)

 

[sr71plt]

Nor is that really an issue in this. Just more flak thrown up in the air.

 

[RoyceConnors]

How about they just add one more category to make you happy Pilot. It can be called SR71Plt's stories, because your stories are so important to read.

I'd be happy going to less categories and have tabs that take me to stories that I want to read. Say, go to Lesbian and then click strap on, domination, etc and I'll have a list of all the stories of that ilk. I can save that search and not have to do it again.

 

[sr71plt]

Or a backbiter category for you, Royce.

Your personal attacks don't counter my point in the least. It just makes you look like a jerk.

 

[lovecraft68]

How about they just add one more category to make you happy Pilot. It can be called SR71Plt's stories, because your stories are so important to read.

I brought that up a bunch of posts ago so we now have 2 votes to give Pilot his own category.

I also want to request a forum just for him so he won't have to deal with all us inferior beings anymore

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I brought that up a bunch of posts ago so we now have 2 votes to give Pilot his own category.

I also want to request a forum just for him so he won't have to deal with all us inferior beings anymore

Good ideas.

 

[RoyceConnors]

Or a backbiter category for you, Royce.

It's like this Pilot. You're either part of the solution or part of the problem. It doesn't take much to go back through this thread and see where problems lie and who causes them. Call me a backbiter if you want, just stating facts as they're presented to everyone.

I've had no problem getting readers to check my stuff out. I'm not saying I have a huge following, but starting from scratch with the stories I've put out and the cats I'm in, I find it's continually getting attention on the merits of the story itself and nothing to do with how it's promoted.

The biggest thing that's gets me noticed are the billboards in the top lists that I'm always on. It's sitting in the first several places every month on top and taking up the lion share of the top ten for the year. I have 21 chs that take up the top 50 stories in Celebs for the 12 mth period.

I was a nobody from no where when I started out and now I have a following, so it's not pigeon-holing stories into more categories and subdivisions that will make your stories more readable. It's writing something people REALLY like and even the errors are ignored for the sake of the story and scored high regardless.

I get what I get because I earned the recognition, not ask to have it given to me. This site just needs some fine tuning to get it right, but overall we're all on here for the same reason and enjoying the time here is hard when people gripe about themselves and others, that they're not being treated fairly.

 

[RoyceConnors]

Or a backbiter category for you, Royce.

Your personal attacks don't counter my point in the least. It just makes you look like a jerk.

Seeing as you added to your first post, I'm not attacking you, quit being so defensive. Your posts clearly show that's what you want here, is your own category. No other GM writers but you have issues.

If you think I look like a jerk, you need to grow up and learn to conduct yourself like an adult with an education and some life skills.

 

[sr71plt]

You weren't attacking me? That's interesting. You seem to be threatened by this discussion--enough to lash out in a personal attack. Tough for you.

 

[lovecraft68]

It's like this Pilot. You're either part of the solution or part of the problem. It doesn't take much to go back through this thread and see where problems lie and who causes them. Call me a backbiter if you want, just stating facts as they're presented to everyone.

I've had no problem getting readers to check my stuff out. I'm not saying I have a huge following, but starting from scratch with the stories I've put out and the cats I'm in, I find it's continually getting attention on the merits of the story itself and nothing to do with how it's promoted.

The biggest thing that's gets me noticed are the billboards in the top lists that I'm always on. It's sitting in the first several places every month on top and taking up the lion share of the top ten for the year. I have 21 chs that take up the top 50 stories in Celebs for the 12 mth period.

I was a nobody from no where when I started out and now I have a following, so it's not pigeon-holing stories into more categories and subdivisions that will make your stories more readable. It's writing something people REALLY like and even the errors are ignored for the sake of the story and scored high regardless.

I get what I get because I earned the recognition, not ask to have it given to me. This site just needs some fine tuning to get it right, but overall we're all on here for the same reason and enjoying the time here is hard when people gripe about themselves and others, that they're not being treated fairly.

Your post hits it on the head. If you write long enough people will find you. You will build a following and they will "take care of you" with your stories.

The bigger the following the better your stories will do and you will get on top lists for the categories and that does bring you notice.

Even though it is free, lit is like any business. You have to build it by giving someone a product that they want.

Pilot's issue resides with the simple selfish fact that all he considers is his stories. They are not where he thinks they should be so it must be trolls ot it has to be the site working against him.

have you heard they are prejudiced and biased?

Excuses excuses excuses.

I have heard people mention a Bi category before. But I have never seen anyone whine so much about how unfair the site is to their stories.

In reality Pilot is the cause for his sub par reception here, but he will never see that.

 

[RoyceConnors]

You weren't attacking me? That's interesting. You seem to be threatened by this discussion--enough to lash out in a personal attack. Tough for you.

There it is right there. How did I attack you? So stating facts you don't agree with, is considered attacking you? You do need a few life lessons Plt.

 

[sr71plt]

It's sort of fun to see how many folks are threatened by me being on the forum--and exhaustively doing everything they can to push me off the Web site.

Here, for instance, I'm just pointing out the obvious. My point was that the structure of the category system here isn't equitable.

If you are looking for a hetero Romance story, you have a category here to click on, where all of the stories claim to be Romance and there are various lists to highlight stories and authors and to help you pick a story.

If you are looking for a GM Romance story, you have one category to go to and then you have to keyword search to avoid clicking into another genre you aren't looking for, and maybe don't want to see, e.g., incest or BDSM. The lists on the category page don't highlight the genre you are looking for in any way.

If you are looking for a bi Romance story, your only choice is to keyword search from the main story page. No highlight of bi anything anywhere.

If you wish to argue against the truth of that, you are blind or dumb or pretending, or, as is the case on the forum, just obsessed with personally attacking me, even though I was only stating the obvious and have repeatedly said I was just stating the "what is" and not planning on it either changing or stopping me from continuing to submit whatever I want to write here.

It's sort of fun to point out what you guys are up to here.

 

[RoyceConnors]

It's sort of fun to see how many folks are threatened by me being on the forum--and exhaustively doing everything they can to push me off the Web site.

Here, for instance, I'm just pointing out the obvious. My point was that the structure of the category system here isn't equitable.

If you are looking for a hetero Romance story, you have a category here to click on, where all of the stories claim to be Romance and there are various lists to highlight stories and authors and to help you pick a story.

If you are looking for a GM Romance story, you have one category to go to and then you have to keyword search to avoid clicking into another genre you aren't looking for, and maybe don't want to see, e.g., incest or BDSM. The lists on the category page don't highlight the genre you are looking for in any way.

If you are looking for a bi Romance story, your only choice is to keyword search from the main story page. No highlight of bi anything anywhere.

If you wish to argue against the truth of that, you are blind or dumb or pretending, or, as is the case on the forum, just obsessed with personally attacking me, even though I was only stating the obvious and have repeatedly said I was just stating the "what is" and not planning on it either changing or stopping me from continuing to submit whatever I want to write here.

It's sort of fun to point out what you guys are up to here.

Only in your mind, Space Ranger. Is it time for meds yet? Just wondering.

 

[sr71plt]

TxRad noted what you guys were up to farther up the thread, and here you go again. Really feel threatened, don't you?

 

[RoyceConnors]

TxRad noted what you guys were up to farther up the thread, and here you go again. Really feel threatened, don't you?

Threatened by what exactly? I'm failing to see where you feel I'm threatened by you. I'm seeing a pathetic person trying to make a stand on foundering principles and logic. Enlighten me, oh soothsayer, to what I'm missing, for I'm only finding humour in your posts.

 

[sr71plt]

And back to the original topic, the rating on my most recent Lit. story went to 4.67, posted hot, and then steadily has been cut down to 3.85 over the course of this thread. Typical, as many others have pointed out.

And yet on Sunday, I'll submit another story.

 

[SecondCircle]

I like the tabbing idea too I think, Royce. Sort a branching from one point toward the specific type of story you'd like to read. Maybe along with that could be a more centralized top lists deal or something. Tags could be sorta selectable through the very tabs themselves as well.

Of course that would be quite an overhaul. I don't necessarily disagree with Pilot. It'd be cool to have a bisex category. And it'd be nice if there were some way that same sex stories could have equal footing.

But as a reader in those cats, I do just fine finding the stories (specifically) that I wanna read. If I chose to submit to those categories, I'm still reaching my target audience. I think that's really how the cats were set up to begin with. With the reader in mind, can they find the basic story they want to read with a click. There are more (and definitely more specific) cats for hetero, yes. And you could submit a Romance story to Romance, but Laurel will most likely redirect it to GM because it would be better received there. Not most likely, that will happen.

But as a reader and writer it works for me on a basic level. I read GM "First Times" and LS "Group Sex's" that seem to do very well and reach those specific audiences, regardless if there are 800 hetero cats (many of which are arguably not needed themselves). So FOR ME (not everyone) in my personal experience, it works fine, and doesn't seem unfair. But as PennLady put it (Happy BDay) its really just what you're used to.

Goddamnit LC, why'd you have to go and post that last link? I'm on my phone right now and the thread got wider than a fat guy with two cannibal midgets fighting in his rib cage.

 

[lovecraft68]

TxRad noted what you guys were up to farther up the thread, and here you go again. Really feel threatened, don't you?

Oh, yes and I was very intimidated.

You kill me

"Did you see Tx said you guys were picking on me? Did you? Cause you are!"

And I can assure you no one here is threatened by you.

What should we be intimidated by? Your domination of the site top lists? All your contest wins? Your average of less than 1.5 favs that each of your stories gets?

Are we threatened by your stellar personality? Your compulsive lying disorder?

You're a toothless dog in this fight Pilot. No one else blames the site for lack of success here. Just you.

 

[RoyceConnors]

And back to the original topic, the rating on my most recent Lit. story went to 4.67, posted hot, and then steadily has been cut down to 3.85 over the course of this thread. Typical, as many others have pointed out.

And yet on Sunday, I'll submit another story.

And being on the original topic, my latest started out at 5 for 7 votes, bombed twice, corrected by a sweep I guess and back at 4.92, so I guess it has the score it deserves, making my earlier point salient. You get what you put out there.
You have quantity scores, where I have quality scores plain and simple.

And yes, on Sunday I'll submit another chapter of Blood of the Clans, or two if they're short and keep my readers happy. They mark accordingly after reading and trolls who hate seeing my scores being so high all the time get jealous and bomb me out of position. I don't give a shit if they do. The readers will always keep scoring what it deserves and the troll scores disappear.

Do I ever expect to see another chapter hit 5 and stay there? Not a chance. Do they deserve that 5, most feel they do. So votes don't really mean shit here and anyone who cries about them should get a grip on the big picture. I look at the long line of red H's down my page and give myself a pat that I write at that level consistently. I have 64 H's out of 65 chapters and lots of 5's, so shouldn't I get more recognition for my stuff then?

I don't write in a league of my own, Plt. I write and hope I'm good enough to get noticed in what's out there and grab my piece of it by doing something better than the next guy. If anyone should feel threatened, it's you Plt. You've been at it far longer than I have and many others and we're beating you hands down at your own game. Pick it up and do better, or hang them up and call it a day.

 

[lovecraft68]

And back to the original topic, the rating on my most recent Lit. story went to 4.67, posted hot, and then steadily has been cut down to 3.85 over the course of this thread. Typical, as many others have pointed out.

And yet on Sunday, I'll submit another story.

Oh, the courage you exude! A low score yet you will go on!

There should be a lit badge of courage just for you!

Well, no, there shouldn't be because here you are again whining about your score.

Must be the trolls and site because no way should anyone do anything less than drop to their knees and thank the gods for yet another story from the (self perceived) greatest writer here.

You blow more smoke than scouries ever did.

BTW my story is at a 1.81.

I think its fucking hilarious.

 

[RoyceConnors]

I like the tabbing idea too I think, Royce. Sort a branching from one point toward the specific type of story you'd like to read. Maybe along with that could be a more centralized top lists deal or something. Tags could be sorta selectable through the very tabs themselves as well.

Of course that would be quite an overhaul. I don't necessarily disagree with Pilot. It'd be cool to have a bisex category. And it'd be nice if there were some way that same sex stories could have equal footing.

But as a reader in those cats, I do just fine finding the stories (specifically) that I wanna read. If I chose to submit to those categories, I'm still reaching my target audience. I think that's really how the cats were set up to begin with. With the reader in mind, can they find the basic story they want to read with a click. There are more (and definitely more specific) cats for hetero, yes. And you could submit a Romance story to Romance, but Laurel will most likely redirect it to GM because it would be better received there. Not most likely, that will happen.

But as a reader and writer it works for me on a basic level. I read GM "First Times" and LS "Group Sex's" that seem to do very well and reach those specific audiences, regardless if there are 800 hetero cats (many of which are arguably not needed themselves). So FOR ME (not everyone) in my personal experience, it works fine, and doesn't seem unfair. But as PennLady put it (Happy BDay) its really just what you're used to.

Goddamnit LC, why'd you have to go and post that last link? I'm on my phone right now and the thread got wider than a fat guy with two cannibal midgets fighting in his rib cage.

There can never be anything like a Bisex cat. If a straight woman is playing FF it's lesbian. If a straight guy goes MM, it's GM. Only way Bisex would go in, is if it was a tab, like I said. Like having a first time tab in GM, or lesbian to click on. Or switching sides, A separate cat would never work for both.

I think main cats with tab subdivisions would be the easiest overhaul to help straighten things out and not disrupt everything too much from how it is now.