What determines "hot"

[justgem]

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[KillerMuffin]

Check the FAQ section on the story index page.

H is given by reader votes. If you have 10 or more votes with a score of over 4.50 you get an H. 25 or more votes gets you on the top lists if your score is high enough.

Laurel gives out the E's because they signify stories that she likes.

 

[justgem]

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[jerryl50]

What is "HOT?"

The Literotical answer of the "H" tag has been answered, but I liked the more theortical implications of your subject question; i.e., "What is 'HOT' "?

Naturally, it would be a subjective debate, but one that perhaps ought to be considered at more length in this thread.

In my own work, and work I enjoy reading, I find vivid imagery and action scenes presented in a lively fashion make a story or poem "hot" to read, regardless of the subject matter of the sexual content of the story.

I'd be interested to see where other writers go with this idea of just what "HOT" is.

Thought I'd add a little to your consderations.

bookworm

 

[Singularity]

The Definition of 'Hot'

To me, something that is 'hot' includes most of the following attributes:

Sensual, evocative language and visual imagery.

A sense of daring and adventure by the characters, and when they explore some new aspect of themselves and their partner(s).

When I can identify with one or more of the characters, and get sucked into the story line or scene, wanting to be able to experience what they are doing for myself.

When I envy the author's imagination and wish I had thought of an idea or twist that they have used.

That is what is most important to me, besides the very basic, primal/hormonal reaction, of course.

 

[justgem]

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[UCE]

"So, here's the thing: how in the world can the story reviewers of Lit actually read everything they receive?"

I have no idea how they do it, but I know they do more than run a keyword search because one of my stories was recently rejected for not separating the dialog out into separate paragraphs. You can't find that sort of thing with a keyword checker, as far as I know.

 

[Mylynka]

Thanks for asking

I was about to ask this myself. I just had two stories accepted yesterday and one of them ran with an H tag all day but now I've noticed the tag is gone. But now reading thru these posts it makes sense.

My story, A Visit To The Tack Shop is running with 25 votes currently but only at a 4.40 ranking.

 

[NaughtyMike]

Any half ass story about lesbian incest rates an "E"... go figure.

 

[justgem]

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[Mylynka]

Very Helpful

Yes it was very helpful Gem. While I'm new to posting stories here, I am not new to having stories in print elsewhere. Mostly I've done fan oriented sites for certain celebs (well...ONE main celeb) and I'm quite use to my work being critiqued. I just couldn't quite figure out the rating scale here. I have since had email conatact with another of the writers here and she too has been a wonderful help to me in figuring all of this out. I must say, you people are just about the friendliest I've found where other writers are concerned. I've been seriously blasted by some on the fan sites I go to but that is mostly because I took liberties with their "idol" I've actually been writing for a very long time, it just took opportunities like literotica.com to help me get my nerve up to put more of my stuff out.

As far as the ratings go...wow...they DO come and go quite frequently don't they. In one day's time one of my stories went from 4.40 up to 4.67 and now back down to 4.49 and the HOT tag has been on and off of it more times than I can shake a stick at...lol. Guess I'll just sit back and relax and forget about all the "what's hot and what's not" for now. I am just totally enjoying seeing how many people are reading my story...it's mind boggling and quite thrilling actually.

Oh wow...sorry about getting windy. Us writers...SHEESH

Mylynka

http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=64666
http://www.literotica.com/stories/showstory.php?id=64668

 

[NaughtyMike]

Re: ty's 4 your imput

UCE:

theres gotta be something they do to be able to detect something like that. i have absolutly no idea how they can single out something like dialogue/paragraphs either. perhaps someone else knows just what they do...i for one would be interested in finding out.

Mylinka, im glad this helped u too...it was driving me nuts!

hmmmm, Naughty Mike, i had not noticed that. apparently it is a personal preference... *shrugs* guess we can be glad there is no money involved, if there were perhaps it would be cause for concern. im just happy to improve my writing from some very useful comments that have been sent. dont let it frustrate u

bw all

gem

Actually I had no one particular in mind when I made the statement, other than the editors. While other stories do rate an E, the bulk tend to be stories that include a lesbian incest scene- almost automatically get an "E" regardless of the talent of the author.

 

[justgem]

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[justgem]

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[falcon29]

What is 'Hot'? Conversely...

Just as the degree of 'heat' is subjective, I guess the degree of 'cold' is, as well.
I came here to express a peeve about some of the stories I've read here in various categories. What turns me off a story -- unless it's in the fantasy & sci-fi category, where you begin by suspending belief, is the sophomoric exaggeration :

'The four women clamored for my attention...'
'My soft 7" dick expanded another four inches as it hardened.'

I mean, really. I guess there is the rare 12" penis, and certainly a lot of people have experienced simultaneous, multiple partners, including myself. I also realize that this is a predominantly fictional site.

Still, whenever I encounter a story with that kind of "Munchausenism" (to coin a term) I'm immediately turned off and I go to a different story. I don't vote, I don't offer feedback. I don't feel it is worth the time.

How does anyone else feel about this?

 

[gauchecritic]

hot'n'not

If it gets you moist or hard it's hot.

Looking for 'literary worth' on a site, which by its title, implies its raison d'etre is to get you wet/hard seems to me to be a fruitless and pointless task. If literary worth appears (even more subjective) then this is an added bonus.

The reason I post stories on this site is to turn people on, my literary credentials are nil on paper, practised from age and worthy to some degree from the voting/feedback system, so I must be doing something right, and I'm seriously considering the lesbian/incest angle to test out the red 'H' for old rope theory.

Gauche

 

[NaughtyMike]

Re: *shaking my head*

Naughty Mike

sigh.....thats a shame. i have a real appreciation for stories that r well written and draw me in. and i must admit that i have had friends in the past who have asked me to read and edit their stuff. and sometimes just trying to figure out the misconstructed sentence is a job in itself.

the sad part is.... what ever criteria or program the stories r put thru... there doesnt seem to be a program that sends a story back and says...learn grammar! your repeating yourself! theres no flow.....

i know there is an editors program u can send your story to to be "fixed" but there r ppl here who post that obviously dont use it. when chatting or writing here (in the bb's) i use alot of abbreviations and dont alway use punctuation etc (obviously) but i am very aware of it in any story i post.

and yes...some of the stories leave u thinking...."your point is....?"

while there r some stories that u wonder.....now why isnt this one more read... or this one should be recommended...it was sooooooo well done!!!!

maybe the reason i didnt notice your point b4 is that i just dont tend to read the lesbian/incest theme unless asked by someone in particular to read their particular story. its sad that the theme seems to be more the criteria (if it is... im taking your opinion here cause i havent searched myself) rather than the authors talent.



bw

gem

http://www.literotica.com/stories/m...e.php?uid=65261

There are only a few things which determine if a story even gets read by the viewers. One is catagory. The other is the title and story description. Catagory is more important. Let's say you had a group or lesbian sex story which was also incest. It would have to go in the incest section to get the most reads. The same story and title in a group or lesbian section would get less reads. It is taking me a while, but I am catching on to the game.

Hot stories tend to be those that are one page- quick and minor character description, place setting- into the sex build up then the sex. Anything more than that is a waste it you desire high marks. I personally have trouble writing a story that short. I like to make mine long and generally with 3 cum shots minimum. I also have a saga going in my stories- they are all interconnected, yet can all stand by themselves.

 

[the_bragis]

Still, whenever I encounter a story with that kind of "Munchausenism" (to coin a term) I'm immediately turned off and I go to a different story.

How does anyone else feel about this?

Well, falcon29, I'm an average ordinary kind of lady, and every day I see around me average and ordinary kind of people, so when I read something on this site, I do enjoy a little exaggeration. I especially enjoy it if it's a little satirical also. If it make me smile (for more than one reason), for me it's hot.

I read a wonderful story in here yesterday about visit to a proctologist. I have to tell you (and all the other men I know) there's no way a prostate examination is ever going to be that freaking good, ('sorry!) but it was still a very entertaining read.

I guess everyone is different.

Have a great day now.

Alex (fem).

 

[Singularity]

Does Size Really Matter?

I agree with NaughtyMike that the category a story appears in seems to make a world of difference. If it is in Incest, then it almost always does well, regardles of the literary value.

I am not sure I agree with the short-and-sweet assessment, though. A good number of the stories I have read that have been very-hot on the personal scale and also on the scoring-scale have been 3+ Lit pages long.

I tend to write long stories. A 'chapter' to me ends up being 10-15 Lit pages and I usually break it up to make it smaller, to make it less of a chore for the readers. I think that length is a secondary consideration. A well-written story of 3-5 Lit pages can still do well, though I have seen more one-pagers that are execrable but have scored unbelievably well.

While a short story can definitely be hot and can have a substantial impact when it is very well crafted, I believe that most really good/hot stories need a bit more than one page to develop enougth to be both hot and to have at least a modicum of redeeming literary value.

So, perhaps the high scoring stories are shorter, but the hotter ones are a bit longer, all other things being equal (which is a rule made to be broken, of course).

 

[Mylynka]

<<whenever I encounter a story with that kind of "Munchausenism" (to coin a term) I'm immediately turned off and I go to a different story.>>


Hmmmm...actually I always thought these were erotic fantasy stories so why not be able to exagerate a bit? How do you fantisize about yourself? Are you always as you are in real life or as you would be in an ideal situation, meaning....exagerated. I for one know my breasts are large...I look at the dang things everyday but I also know they can hardly be classed as ample and firm considering age plays a factor in that and no, I'm NOT old...just mature, but still, if I am writing a story in the first person I always describe myself as having just that...firm, ample breasts which the man is sure to take fully into his mouth. Very few men lust over a pair of AA cups. And of course my men aren't going to be little 3 or 4 inchers. What woman in their right mind lusts over something that small. I want something that I will be able to 'feel' inside of me without having to do the hootchie dance just to get a bit of friction going, something fulfilling.

The whole point of these stories, I thought, was to make you...the reader, hot and horny and I can't say that I know anyone who fantasizes exactly as things are. (Am I making any sense here?)

I have to agree with Gauche here "If it gets you moist or hard it's hot" And for most people it takes a bit of exageration to get one that way from a written story.

Just my 2 cents worth

Mylynka

 

[Whispersecret]

When I write a story, I want it to be entertaining and arousing. You're probably saying to yourself, "Yeah, of course. I want that too." But I get the distinct feeling that the goal of many writers is to evoke a sexual response in the reader, and that entertainment is a side issue. To me, they're of equal value when I'm writing erotic.

To be entertaining, I feel a story needs compelling characters, a plot (you know, a beginning, middle, and end that isn't just foreplay, sex, and climax), conflict and resolution (heh, heh, that's probably plot), and style.

To be arousing? I just write what I think is hot. Part of what makes something hot to me is the build-up. Hey, I'm a woman. The sex can't just be sex for sex's sake. For a scene to really come alive for me, I have to know the motivation behind these two people becoming intimate.

I don't worry about whether the bulk of the readership will think my stuff is hot. Everyone has their own opinion. If I get Hs, great. I'm proud of the Hs I have, and even prouder, now that I found out from Weird Harold that they are usually transitory things, that I've had the little darlings for a while. But on the other hand, if I don't get them, no worries. I can't please everyone, nor do I want to. I please myself first, and if other people like it that's just gravy.

In general, I don't care for grossly exaggerated physical attributes. The writer usually has the characters wielding these massive appendages in unbelievable ways. Also, the stories that have this type of thing usually have so many other flaws that I just find myself rolling my eyes, thinking, "Oh, come ON,' and backclicking.

 

[KillerMuffin]

My lesbian incest porn didn't get an E.

 

[Laurel]

"So, here's the thing: how in the world can the story reviewers of Lit actually read everything they receive?"

I have no idea how they do it, but I know they do more than run a keyword search because one of my stories was recently rejected for not separating the dialog out into separate paragraphs. You can't find that sort of thing with a keyword checker, as far as I know.

We read em. No keyword checkers, nothing but us and Word 2000. Our eyes tire, and sometimes we miss things, but we do read em.

As far as "literary merit", you have to remember this is an open submission writer's site. That is, we publish pretty much anyone who submits who can follow our guidelines. Some writers at Lit are very accomplished, know how to tell a story, and even write professionally. Others are folks who haven't put two words together since high school, but want to tell the world about their fantasies, or about a wild night with their ex.

If you go to any writing site that publishes public submissions - be it mystery, sci-fi, or general fiction - you will find the variation in writing talent and experience. I cringe when I hear, "It's smut - it has no literary merit." ALL GENRES have literary merit. They're STORIES, for crying out loud. Some would dismiss horror as a valid genre, but that would be to disregard the talents of folks like Poe and Lovecraft. It's the writer, not the subject, that determines the effectiveness and literary quality of a work.

 

[H piltdown]

I’m a real newbie here, but one thing seems very obvious to me; those that check all the stories submitted to this site have some real eyesight problems to look forward to in retirement. No envy here. Y’all deserve all the credit you receive, and then some. My opinion is that you folks do a very fine job. My wife and I have been reading the stories here for a few years.

As for the rating system, it does appear to be a bit skewed. For instance, one of the first things I noticed when exploring this site was the unusually high number of stories in the Toplists which fall into the Mature, and predominately into the Incest categories. To me, this speaks volumes regarding a large part of the readership. If majority rules, in this case, no matter how well written or original a story not falling into the above categories may be, it has little chance of even visiting the Toplists.

I am not insinuating that the more popular categories do not contain quality writing, but that some very good stories may undeservedly go unnoticed. This would be a loss to the entire community. Unfortunately, this is also a problem in society as a whole. The ‘E’ rating does provide one answer. However I do not believe the opinion of only one judge, (even though that one judge is beyond repute), is sufficient to eliminate bias of subject matter.

As for over exaggeration, I agree with Falcon to a point. Making every man into John Holmes with 10 gallons of semen stored up, and every woman into Betty Page leaving bucket sized puddles of moisture behind is laughable. Then again, it is a story intended for arousal. Pushing the limits of ‘normal’ should be expected, and desired. I, for one, am not interested in reading an erotic story about Janet Reno, when I could be reading one about Demi Moore. One exception—If the story about Janet Reno is so well written, and so unique it becomes a must read.

Mostly, what I enjoy reading in erotica is a story which begins quite introspectively and uses narrative well. I want to see the author’s vision, and have an extensive understanding of the characters. I need real villains to hate, and real heroes to pull for. Then, when the action starts to roll, give me short staccato sentences, and strong verbiage. I want the scene to sweep me up, and take me into the story. Sorry, I like strong action. I’m a guy!

 

[LivingUnicorn]

My lesbian incest porn didn't get an E.

Mine neither KM, Guess I'll have to try again.

Either way Laurel and Manu do a very very good job with this site and I have no complaints.

(okay so I was sucking up a little there )

LU