What do you consider "successful" for your stories?

KillerMuffin

Seraphically Disinclined
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We're discussing one of mine this week at the story discussion forum and I stated that if my story disturbed the reader and the reader felt a strong emotion toward the characters, then I considered that particular story successful.

What do you consider to be the defining "thing" that makes your story successful?
 
Good question

Well, those are two pretty good criteria, I reckon. In the stories I've written specifically for this site, I've tried to do three things. First, write a hot, nasty stroke story. Second, have interesting characters. Third, have something to say besides just telling a sex story-- have some social satire or social commentary. I try to make people realize how rotten this society is, and how shabbily they're treated, especially in the workplace.
:mad:

Ah, who am I kidding-- I'm far more shallow than that! My idea of a successful story is one that gets a high rating, plenty of votes and views, and also gets me laid!
:p
 
A couple of things come to mind.

1. Written feedback. Personally, I don't send email to authors of so-so stories. I imagine other people don't either. So, getting feedback from strangers is probably my number one verification that I've written something good, that I've been successful.

2. If I can go back weeks, months, or even a year later and think to myself, "Yeah, I did good with that one," then I am successful in my own mind. I have a story on another site (oh, the blasphemy!) and I haven't gotten too much response on it, and yet, I read it once in a while and get my own sense of satisfaction from it. So, even if it doesn't resonate inside anyone else, I feel that it's good.

In a way, that type of intrinsic self-recognition is as important as the other.

One thing that doesn't enter the equation anymore is the voting. I've somehow managed to only care about 5% about voting. If someone gives me a three--that could be pretty high in their book. It's so subjective. On the other hand, there's no mistaking meaning when someone writes to you, "You write wonderfully. I could not put down your book! I cancelled a meeting with someone quite important so I could read the rest of it."

That kind of feedback is worth more than gold.
 
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Successful Stories........?

For me.............

It certainly isn't the "voting". I think a successful story is one that seems to generate ALOT of feedback. And I mean the bad ones as much as the good ones.

And I'm not talking feedback where someone writes me just to point out they are an English Major, and that I fucked up in my grammer or use of the english language once in a while. I'm talking when a story I've written causes someone to feel strongly enough to write and tell me why they liked something, or why they hated what a particular character did or didn't do. To me, thats the penultimate compliment that it got to the reader one way or another.

After all......it really IS just a story. (Sort of like how we tend to identify with Sipowitz on NYPD Blue). You love him, or you hate him....and he's not real either. But we are made to feel that he is. That's the talent and gift of a good actor. So as writers, if we can generate the kind of feedback that makes someone "NEED" to want to write you and say I hated that guy, or that woman...or I loved this character, or what you managed to do in this situation.

Then that to me is success. And especially when I get a followup after what ends up usually as a lenghty email discussion. And hate it or like it....then they ask: "So.....when you going to do a part two?"

To sleep............perchance to dream - William Shakespear

http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=39666

I remain...........
 
It all depends on the story I've written. For instance, if the story was a stroke story and I get lots of feedback about how people 'got off' during the story, then I consider it a huge success.

Now if a story is plot heavy, then I automatically know I'm not going to get a lot of readers. I would say 90% of readers don't want any plot to ruin a good story.

For instance, Taming the Teach , is mostly stroke. I got about 200 feedbacks, almost all of them short and to the effect of "I loved the story, it made me cum!"

On the other hand,
The Haunting of Heather , is plot heavy and involves a ghost. I've only received around 10 or 12 feedbacks, but most of them have been a half a page in length and much more personal.


As for me, I consider both stories a success, for different reasons.

Cheers!

Couture



My Stories
 
If i can go back weeks or months later and still feel an emotional tug from the story than I know it was fairly decent. The voting is very frustrating, when I pour out my heart and fantasies in a story and it does very well in the voting, then someone bombs it with a 1 and it disappears into literotica hell i do get a little discouraged. But, if HE liked them and i liked them, then i guess that's as much as can be expected in this forum. Good question, ty for posting it.
karlynn
 
Who you write for

First if it is something I am writing for my SO and all the reaction I get out of him is "Oh it was nice" I'm disapointed. (I'm often disapointed.)
Most of the time I write for me and everyone else is secondary. If I can get my thoughts and feelings to paper and move on from there I've completed my task.
I am most of the time my own worst critic (See "Aclesiasties on the Poetry Circut" (I think I spelt it wrong) by Erica Jong.) but when I get good feedback I feel like I've done something....
 
When a message is understood

WS--

Writing well is when a writer effectively conveys her thoughts to another. Communication is about comprehension. When a reader says, "Your message resonated me. I got it", I get a major rush usually followed by an exclamation, "YES". :D

Peace,

d
 
To me, a story is successful when after I've nearly forgotten I've written it, I can go back and feel for the characters and their actions.
Feedback is important as well. If I put a story out for people to read, I like to know what they think of it, and if they voluntarily offer feedback, then I know I've written at least a decent story.
 
If I get an inner hum when reading one of my stories, then I know it is good. It brings a smile to my face, the feeling is exciting, and I just know that I have done a very good job of expressing myself for me.

It helps if your own stories turn you on. (That is always good...grin)
 
Reward from Stories

Hi KM,

A story can be rewarding to me in several different ways. When I write a story, I let the plot flow as it comes to mind. So, some of my stories have endings that are not happy. That said, I feel that a story has done well if:

I enjoy reading it several times after it is posted.

I identify with one of the characters.

It is on the first or second page of a "Top Story" list.

It has a score of 4.0 or higher. The voting is important to me.
I could care less about the prize money, and could not accept it if offered. With the gamesmanship going on, just to be in the top thirty is high enough. Top fifteen is a kiss of death.

Softly
 
I would have to agree with the authors that have stated that reader feedback is the best way to judge the value of their stories. I've been a reader of stories for many months, but only got up the courage to submit a story this week.

Looking at the voting, I was slightly discouraged at first, until the first day my stories were up and I got a wonderfully encouraging email, one that made me blush and then beam.

I had never thought to vote or send feedback to the writers, there are a few stories now I wish I had. I have a few 'favorite' authors out there and always eagerly look for new submissions from them.

I apologize here and will endeavor in the future to make a point of praising a story when they catch my attention.
 
Highest praise........

That's all any writer really wants Savages_Slave.

Taking the time to send an email to someone who's spent the time writing in order to hopefully entertain. I always spend a few moments responding to someone who's stories I've enjoyed, as well as taking a few moments to question writers on stories I have not. Either way...its a dialog that (I think) helps everyone become better writers.

And an honest/kind vote doesn't hurt either.

But in truth....it's the feedback that really counts!!!!


To sleep.......perchance to dream - William Shakespear


I remain........
 
Re: When a message is understood

daughter said:
WS--

Writing well is when a writer effectively conveys her thoughts to another. Communication is about comprehension. When a reader says, "Your message resonated me. I got it", I get a major rush usually followed by an exclamation, "YES". :D

Peace,

d

But isn't there a difference in poetry vs. prose? I'm not really trying to communicate anything. I'm just trying to entertain.

Oh, wait. After thinking about it some more, I think we ARE on the same page after all. I write erotic romance, and if the reader feels the emotions I am trying to convey, then I've been successful. If they fall in love along with the characters, if they fret that the problems won't be overcome, if they feel joy at the end when everyone ends up happy, then I've done my job.
 
For me I don't feel voting is so important, since I had one that was riding pretty high and got blasted down about a week later.

What's important is to have feedback obviously, and also for a fellow author that I rate highly, to compliment me on my story. That means a whole lot more to me.
 
Why we write

WS--

You wrote: I'm not really trying to communicate anything.

I have heard many novice or hobby writers say this. I am always dumbfounded. Ask any seasoned writer who sacrifices a good deal of his time writing why he writes, and you like get an indepth, clear reason(s).

Why does any writer or speaker say anything? You want to be understood. That is not to be confused with a reader agreeing or liking your story. You have a thought(s) and you want to share them with others. Everyone is trying to communicate something.

I don't want to get into semantics, but it would help if we clarify the elements of writing. When you write an erotic romance not only do you entertain, but you illustrate that sexual love is healthy and apart of relationships. Eroticism, itself is more than describing sexual acts, it's a writer's celebration and examination about this aspect of our lives.

Prose like poetry conveys more than the plot, it is a commentary on something. REDWAVE said when he writes he's not just trying to get you off, he's saying something about how we treat one another.

Any writer who fails to consider what he's saying beyond the surface is missing the true power of the written word. I'm not saying we have to set out with some lofty, philosophical approach to our writing. I am saying being aware, on some level, what more you are sharing with your reader can enrich your experience as a writer.

"Gone With The Wind" isn't the American classic because a woman fell for a man. It's a treasure because it is a social commentary about a period in our history. It talks about the power of the human spirit.

Peace,

daughter
 
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You are right, daughter. I just don't consciously think about my message. It's like theme. I never think about a theme in my stories, and yet, when all is said and done, at some point, I can look at it and find a theme that resonates throughout. At that point, due to the excellent advice of Jo Beverley, I make a point of emphasizing the theme at various places in the story, perhaps with symbols and metaphors.

So, I do communicate with readers, but it's mainly on a subconscious level. I wonder if that's good or bad. If I concentrated more on it, would my writing improve, or would it end up sounding more like a treatise than a story?
 
WS--

So, I do communicate with readers, but it's mainly on a subconscious level. I wonder if that's good or bad. If I concentrated more on it, would my writing improve, or would it end up sounding more like a treatise than a story?

Oh, WS, while I believe we should have some idea about what we want a read to speak to, I wouldn't advocate trying to write something profound. I've seen that with a few authors, too. And the result is disastrous. The writing often comes off trite, contrived, superficial.

Perhaps, it is simpler to say that I prefer to read works where I get the sense the writer has some idea where we're going. If she's not quite sure how, but we get there, I enjoy the journey. How's that? :)

Peace,

daughter

p.s. WS, you make a sista work. Daughter, be clear, gurl. :p
 
Mostly, if the story;s done, and I like it, that's success, whether anyone else likes it or not is irrevelant...just my viewpoint.

As far as success goes, that's like beauty...he eye of the beholder and all that.happy horseshit!
 
The two "mes"

KM -

If I like it, then it's successful.

In particular, if what I have written is what I intended to write. I write stuff that I want to read. So, at first when the inspiration is flowing and I think of the story, characters, plot, etc., I am the reader (the first me).

Then as I get into all the machinations of putting the story down, I am the writer (the second me).

If the second me satisfies the first me, then it's successful.

The ones that work seem to have similar characteristics: The plot flows quickly and easily when created, the writing is fast, the characters tell me what they say. And typically, because it is written so fast there is tons of editing to do to correct all the typos.

Satisfy the intent.

;)
- Judo
 
I just noticed this thread, but I thought that KM brought up an interesting question, so I wanted to answer even though it’s later. I’d love to here more about specific criteria that other people have about their stories.

For myself, long before I receive any feedback or ratings, I already have a general idea of how good my stories are. I can generally just read a story and tell how good it is.

But in considering this question, now, I would tentatively identify the following minimal factors (generally speaking) in a really good story:

1. Events should follow likely causes.
2. There shouldn’t be more than one unusual root event.
3. The characters should have normal human emotions.
4. Every story should have a minimal level of suspense at all times: an unresolved issue, question, or problem. One of these issues should affect the main character in such a way as to expose his or her vulnerability.
5. At the end of the story, all of the most important issues, questions, and problems should be addressed and have some answer—even if the answer is that there is no answer.
6. The character’s should evoke a minimum amount of sympathy and/or reader identification. That is to say, the character should have at least some common elements with readers.
7. The metaphors and similes should make sense.
8. The grammar should be reasonably conventional, formally correct, or only incorrect with an obvious reason (such as a particular point of view, or with the intent of achieving a certain feel.)
9. The story should be readable. Obviously, this varies between readers, but I think that there are different things we can do to improve readability.

Specifically for this site, I would add the following:

1. The story should generally have an erotic theme.

It's nice when people give me complimentary feedback, but it's only meaningful to me if I know that I've written a good story. So far, I actually think my stories have been a little overrated. But I still get a thrill when someone sends me good feedback. I am way too easy to manipulate. ;)

I liked what JUDO said about the two selves, a very insightful metaphor.
 
I'll have to go back to the earlier posts in this thread, it's in the feedback. In fact, just today I recieved feedback from a story that was online for less than a day. She loved it, wanted the next installment. That's my motivation, well, one of them anyway.

Certainly I write what I want to express, but I can enjoy my fantasies without going to the effort of writing them down. My imagination works just fine without the aid of keyboard or pencil. Whereas discovering that my fantasies have fueled, or become, anothers fantasies -- now that's a treasure.

H.Pindar
 
The key to all writing is communication. (I think the word's been mentioned here a few times ;)) Sometimes, it isn't organized communication, where the author really has a point to make, but is more a feeling the author is trying to convey -- ie. arousal, sadness, sympathy. --

My version of success is when someone finds some tidbit of knowledge in what I write that I, personally, didn't put in there. That means my writing got the reader to do more than read. They began to think for themselves, draw conclusions based on my work. That's the ultimate praise for me. To think that I inspired someone else to think, to feel, not because I slapped them across the face, but because my words moved them.

Mickie
 
Very difficult to answer

KillerMuffin said:
We're discussing one of mine this week at the story discussion forum and I stated that if my story disturbed the reader and the reader felt a strong emotion toward the characters, then I considered that particular story successful.

What do you consider to be the defining "thing" that makes your story successful?

Personally, I write for myself. Usually with the intention of sharing. An attempt to convey a particular emotion feeling or thought.

It's funny, but the first story I posted the feedback was "all tease, no delivery". I was going for subtle when I wrote it, so even thought it didn't hit what you may call a "target audience" I achieved what I wanted to. Subtle and suggestive.

It's nice to be able to change your style of writing, so I experiment at times too. So to answer your question, success for me is completing the story. Alot of times, there's room for interpretation and I think that's necessary to reach a broader audience. So merely finishing my thought and getting it out there for others to enjoy (or not) is enough for me.
 
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