What is your favorite type of validation?

[Phantom300]

Wat is your favorite type of validation as a Literotica Author? Ratings? # of Votes? View? Comments? Followers? Favorites? What metric gives you the best feeling when you see it ?

Mine is very specific. It is followers, but not just any followers. Followers that are also authors. I gained one today.

Seeing a new follower, and then clicking their profile and seeing they have published stories gives me more satisfaction than any Red H or positive comment.

Yes, I write stories more for myself than anything, but it is still nice to get that feedback, especially from someone else that writes.

 

[lovecraft68]

In my time here I have had three authors tell me one of my stories inspired them to try their hand at writing. One of them became very successful here.

I think that's the ultimate compliment and very gratifying and flattering.

 

[Bramblethorn]

For me, nothing beats a good comment.

 

[galaxygoddess]

I like seeing the large number of followers that I have as thatawfulwowporno, but what really keeps me going is the positive comments.

I experiment a lot, and honestly I named the account that because I thought everyone would hate it. However, I keep getting "love the irony of your name!" which makes me giggle endlessly.

I often go back and re-read my own work and try to figure out what I did successfully.

That being said, the like 4 negative comments don't weigh me down, because I have so much positivity, and I'm writing this stuff to entertain myself.

 

[Rustyoznail]

Free, validated parking. Can't beat that...

Oh wait, sorry. Lit validation. The red H is nice, but having someone take the time to write a comment is better. That is rare.

 

[RelentlessOnanism]

A high score is nice. A positive comment is also nice. Someone taking the trouble to message me is also appreciated.

I'd like more views, to be honest, but I don't think a) there are that many readers around any more (unless you're an established, popular author, and b) I don't think I’m an author who has mass appeal. Only a couple of my stories have had more than 100-thousand views. I tend to write longer stories and I think that puts the casual reader off. I have a small-ish but apparently generous readership, when it comes to scores.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Views are cool. Red H's? Sure, I'm not complaining. But comments are what keep me going. Even the negative ones. Every word chucked my way shows that I did something to move another person, if only to complain how my character arcs don't work.

 

[KeithD]

Must be views--using the opportunity to get a whole lot more readers for something already written than the buyers are amounting to. Sharing with a larger base.

 

[SimonDoom]

Getting a positive, intelligent comment is very satisfying. It's really gratifying to know that my story has been enjoyed by somebody who is a good, thoughtful reader.

But the thing I value most is maximizing the number of readers who will enjoy my stories. And the best measure of that is views, along with followers. The reality at Literotica is that people who vote and comment are the tip of the iceberg -- they're a small fraction of the total number of readers that include many silent readers who've read what I've written but haven't taken the time to register their enjoyment. I value those readers as well, even though I'll never hear from them. The more views I have, the more such readers I reasonably can expect to have.

High scores are nice. But they depend mightily on whether one's story conforms to the expectations of the readers of the category in which the story is published. Nonconforming stories often get punished, even though they can be as satisfying to write and publish as any other stories, and have every bit as much "literary" quality.

 

[Wifetheif]

Wat is your favorite type of validation as a Literotica Author? Ratings? # of Votes? View? Comments? Followers? Favorites? What metric gives you the best feeling when you see it ?

Mine is very specific. It is followers, but not just any followers. Followers that are also authors. I gained one today.

Seeing a new follower, and then clicking their profile and seeing they have published stories gives me more satisfaction than any Red H or positive comment.

Yes, I write stories more for myself than anything, but it is still nice to get that feedback, especially from someone else that writes.

I think having great feedback from my readers commenting my world-building or my characters. Hearing from readers that they were inspired by my work and or tapped into one of their deepest, secret desires is another ego booster. Some people have told me they were inspired to attempt to write because of my stories and wanted advice on how to do so. Some want to write a story more or less inspired by one of my stories and ask permission. The oddest was getting an e-mail from an 'amateur pornstar's" agent asking me if I could write a sequel to the story I wrote that they adapted into a porno with NO compensation towards me! Of all the nerve!

 

[SamScribble]

A positive comment from one of the dozen or so readers who I think know what they're talking about.

 

[AlexJayce]

I have to say it's a comment. A favorite and a follow is nice, don't get me wrong, but I'd prefer someone to tell me what they like/dislike about my writing.
Feedback is always something I value and treasure. Even if the person in question isn't a writer.

 

[litfan10]

I wrote here purely and strictly for me and fun.

Positive reader interactions be it comment, PM, or email was a huge plus.

 

[Omenainen]

I value comments above all else. Might have something to do with how I've only really had positive comments so far. I find it difficult to get very excited about a number, be it the score or number of views or whatever, and doubly so when they keep changing over time.

Followers are not a purely positive thing for me, it's more like oh no, are there now people who have expectations towards my future stories? I try not to think about them, because I write from inside out and don't want to think what others might want me to write. Feels dangerously close to some sort of an obligation, and I don't do well with those.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Comments above all else.

My most treasured is from someone who said my writing gave her a safe haven. A simple enough statement, but full of meaning. It was that comment that made me think about writing socially responsible erotica, where my words might actually matter, actually make a difference.

 

[AlinaX]

I love getting comments, so long as they're not outright bigotry and abuse.
My favourite type of comment is, "I didn't expect to find this erotic, but..."

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I guess followers yet comments also help, yet most of mine I just get a kick out of, especially the ones that are almost longer than the story I have written.

 

[mfan2112]

Comments or PMs from another author.

 

[PeytonMirabelle]

Mine is very specific. It is followers, but not just any followers. Followers that are also authors. I gained one today.

Yes, so much this. And if they leave a positive comment as well ... that brings the warm fuzzy feelings. Those follows are rare and I treasure them.

 

[BiscuitHammer]

It used to be comments by other authors, and those still mean a lot.

But I have had fan art of my characters sent to me by enthusiastic readers, and I must admit, that takes top spot. I've received three different pieces of fan art from two different readers. One was of my secondary character Lisa, one was of Freja, and a third was of Karen. So I'm gonna have to go with fan art.

 

[MColton84]

It used to be comments by other authors, and those still mean a lot.

But I have had fan art of my characters sent to me by enthusiastic readers, and I must admit, that takes top spot. I've received three different pieces of fan art from two different readers. One was of my secondary character Lisa, one was of Freja, and a third was of Karen. So I'm gonna have to go with fan art.

Ok, I'm kinda jealous. I love PMs from other authors and people who enjoyed my stories, but I never received any fan art. I think that would be pretty freaking awesome. I often wonder how my characters look through the mind's eye of the readers. I can’t really think of a better show of appreciation.

 

[galaxygoddess]

It used to be comments by other authors, and those still mean a lot.

But I have had fan art of my characters sent to me by enthusiastic readers, and I must admit, that takes top spot. I've received three different pieces of fan art from two different readers. One was of my secondary character Lisa, one was of Freja, and a third was of Karen. So I'm gonna have to go with fan art.

I, too, have received fan art, just one piece, and it's a new level of awesome. That my character appealed to someone enough that they would take the time, says something that I have no words for.

 

[stickygirl]

....

ETA
On reflection and in revisiting some of my comments, a couple stand out. They are both from trans women, so their feedback meant that much more.

"i had many tears reading all of this story ( all in one go 4am now ! ). So very beautifully written , I’m trans as well and this has touched me deeply. Thank you so much. i hope to be able to read more of your wonderful work. Many hugs from me, love Sarah"

"I Am Truly Amazed...
...As this chapter mirrors my own 'coming to terms' with my mother over my transition and its in a different country even! I had written my experiences down with my Mom some time ago, and I dug out those notes recently to start my own chapter 05, and it was just almost scary how close the conversations went. Thank you Girl... thank you "

 

[HeyAll]

It's hard to pick one because it feels like they go together.

ie. if you have high views but low favorites it's odd. if you have high favs but a low score it feels odd.

Having said that, I like seeing the number of views and favorites.

I also like comments that the story is unique and they had never seen anything like it before.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Definitely comments, especially when someone is moved by something I wanted to get across.

I got a bunch of lovely comments on my last story (and 3rd prize in the Valentine's contest was lovely, though a lot of that was luck - a few more votes and it even lost the red H!)

But my favourite comment was from someone who loved the line where an Access to Work assessor (who tells management how they can help a disabled employee keep their job) said "'I see,' in a tone which promised great unpleasantness for Ali's manager."

They loved that scene so much they stopped reading to tell me about it. I hope they liked the sexy stuff too, but I was delighted to have someone appreciate the joy of someone who will give a disablist boss a hard time.

The ones saying 'this is the queerest story on Lit', 'feels so real' and 'well-written' are great too - means mission accomplished for at least one reader.