Why Has the Quality of Submissions to Literotica Plummeted so Dramatically?

[Wifetheif]

Dear authors (and lurkers),

I’d really like to know what you think has caused the sad phenomenon indicated in the title of this thread.

Let me clarify if need be.

I know and acknowledge Sturgeon’s law (“90% of everything is crap”), which is why I don’t talk about the vast majority of submissions that are bad today and have been that way since the day Literotica went online. But what I talk about is the remaining 10 % and the evident qualitative decline observable in that upper range which has come down like a crashing truss in recent years. I remember a time when good stories where submitted and published on the regular, and ambitious authors like dr_mabeuse and Colleen Thomas conversed openly and actively in this community, not only inspiring each other but their readership as well. And I remember truly astonishing works of art to adorn this site, every once in a while, like ”Will” by BlackShanglan or “Narcissa” by villanova (the latter author, tellingly, having deleted her entire oeuvre from this site).

Where are the heirs of those authors, where are their stories today?

Show them to me. Try it. Try hard. Good luck in your search around here!

If I search the different story hubs these days for the latest submissions, all I find is one-pagers, stroke shit, never-ending serials of soapy “hardcore” romance, and leftovers that the submitter didn’t know where else to place—and not a single pearl cast before swine.

So, what gives?

Sincerely
–AJ

As for myself, my production has dropped to nil for a very simple reason. Under an alias (Which I will not reveal) I have discovered a quite lucrative fringe erotica subject and am producing books for profit to fill it. I turn out an average of a book a month and, over the course of a year, make at least a hundred dollars from every single one. Even for my low-wattage sellers, a couple of bucks a month is a hell of a lot more appealing than NO DOLLARS a month by posting at L.com. I learned a great deal as an author and about things like grammar, plot, and sentence structure via the stories I posted here. I'm light-years better as an author today. I'll probably slowly remove even more of my stories from here, polish them up and make a buck or three from them. I always knew I had talent. Under my real name, I've published award-winning non-fiction. A Pulitzer prize winner cited my book and told me over dinner that I have a tremendous talent. I don't need the kudos from the fans to convince me that I am a writer, though some of my early stories on here are pretty terrible. I have also had several of my stories that I posted here pirated by opportunists. Who needs that? Now my copyrights are truly secure! If L.com ever figured a way to reward authors financially for all the traffic they bring this site, I'd start handing them my stories again. As the real world has proved time and again, Socialism sucks and Capitalism rocks!

 

[KeithD]

I wouldn't go quite that far. If one has done enough reading then it's a matter of opinion, not just wild ass guessing. I would put the crap percentage at a somewhat higher number. The percentage of stuff I like is definitely higher than 1 percent but I haven't figured out the percent.

Oh, come on. Who has done a significant percentage of reading at a site as humongous as Literotica? Who do you people think you're fooling. And why do you feel the urge to make such statements anyway? The need to be in other people's business?

 

[yukonnights]

There are child writers on here, its sad. It takes skill to notice an intellectual style or even age in what someone writes. But when everything is done in "see jane hump dog. See spot with bloody rectum" format... you just KNOW

I guess I must have missed that one...maybe post a link to that "See Spot" story so we can all read it and come up to speed on the deterioration/demise of poor old Literotica? I've completely missed out on reading anything so clearly written by children...I guess I'm surprised Laurel was so easily fooled...but, alas — she's getting up there in years too

 

[acerbedingfield]

I wouldn't go quite that far. If one has done enough reading then it's a matter of opinion, not just wild ass guessing. I would put the crap percentage at a somewhat higher number. The percentage of stuff I like is definitely higher than 1 percent but I haven't figured out the percent.

Ive been reading this site for a very long time. I need a good laugh before bed. Normally I read 3 to 5 hours a day on here. boredom, insomnia. just need a laugh.

I believe I have read almost every thing in the non human section. And Romance.

At least its to the point that I can open a random story, read the first paragraph ad be able to remember most of the rest of the story. SO screw the assumption no one reads things on here.

There have been many in the "good" category that haven't made a story submission on here in since 2011.

So much fluff it isn't funny

 

[NoJo]

Until I become female, I'm never going to be able to write commercial erotica. I'm working on it.

 

[ChloeTzang]

That's as much sheer, unsupported (and unsupportable) wild ass guessing as Ace is doing.

A wild approximation based on my own reading, which is pretty random coz I like to just dive in to categories and see what’s being written and what flicks readers switches. The bell curve on stuff always applies with a large enough sample. The %’s would be really subjective anyhow because mine and yours and everybody else’s definition of what’s outstanding, what’s good and what’s crap is going to differ but that bell curve is going to apply.

 

[BigMadStork]

My opinion, no science, no percents, just going by past experience...

I consider myself an above average writer, my average scores is 4.67 on everything I have written. I stopped posting stories. So many people are posting that my story is only listed for 1 day. 17,000 people read it and then it's gone. When it stays up 3 days, I get between 30,000 and 90,000 readers. I wish they listed more than 25 stories or listed all stories a minimum of 3 days so they get a chance to be read.

I am still writing and editing. My gut tells me this huge group of new writers will tire and eventually it will be OK to post again. I am not developing a story that progresses and has characters that evolve only to have 10,000 or fewer people read it.

I don't have anything against the new authors. I know when I started vs. now, my stories are better now. They will improve. I would like there to be room for both of us.

Recent examples:
A Dark Man 17,200 readers 4.72 Rating
My Sister Anastasia 16,000 readers 4.63 Rating

Past stories:
I Host my Niece's Pool Party 143,000 readers 4.73 Rating
Sister Needs a Hand 95,700 readers 4.6 Rating
The Rescuer 99,200 readers 4.7 Rating

 

[JPGmvny]

I can only speak for myself, and my preference tends to Lesbian Romances and Straight Romances. I amazed at the quality of the stories by my Favorites (incl. Bramblethorn) and new ones are posted regularly. I began writing inspired by these folks.

 

[hearthammer]

Increasingly easy to publish, incredibly hard to profit. Don't let all those Amazon stars fool you - most of them aren't real.

Unless you have endless content, coffee money is the most to expect - based on my minimalist experience; but at least I have some nice covers .

Actually, it's getting increasingly more difficult to make a profit from online erotica over time. There has been a supply/demand arc on this. In early e-publishing days supply was hardpressed to meet demand. The supply has burgeoned over the last ten years, though, with nothing really going away that's on offer and more and more being produced. Demand hasn't kept up with the supply. People have their Kindles and Nooks stuffed with far more than they'll ever read. So, profits are going down. The time to be in the erotica supply game was a few years ago. If you're just starting now, you missed the wave.

We are talking about authors who have left over the last many years, not just recently. Plenty of them switched when the time was right(As some have even admitted in this very thread). I've talked to a few people who publish for profit and their opinion is little is more than none(Which is what they make here) and so they choose to publish for what profit they can get.

Then of course you just have people lose interest, life is too busy, quit over reasons involving their work(as I alluded to, plagiarism has cause some to stop), or well.. die.

My opinion, no science, no percents, just going by past experience...

I consider myself an above average writer, my average scores is 4.67 on everything I have written. I stopped posting stories. So many people are posting that my story is only listed for 1 day. 17,000 people read it and then it's gone. When it stays up 3 days, I get between 30,000 and 90,000 readers. I wish they listed more than 25 stories or listed all stories a minimum of 3 days so they get a chance to be read.

I definitely wish they listed more new stories. I like to skim the list, but I don't always get a chance, and so I will miss days and occasionally weeks. A larger list of recent would be great for me.

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

KeithD, to be honest, you are being very strident in your assertion that there as been absolutely no discernible decline in story quality. (And I am not even paraphrasing you, just re-casting your clear rejection of the OP's proposition).

I'm going to check today's first pages of new stories in a moment, and then just report back directly what is there...

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

Daisy, Jasmine, Pixie, Dixie, Anne, Cougar, Dad, Mom, Sis, Yi, Li, Ebony, Ivory, Bob (fuck me, 'Bob...') Dave - all fuck. Except in the fantasy future ones, then sundry droids and harem maidens all conspire to cover some tyrant in green goop, which makes him orgasm to death. Again. (I've read that now for ten thousand episodes of a never-ending space opera written by neigh-on half the entire population of North Dakota, albeit under different author names and 'book' titles).

Common words:

Dominant... ...hands on bum. Fucks me. Insert Tab A - Slot B. Et cetera.

'Oh oh, oooh.' 'Argh.' 'Fuck, fuck, fuck me. You're so hot.'

Really, Keith. Really.

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

But no you're exactly right of course, I haven't read every single fucking story here and neither have you. So I cannot claim to be able to MATHEMATICALLY KNOW whether any standard of quality has declined.

But I sure as hell THINK it has.

Which is not to say I think there is anything wrong with the site - I think on the other hand, it may be that there either are a lot of story bots shoving things here to crowd up the space (there are good marketing reasons why 'clever' people would do this), or maybe there are too many college writing classes, or 'writer's groups' - teaching people absolute rubbish about writing.

 

[RejectReality]

Seems the same as always to me. Many ( I would even dare say most, just extrapolating from human nature ) of the stories that are submitted are formulaic, sophomoric, and as much a sexual release for the author as anything else. The nice thing is, there's a readership here for that. They're delivering work that people want to read, whether it appeals to you or not.

Lit has always been a place for sexually frustrated folks to essentially orgasm on the page, and offer it up as a tribute for others to behold. Some are quickly spent. Others learn, grow, and expand their talents. Some arrive already possessing talents that they've simply never made use of before.

Some few could be genuinely classified as writers or authors from the get-go. Maybe they're sexually frustrated, or simply frustrated with having to stop at the bedroom door in mainstream fiction, and need to get it out of their system.

We've had oodles of extremely talented and entertaining people leave Lit to pursue more lucrative prospects. They weren't all as talented and entertaining when they arrived. They learned and improved here in the trenches. There's probably one who will do that out there right now, posting their first story that's a formulaic romp full of cup sizes, phonetic screams, and cringe-worthy euphemisms that will nevertheless titillate them and a group of readers so large that it will leave them reeling.

 

[Vix_Giovanni]

Seems the same as always to me. Many ( I would even dare say most, just extrapolating from human nature ) of the stories that are submitted are formulaic, sophomoric, and as much a sexual release for the author as anything else. The nice thing is, there's a readership here for that. They're delivering work that people want to read, whether it appeals to you or not.

Lit has always been a place for sexually frustrated folks to essentially orgasm on the page, and offer it up as a tribute for others to behold. Some are quickly spent. Others learn, grow, and expand their talents. Some arrive already possessing talents that they've simply never made use of before.

Some few could be genuinely classified as writers or authors from the get-go. Maybe they're sexually frustrated, or simply frustrated with having to stop at the bedroom door in mainstream fiction, and need to get it out of their system.

We've had oodles of extremely talented and entertaining people leave Lit to pursue more lucrative prospects. They weren't all as talented and entertaining when they arrived. They learned and improved here in the trenches. There's probably one who will do that out there right now, posting their first story that's a formulaic romp full of cup sizes, phonetic screams, and cringe-worthy euphemisms that will nevertheless titillate them and a group of readers so large that it will leave them reeling.

So well said.

I hate to add anything because I don’t want to distract from your points raised. But I think it’s worth adding that Lit is one of the few publishing platforms where certain writing like I/T is allowed by the site rules; and because of that, there probably will always be a rotation of highly gifted talent here, if for no other reason than that subset of writers can’t publish their stories anywhere else.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Shepard tone: an auditory illusion that seems to be consistently ascending, or descending, without actually changing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzNzgsAE4F0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CJ03-YLpno

 

[ElectricBlue]

Shepard tone: an auditory illusion that seems to be consistently ascending, or descending, without actually changing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzNzgsAE4F0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CJ03-YLpno

Whoa! That first one is almost nausea inducing. Yuk.

 

[SynSlave]

I wonder if others like me that have just started publishing in the last couple months get a little sad by this thread title

 

[MelissaBaby]

I wonder if others like me that have just started publishing in the last couple months get a little sad by this thread title

Don't let it bother you. It's just the Lit version of telling everyone how they walked ten miles to and from school, uphill both ways, barefoot in the snow.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I wonder if others like me that have just started publishing in the last couple months get a little sad by this thread title

You shouldn't be bothered by it. It's just a random opinionista wandering in with unsubstantiated subjective views. The past is always seen through rose-coloured glasses .

 

[KeithD]

I wonder if others like me that have just started publishing in the last couple months get a little sad by this thread title

Yes, it irritates me every time I see it pop up again--the arrogance of anyone who felt they knew enough of the voluminous file here to make such a statement.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Yes, it irritates me every time I see it pop up again--the arrogance of anyone who felt they knew enough of the voluminous file here to make such a statement.

I read recently that there are approximately 24,000 songs uploaded to internet services every day, but you hear constant complaining that "there's no good music anymore." It's human nature. If it's not right in front of people's faces, it doesn't exist.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Still waiting for somebody to make a solid case that the quality of stories has gone down.

In the meantime, nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.

 

[SynSlave]

Still waiting for somebody to make a solid case that the quality of stories has gone down.

In the meantime, nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.

Badum-bum-ching!

More of the "back in my day..." I suppose.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Still waiting for somebody to make a solid case that the quality of stories has gone down.

In the meantime, nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.

I just came up with a theory.

So, in the 70s, there was a lot of nostalgia for the 50s, right? Happy Days, American Graffiti, all that stuff. Then, a few decades later, there was nostalgia for stuff from the 70s, like....Happy Days and American Graffiti. So, it's like a photocopy of a photocopy, and each iteration is degraded from the one before. Thus, as you said, nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

 

[MichaelGH]

Still waiting for somebody to make a solid case that the quality of stories has gone down.

In the meantime, nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.

Remember when nostalgia was a bittersweet feeling and not something that cause people to regress into a perpetual state of near infancy? Blaming all their problems on a world that’s constantly changing and wishing beyond all reason that the world will return to what it was?