The Official Authors' Hangout Summer Lovin' 2024 Contest Support Thread

[Omenainen]

Thanks, hopefully my last dumb question for now. Are votes likes ? Or is it the story score ? Or something else ?

Likes? There’s the amount of people favoriting your story and it shows up as a little heart on your author console, do you mean that?

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Thanks, hopefully my last dumb question for now. Are votes likes ? Or is it the story score ? Or something else ?

The voting is the star rating. 1-5.

 

[SimonDoom]

Thanks, hopefully my last dumb question for now. Are votes likes ? Or is it the story score ? Or something else ?

A "view" means that somebody has clicked on your story. It tells you nothing about whether they have read it all the way through or voted on it or not.

A "vote" means somebody has cast a score for your story, using the site's 1-5 star scoring system.

To my knowledge, there's no such thing as a "like." When somebody finishes your story, they can click "favorite," making it one of their favorite stories.

Someone can also choose to "follow" you as an author.

 

[OffNSFW]

Congrats to everyone who has submitted so far.

I started working on mine approximately one million years ago and I'm not quite two acts into a three act manuscript. I astound even myself.

 

[nicksouth]

A "view" means that somebody has clicked on your story. It tells you nothing about whether they have read it all the way through or voted on it or not.

A "vote" means somebody has cast a score for your story, using the site's 1-5 star scoring system.

To my knowledge, there's no such thing as a "like." When somebody finishes your story, they can click "favorite," making it one of their favorite stories.

Someone can also choose to "follow" you as an author.

Thank you, so when it says "4.31/45" Next to the *, that means 45 votes and an average score of 4.31 - makes sense. I was thinking it was the heart symbol

 

[SouthernCrossfire]

I just submitted mine. I've spent far too much time editing and polishing, trying to clean up and tighten up, but I'm sure that someone will find a mistake within minutes of it being published.

 

[nicksouth]

I just submitted mine. I've spent far too much time editing and polishing, trying to clean up and tighten up, but I'm sure that someone will find a mistake within minutes of it being published.

Haha I hear you. People have already found my (many) mistakes even after what I thought was a good proof-reading. We do our best but can never be perfect.

 

[Duleigh]

Summer Lovin: The Stories
Good lookin' group of stories out the gate​

 

[Duleigh]

Editing on my first story went into extra innings so I didn't get it posted until last night, it's still pending... but then it's a Loving Wives story - does anyone care about grammar over there?

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Okay, Not Quite a Bikini is up. Not doing particularly well, but I expect it to improve.

 

[TheLobster]

Okay, I finally managed to submit mine. It took some reading-through but thankfully it was mostly just some minor issues to fix.

Looking forward how this 31k words of mostly-pantsed writing is going to be received in a category (Mature) I have no other stories in

 

[MelissaBaby]

I hope to have mine ready to go in a few days.

 

[DonOctavio]

I hope to have mine ready to go in a few days.

Always love to read your stories. Some of my very favorites on the site. Can’t wait!

 

[Omenainen]

I hope to have mine ready to go in a few days.

Is it by happenstance a Gold Dollar Girls story?

 

[nicksouth]

Summer Lovin: The Stories
Good lookin' group of stories out the gate​

Today is reading day for me Then back to editing a new chapter later

 

[nicksouth]

Okay, Not Quite a Bikini is up. Not doing particularly well, but I expect it to improve.

Out of curiosity, what do people consider doing well-I know it depends highly on the category but since this is my first time (that's what she said!) I don't really have a benchmark to tell if a story is doing well or not

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Out of curiosity, what do people consider doing well-I know it depends highly on the category but since this is my first time (that's what she said!) I don't really have a benchmark to tell if a story is doing well or not

A lot of authors focus on numbers. I'm sure people will chime in with all of that. But a rating of 4.5 or higher is a "hot" story and a goal for many authors. There are other metrics, but it's too much for me. Things like the ratio between favorites and views and comments verses this and that. Some authors even download their stats and put them into spreadsheets to track all of this. Like I said, it's way beyond my computer expertise!

But are you having fun, @nicksouth , and do readers seem to enjoy your stories? Then your stories are doing well!!

 

[nicksouth]

A lot of authors focus on numbers. I'm sure people will chime in with all of that. But a rating of 4.5 or higher is a "hot" story and a goal for many authors. There are other metrics, but it's too much for me. Things like the ratio between favorites and views and comments verses this and that. Some authors even download their stats and put them into spreadsheets to track all of this. Like I said, it's way beyond my computer expertise!

But are you having fun, @nicksouth , and do readers seem to enjoy your stories? Then your stories are doing well!!

I am having fun and got a lot more likes and votes than I ever expected, including one awesome piece of feedback sent directly to me, so yes ! (I did have some embarrassing name mixups in the first version but it doesn't seem to have put too many people off !)

 

[FreyaGersemi]

I am having fun

And that's the name of the game!! My game, at least!!!

And by the way, welcome to the Author's side of Literotica!! If there's anything I can help you with, please just ask.

 

[Devinter]

And by the way, welcome to the Author's side of Literotica!! If there's anything I can help you with, please just ask.

Look at you, being all experienced and stuff. They grow up so fast, eh?

On topic; My story - a different one than what I had originally intended - will be uploaded tonight. It's short and rather simple. But hey, at least that gives me more time to work on the sorrowful one that I originally wanted to submit. Maybe it can still be salvaged! Until then, I will 'feed the frenzy' with a simple tale of motherly love.

 

[FreyaGersemi]

Look at you, being all experienced and stuff.

Just an act. I'm clueless.

 

[Devinter]

Just an act. I'm clueless.

I don't believe that for a second. And I think it's very important that we do what we can to help newer authors that arrive here on the forums, so that they want to stick around, and our community grows! With that being said, @nicksouth - do take advantage of the offer. Don't be afraid to ask questions and reach out to other authors if you need assistance with something. Plenty of wisdom to be found!

 

[Voboy]

Mine ain't doing too badly. I like it, so I'm glad others do too. That's what I'm after in these contests, for the most part.

I'm also getting a higher amount of attention to my back catalog than I often get. Bonus!

 

[nicksouth]

I don't believe that for a second. And I think it's very important that we do what we can to help newer authors that arrive here on the forums, so that they want to stick around, and our community grows! With that being said, @nicksouth - do take advantage of the offer. Don't be afraid to ask questions and reach out to other authors if you need assistance with something. Plenty of wisdom to be found!

Thank you (both) so much! I truly appreciate it. I expect I will have lots of questions about how the site works and about writing. I do plan on entering future contests (already have a 10K word draft for Halloween)

I've followed you (and the others on the thread)

Plan today is to read as many entries as I can and comment and just absorb good reading.

For me editing is my nemesis. I did work with an editor on my second story (Hottub threesome) but it was 2 years ago so I may need to look for a new editor. I think I let too many things slip through the cracks

 

[nicksouth]

Mine ain't doing too badly. I like it, so I'm glad others do too. That's what I'm after in these contests, for the most part.

I'm also getting a higher amount of attention to my back catalog than I often get. Bonus!

Fantastic! I only have two out so far, but a lot of drafts in progress so I need to do some editing / converting draft to final (my first drafts are horrific)