Goodreads by genre and sex

[AwkwardlySet]

Agreed, there's no one way to look at "doing well." But for purposes of the response to pinksilkglove, it doesn't matter. Whatever measure of "doing well" you want to adopt, the generalizations are inaccurate. This is a very big and diverse site with a huge readership with diverse tastes. There is some evidence of short stroke stories that PSG is talking about that get a lot of views, but there are plenty of stories that do not fit this description that get many views as well. And as for other measures of success, like favorites, or high scores, the generalization is just plain wrong. Anyone who takes a little time to read the stories or look at the top lists or the favorites lists can confirm this. Longer stories with character development have a very strong track record here, by any measure.

I definitely agree that PSG should provide more than just her impressions if she wants to meaningfully discuss these things with the rest of AH. I also think that most of us here are using the same - our own impressions from the many years of consuming Lit stories. You saying that generalizations are inaccurate is also an impression, for example. I mean, I probably agree with it but still, it's just an impression. I understand that it's a counter-argument for PSG's unsubstantiated claims so I am just using it as an example.
I believe that we could extract some useful knowledge if we defined some terms and then used the statistics we have at our disposal. It's fun to clash our minds and opinions in the usual way, but if there is a will for it, I wouldn't mind going a step further.

 

[astuffedshirt_perv]

Lit advertises...on porn sites.

I've never seen a Lit ad on porn sites (other than that zombie site bdsmlib). Have any of you ever seen a lit ad in the wild? Uh...you mean I'm the only one here that visits those sites? Well, off to do some...research.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Agreed, there's no one way to look at "doing well." But for purposes of the response to pinksilkglove, it doesn't matter. Whatever measure of "doing well" you want to adopt, the generalizations are inaccurate. This is a very big and diverse site with a huge readership with diverse tastes. There is some evidence of short stroke stories that PSG is talking about that get a lot of views, but there are plenty of stories that do not fit this description that get many views as well. And as for other measures of success, like favorites, or high scores, the generalization is just plain wrong. Anyone who takes a little time to read the stories or look at the top lists or the favorites lists can confirm this. Longer stories with character development have a very strong track record here, by any measure.

Just 66 data points (ignoring my twenty-one 750 worders) but I see no strong correlation between rating and length of story in my own work. And they range from 1,000 words to over 30k words (over 60k words if you treat Coleoidphila as a singer story). The very longest stories have - if anything - slightly better ratings. Then a lot of my mid-length stories “do well.”

Emily

 

[pink_silk_glove]

I've never seen a Lit ad on porn sites (other than that zombie site bdsmlib). Have any of you ever seen a lit ad in the wild? Uh...you mean I'm the only one here that visits those sites? Well, off to do some...research.

I've seen many, and I'm not on porn sites very often.

 

[lovecraft68]

More man baby victimhood

 

[KeithD]

I strongly disagree with the generalizations of some in this thread about the readership at Literotic. There is no reliable way to test readers on a site that is A. Free, B. worldwide, C. filled with every kind of kink (other than beastality and underage), D. used by unregistered users, and E. has no way in place to reliably poll even registered users about their likes and dislikes.

Gee, that sort of leaves a writer here just to write what motivates them to write for whatever reason and to let the readers sort themselves out.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Yup, you got it. You're very smart about a great many things. I've always liked that about you.

Gee, that sort of leaves a writer here just to write what motivates them to write for whatever reason and to let the readers sort themselves out.

 

[SimonDoom]

 

[lovecraft68]

That, I get.

Because you're right. There are some... And I'm being kind ... Very basic stories here. Guy meets Girl. Guy fucks Girl. The End.

Bad grammar. Bad spelling. No plot. No characterization. Many read like a basic porn script.

And yet we see readers rave over them. "Made me hard! 5 Stars! More!"

Meanwhile the story we slaved over for days, weeks, months, languishes in obscurity.

It is what it is. Most readers here just want to spank it out and go.

Those of us looking to write something slightly more sophisticated than that are left with the rest. Because there are people out there looking for more out of the stories here than Boy Fucks Slut.

First off, has it occurred to you, or the other people here, that just because a story might lack in grammar, or spelling, and be a very basic stroker that the person who wrote it didn't work hard? Maybe, they are ESL, maybe they don't have much of an education, or writing may not be their strong suit. In other words, for a variety of reasons this could be the best they can do, and they could be very proud of it.

And then people here dole out derogatory posts like yours, and with the attitude that they don't get great ratings or numbers because YOU are writing meaningful erotica, literary erotica, your erotica is art and the people at Lit are just fools for preferring a poorly written porn story over your polished masterpieces.

Sit here and constantly deride anyone with good numbers here as 'pandering' and it's the category they write in, those authors can't write, and their readers are just the lowest common denominator of moron. But your readers? Now those people have some taste!

Jealousy is an ugly emotion, and there are a lot of thin-skinned, green-eyed people around here.

 

[lovecraft68]

View attachment 2327474

Poor you.

 

[Djmac1031]

First off, has it occurred to you, or the other people here, that just because a story might lack in grammar, or spelling, and be a very basic stroker that the person who wrote it didn't work hard? Maybe, they are ESL, maybe they don't have much of an education, or writing may not be their strong suit. In other words, for a variety of reasons this could be the best they can do, and they could be very proud of it.

Actually, that has occurred to me. Which is why I don't go out of my way to insult anyones story in particular.

And I've gone on record several times as stating that I have absolutely nothing against Simple Stroke Stories or the people who write rhem. They serve their purpose. Hell, I've written more than a few myself.

And then people here dole out derogatory posts like yours

If honesty is "derogatory," then so be it.

with the attitude that they don't get great ratings or numbers

I'm more than pleased with my ratings and numbers. For what I personally do, it does well.

your erotica is art and the people at Lit are just fools for preferring a poorly written porn story over your polished masterpieces.

Ive never claimed my stories are "polished masterpieces." I'm fully aware of my flaws, and they are many. I'll be the first to admit it.

And I never called any reader a "fool." All I said was that there are a large majority of readers for whom things like spelling, grammar, plot and characterization take a back seat to what the story does to get them off.

That's simply a fact. My only point in bringing it up was it's something the rest of us simply need to come to terms with.