is Erotic Couplings a tough gig?

[EmilyMiller]

Maybe you should have given her the name of a famous movie star; then it could have gone to Celebrities and Fanfic.

Although... probably, that would not really have been any better, if I should trust the rumors.

I spent most of my time trying to obfuscate which pornstar .

Em

 

[TarnishedPenny]

That might be a challenge.

 

[Lifestyle66]

I just read your story "Waking Up", which is at 3.92 in EC.

I write in first person (male POV), and I posted some of my earlier series stories in EC. After they started out rather low, I asked for some editors to review, and one thing pointed out to me is too many paragraphs and sentences starting with "I ..." is a detractor. So, yours with the female first-person POV and "I ..." are probably suffering from ratings there due to a more critical review of your writing style, which readers in those other categories might enjoy.

Over time, I've learned to change from too many "I ..." paragraphs. And my earlier stories there crept up to 4.3 with some 1-bomb scraps. But it was a slow climb.

 

[SimonDoom]

I would describe it as all over the map. It's a grab bag category that accommodates stories that don't quite fit in other categories. It has the most stories, but at best a moderate-sized audience, and it's very difficult to figure out how well your story will do there. Some stories do very well in erotic couplings. Many disappear.

If you've got a story that doesn't quite fit elsewhere, go ahead and post it there.

 

[Voboy]

I avoid posting in EC whenever I can, but only because I get a better response in almost any other category. Stories in EC get “lost” very easily. Or perhaps “buried” is a better term.

 

[Lifestyle66]

When writing and posting to Anal, Lesbian, Toys & Masturbation, BDSM, or Fetish, the reader audience in those categories are more focused. They chose to read a story in that category and are more likely to rate stories there better as long as the story feeds that preference.

EC is more of a catch-all for a general audience. So, it would stand to reason many will be more critical of any posted story there, since they are there for a greater variety of individual reasons. When they open an EC story, any particular reader isn't sure what their getting, and it might not be exactly what they expected.

 

[EmilyMiller]

When writing and posting to Anal, Lesbian, Toys & Masturbation, BDSM, or Fetish, the reader audience in those categories are more focused. They chose to read a story in that category and are more likely to rate stories there better as long as the story feeds that preference.

EC is more of a catch-all for a general audience. So, it would stand to reason many will be more critical of any posted story there, since they are there for a greater variety of individual reasons. When they open an EC story, any particular reader isn't sure what their getting, and it might not be exactly what they expected.

Makes perfect sense, thanks .

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

I just read your story "Waking Up", which is at 3.92 in EC.

I write in first person (male POV), and I posted some of my earlier series stories in EC. After they started out rather low, I asked for some editors to review, and one thing pointed out to me is too many paragraphs and sentences starting with "I ..." is a detractor. So, yours with the female first-person POV and "I ..." are probably suffering from ratings there due to a more critical review of your writing style, which readers in those other categories might enjoy.

Over time, I've learned to change from too many "I ..." paragraphs. And my earlier stories there crept up to 4.3 with some 1-bomb scraps. But it was a slow climb.

But most of my stories have I paragraphs. They mostly have red Hs next to them. I have no other stories under 4.3 and two under 4.0 in EC.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

I would describe it as all over the map. It's a grab bag category that accommodates stories that don't quite fit in other categories. It has the most stories, but at best a moderate-sized audience, and it's very difficult to figure out how well your story will do there. Some stories do very well in erotic couplings. Many disappear.

If you've got a story that doesn't quite fit elsewhere, go ahead and post it there.

Several people have said the same. I don’t write stories for categories, I decide after writing. Hard to see where my two sub 4.0 stories would go except EC.

Em

 

[EmilyMiller]

I avoid posting in EC whenever I can, but only because I get a better response in almost any other category. Stories in EC get “lost” very easily. Or perhaps “buried” is a better term.

Seems that way, certainly.

Em

 

[SimonDoom]

Several people have said the same. I don’t write stories for categories, I decide after writing. Hard to see where my two sub 4.0 stories would go except EC.

Em

You can only do so much to plot how to maximize scores. If you do too much of that then I think you compromise your artistic goals, which are more important. Also, if your short history is any indication, you are prolific, so don't worry about it too much and just keep writing. That's always the best advice of all.

 

[EmilyMiller]

You can only do so much to plot how to maximize scores. If you do too much of that then I think you compromise your artistic goals, which are more important. Also, if your short history is any indication, you are prolific, so don't worry about it too much and just keep writing. That's always the best advice of all.

I agree with all of that .

Em

 

[Rob_Royale]

I'll find out soon.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I'll find out soon.

I’ll cover you. Try to make it to the overturned barrels. They have a sniper in that tower.

Em

 

[Lifestyle66]

But most of my stories have I paragraphs. They mostly have red Hs next to them. I have no other stories under 4.3 and two under 4.0 in EC.

Em

Your other red-H stories are in those focused categories. And as I said above, the fetish selecting readers are probably more forgiving with their ratings, as long as you fed their fetish.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Comment left on my worst performing story. Sort of think the commenter must have come from here given some of the content.

by Anonymous user on 4 hours ago

This is a short story but it reads long. If you're going to give us one page, make it intense. Rush us. Give us an immediate need to grab onto our cocks and bust that nut, or a ride a vibrator till we cream. You're not getting a lower score for the quality of your work. You're getting it because it's just something to read, not get off to, and most people come to literotica to get off.

It’s kinda funny, we discuss our authorly pretensions, but - at least according to the above - people just want to cum.

He (I assume, he said cock first) may have a point.

Em

 

[TarnishedPenny]

There are, kinks and such not included, two types of stories here, or, more properly perhaps, a spectrum with two ends.

There are strokers - get it up/get it wet, get it off ASAP and we’re done. There’s a place for that and I’m not criticizing. That’s all some readers want and good on them. Plot and personality and setting are irrelevant. The story opens with sex, is filled with sex and ends as soon as the sex does.

At the far end are tales for those who want good plots, solid characterization, descriptions of things other than willies and wobblies. To be sure, this is a site devoted to erotica, so most have sex of one form or another, but that’s the icing on the cake.

 

[Rob_Royale]

I’ll cover you. Try to make it to the overturned barrels. They have a sniper in that tower.

Em

I think I'm pretty safe. It's a fun little story for the On the Job challenge that just doesn't fit into any other category. Aside for some FFM is pretty tame.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I think I'm pretty safe. It's a fun little story for the On the Job challenge that just doesn't fit into any other category. Aside for some FFM is pretty tame.

They don’t like tame!

Em

 

[Rob_Royale]

They don’t like tame!

Em

Okay then I'll be ready to run for cover.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Okay then I'll be ready to run for cover.

Remember shoot for the head.

Em

 

[Comshaw]

I seem to do at least OK in each of Anal, BDSM, Fetish, First Time (admittedly only one story in that category), Lesbian Sex and Toys & Masturbation.

But I have my two worst scores now in EC. Is it LW-lite?

Em

I have 11 stories in the EC category. The worst (Freaking Friday part 1) was posted on 04/2020. It has a 4.51 with 185 votes and 14,900 reads. That category doesn't get the reads and votes some others do but I've not seen a problem on there like LW has. That said, it seems the Trolls for LW are starting to wander to other places on the board.

Comshaw

 

[EmilyMiller]

I have 11 stories in the EC category. The worst (Freaking Friday part 1) was posted on 04/2020. It has a 4.51 with 185 votes and 14,900 reads. That category doesn't get the reads and votes some others do but I've not seen a problem on there like LW has. That said, it seems the Trolls for LW are starting to wander to other places on the board.

Comshaw

I attract trolls. I’m like troll-bait. Or was it jailbait? ‍♀

Em

 

[Comshaw]

There are, kinks and such not included, two types of stories here, or, more properly perhaps, a spectrum with two ends.

There are strokers - get it up/get it wet, get it off ASAP and we’re done. There’s a place for that and I’m not criticizing. That’s all some readers want and good on them. Plot and personality and setting are irrelevant. The story opens with sex, is filled with sex and ends as soon as the sex does.

At the far end are tales for those who want good plots, solid characterization, descriptions of things other than willies and wobblies. To be sure, this is a site devoted to erotica, so most have sex of one form or another, but that’s the icing on the cake.

I agree. There is a plethora of stories ranging from the basic stroker to ones with no sex at all. In that spectrum, there are those that are good at what they were written for and there are ones that are a waste of time. Just because a story is written with the intent to stimulate someone's libido doesn't mean it needs to be written with anything less than the same care and craftsmanship that any other story is.

All of my stories posted here have sex. Some are written with more and some with less. Some as libido stimulators and some as more serious storylines I intended as character studies with sex included. But I try to put the same care into one type as the other. A good story of the human condition, of love and loss has its place, just as a good stroker has its place. If I write it I want to try to make sure whom ever reads it enjoys it in the way it was meant to be.

Comshaw

 

[Comshaw]

I attract trolls. I’m like troll-bait. Or was it jailbait? ‍♀

Em

Just be careful. Afore you know it you'll have an army of old men panting after your panties. Not that I would EVER do anything like that!


Comshaw