New Year - New Feddback
- Thread starter al55
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ShelbyDawn57
Fae Princess
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I’ve found that entering a competition can increase traffic to older stories.
crookedletter
bendy
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For that matter, does anyone actually know how to get new comments on new stories?
Dancefactory
Machinery & Dancing
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- Dec 16, 2023
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Continue the story and create a serie
BobbyBrandt
Virgin Wannabe
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Publishing new stories keeps you "present" and more visible, both of which are critical to getting reader engagement.
Other than that, you can try periodically updating your profile, which will notify those readers who have "followed" you. The major problem with relying on followers is that they have likely already read your older stories, which is what motivated them to follow you in the first place.
MelissaBaby
Wordy Bitch
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Entering contests and challenges can draw the attention of readers who would not find your stories otherwise. Some will explore your older stories.
I have promoted older stories on Twitter and Bluesky, and usually get a fair number of views and a few comments.
SimonDoom
Kink Lord
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Write new stories in the same category as the old ones, with similar themes and similar erotic appeal. Then, for your new story adopt tags that overlap with those of the old story. There is a decent chance that the old story will show up on the Similar Stories list at the end of the new story, drawing readers of the new story to it.
This may draw reads, not comments. There's no sure-fire way to induce your readers actually to comment. The fraction of my readers who comment is tiny.
This may draw reads, not comments. There's no sure-fire way to induce your readers actually to comment. The fraction of my readers who comment is tiny.
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Competitions and events boost visibility across the board.
I have started putting a self-promotion plug at the end of my stories, something along the lines of, "If you like mermaids [picking an example for no particular reason
], you might want to take a look at another of my stories, [link inserted].
I have started putting a self-promotion plug at the end of my stories, something along the lines of, "If you like mermaids [picking an example for no particular reason
], you might want to take a look at another of my stories, [link inserted].
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Bribery works, I'm told. So far, it hasn't worked for me...
redgarters
Hopeless romantic
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I wrote a Readers Companion essay where I talk a bit about each of my stories. It seems to have driven some readers to go find some more of my stories that they hadn't read, or re-read some of them, and some of them have left comments.
ElectricBlue
A Dozen Eggs
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Writing more stories is the best way to get more attention. Every time you publish something new, activity in your back catalogue ramps up.
BobbyBrandt
Virgin Wannabe
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I like to use this story as an example of great reader engagement. It has never averaged more than 2 views per day, but the votes per view ratio is close to 1:2
In comparison, one of my more recent stories is seeing over 350 views per day but has a vote per view ratio of .04:1. The different categories certainly play a role.
lovecraft68
Bad Doggie
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- Jul 13, 2009
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New stories lead to people checking out your older ones, especially if you can manage to produce on a regular basis.
As others said, contests can get you some attention (be warned though its not all positive.)
The next one is an easier said than done, but if one of your stories hits and manages to get on a top list for a category, you'll definitely get some eyes on your other work. You'll pick up some trolls to because jealousy is an ugly emotion, but the benefits outweigh that.
Last point is....don't worry about it. Just keep writing, keep working and it will come and while you're waiting, you're doing what you came here to do; write.
lovecraft68
Bad Doggie
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Begging for them here seems to be a decent strategy implied by some
StillStunned
A Muse Bouche
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Perhaps a year ago I started replying to every comment I got. I always thank the commenter for reading my story and leaving their comment, and I try to add something meaningful to the reply. Sometimes it's just agreeing with something they say, sometimes it's providing some insight into the characters, sometimes I explain a little about how the story came about.
Since I've started doing that, I've been getting many more comments - and almost all of them positive. I don't think it's a coincidence: I think it shows readers - the ones who have commented and ones who have just finished the story - how much I appreciate hearing from them. Maybe they feel connected to the story and to me as a writer, and they don't feel they're shouting into the void.
DEFCOM5
Writing for fun!
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- Jul 23, 2025
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I do that but I have not seen an increase in comments.
The issue is that the person that left the comment does not know that you replied to their comment,
StillStunned
A Muse Bouche
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But if they see my replies to previous comments, they can guess that they'll also get a reply. If they've replied to another of mine, then they might expect to get a reply to this one too.
DEFCOM5
Writing for fun!
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It is a good point.
IT has not worked for me, however.
I think it is the lack of quality in my stories that explains the lack of engagement.
