The Anomaly called Loving Wives

[THBGato]

This would require re titling at a minimum I suspect of every story to date?

Or get into the habit of writing a short author's note at the start of each story with a hyperlink to chapter 1 and/or the series page.

PS: If you want to see this in action, check out my most ridiculous Author's Note ever. Personally, I prefer it to the actual story!

 

[TheLobster]

You're doing very well. Mine was 1.87 after 7 votes and it's a similar length.

It has since climbed to the dizzy heights of 4.17. I practically have vertigo

In all seriousness, wait a bit before you decide if it was the right thing or not. My single Loving Wives story took 2 days to get more views, votes and comments than my second most popular story, which has been up for 2 years. Yeah, a few of the 157 comments have been bat-shit crazy, but the vast majority have been very thoughtful, even the negative ones, and some extremely complimentary. Definitely worth it, I feel.

Did you notice any negative side effects in terms of votes on your other stories? This might be a downside of dipping into LW, if the, ahem, passionate audience there spreads their 'love' to the rest of your catalog.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

This would require re titling at a minimum I suspect of every story to date?

Points entirely valid, food for thought. Thank you

It's all a learning process if we allow it to be.

 

[THBGato]

Did you notice any negative side effects in terms of votes on your other stories? This might be a downside of dipping into LW, if the, ahem, passionate audience there spreads their 'love' to the rest of your catalog.

So far, no. At least I don't think so. I get trolled anyway, because a lot of my stories end up on the Lesbian Sex top list and thus get downvoted by the top list troll(s). One of my stories gets to 100 votes at 4.84+ and boom, it sudden gets 20 more votes and is down to 4.6ish. Thus it would be hard for me to tell.

 

[TheLobster]

So far, no. At least I don't think so. I get trolled anyway, because a lot of my stories end up on the Lesbian Sex top list and thus get downvoted by the top list troll(s). One of my stories gets to 100 votes at 4.84+ and boom, it sudden gets 20 more votes and is down to 4.6ish. Thus it would be hard for me to tell.

Well, at the very least this provides some ample evidence that top list trolls are more dedicated and "effective" than LW trolls

 

[Lifestyle66]

This would require re titling at a minimum I suspect of every story to date?

Points entirely valid, food for thought. Thank you

Even with titles indicating chapters in the story, the number of reader views after the first chapter will decrease. So, by not indicating that your LW story was a later chapter requiring the reader to first have read the earlier stories, you probably picked up more views. But you paid the price when the readers found they weren't getting a complete story in that one they'd opened.

Many readers don't like such surprises and don't want to work for their entertainment by having to search for other stories.

I have one "series" in which I've built linked stories around a neighborhood "Book Club" of women getting together monthly to discuss their latest book selection. So, the stories are all interconnected, mentioning some of the same characters and with some of the stories referencing the same hotel and club. But I try to write enough in each story so it can stand alone as complete. Then at the end, I include a postscript with hot links to the earlier stories.

Regardless of how hard you try to anticipate the audience desires and preferences or make it easy for them, posting to Loving Wives receives a lower average rating than other categories, because you're getting a more general spread of audience expectations and turn-offs, and dealing with two opposing factions of what they consider lovable. One side LOVES extra-marital sex, while the other HATES it in any form.

 

[Ianus4]

Did you notice any negative side effects in terms of votes on your other stories? This might be a downside of dipping into LW, if the, ahem, passionate audience there spreads their 'love' to the rest of your catalog.

I believe that much of the "passion" stems from the nature of the category itself. As long as stories for and against monogamy aren’t separated, this will always be the case. Just as an author who regularly sneaks a large penis into their stories published in LS probably wouldn’t be very popular for very long.
THBGato’s story is also remarkable in that it walks that fine line that everyone could relate to. It is both empathetic toward the characters and thought-provoking.
Despite the rumors, the vast majority of the audience there is actually very grateful for good stories.

 

[lc69hunter]

I am a denizen of the LW world, and as mentioned before, there are multiple variations in what people love, or hate. After years of reading the comments, I believe that the biggest chasm is monogamy versus non-monogamy, no matter any other twist or turn, or outcome. To one faction, anything non-monogamous of any sort, especially if consensual, elicits cries of cuck/whore/slut and variations thereof, quite often including the author in that group.

The anonymous commenters are the bane of the category, hiding behind their keyboard, saying things they would never have the balls to say in public. The BTBers are Johnny come lately to the category and think they created it.

Just my thoughts

 

[SimonDoom]

Or get into the habit of writing a short author's note at the start of each story with a hyperlink to chapter 1 and/or the series page.

PS: If you want to see this in action, check out my most ridiculous Author's Note ever. Personally, I prefer it to the actual story!

That author's note made my day.

Now, having been told to fuck right off, I of course have to read the story.

 

[AStrangeDesire]

That author's note made my day.

Now, having been told to fuck right off, I of course have to read the story.

Did you even read the note?

Clearly there's a whole bunch of stuff you have to read first.

Seriously, I laughed reading that note.

 

[Belegon]

I do have an idea for something to publish in that category... and I don't think I'd have a hard time writing it. However, the concept is mostly based upon a speculation that's been put into my head by others considering the collapse of my second marriage, and while it's extremely unlikely that my ex would ever be exposed to it, I wonder about the effect that even writing it would have upon my own pysche.

To be more clear, I have had several people suggest that some of my ex's behavior at certain points is indicative of the idea that she was cheating on me. While this is possible, I've never considered it likely. But I could see my way to a place where I could write a story supposing it were true. However, it would quickly turn into a bit of a revenge tale, and I'm not sure I want to dignify those thoughts by writing them down.