What Rating makes you happy?

[YmaOHyd]

Yeah the view dropoff per part in a series can be killer. Mine range from 3.1k for the first one to 300 for the latest. I just worry that the low rating of my last one might deter people from reading because all of the previous sections have a rating of 4.6-4.8 and then this one is 3.33. Although only the first two of the five have enough votes to be hot.

I think I fucked up moving to Erotic Couplings. As the story goes -- I mean, it's about horny people in their 20s -- there's going to be a lot of sex. One of the two protagonists is explicitly motivated by wanting to try as much inventive and interesting sex as possible with someone she trusts as possible. So I figured, as the characters have their first hookup, I'd put it in EC. Shoulda kept it in Romance with the other two parts. That was a mistake, I think. An 80% first-day dropoff is suggestive.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Of course I enjoy seeing the red H, I'll be honest, but I've really stopped worrying too much about it. I used to track views and averages and all that, but I haven't now for months. I have some confidence now that I can spin a decent story and my work is well received and people seem to like it, my 750's notwithstanding.

It's a pretty good headspace to be in as an amateur writer and I'm happy I've reached it.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

The red H has long become a necessity rather than a privilege.

 

[NuclearFairy]

I think I fucked up moving to Erotic Couplings. As the story goes -- I mean, it's about horny people in their 20s -- there's going to be a lot of sex. One of the two protagonists is explicitly motivated by wanting to try as much inventive and interesting sex as possible with someone she trusts as possible. So I figured, as the characters have their first hookup, I'd put it in EC. Shoulda kept it in Romance with the other two parts. That was a mistake, I think. An 80% first-day dropoff is suggestive.

Yeah I've heard that it's a bad idea to have parts of a series in different categories. Might be best to just put up a short warning and make the tags reflect the chapter instead next time.

 

[PennyThompson]

Yeah I've heard that it's a bad idea to have parts of a series in different categories. Might be best to just put up a short warning and make the tags reflect the chapter instead next time.

I'm not so sure my Adventures of Penny series has flowed through three different categories, and aI actually got a small boost in views each time it went into a new category, instead of the long tail that series usually see.

It wasn't an intentional view boosting choice, I was just following where I felt the story was going. But I don't think the category changes hurt me in any way!

 

[NuclearFairy]

I'm not so sure my Adventures of Penny series has flowed through three different categories, and aI actually got a small boost in views each time it went into a new category, instead of the long tail that series usually see.

It wasn't an intentional view boosting choice, I was just following where I felt the story was going. But I don't think the category changes hurt me in any way!

Well that's good!

It's mostly from comments I've read on stories were it did change categories from time to time.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Yeah I've heard that it's a bad idea to have parts of a series in different categories. Might be best to just put up a short warning and make the tags reflect the chapter instead next time.

I'm not so sure my Adventures of Penny series has flowed through three different categories, and aI actually got a small boost in views each time it went into a new category, instead of the long tail that series usually see.

It wasn't an intentional view boosting choice, I was just following where I felt the story was going. But I don't think the category changes hurt me in any way!

My issue -- I thought -- was that while the first part of what I've intended to do is pretty definitely romance and lives in that category, the story becomes more sex-centric over time. It felt natural for it to live in multiple categories. Unfortunately, readership for part 3 has dropped so much that I don't feel comfortable doing that again, at least not for a long while. I don't have a following at all, so with hindsight releasing into a category where I didn't have two days on the front page was a bad call.

 

[NuclearFairy]

My issue -- I thought -- was that while the first part of what I've intended to do is pretty definitely romance and lives in that category, the story becomes more sex-centric over time. It felt natural for it to live in multiple categories. Unfortunately, readership for part 3 has dropped so much that I don't feel comfortable doing that again, at least not for a long while. I don't have a following at all, so with hindsight releasing into a category where I didn't have two days on the front page was a bad call.

Well readership for a series does drop per part. Neptune's Blessings chapters 1-6 have 3.1k viewers, the second segment chapters 7-12 have 900 views and the latest batch of chapters 25-30 have 300 views. So it might be the category jumps, or it might be a natural drop.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Well readership for a series does drop per part. Neptune's Blessings chapters 1-6 have 3.1k viewers, the second segment chapters 7-12 have 900 views and the latest batch of chapters 25-30 have 300 views. So it might be the category jumps, or it might be a natural drop.

Yeah, though 2.4k -> 2.2k, ending on a 'they are going to have sex for the first time' cliffhanger -> 300 seems more like something else than natural decay.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Yeah the view dropoff per part in a series can be killer. Mine range from 3.1k for the first one to 300 for the latest. I just worry that the low rating of my last one might deter people from reading because all of the previous sections have a rating of 4.6-4.8 and then this one is 3.33. Although only the first two of the five have enough votes to be hot.

It is not unusual to get a bump in views for the entire series once it has been completed. Some readers won't start an unfinished series, because so many peter out without a final resolution.

 

[SpermBankHoliday]

I look at the favs to views ratio. If a story can get 1 fav per 1,000 views, I think that's pretty good.

 

[Rob_Royale]

Yeah I've heard that it's a bad idea to have parts of a series in different categories.

I can't remember ever checking categories when I click on the next chapter of a series. Or the tags for that matter. But maybe that's just me.

 

[NuclearFairy]

I can't remember ever checking categories when I click on the next chapter of a series. Or the tags for that matter. But maybe that's just me.

I've read comments (mostly on scifi/fantasy, non-human, or erotic horror but a couple of others as well) that complained when the author posted a chapter outside their usual category. However @PennyThompson story Adventures of Penny if I remember rightly started off in scifi/fantasy, so that might no longer be the case.

 

[ICantLeafYou]

Meh.

If it's above a 0, I'm happy. Though I've never had anything dip below a 4.

 

[WCSGarland]

Meh.

If it's above a 0, I'm happy. Though I've never had anything dip below a 4.

Oddly enough, over half of mine have never been above 4. Must mean that I am a dismal failure.

 

[Five_Inch_Heels]

Damn, somebody out there in IT land this morning got a 1.0 rating. I looked at it and it ain't no where near THAT bad.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I've read comments (mostly on scifi/fantasy, non-human, or erotic horror but a couple of others as well) that complained when the author posted a chapter outside their usual category.

Some categories have self-appointed police with very fixed, and generally inane, ideas as to what does and doesn't fit into their category of choice. Those views shouldn't be taken as gospel. "Delete" is always your friend when it comes to those kind of comments.

 

[Northstar4695]

I really value the red H. I acknowledge all the reasons some say that it doesn’t matter or isn’t a good measure. It’s a motivation for me nonetheless. I would be very disappointed below 4.5.

My best stories (just my subjective opinion) have been above 4.7 and anything in that range feels like a huge deal. I weight a high score more in my mind if it also has high engagement.

Fittingly, the story I posted just after this came in under 4.5 after engagement slacked off. Definitely one of my least read, lowest engagement efforts. Disappointed with the reception, but not terribly. I tried something new and it obviously didn’t hit. Next story up!

 

[SpermBankHoliday]

Some categories have self-appointed police with very fixed, and generally inane, ideas as to what does and doesn't fit into their category of choice. Those views shouldn't be taken as gospel. "Delete" is always your friend when it comes to those kind of comments.

The category system is wonky, it should be junked and we should just go by the tags.
But it does take a special kind of reader who, when they find something they don't like, read 10 more pages of the story so they can leave a stupid comment about it.

 

[THBGato]

I'm not so sure my Adventures of Penny series has flowed through three different categories, and aI actually got a small boost in views each time it went into a new category, instead of the long tail that series usually see.

It wasn't an intentional view boosting choice, I was just following where I felt the story was going. But I don't think the category changes hurt me in any way!

Yes, but Penny dearest, you do need to remember that you are an exceptionally brilliant writer whose tender touch turns everything to quivering, wet messes. I'm not dissing anyone on this thread but what works for you quite possibly only works for you. I mean nobody else could make a guy fucking a catfishing starfish with bad grammar sexy.

 

[WittyUserName]

Hi, everyone,

I'm new here and I have submitted two separate stories so far. One was for the 750-word project, the other in the Incest/Taboo category.

I'm curious about what scores make people happy. I see that 4.55/138 for my HOT!!! 750 page exhibitionism story and that brings me joy.

I also see the 4.32/128 votes for my Incest Story, a Mother/Son tale, and I think, "Awww, I could have done better but no one's giving me feedback."

What scores make you happy? Is hitting 4.0 or higher good enough for you? Do you want the red "H" or otherwise it's a bust? I'm curious on how others look at Ratings and how seriously you take them.

Thank you!

The red "H" is a huge win for my confidence. I'm kind of conflicted about Lit's rating system. Because everyone wants the red "H" it feels like giving anything less than 5 stars hurts the author. I'd love to be one of those people who can say "I don't care what people think." But, that would be a lie. I do care. It feels amazing having a story be well-received. And yeah, the red "H" is the standard for many.

 

[WittyUserName]

The category system is wonky, it should be junked and we should just go by the tags.
But it does take a special kind of reader who, when they find something they don't like, read 10 more pages of the story so they can leave a stupid comment about it.

Agreed. I had one person say they 'couldn't make it past the first page' yet decided to jump to page 31 to tell me that.

 

[PennyThompson]

Yes, but Penny dearest, you do need to remember that you are an exceptionally brilliant writer whose tender touch turns everything to quivering, wet messes. I'm not dissing anyone on this thread but what works for you quite possibly only works for you. I mean nobody else could make a guy fucking a catfishing starfish with bad grammar sexy.

mamabird, you are very good for my self esteem but very bad for my ego

 

[Bluebanzai]

I have a theory that ratings are, at least partly, based on whether others are excited or repulsed by the kink that shapes the plot. In other words, a lower score can mean "I'm not into the same stuff as you." So I'm not overly focused on the ratings.

What validates me, with my admittedly rather pitiful oeuvre, is seeing someone favourite or follow me. Because then, I know that my work has probably turned them on, and my inner exhibitionist glows just a little. (Of course, it's equally possible that I've just given someone a laugh out loud experience that they want to repeat. But hey, all positive reactions are welcome).

 

[SimonDoom]

I have a theory that ratings are, at least partly, based on whether others are excited or repulsed by the kink that shapes the plot. In other words, a lower score can mean "I'm not into the same stuff as you." So I'm not overly focused on the ratings.

What validates me, with my admittedly rather pitiful oeuvre, is seeing someone favourite or follow me. Because then, I know that my work has probably turned them on, and my inner exhibitionist glows just a little. (Of course, it's equally possible that I've just given someone a laugh out loud experience that they want to repeat. But hey, all positive reactions are welcome).

I think you are right about this. Numerous factors go into whether people rate your story highly, but this is one of the most important factors.

I agree, too, that it's very gratifying to know that your words have turned somebody on.