366 reads, 0 comments, and 0 votes. The reaction to my latest story, The Game. Is it that boring? confusing? unfinishable? I've had feedback from private sources and it has been laudatory. "It made me horny" was a typical response. But here, not even a "this story sucks" and a reason/s why. Is this level of disinterest an unusual response from Lush readers?
Aw, HRS where's the fun in that. I admit it does require a close read and even then it can get a little confusing. But, hey, the best nookie can be confusing, knowing where one person ends and the other begins. When you are that close... From my experience, there is much more in life than earth-shattering climaxes. For me, it is connecting with people. Hence, I try to develop characters and show how their personalities inform their experiences. Consequently, I try and show things rather than tell them. But, many thanks for your feedback, it is muchly appreciated.
366 reads, it's low numbers wise to get a lot of comments or any at all. It's not because your story is bad or anything (I haven't read it, just assuming it's not garbage). I think one of the problems may be the title. "The Game" is a very very very very generic title for an erotic story. It's like calling an action movie "The Chase". Just very generic. Might have just made people scroll past it. I would definitely consider coming up with something either a lot more detailed to attract lovers of a fetish or a lot more mysterious in an original way to attract people looking for an actual read. None is better than the other, just saying you gotta work on the bait on your hook to catch those fishies, in my opinion.
Green Man, thanks for your input. I have commented on a couple of people's stories. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of free time to hang out on Lush, spit, spit. My life is kinda busy, what with work, writing, and living/observing. So I will be patient and try to find time to read more here. Again, thanks for your advice.
Well Roo, considering your story has been out for less than a week, I think 366 reads is pretty good! And don't worry so much about the comments and scores. First off, scores don't mean anything unless you are in a competition. Most of your friends will score you high and the rest will score depending on their interest, their mood that day, the position of the sun, whether they got laid last night, or any number of other factors!
And comments are a poor judge too because a lot of people won't leave comments even if they liked the story because they are shy or feel their opinion isn't worth putting down - or they are so full of themselves that they think their word is Gospel!
No what you should be watching is your reads. That means that people took the time to at least check out your story. And it's the views that will make your story Famous or Legendary. And the more reads it gets, the more other people will check it out just to see what all the hullaboo is about!
BTW some of my stories are slow starters too!
Jonathan
Felix and Jonathon, Thanks for your comments and your perspectives about reads. Obviously, as a Rookie Scribe, I'm new to these parts. I chose the title for its double meaning; a kids pass time and an occupation, as in she/he's on The Game. I'm halfway through a sequel which in part revolves around another kid's game. Whether there will be more depends upon my ability to find an interesting way for adults to subvert kid's innocent past times.
You didn't get 366 reads. You got 366 page views.
You need to get readers all the way to the end for them to see the scoring and comment boxes. Even then, don't expect every reader to give you a score or comment.
Not many would have made it to the end of your story. I didn't.
Apart from my sig, I don't self-promote or network or beg friends for scores or comments.
With that in mind, from here and from other sites I've posted, I reckon one score per hundred views and one comment per thousand is pretty good going.
There are plenty of outliers, but that a reasonable rule of thumb.
Another thought:
If you're writing and publishing for acceptance and feedback, join the team.
The greatest majority of authors are like that.
You just have to realize your readers are like customers.
Most never say a thing and are totally happy with the material.
It's only when you go above and beyond or really fuck up that anyone will say anything.
"I expect nothing. I fear no one. I am free." Nikos Kazantzakis
Thanks, everyone for your replies, I have found them both helpful and informative. I suspect you will hate the sequel. It is more of the same but with fewer stage directions. Yes, Storm, you will need to bring your brain along cos even entertainment requires an active audience. And, I just love finding ways to bring hi-brow stuff into my smut. Sort of underlines our basic instincts as being nothing new. Mr. Shakespeare and Lewis Carroll have been given a gurnsey, Dylan Thomas is on the bench and AA Milne (gay & food fetish) Kenneth Graham (cross-dressing) are in the change room (pun intended). And what smut would be complete without Geoffery Chaucer and John Dunn? A couple of horn dogs if ever I met one. So, hold on to your hats, or any other piece of apparel of your choice, this ride is just beginning. Where Rory and Molly take us is anybody's guess.
Another bit of advice:
Literary pretensions are generally the kiss of death for good storytelling and entertainment. Not always, but generally. That tends to affect your comments and scores on here, too. Try to tell a good story in the best way you can and leave the self-importance behind.
Incidentally, nice Biblical allusion in your thread title. Just read that parable in a bible study not long ago.
Someone on another site said that you have to write to please yourself first, then the readers. Don't try to pander to them. If it's good, they'll find you. And if you like it and they don't - that's okay too.
I have 1 vote (a 5) and comment on one of my stories in the Hardcore section with 2,939 views. I figured my writing is absolute rubbish but I honestly just enjoy doing it.
, so take it as such. (BTW, I have stories with 10,000 to 20,000 or more views, and many of them only have 30 - 50 comments or votes. The ratio in general is not high, but if you get a few thousand views initially and 15,000 or more views over time, you're probably doing something right. Or that's what I tell myself...) 
