Additionally, I believe that voting should require a comment (especially the contest entries), and I am glad we have that option. If you took the time to read it, and you liked it enough to give it a high vote, then there is no good reason you can't take an extra minute to say WHY you liked it.
"It was great." is not helpful.
"I really enjoyed the heat between the two main characters, and the action and pace of the story kept my attention all the way to the end." is what the author needs to know. That way they know what they are doing well at, so they can keep doing it.
If you give someone a low vote, you should at least be respectful enough to explain why you gave it, and tell the author what you think they need to do to improve their work. For example:
"Your writing stinks." is not constructive.
"You need to work on your sentence structure, dialogue quotation marks, and writing voice. The paragraphs are choppy and confusing." is far more helpful to the author so they can do better next time.
Either way, leaving a comment ensures that the person who is voting is doing it for a well thought out reason, that has nothing to do with popularity, strife, jealousy or favoritism.
I must admit, I either score a story/poem a 5, or I don't give a score at all. Your story/poem was either excellent, or a complete waste of my time, and I honestly worry about hurting the author's feelings.
Want to spend some time wallowing in a Recommended Read? Pick one! Or two! Or seven!
I have read some stories that had been given low scores for the fact they didn't have graphic enough sex. The stories were beautiful written, expertly crafted and well conceived. I understand that this is a sex site but is miles ahead of other erotic site because lush has the best authors on the Internet. It is also a great platform for new writers because the Mods are helpful in assisting new writers. It is a community that is many steps above mindless porn.
I have read some stories that had been given low scores for the fact they didn't have graphic enough sex. The stories were beautiful written, expertly crafted and well conceived. I understand that this is a sex site but is miles ahead of other erotic site because lush has the best authors on the Internet. It is also a great platform for new writers because the Mods are helpful in assisting new writers. It is a community that is many steps above mindless porn.
I am surprised that no one has mentioned the opposite problem in this thread: that of writers who feel entitled to universal 5s on everything they submit. I recently rated a story 4, because it was formulaic and trite -- it felt like the output of a porn-writing robot, although the sex was graphic, steamy, and well-paced. I provided a comment with this same analysis, perhaps in a slightly shorter form. I believe I had given 5s to a number of stories by the writer in the past, some with comments and some without.
In response I got a resentful message, was dropped as a friend, and was blocked. This is not merely being thin-skinned; it's being juvenile and paranoid.
I'll continue to rate stories as I value them, with weight given to theme, sensuality ("hotness"), structure, pace, and writing mechanics (spelling, grammar, punctuation). Having said that, I also try to be kind. The stakes here are just too low to justify rudeness.
Twice I've had someone give two different stories a 1 and I was upset by this... not because they felt it was only worthy of a 1, but because they didn't have the courage to tell me why. Actually, that's not entirely true. I did contact the two that did this, one said it was an error and asked if they could change it... which now thanks to Gav and is wonderful skills, is doable. The other person, was trashing several stories in a particular category.
It would be nice if someone would either leave a comment or send me a PM if they don't like something I wrote and tell me why (poor writing skills, lousy plot line, etc.)
I don't expect all 5s. I'm honored when I get a lot of them, but I don't let the scores bring me down. I write what I like... and luckily for me... others like what I write as well.
To be honest...I have never had a mod come to my aid on those who have down graded me. If they do it for one, they should do it for all...its that simple.
I NEVER EVER advertize my work and I couldn't give a FUCK how people vote...
(No Problem if others take a diffrent approach, BTW...)
MY JOY is to WRITE it and see it UP THERE...
(Everything Else Is BONUS.)
xx SF
Generally, my ratings are positive, a 3 or better. If an author can't live with that, they won't go far in the trade. Face it, if you can't get past the folks here, what will happen when a real professional editor reads one of your stories? I posted earlier about the level of grammar and spelling ability of some authors here, and while I love the content, the technical side is lacking at times. I never judge a story here on technical matters like spelling but an aspiring author should keep this in mind! Think about having someone proof those submissions, if you keep an open mind you will become a better author.
I understand the rating system, but what I find ironic is that certain writers on here who are regularly published have it set to where only certain people can vote on their stories. They obviously cannot handle anything other than a 5, and to me, it's pathetic and childish.
I personally don't give a shit if someone rates me poorly. It's their opinion, and a majority of the people that read what I write rate them high. So if one or two jealous people want to rate me low? So what?
But when I cannot vote on certain "favorite writers" stories? It's kind of pitiful and pathetic. Glad I don't have that confidence problem.
Recently I scored a story a four (and that was generous). The author wrote me and said if I was going to low score then to not read her work. When does a four become a low score? I get them and thank the reader for their time.
I've been writing for three years and don't expect perfection. Quite the opposite. I'm always grateful for those that offer suggestions.
People are very generous here with their scoring. I don't think I've ever received lower than a 4. But there's no way that a 4 is a low score.
One of my stories, I had someone open an account just to vote my story a 4. They've done literally nothing else with the account since. I was ever so happy to think a person would go to the bother of opening an account for no other reason to score my story.
Shows I must be doing something right.
I'm with Verbal. The comments are my favorite part. When someone takes the time to compliment or critique, it's so flattering.
I get fours, too. It's a "Good" rather than "Excellent" vote. It's seems a little prima donna-ish to insist that everything you write is pure excellence for everyone who reads it. I don't mind if people use the scoring system as intended.
i get pissed when people give me 5s. all of MY stories should get 6s. from now on, anyone who gives me a 5 is gonna get blocked and have a voodoo doll made of them.
You can’t truly call yourself peaceful unless you are capable of violence. If you’re not capable of violence, you’re not peaceful. You’re harmless.
