Elite\Quality Writers

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

Maybe if I had bigger tits, though... 🤔😂

That’s what I put my stories lack of appeal down to, too. 🤣X

Gruff, but cute Yorkshire guy who can write like a dream? Adds tits, OMG Heaven. Seriously though, whatever your comment numbers, you can surely write; like that Tina Turner song, Better than all the Rest.

Quote by Georgia_27_8
... this idea in it's entirety would flop harder and faster than a rotweiler jumping off a 10m diving board.

You may be right, but I like to be positive. I want as many writers as possible to benefit from Lush coins. Not just me.

Quote by CallmeJayne

You may be right, but I like to be positive. I want as many writers as possible to benefit from Lush coins. Not just me.

You like to be positive, I like to be realistic and right. Truce?

Quote by CallmeJayne

The most important word in my original post is elect. Does nobody think their story would do well if they elected to publish 'coins to view'?

As I said, you're losing all the non-logged in and non-member views right off, so I do not see how a story that requires coins to read could do as well in views as one that did not. You have shut out probably the biggest segment of your possible audience. Not to mention the impact on likes and comments since you're likely going to lose casual drive-by reads by even logged-in members. Maybe you will get some coins out of dedicated friends and followers, but I think your stats will plummet. And I am not here for money, but to get read. Those stats matter more to me than picking up a few coins.

Quote by Seeker4
You have shut out probably the biggest segment of your possible audience.

Plus the bots. Can't forget those. Got to feed those AI engines so they can learn how to generate less generic, yet still bland stories that read at grade school level English.

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

Plus the bots. Can't forget those. Got to feed those AI engines so they can learn how to generate less generic, yet still bland stories that read at grade school level English.

8 names come to mind.

Fuck lol

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

Plus the bots. Can't forget those. Got to feed those AI engines so they can learn how to generate less generic, yet still bland stories that read at grade school level English.

Um, you do realize that bot activity is still mainly search engines, right? No bots, no indexing on Google, Bing, etc.

Quote by Seeker4

Um, you do realize that bot activity is still mainly search engines, right?

Of course. I'm quite certain that 3/4 of my "reads" are SE spiders. And 3/4 of those are yandex.ru or content scrapers lol. If only they had the decency to leave a comment. 😂

Personally, I wouldn’t put my stories behind a paywall. They’re a bit niche as it is (no pun intended), so I think my numbers would drop off completely. If the point of writing is to be read, it would defeat the object.

I think there could be problems for the site more broadly, as there would be no guarantee that the paid stories were of a higher calibre than the rest (unless it was RR and EP only). I can imagine lots of disgruntled readers who paid to read a story that turns out to be rubbish. And would we story mods need to be more demanding to avoid this happening, thereby excluding weaker/novice writers?

There’s certainly a case to be made for a paywall, but it would need to be managed carefully. X

Quote by NishasWorld
unless it was RR and EP only

In think that was part of the OP's proposal. The problem is, do we really want the best stories, the ones that might help get and keep people beyond the stroke crowd, locked up behind paywalls.

Quote by Seeker4

As I said, you're losing all the non-logged in and non-member views right off, so I do not see how a story that requires coins to read could do as well in views as one that did not. You have shut out probably the biggest segment of your possible audience. Not to mention the impact on likes and comments since you're likely going to lose casual drive-by reads by even logged-in members. Maybe you will get some coins out of dedicated friends and followers, but I think your stats will plummet. And I am not here for money, but to get read. Those stats matter more to me than picking up a few coins.

I was going to say that some of the more niche writers will see readership drops if they put themselves behind a pay wall. Especially if they're the kind of reader who is being discreet for whatever reason, such as spouse/partner not knowing, or keeping certain aspects of their sexuality or interests quiet. A paid membership or coins coming out of a joint bank account would certainly cause some issues for those readers.

Another of the biggest problems with a pay wall will be the complaints coming in when a reader doesn't get what they think they've paid for. How would refunds work? Moderators are busy, and dealing with the fallout between a reader and the writer will eat into valuable time. The current system of voluntarily tipping works, plus writers have freedom to write what they want to write without a reader influencing the outcome because they've dumped a lot of coins on it. If the story doesn't end the way they want after several chapters, I can see that also causing friction.

For me, a Recommended Read is incentive enough to improve, plus reading any comments someone kindly took the time out to leave. And for brilliant writers, there's a chance to win a prize by entering competitions, or self-publishing.

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

Nope. It's hard enough getting a free like or a comment because my story appeal isn't all that great. Coins would add a further barrier.

Maybe if I had bigger tits, though... 🤔😂

Yep, all of the above

Quote by utterchaos
The current system of voluntarily tipping works

This. The system was really meant as a counterpart to something like a tip jar, not as a payment system.

Quote by kistinspencil

I usually have to pay people to read my stories.

Never me.

It wouldn’t bother me or affect how many people read what I write ( very few) but then again being called a “novice “ is elevating my capabilities.

Quote by Icarus4

Never me.

Oh, no! Did the box of cigars get lost in the mail?

Quote by kistinspencil

Oh, no! Did the box of cigars get lost in the mail?

Remember I am that persistent shit that continues to enjoy your writing with or without cigars.❤️

I can’t imagine first charging for membership (especially Gold or Platinum), then charging for coins, and then charging those coins to read my story. Many of the readers who like and comment on my work are not authors here. So, their only access to coins is to buy them. It’s one thing to suggest they buy coins to tip/reward an author whose story they enjoyed. It seems counterintuitive to make them pay to read EPs and RRs. If I wanted to get paid for my stories, I should stop procrastinating and self-publish on Amazon or a similar platform. Just my opinion, of course. But I’d rather not discourage people from reading my stories that I have willingly published on Lush for free.

Quote by techgoddess

I can’t imagine first charging for membership (especially Gold or Platinum), then charging for coins, and then charging those coins to read my story. Many of the readers who like and comment on my work are not authors here. So, their only access to coins is to buy them. It’s one thing to suggest they buy coins to tip/reward an author whose story they enjoyed. It seems counterintuitive to make them pay to read EPs and RRs. If I wanted to get paid for my stories, I should stop procrastinating and self-publish on Amazon or a similar platform. Just my opinion, of course. But I’d rather not discourage people from reading my stories that I have willingly published on Lush for free.

Just as I suspected all along…you are beautiful, sensual, gifted and extremely intelligent. Did I forget anything?❤️

Didn't Lush try something like that for a while, a special Gold Elite library or something with stories only Gold or Platinum members could read? I was not a paying member then, but I sort of remember discussions about it. I also don't know how stories were selected for it, but I do remember it went away so it must not have been very popular.

Personally, I like having my stories available to all at no cost (other than their membership if they want to be able to vote or comment.) If someone chooses to tip (as several have!) it's great but I don't expect it and would never ask anyone to do so.

Quote by Wet_n_willing

Didn't Lush try something like that for a while, a special Gold Elite library or something with stories only Gold or Platinum members could read? I was not a paying member then, but I sort of remember discussions about it. I also don't know how stories were selected for it, but I do remember it went away so it must not have been very popular.

Personally, I like having my stories available to all at no cost (other than their membership if they want to be able to vote or comment.) If someone chooses to tip (as several have!) it's great but I don't expect it and would never ask anyone to do so.

As I recall yes we did and it was called the vault but as you say it was fairly short lived.

Quote by simplyjohn

As I recall yes we did and it was called the vault but as you say it was fairly short lived.

Yes, that was it! Thanks. I suppose that should give us an indication of how a paywall for certain stories might work.

I'm getting to an age where I find myself increasingly irritated by people screwing up perfectly fine things in the name of novelty and progress. I find the free open-access nature of Lush Stories part of the appeal. We're a community of amateur writers sharing our work freely with each other. Monetizing that would introduce a commercial aspect to the site which I think would undermine its charm and community-mindedness. If you want to be paid, there are other sites (a big one starting with the letter A, for instance) where you can self-publish and sell your work.

Quote by Just_A_Guy_You_Know

I'm getting to an age where I find myself increasingly irritated by people screwing up perfectly fine things in the name of novelty and progress. I find the free open-access nature of Lush Stories part of the appeal. We're a community of amateur writers sharing our work freely with each other. Monetizing that would introduce a commercial aspect to the site which I think would undermine its charm and community-mindedness. If you want to be paid, there are other sites (a big one starting with the letter A, for instance) where you can self-publish and sell your work.

I love the bluntness and directness of this. I hated the idea of lush coins from the start. I saw it would be used to buy things other than tip authors but lush management think that’s ok and use coins however you want.. it’s just another example of Jello Biafra’s song That’s Progress

Quote by deviantsusie

I love the bluntness and directness of this. I hated the idea of lush coins from the start. I saw it would be used to buy things other than tip authors but lush management think that’s ok and use coins however you want.. it’s just another example of Jello Biafra’s song That’s Progress

remind me to send you coins for name-checking Jello Biafra. met him once, btw. REALLY nice guy. and smart. DKs still get played here at Casa de sprite. them and The Ramones. \m/

Quote by deviantsusie
I saw it would be used to buy things other than tip authors but lush management think that’s ok and use coins however you want.

I've mellowed on them and finally have some. Still have no idea what I'm going to do with them, but I have them.

Quote by Seeker4

I've mellowed on them and finally have some. Still have no idea what I'm going to do with them, but I have them.

i'm saving up for a castle with mine. a lego castle. always wanted one.

Quote by sprite

remind me to send you coins for name-checking Jello Biafra. met him once, btw. REALLY nice guy. and smart. DKs still get played here at Casa de sprite. them and The Ramones. \m/

DKs and The Ramones.. did I ever tell you I'm in love with you? 😘❤️

The issue with the paywall idea, for me, is that newbie writers will miss out on high quality writing and potential opportunities to develop as writers themselves, through reading quality work.