Where have all the reviewers gone

[BDSM_Tourguide]

... even just as a regular viewer, I think.

It's been so long ago, I don't actually remember.

I do know that when you download a story there are links on the story page itself to both review and write the author an email. Unless that's changed in the last three or four days.

[Curtis]

The link is still there, but if you are just a reader/viewer all you can do is read/view the reviews. In order to write a review you have to be a user.

[Moggy]

Judging by the irrational and partizan views in the reviews in 2000 I can see that it makes sense that the reviewers are registered. It's easy to do and costs nothing, after all!

It's almost unbelievable that less than one in a thousand readers make a review, or I assume, bother to send an email to an author.

[Curtis]

I agree, it does seem incredible (and inconsiderate). I comment on maybe one story posting in twenty and I consider myself a lazy son-of-a-bee. Taking into account the breakdown between updates and new stories that would be what, maybe one in twelve stories? That's not very good. I make excuses for myself (I'm reading with one hand; if I stop to review I'll lose my hard-on), but there's no reason I couldn't go back when I've 'finished' and type a few words. As it is, usually the story I 'finish' with is the only one I give feedback to.

Really though, there are eight thousand-some registered users on this site. I registered specifically so I could post and review. As nearly as I can tell, under three hundred users have ever posted (is that right, Jinn?). If they're not posting and they're not reviewing, why did they register? Anybody? (Of course, anyone who responds would be a poster and therefore ineligible to respond! I think I'd better think it out again!)

[Powerone]

I have been posting here for over a year and it is a great site and I do get a lot of people reading my stories. But I think I have only got about 2 e-mails from 22 stories and 484,000 views. Most of my stories get at least a couple of votes, maximum of about 5.

I post on 9 other sites. I get much more in voting, on Literotica, most get over 200 votes. And at that site, I can get over 100 e-mails from one story.

I think the main differnce in voting, is that they only require a number vote, not a comment. I think people tend to be afraid of saying something. On sexstoriespost.com, they have voting (1-5) and then at the bottom of the page you can make a comment. This splits it up for those that do not want to make a comment, but would like to vote.

I am not sure what drives the e-mail. I have written with female writers on a story and she gets all the e-mail from men, I get all the e-mails from woman. I could count the number of e-mail from men on 10 fingers, while woman are over 1,000.

[Tiger]

I set it so that people can't rate a story without a comment. I know you would get much more votes if no review and/or registration are required. Maybe it's a good idea to allow anonymous readers to vote.

Literotica is no doubt a much more popular site than this one. It may have 20 to 50 times more daily visitors than bdsmlibrary. So it's no surprise you can get a lot response from them. But it is surprising you got only 2 emails from bdsmlibrary readers out of the 1000 total emails. It is indeed disappointing. But it seems people tend to send private emails instead of writing a public review.

[Moggy]

I visited the two sites that Powerone mentioned and I have to say it was an eye opener; like a village boy visiting the big city for the first time! But you know, I was very glad to return to my village at the end of it!

I never thought I'd equate BDSM aficianados with country folk but maybe there is something in it! We seem to like our little backwater away from the metropolis of normal sexual activity.

(I must also say congratulations to Powerone for the very high ratings he received on one of those sites.)

[Powerone]

You have to remember also that each site is usually geared to different readers. On literotica, they do not allow underage sex or rape. On BDSMlibrary.com, I don't think Jinn has ever rejected a story (at least none of mine and I do write a wide variety).

As far as presentation of stories, BDSMlibrary.com far exceeds any of the other sites I belong to. On Literotica, if you post a story, it is one of about 25 that day and it goes off the "new" story section for only 5 days. The only way to get high numbers is to get high voting average so it will stay on the Top list, but even then, it is difficult because it runs 5 pages and only the first page will get you high views. Literotica only allows about 5 word intro's, most sites do not allow any, a far cry from BDSMlibrary.com.

I also think that BDSMlibrary.com has a higher caliber of writers. Some sites post stories that are barely legible, never mind interesting, written in 10 minutes. BDSMlibrary.com has a fine group of writers, each week getting better. I am enjoying Cortez's stories lately.

[Tiger]

Thank you for your compliment. Although your stories stay in the news section for much longer time, they may still get less exposure to readers than on Literotica. Just this site is oriented to bdsm fictions, the readers might appreciate the bdsm-related stories more. But who knows. I reject stories mainly based on the quality. It's true that some stories on this site are not that good, but believe me, you haven't seen the worst. I thought my criteria for rejection was set pretty low, but everything has a limit. And for me, it's a sad thing to say to the authors that I can't accept their works (well, most times I don't get any reply from them either).

[Curtis]

Now THIS is interesting! (I may be going off-thread here.) I have never attempted to submit a story, but I had no idea that there was any screening process involved prior to posting. (Eeek! Naivite check!)
I had made the assumption that you had to submit a story in order to learn the guidelines for submitting (apparently, I assume a lot). Jinn, is it possible to get a copy of the guidelines without having a story ready for submission?

[kittenfemme]

Jinn: I agree with not allowing a rating without a comment. I also think that allowing anonymous voting is a good idea. Perhaps require an e-mail address instead? Or maybe even have the e-mail address as an optional field?

Curtis: I'm new here, but remember checking out the submission page while considering submitting some of my own fiction. I don't know that it will answer your questions but it's here:
http://www.bdsmlibrary.com/stories/story_submit.php
Though Jinn and others here are most likely MUCH more knowledgeable about such things than I. *shy smile* Perhaps there are other guidelines or a list of them elsewhere?

[kittenfemme]

BTW, I ran a forum search and couldn't find anything mentioning this topic and this seems as good a place to post my question as any.

Are readers limited to one review per story? Are we allowed to post additional reviews that will reflect in the overall rating of the story as the story progresses? Or are we limited to responding to existing reviews?

Example:
http://www.bdsmlibrary.com/stories/r...p?storyid=1293
I posted a review to Taking Carol on April 20th. A new chapter has been posted since my review. I love, love, love, love, LOVE this story and, having taken in the latest chapter, would like to ad an additional review. May I? Please? Or is this forbidden/ bad taste?

[Curtis]

kittenfemme, I think I can return your favor. As you said, there are others who are much more knowledgable about these things than I am, but my understanding is that a given reviewer may only review a given story once. HOWEVER, they may update their review as often as they like (and, of course, respond to other reviewers). Hope that helps, and I'm just about to check out your suggestion.

[kittenfemme]

I agree Curtis. Thank you for the reply. I noticed the "edit" link after the reviewers' name on the review listing page for each story only today. I think that serves to support the hypothesis.

Also, this forum's e-mail notification when someone replies to a thread feature kicks! Love it.

[Faibhar]

As Powerone mentioned email responses consistently are outnumbered by ratings/reviews (R&R), and these by the number of hits. The significance to the writer in gauging his/her audience reaction reduces by the time you get to the anonymous hit score because there's obviously no way of telling if the reader actually read the piece or just clicked on the d/l.

Actually R&R and email are just like frosting on the cake, the original pleasure coming in the conception and crafting of the story. R&R and emails are certainly nice whenever they occur because they frequently hint at what the particular emailer/reviewer enjoys reading best. Assuming that others feel similarly, then it can help tailor future submissions to the tastes of the bsm library audience. It gives an idea of what provides the most pleasure and what does not, something it would be presumptious to assume.

And of course it's always nice to receive feedback.

[Moggy]

My two cents worth: If somebody wants to rate (and review) a story then it really isn't a hardship for them to be registered. Using a hotmail style email addr means the person can be as anonymous as they want to be.

Besides, I like the feature that lists a reviewer's 'history'. It gives an idea about whether to trust a review. This would be lost if the site returned to unregistered reviewing.

Faibhar, I'm impressed by your relaxed attitude to reviews. I assumed a prime motivator for posting on this site is for the reviews and feedback. Even though it seems a paltry amount in comparison to the actual downloads.

[kittenfemme]

Originally posted by Moggy
I like the feature that lists a reviewer's 'history'. It gives an idea about whether to trust a review. This would be lost if the site returned to unregistered reviewing.

Those are quite valid points Moggy. It is very nice to see a person's review history.

[Faibhar]

Quoting 60/70's lyrics??? Oh well, with every season there must be a change, or something like that.

Moggy, getting reviews/feedback is not a prime motivator for submitting stories to this site-at least, not for this writer. Not to distance myself in any superior way from other fine writers who may require reviews/feedback for motivation I have found that at least for me it is the conception and proper delivery of a story that makes for satisfaction. Getting responses from readers is a secondary, although at times very valuable, benefit.

If any of the above makes any sense, the bromide about not quitting your day job remains sage advice.

[Curtis]

Just to flog a dead horse, I am returning to Marcus' comment on writing under a female pseudonym to increase your e-mail response from readers.

I have now sent e-mails or PMs to 13 pseudonymously male authors and received replies from 5. On the other hand, I have contacted 19 ostensibly female authors and received replies from 16, six of whom have entered into prolonged exchanges (vs one of the males).

I realize that this study sample is minute, but as it grows the results are remaining consistent. This tends to confirm my earlier hypothesis that the reason women receive more e-mails is that people are more likely to write to people who will write back to them.

(Aside to Faibhar: Trying to keep up with your allusions is exercising my faculties. It took me days to realize that your remark concerning lyrics from the 1960's was directed at me! The subject line of that post was, of course, a response to the Thread subject line. But then, you knew that <wink>.)

[Powerone]

But I think your test was biased. You are a male writer sending to a group of males and a group of females. Try the same test, but this time have a male send a e-mail to a female writer and a female send an e-mail to male writer. I think you will find equal participation by the writer.

I am a writer and I have written numerous stories with female writers. I have found that in 95% of the case, male readers write to female writers and female readers write to male writers.

The few e-mail's I receive from male writers usually are asking for help on writing.

Powerone

[Curtis]

Interesting point. It's a lot of labor to ask someone else to undertake, but there may be a couple of female posters here willing to give their all for science. I'll ask them if this project would appeal to them.

[Faibhar]

Nom de plume's, fake genders, whatever, frequently are necessary to this genre.

That much said, an author's hinted at, or blantanly neon'ed signature should not detract from the story itself unless reading and writing takes second seat to some other motivation.

(Aside to Curtis: Faculties need to be exercised routinely. Or is that the brain that needs frequent workouts? I forget.)

[boccaccio2000g]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Curtis
[B]

Curtis: I have now sent e-mails or PMs to 13 pseudonymously male authors and received replies from 5. On the other hand, I have contacted 19 ostensibly female authors and received replies from 16, six of whom have entered into prolonged exchanges (vs one of the males).

I entirely agree with your impressions, Curtis.

Women, in general, are much better communicators than men.

Gross over-simplification alert: :-)

Men, in general, like to talk about their specific interests -- sports, cars, beer, hunting and fishing, dancing girls -- you know -- the important things in life.

Women, in general, IMO, enjoy the intimacy of conversation, of sharing thoughts and feelings, even if there is no specific topic of conversation, lighting on topics -- (work, shopping, family, girl friends, shopping, their love lives, shoes, weather, shopping, diets, shoes, weekend plans, shopping etc ) -- like a butterfly, lingering for a moment and then flitting off to something else.

Another reason (IMO) that most men are less responsive on our particular subject -- the dark side of sexuality -- is that many men harbor feelings of guilt and/or shame for having such thoughts and fancies at all. Even (especially?) those who have written stories about them. Some, I'm sure, are fearful that their fantasies might come to public light. That Big Brother (or little wife?) might one day sweep down and go through all the e-mails and reviews and forums, track everyone down and publish names and photos in everyone's local newspaper. Fortunately, I think, our numbers (those of us latter-day sexual revolutionaries) are now so large, and so entrenched in every walk of life, that such a possibility seems more and more remote all the time.

One of the nice things about a forum such as this is that one finds out that one's cohabitants in our shadowy corner of erotica are both numerous and, for the most part, pleasant, talented, and intelligent people -- not drooling troglodyes.

I haven't received e-mails or reviews from too many people; but a surprisingly high percentage of the ones I have received have led, over time, to an interesting and friendly and unthreatening exchange of thoughts, at first just about the story in question, the Library and BDSM in general, but often leading into other shared interests.

Gentlemen -- if someone drops you a line, take a minute to write back. Your 'fan' will be pleased that you did, and you may well strike up a more-or-less-enduring e-friendship.


Boccaccio

[Faibhar]

Guilt in its many forms springs from religion, sex, too much time in the East forty, and so on.

However Marcus Welby-like Boccaccio may appear, he does make some good points on the differences between sexes(the French say it better but with their recent politics and all...).

Marked contrasts do exist between the two genders and that makes communication sometimes all the more of a challenge. Fine style variations also exist in the presentation of stories.

[passenger]

I only write E-Mails to authors here, because mails give you the chance to really get in contact with her/him. Ok, I could do both, mailing and reviewing, but I'm a bit lazy.
I didn't count the number of people I mailed, probably ten, and have a regular "conversation" with one of them, and it is developing better, than I hoped for.
I've been here for only a few weeks, so I seem to be very lucky

[Powerone]

What we need is a female writer and get her response. I know a few (not on this site) and they get loads of e-mails from men. We have been having a discussion on the strange e-mail received on this other fourm. This is from a female writer:

"Most of my e-mail is pretty tame, often of the "please write more" variety. To these, I send a simple thank you, and a promise that more are indeed on the way.

I've got a couple of long 4 or 5 page letters, filled with pathos, from guys who were wrestling with their desire to actually try and bed their young teenage daughters. These guys got a longer response, where I tried to give them a little insight into the difference between fantasy and reality. The basic suggestion was for them to leave their daughters alone, and jerk off to my stories instead.

There was one letter that topped them all - I got an email from some guy who proposed marriage! He gave me all his personal information - address, phone, income. He then revealed his "Master Plan." He wanted me for a wife in order to create the ultimate incestuous family. He was to be my "Daddy," and would inpregnate me with children who we would raise to be our sexual playthings! Yikes!"

As you can probably guess, she writes incest stories. I think that men are more likely to write to female writers (and also to hit on them) and 95% of the e-mail I receive is females, with very little from men.

Powerone

[QUOTE]Originally posted by boccaccio2000g
[B]

Originally posted by Curtis


Curtis: I have now sent e-mails or PMs to 13 pseudonymously male authors and received replies from 5. On the other hand, I have contacted 19 ostensibly female authors and received replies from 16, six of whom have entered into prolonged exchanges (vs one of the males).

I entirely agree with your impressions, Curtis.

Women, in general, are much better communicators than men.

Gross over-simplification alert: :-)

Men, in general, like to talk about their specific interests -- sports, cars, beer, hunting and fishing, dancing girls -- you know -- the important things in life.

Women, in general, IMO, enjoy the intimacy of conversation, of sharing thoughts and feelings, even if there is no specific topic of conversation, lighting on topics -- (work, shopping, family, girl friends, shopping, their love lives, shoes, weather, shopping, diets, shoes, weekend plans, shopping etc ) -- like a butterfly, lingering for a moment and then flitting off to something else.

Another reason (IMO) that most men are less responsive on our particular subject -- the dark side of sexuality -- is that many men harbor feelings of guilt and/or shame for having such thoughts and fancies at all. Even (especially?) those who have written stories about them. Some, I'm sure, are fearful that their fantasies might come to public light. That Big Brother (or little wife?) might one day sweep down and go through all the e-mails and reviews and forums, track everyone down and publish names and photos in everyone's local newspaper. Fortunately, I think, our numbers (those of us latter-day sexual revolutionaries) are now so large, and so entrenched in every walk of life, that such a possibility seems more and more remote all the time.

One of the nice things about a forum such as this is that one finds out that one's cohabitants in our shadowy corner of erotica are both numerous and, for the most part, pleasant, talented, and intelligent people -- not drooling troglodyes.

I haven't received e-mails or reviews from too many people; but a surprisingly high percentage of the ones I have received have led, over time, to an interesting and friendly and unthreatening exchange of thoughts, at first just about the story in question, the Library and BDSM in general, but often leading into other shared interests.

Gentlemen -- if someone drops you a line, take a minute to write back. Your 'fan' will be pleased that you did, and you may well strike up a more-or-less-enduring e-friendship.


Boccaccio

[LaJan]

Wow, I feel very fortunate indeed. I have received gobs of hate mail regarding all my stories and I've gotten some really nice reviews. Not sure why the disparity but the hate mail is usually instructive in some way so it's not a waste. And I thank every single person who has taken the time to write email or a review.

I have a tough time writing reviews, tho. I started writing them for each and every story I read. It was fine when the story was a good one. But, when I found the story lacking, it was difficult to put my name on the review. Not that I feel uncomfortable standing behind my opinions but the fact that I am a writer as well, I feel like a shit when I tell a fellow author that I didn't like the piece and why.

I've almost registered a fake "reviewer personality" just to be able to give honest feedback and maintain the ability to not look like a 'hit man'! It's the only way I can see to not piss off people I write with or look like a total ass (since names are mandatory with reviews).

Now that I've said this, I'm sure some of my reviews are going to be read with a hypercritical eye and I'll be blasted with yet another round of hate mail. But I was honest when I reviewed stories and, if I am to be reamed for that, I will take my punishment with my head held high.

Unfortunately, I am shying away from LaJan reviews and I doubt I will write another one that's critical of a story. Sucks but I'm stumped unless I created "PudWuddie" to write reviews with immunity as well as honesty.

Originally posted by BDSM_Tourguide
I try to review to any story that I find to be interesting and well-written. In fact, there's one right now that I read yesterday that I forgot to write a review. So, if you impress me with your work, I will let you know about it.

[Faibhar]

I'm sure some of my reviews are going to be read with a hypercritical eye

La Jan writes of some trepidation in posting Reviews of authors with writing styles she finds fault with. Any writer with
any sense of security may not like or approve of criticism of his/her posted work but surely will be pleased that someone cared enough to respond in written form.
Besides, what's the point of writing Reviews if you cannot be totally honest? Such honesty is appreciated by all.
Keeping mind for Reviewers and writers alike that what one writes is not going to float the boat of everybody else is also important to remember.

[LaJan]

Thanks for the supportive reply. Actually, I haven't been buried by the landslide of hate mail I was dreading. But I have been known to say things in a rather abrupt manner and those comments, while true, have been sometimes unkind in delivery. When I've written reviews to authors, I have been direct; when I have written reviews for other readers, I have been much more detailed about why I had my personal opinion.

I love the critical responses to my work, for those are the ones that show what I need to consider when writing for that particular taste in the future. I don't wear my heart on my sleeve as a writer so I feel good about any responses. And you're right: if a review isn't honest it's completely useless for everyone concerned.

Yet, I have looked at the most popular writers and I have written reviews critical of [nevermind!] being honest and open about my feelings. I still believe my criticism stands but I also don't wish to start a pissing match where honesty will be the first casualty.

Faibhar, your response helped me look at the thing I meant to do all along and see it for the proper thing to do and say. I just hope I grow the breasts to continue to do so. (Since I'm male, I've already grown the balls. Ah, those pesky pronouns....)

Originally posted by Faibhar
La Jan writes of some trepidation in posting Reviews of authors with writing styles she finds fault with. Any writer with
any sense of security may not like or approve of criticism of his/her posted work but surely will be pleased that someone cared enough to respond in written form.
Besides, what's the point of writing Reviews if you cannot be totally honest? Such honesty is appreciated by all.
Keeping mind for Reviewers and writers alike that what one writes is not going to float the boat of everybody else is also important to remember.

[Faibhar]

More than welcome LaJan, and continued success with writing and writing those Reviews.

No "hate mail" yet, (hope, hope!), but this morning offered something close. It seems that for the first time a writer, how shall remain nameless, responded somewhat hastily to one of my attempts at reviewing. The backlash from this writer gave a taste of what you may have experienced before, and I do hope that similar responses to Reviews are not experienced by anyone taking the time to express themselves after reading a story.

p.s. good luck with the upper torso, too.