Home » Forum » Story Discussion and Feedback

Forum: Story Discussion and Feedback

Bottom Flat View

Readers block.

solreader50 🚫

I guess we are all familiar with writers block where an author is unable to create or complete a story. But I have found over the last few months that I have readers block. I am not finding new stories on SOL which grab me and force me to turn the page. I want to make it clear that this is almost certainly down to me and not to the authors.

My solution, in the interim, has been two fold. I go to the Clitorides Awards archive pages and access prize-winning stories from previous years, many of which I have previously read. The other thing I have done is to get to know the library function on this site and select stories which I have previously enjoyed and some which I had not completed reading.

Does anyone else recognise this "readers block" condition and what have been the strategies to overcome it?

Replies:   REP  Pixy I  jimq2  jps71  Sarkasmus  NC-Retired  irvmull  BlacKnight  irvmull  hambarca12
      
REP 🚫

@solreader50

I doubt you have readers block.

It's the stories being posted. I have noticed a decline in interest in the recent stories. It may be that I am jaded by authors rewriting the same tropes, but I suspect our recent batch of new authors don't write quality stories. Plus the fact that their topics just don't appeal to me.

The number of stories posted by these authors makes it tedious reading about the same basic descriptions of different types of stories. I just gave up and do something worthwhile, improve my current stories. I have recently finished Part 4 of Opening Earth and will review what I wrote before sending it to my editor.

      
Pixy I 🚫

@solreader50

If you are asking for story recommendations, then a good place to start, would be what type of story interests you and what type disinterests you.

Replies:   solreader50
      
solreader50 🚫

@Pixy I

If you are asking for story recommendations,

I am not.

      
jimq2 🚫

@solreader50

My solution has been to go back and reread those authors that really interested me in the past. Oyster50, Charlie for now, Jody Daniel, Uncle Jim, DualWriter, VeryWellAged, cmsix, Aubie56... To name a few. Your selection may vary.

I also tend to download ePubs for later. I have over 500MB of ePubs on a hard disk.

Replies:   solreader50  LonelyDad
      
solreader50 🚫

@jimq2

Thanks for the response - I have all of your suggested authors bar one covered. But I will check out VeryWellAged in the coming days.

With Jody Daniels, I have binged on his work during March and I, for the first time, have put a reminder in my calendar to check his pages on 1st May. In the last few days I have re-read and re-enjoyed stories from Oyster50, DualWriter, Coaster2 and cmsix.

      
LonelyDad 🚫

@jimq2

A man after my own heart. I had occasion to check on my downloads recently, and found I have 1.7 gb/10.5k files saved on my hard drive.
Let the apocalypse come. I have my power station and a couple of solar panels, so I'll probably;y run out of food before I run out of reading material. 😁

Replies:   jimq2
      
jimq2 🚫

@LonelyDad

That 500MB only included SoL downloads. I still have about 800MB of text files downloaded from ASSTR and the old alt.sex.stories UseNet News groups on CD's, ZIP disks & hard drives. I'll have to see how much is still accessible.

      
jps71 🚫

@solreader50

I don't think it is readers block.
I am in exactly the same mood as you.
All I am doing at present is rereading stories I have read several times before.
I have even reread some stories twice already this year.

The vast majority of what seems to being posted at present appears to be complete dross.

Replies:   solreader50  rustyken
      
solreader50 🚫
Updated:

@jps71

The vast majority of what seems to being posted at present appears to be complete dross.

I did not want to say that ... but I tend to agree. I am aware that there are old authors and new authors out there who put their heart and soul into writing what they feel is a good and interesting story. They may well succeed for some readers but fail for others. It sounds like you and me are some of the others. But I would not want to discourage anyone from trying to tickle my fancy.

      
rustyken 🚫

@jps71

I am in a similar situation, I think. I typically save stories I've read to my HD. Some of the best, I've converted the html version to ePub as it makes bringing it up to read easier. Also my ePub app lets me note the last time I read the story. I like to space out reading, so I can get into the story rather than rushing ahead. Reading the 2nd or more times, usually makes grammar errors stand out.

      
Sarkasmus 🚫
Updated:

@solreader50

Have to join in on what others already confirmed. It's most-likely NOT readers block.

When I started to feel like there simply aren't any interesting or read-worthy stories being posted anymore, I took a hard look at what WAS being posted... and then started an AI discussion in the forum. Quality overall just went downhill.

To be perfectly honest, to me, it just feels like the only "stories" being posted anymore are high-volume stroke stories and masturbation fantasies, and then the odd quality work... that's milking the hell out of the readers (posting half the book, then adding a ZBookStore Ad, and never updating again).

The result? I haven't clicked on a single new story on this site in over four months.

Replies:   REP
      
REP 🚫

@Sarkasmus

the only "stories" being posted anymore are high-volume stroke stories and masturbation fantasies, and then the odd quality work

My thoughts also. I sympathize with you. Of course, some readers like that type of story.

      
NC-Retired 🚫

@solreader50

I'll second all that mentioned something about not much quality of late.

Here on SOL, writer406: https://storiesonline.net/a/writer-406

But do not forget https://storyroom.com/ and https://scifistories.com/

I've been a paying member for 20+ years and I do not know whether your 'history' is a feature for all or for just premium folks.

In my history are a total of 3144 titles that I have accessed since May of 2004. There are 320 accessed stories that have a bogus date, 1999 all the way back two 1969. Shrug.

Regardless, since the AI slop and poorly written so called 'stroke stories' started a couple years ago I have debated whether it's worth the $$$ to continue with the subscription. So far I have decided that it is worth it to support Lazeez and his entire pantheon of efforts. I may not agree with every detail of his stewardship, but overall, yes, I still do and will. Simply, it's still worth a $1.25 a week.

From my history… here's some authors that have stories that I liked and scored high. Not all, but most of the tales have minimal sex and lots of character and scene development. Many of these authors are deceased and premium only. Again, IMO worthy of at least a short membership to download their tales.

Not every author writes tales that you will like, but maybe you'll find some gems there too.

https://storiesonline.net/a/Timm
https://storiesonline.net/a/Alistair_Acorn
https://storiesonline.net/a/dak
https://storiesonline.net/a/Ka_Hmnd
https://storiesonline.net/a/Howard_Faxon
https://storiesonline.net/a/Salladin
https://storiesonline.net/a/ernest-bywater
https://storiesonline.net/a/Invid_Fan
https://storiesonline.net/a/BikeWriter
https://storiesonline.net/a/Anne_N_Mouse
https://storiesonline.net/a/aubie56
https://storiesonline.net/a/argon
https://storiesonline.net/a/zaliterr
https://storiesonline.net/a/happyhugo
https://storiesonline.net/a/coaster2
https://storiesonline.net/a/Wandering_Lanes
https://storiesonline.net/a/woodmanone
https://storiesonline.net/a/Peter_H_Salus
https://storiesonline.net/a/Brian_in_the_Dark
https://storiesonline.net/a/R22CoolGuy
https://storiesonline.net/a/SeaLife
https://storiesonline.net/a/lazlo-zalezac
https://storiesonline.net/a/MisguidedChild
https://storiesonline.net/a/Zoras
https://storiesonline.net/a/feral-lady
https://storiesonline.net/a/ScotlandtheBrave
https://storiesonline.net/a/kraken
https://storiesonline.net/a/Crunchy
https://storiesonline.net/a/mark-randall
https://storiesonline.net/a/fantasylover
https://storiesonline.net/a/Paul_Phenomenon
https://storiesonline.net/a/Volentrin
https://storiesonline.net/a/Alan_C_Zumwalt
https://storiesonline.net/a/Colin_Barrett
https://storiesonline.net/a/Jay_Cantrell
https://storiesonline.net/a/Will_Bailey
https://storiesonline.net/a/hammingbyrd7
https://storiesonline.net/a/Daghda_Jim
https://storiesonline.net/a/Joe_J
https://storiesonline.net/a/black_coffee
https://storiesonline.net/a/Von_in_your_Mind
https://storiesonline.net/a/latikia
https://storiesonline.net/a/Wayne_Edward_Clarke
https://storiesonline.net/a/Graybyrd
https://storiesonline.net/a/argon

Replies:   Dinsdale  madnige
      
Dinsdale 🚫

@NC-Retired

You really like argon, he's in your list twice.

Replies:   NC-Retired
      
NC-Retired 🚫

@Dinsdale

Oh well...

My history displays the stories I accessed. He's most likely there a dozen more times simply because he is an excellent story teller.

      
madnige 🚫

@NC-Retired

a bogus date, 1999 all the way back two 1969

The 1999 date could well be the start of database-based SOL as the posting dates were reset when Lazeez transferred stuff from the flat-file structure he started with on his home server. 1969 smells like a datestamp unixtime of 0 as this maps to 1970-01-01T00:00 UTC/GMT, 1969-12-31 evening in the USA. It's interesting to note that unixtime 0 maps to UK time 1970-01-01T01:00 as the UK was experimenting with permanent summertime and double summertime in that era.

      
irvmull 🚫
Updated:

@solreader50

It's not just you.
I started a new story on the front page just now.

Jumps back and forth from first to third person POV every couple of sentences, and can't keep track of the gender of the MC even through a two-sentence paragraph. Sex change on the way to the hotel?

Ignoring the screams of the other women, she left the hotel. He arrived in front of a tall building in the city center.

Not to mention the infantile dialog. May I suggest that some writers need to get out of mom's basement?

I guess I'm not a glutton for punishment, since I couldn't complete the first chapter.

Next story had similar problems. I feel like I'm wasting my time looking at new stories.

Replies:   Nulaak83
     
Nulaak83 🚫

@irvmull

That one's kind of on you, even the description is a shitshow.

      
BlacKnight 🚫

@solreader50

I've completely given up on trying to find anything new to read on the front page. If there are any diamonds in there, they're getting buried in the endless deluge of slop. I'm just reading a handful of authors that I was already following, and there's been less and less of that.

      
irvmull 🚫
Updated:

@solreader50

I've completely given up on trying to find anything new to read on the front page. If there are any diamonds in there, they're getting buried in the endless deluge of slop. I'm just reading a handful of authors that I was already following, and there's been less and less of that.

Yep. But there's the stories explorer:
https://storiesonline.net/library/explorer.php
where you can find mostly good quality stories, by choosing filters that suit your reading preferences.

     
hambarca12 🚫

@solreader50

As you can see by the other replies - you are not alone.

      
Reply to topic

Back to Top

Home | Forum | All Threads by Date
Forum Rules |
 

WARNING! ADULT CONTENT...

Storiesonline is for adult entertainment only. By accessing this site you declare that you are of legal age and that you agree with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.


Log In