Forum: Bug Report and Feature Requests

On a serious note, does the site need to have a code system?

Which site?

Which site?

scifistories

Scifistories already has a code system, but it is sexually deficient IMO. I don't envisage visitors actually searching for stories on the site with significant sex content, rather it being for squick avoidance.

AJ

it being for squick avoidance

Well, the main tag there is - over 17. You're also only dealing with Science Fiction / Fantasy stories there. The other thing is, there's just not that many readers over there, certainly not like there are here. So, it's probably not worth the effort for the return.

Example - my ATH Books 1-4 here on SOL have 1.6 million downloads. On SFStories, books 1-4 have have 70,000.

Well, the main tag there is - over 17.

I've just searched the author information and couldn't find an explanation. Does the submission wizard provide guidelines?

AJ

Does the submission wizard provide guidelines?

Here are the age guidelines, as per the submission wizard:

What's the minimum age for this story's readers?

Anybody

Wholesome, for the whole family

Older than 7

No violence, no mature subject or language. May contain some troubling subject, like good and evil

Older than 13

May contain some violence and mature language

Older than 17

May contain horror, violence, mature themes [no graphic sex]

Now ... I just bolded the no graphic sex, because while that's on the submission guidelines - um, I think anyone that's read ANY of the stories that I've cross-posted over there knows they do have some graphic sex in them. However - not only is it secondary to the plot, it could actually be removed if necessary (after a little bit of rewriting) and it wouldn't hurt the novel as a whole.

ETA: While I've never had an actual conversation with Laz about it, Lazlo's Druid series is also posted over there. While his characters don't have a lot of descriptive sex, the descriptions of the many-faced god and what it does are pretty graphic.

Thank you, that's a great help. And it completely torpedoes my argument for a sex content tag :-(

I was thinking of posting a story on Scifistories. There's no penetrative sex but there is some masturbation to orgasm that is crucial to the plot yet it's not intended to titivate the reader, if that makes sense. It would definitely qualify as 'Older than 17' because of some of the other content.

Hmmmm. Should I? Shouldn't I? If I post the story, might I endanger the site's reputation with search engines?

AJ

Should I? Shouldn't I? If I post the story, might I endanger the site's reputation with search engines?

Well, more important than whether it has sex in it is - is your story science fiction or fantasy? And fantasy in this case doesn't mean you suddenly find yourself in bed with every female Hollywood star you've ever lusted about. Fantasy on SciFtStories is along the lines of Lord of the Rings or some of those dead tree novels that had covers by Boris Vallejo. Hell, Tarnsmen of Gor would technically qualify.

I read those books when I was WAY too young - my folks knew I read science fiction, so they didn't have a problem buying them for me - when I was in junior high school!

Let's put it this way - https://storiesonline.net/s/14061/a-welcome-guest - is posted there. And obviously my 'A True History' series is posted there as well. In my opinion, it's honestly a case of, as long as you make sure it's tagged correctly for age AND it's SciFi/Fantasy, you're probably good.

is your story science fiction or fantasy?

The protagonist himself doesn't know whether it's science or magic. I would have preferred readers to make up their own minds but it definitely doesn't qualify as High Fantasy so that leaves only SciFi for the story type.

AJ

Okay, I'm not going to risk submitting the story to Scifistories.com, particularly since I now know that the guidelines clearly exclude some of my content.

I'm working to complete the story nonetheless, although I don't know what I'll do with it once it's complete. I have to admit I'm very attached to the story, particularly the efficient way it all hangs together :-(

AJ

I just bolded the no graphic sex, because while that's on the submission guideline

I've just read Charlie Foxtrot's 'Off Switch' beginning on SOL, and realised that virtually all the Swarm Cycle stories would fail that Scifistories.com guideline.

AJ

As Starflet Carl said, it depends on your reason for posting there. If it's pure reader numbers, then the readership for sci/stories is a lot lower, but conversely, the scores are higher, so if it's a pure ego boost/massage, then post there.

Reader feedback is probably in the same ratio as here, but will be lower due to the lower numbers.

There is, of course, a second option. You could either remove or tame down the sex and post a cleaner version to sci/stories.

Edit: added a 'to'.

it depends on your reason for posting there

The altruistic part - I want to support the site and provide 'different' content to what's already there.

Non-altruistic part - I want to work toward(s) earned premier membership so I can use the advanced search facilities again.

AJ

The altruistic part - I want to support the site and provide 'different' content to what's already there.

Non-altruistic part - I want to work toward(s) earned premier membership so I can use the advanced search facilities again.

The altruistic part is why I started writing and posting HERE on SOL, so good for you.

Keep in mind that while it says no graphic sex - well, I've certainly not received any warnings or had my stories pulled because literally everything I've posted on SciFiStories happens to have descriptions of sexual activity in them. Honestly, I looked at the main author guidelines, where it said the same as here regarding underage sex, then just clicked the 'Over 17' box without reading all of it.

Personally, I think you're overthinking it. Post it here first, then after it's been up for six months, cross-post it over there.

Post it here first, then after it's been up for six months, cross-post it over there.

If I do that, what incentive do SOL readers have to read my story on Scifistories.com? I'm not sure how it works but I imagine very few Scifistories readers don't also access SOL.

AJ

I imagine very few Scifistories readers don't also access SOL.

Actually, more than you think. Again, since I post on both sites - practically at the same time for the last two books - here's a quick number. 42 - so long, and thanks for all the fish.

Oh, wait. I was mentioning downloads.
ATH Book 5 posted on Saturday on SOL - 7955 downloads so far this week
ATH Book 5 posted on Sunday on SciFi - 363 downloads so far this week

The other 4 books in the series on SOL : 4065 downloads total
The other 4 books in the series on SciFi : 278 downloads total

I make blog posts and answer comments there as well. I've mentioned SOL in them in the past, and I've had people PM me asking what SOL is. Keep in mind there's a link HERE to there. There's NOT a link from there to here.

Actually, more than you think.

Yesterday I was overthinking, today I'm underthinking!

Seriously, thanks you for that information. That is more Scifistories aficionados than I would have guessed. Still, I'd like to give more people an incentive to join, to grow the site.

My local library won't allow access to SOL on its PACs because it's an adult site. If I ever visit the library again, I'll try to access Scifistories. There's little point in keeping Scifistories sex-free if the authorities consider it an adult site anyway :-(

AJ

Somewhat weirdly, scifistories lacks a forum. I take it that it's because the (user) numbers are too low for Lazeez to justify is existence.

scifistories lacks a forum

So does Finestories. I presume the long-term intention is for both to have forums now that the proof of concept has succeeded on SOL.

The lack of a forum for Scifistories is the reason I started this topic here.

AJ

There's little point in keeping Scifistories sex-free if the authorities consider it an adult site anyway :-(

I doubt that they do.

Consider this post by me, where it showed up on the search engines: https://storiesonline.net/d/s2/t10706/duck-duck-go-search