There have been a fair number of pandemic/isolation stories posts. Would it be appropriate to create a tag for this?
(Not the same as post-apoc or plague or whatever, but for stories that are specific to "hey, we're stuck in the house, wearing masks, social-distancing, etc.")
There have been a fair number of pandemic/isolation stories posts. Would it be appropriate to create a tag for this?
Two thoughts:
New tags that dilute the sexstoriness of the site would probably be a good thing.
Any pandemic tag that excluded Crumbly Writer's series would probably be a bad thing.
AJ
New tags that dilute the sexstoriness of the site would probably be a good thing.
You don't need extra tags for that, just a link to finestories
Why would you want to dilute the "sexstoriness" anyway??
Why would you want to dilute the "sexstoriness" anyway??
I'd like to see more emphasis on the 'story' and less emphasis on the 'sex'.
AJ
I'd like to see more emphasis on the 'story' and less emphasis on the 'sex'.
I just told my Patrons that I haven't written an explicit sex scene in months. And it might be months before I do. But I've not stopped writing in my five series (two of which are on SOL, the other three do not yet have finished books, which is my criteria for when I post them to SOL).
I'd like to see more emphasis on the 'story' and less emphasis on the 'sex'.
So you want more well written sex stories?
Or do you consider that graphic sex spoils a story?
Although the login page screams 'sex stories', 'sex stories', 'sex stories', the closest thing I've been able to find to a mission statement, in small print at the bottom of the login page, suggests a more general focus encompassing all genres.
Well written sex stories are good. Graphic sex is good. But there seems to be a feeling that the balance of current submissions is for sex stories pandering to minority interests.
I'd like to see more encouragement for other genres, even if it's literary fiction or historical - genres I wouldn't normally read.
Note to Lazeez - would it be an idea to have the site's mission statement always available to readers? Perhaps an 'About' option under the 'Help' menu.
AJ
Well written sex stories are good. Graphic sex is good. But there seems to be a feeling that the balance of current submissions is for sex stories pandering to minority interests.
Truth is there are apparently more stories one might charitably describe as "crap" prevalent in this years postings.
I'd like to see more encouragement for other genres, even if it's literary fiction or historical - genres I wouldn't normally read.
I have nothing against attempts at literary fiction or historical subjects, however they would be better posted to finestories rather than to SoL, because whilst people, including Laz, might want to think of SoL as a story site with some adult content, the fact is that SoL is a sex story site. Most readers expect sexual scenes and content, some hand out very low scores just because the story contains no sex. Added to which, the tags rather belie the idea of SoL not being predominantly a sex story site.
Added to which, the tags rather belie the idea of SoL not being predominantly a sex story site.
Hence my point.
AJ
Hence my point.
So your point is to encourage non sex stories on a predominantly sex story site? (When there exists a sister site specifically for non sex stories)
Good luck.
Good luck.
A Sisyphean ambition, maybe, but at least SOL starts with a critical mass.
I would expect there to be more 'no sex' stories on SOL than Finestories - I might even have contributed to that statistic.
AJ
So your point is to encourage non sex stories on a predominantly sex story site? (When there exists a sister site specifically for non sex stories)
For us designers of dinosaurs who've been around so long our first computers are now going up in value as historical relics, we remember when the splash page said Stories on Line is a story site that allows sex stories as well. At that time it was a major revelation to mix sex stories and non-sex stories on the same site. It was years later that Fine Stories was established so people could recommend stories to their kids.
If Stories on Line had been intended to be only a sex story site it would've been named Sex Stories on Line, not Stories on Line.
Your post makes perfect sense and is no doubt accurate. The reality is that the vast majority of stories on the site ARE sex stories and presumably the readership visits because of that.
Of course there is no reason why sex and no-sex stories can't or shouldn't exist on the same site, however, to encourage authors to post non sex stories isn't an act that maintains the balance, it is tipping it in favour of non-sex.
There are many sites that started with sex as a focus and later attempted to go 'legit' by dropping the sexual content, most fail to maintain their original membership.
I'm not suggesting that Lazeez intends such a move, especially given that he has chosen to add 'sister' sites rather than continue the 'one size fits all' approach.
When a site allows sex stories but in reality contains mostly sex stories, it is ipso facto a sex story site.
Of course there is no reason why sex and no-sex stories can't or shouldn't exist on the same site, however, to encourage authors to post non sex stories isn't an act that maintains the balance, it is tipping it in favour of non-sex.
I don't see encouraging more non-sex stories as automatically discouraging sex stories. I'd like to see more sex stories. But I'd like to see even more non-sex stories.
The problem is second-guessing Lazeez's intentions. Is it his aim to position SOL as an umbrella site and erect a sex-stories only sister? Or is it his intention for SOL to become a sex-story site and non-sex stories to go to sister sites?
Allegedly he's working on a unified submission system for all the SOL family. If it comes to fruition it will tell us a lot.
AJ
The problem is second-guessing Lazeez's intentions.
Based on his past actions and stated comments over the last 20 years, I very strongly believe it's Lazeez' intent that SoL is a site that welcomes all types of stories that fit within the few restrictions he has in place - most of which are legal restrictions.
While the other sites have been created as secondary sites for specific reasons. Fine Stories started because people wanted to be able to refer friends and family yo non-sex stories and to access the non-sex stories at work without getting into trouble, while Sci-fi Stories started to be specific for science fiction stories only. Bookapy created to sell stories due to the pressure from both readers and authors to have the stories on SoL available as books for sale.
I like being able to have all of my stories on the one site, and SoL is the only site I can do that on unless I start my own story site, which is what Lazeez did way back when. I also cross post suitable stories of mine to the other sites, thus I've some stories on all of the sites. I also encourage people to cross post stories to the other sites when they're suitable for the other sites.
Is it his aim to position SOL as an umbrella site and erect a sex-stories only sister?
Bingo!
The problem is second-guessing Lazeez's intentions. Is it his aim to position SOL as an umbrella site and erect a sex-stories only sister?
Lazeez Jiddan (Webmaster)
30/07/2020, 12.05.12
@awnlee jawking
Is it his aim to position SOL as an umbrella site and erect a sex-stories only sister?
Bingo!
The question remains what constitutes a "sex story" for such a sister site regarding the current contents of SOL? All stories except the stories tagged as no sex? Only the stories tagged as much sex?
That's gonna be a challenge since every author has a different opinion about what is much, some, and minimal sex.
Personally I would very much like a site like Finestories but with a little more leeway into the minimal and some sex stories. Or in other words: Move all the "hard-core" sex stories to a sister site with only sex stories and leave SOL for the remainder of the stories.
The question remains what constitutes a "sex story" for such a sister site regarding the current contents of SOL?
Commercially the answer is anything acceptable to the 'moral majority' (spit).
If SoL is to become a true 'umbrella' site, then it follows that EVERY story submitted to any of the 'sister' sites also be posted on SoL. Viewed in that manner the effect would be that SoL contains every story and each story is also posted to the appropriate 'sister' site, SciFi, finestories, 'fuckstories', etc.
Now that Bookapy is established, it might be attractive to set it up so that linking to it from a 'sister' site only displays stories posted to that site. Thus Dad could go from Scifistories to Bookapy and see only sci-fi stories, Aunt Finestories, dad 'Fuckstories' etc all in the knowledge that their grandkids can access safe stories and go to Bookapy without ever being exposed to that nasty age-inappropriate filth that Grandma so loves...
Now that Bookapy is established, it might be attractive to set it up so that linking to it from a 'sister' site only displays stories posted to that site. Thus Dad could go from Scifistories to Bookapy and see only sci-fi stories, Aunt Finestories, dad 'Fuckstories' etc all in the knowledge that their grandkids can access safe stories and go to Bookapy without ever being exposed to that nasty age-inappropriate filth that Grandma so loves...
Even better would be a link under every finished story to buy the book through bookapy. It's up to the author to set a price if he wishes, otherwise it's free (for premium members), much like the current epub download.
Such a link could also allow a story to be bought even before posting has finished, much like some authors currently do by making the completed book available on bookapy while it's still being posted on SOL.
Even better would be a link under every finished story to buy the book through bookapy.
Do you mean to automatically put all stories posted on SOL onto Bookapy for sale? That won't work. First, there won't be a cover unless the author had planned to publish on Bookapy. Second, the author may format a novel for sale differently than a story posted on SOL. And some authors (I'll be one of them) use a different pen name for SOL stories and Bookapy novels.
Such a link could also allow a story to be bought even before posting has finished,
This presumes that every story is queued up to auto-post in its entirety from the beginning. Many writers don't do that still.
This presumes that every story is queued up to auto-post in its entirety from the beginning. Many writers don't do that still.
That would be a prerequisite yes.
Even better would be a link under every finished story to buy the book through bookapy. It's up to the author to set a price if he wishes, otherwise it's free (for premium members), much like the current epub download.
First go search for a few examples of finished stories written without any attempt at correct spelling or grammar. Now consider all those stories and their ilk being on Bookapy, for free. Their sheer quantity would drown the kinds of stories currently available on Bookapy, stories whose authors have carefully prepared for publication.
Do you really consider that drowning out quality with dross converted by a script to be an attractive proposition in promoting and growing Bookapy..??
Do you really consider that drowning out quality with dross converted by a script to be an attractive proposition in promoting and growing Bookapy..??
Depends on who gets the money. If some of it goes to authors and some to support the site, who is going to criticize?
Depends on who gets the money.
Copyright issues would prevent stories submitted to SoL being sold on Bookapy unless the author received payment AND consented in the first place. The costs of administrating that without revenue from sales could well cripple WLP Co
Is it his aim to position SOL as an umbrella site and erect a sex-stories only sister?
Of the options you suggest, that is probably the most sensible as it allows greater commercial opportunities.
The problem is that nothing you, I or Lazeez might desire will greatly change the types of stories submitted to SoL. Whilst Laz has the ability to reject any story for any reason, stated or not, that only controls which stories are posted, not which are submitted.
I very much doubt that if all the sex stories were moved to a 'sister' site, that the remaining stories, those currently marked as 'no sex', would be sufficient in number to give SoL the necessary 'stock' to be attractive to readers. The sister site, carrying only sex stories would probably not be much different to SoL as it is now, in terms of traffic, new stories and interest to readers.
The only real question is how long Lazeez waits to make the split whilst maintaining the current traffic. That is probably unknown to Lazeez at present, since as stated, he cannot control the types of stories submitted.
Encouraging non sex stories might well speed up the planned spilt, but if the number of non sex stories posting weekly appeared to outnumber the new sex stories, it might well result in readers going elsewhere. I don't consider any other site even close to the standard Lazeez has set, but audiences can be fickle...
I very much doubt that if all the sex stories were moved to a 'sister' site, that the remaining stories, those currently marked as 'no sex', would be sufficient in number to give SoL the necessary 'stock' to be attractive to readers. The sister site, carrying only sex stories would probably not be much different to SoL as it is now, in terms of traffic, new stories and interest to readers.
Matbe the solution is to leave SOL as is, with *all* types of stories and a new sister site for the explicit sex stories. Readers looking for those stories will soon find that site more to their liking.
But that leaves out the group of readers that would like a sister site like SOL without the hard-core sex. Not like Finestories which is only no-sex, but a site that allows stories that may contain sex but where it is not the main focal point. A lot of very good stories would fall in that category but because of the little sex in them they can't be posted to Finestories.
Matbe the solution is to leave SOL as is, with *all* types of stories and a new sister site for the explicit sex stories.
I believe that is Lazeez's intention. Based on what he's said in the past I think SoL will remain the site for any type of story and the main site, while there will be specific sister sites the way Fine Stories has been created.
I believe that is Lazeez's intention. Based on what he's said in the past I think SoL will remain the site for any type of story and the main site, while there will be specific sister sites the way Fine Stories has been created.
Yes, probably. And a sister site for specifically sex stories will probably succeed very fast. What I'm missing is a site like SOL minus the stories on a new sex-stories sister site.
What I'm missing is a site like SOL minus the stories on a new sex-stories sister site.
Wouldn't that be finestories?
Wouldn't that be finestories?
yes, except not every author who posts no sex stories duplicates the posting on FS, which is why Lazeez is working on a single loading process to allow authors to post to both sites at once. That way it'll encourage authors to post to both.
yes, except not every author who posts no sex stories duplicates the posting on FS, which is why Lazeez is working on a single loading process to allow authors to post to both sites at once. That way it'll encourage authors to post to both.
No, as in my reply to Dominions Son.
A smart move would be that Lazeez constructs an algorithm that automatically distributes each story to every sister site it fits or something like an auto check mark for each sister site to post to.
A smart move would be that Lazeez constructs an algorithm that automatically distributes each story to every sister site it fits or something like an auto check mark for each sister site to post to.
While I agree with the concept, I don't Lazeez would do that as an automatic function, but would encourage people to opt into such a system. I suspect such a choice will be part of the combined submission system - just tick a box while uploading.
just tick a box while uploading
Good idea. However, when an author states he plans to upload a story that has sex scenes to Finestories, it makes me wonder.
Good idea. However, when an author states he plans to upload a story that has sex scenes to Finestories, it makes me wonder.
I remember, oh, twenty years ago now or so, I was in a bookstore browsing in the Fantasy section, and a couple inquired about sexual content in various novels because they were trying to find something for their twelve year old son. The employee didn't have a lot of knowledge (they just grabbed a random employee, probably not a SF/Fantasy fan) so I ended up having a chat with them for about five minutes... a number of novels even then had varying levels, including a few rather brutal rapes, etc.
I think Finestories would be ok with some sexual content, just as long as it's not overly graphic and/or gratuitous.
I think Finestories would be ok with some sexual content, just as long as it's not overly graphic and/or gratuitous.
Perhaps. However, where do you draw the line.
Lazeez decide the line is at no sex. If he were to change that to mild sex, authors would push the limit to see how much they can get away with. No sex is far easier to defend.
There are just too many people out there who would like nothing more than to crucify someone for exposing their little Jonnie or Carol to sex.
I think Finestories would be ok with some sexual content, just as long as it's not overly graphic and/or gratuitous.
The line for Fine Stories is very clear, and maintained by Lazeez as - no sexual activity descriptions. In some of my stories which are also on Fine Stories there are some incidents where a sexual activity is mentioned as having happened off screen, but there are no details, and he's allowed them. So where Character A tells Character B to be careful of Character C, "Be gentle with her because she was raped as a child." is allowed as long as there is no description of the actual rape itself. The key is, in my mind, to treat it as a news report and not an action replay.
Wouldn't that be finestories?
No, Finestories has no sex at all. That limits the number of stories coming from SOL severely.
What I hinted at was a sister site like SOL without the hard-core sex stories. Minimal, or some sex would be OK, i.e. stories where the sex is functional to the story. That is a large part of SOL and I bet it would be pretty popular for the crowd that wants to avoid the sex-only and hard-core stuff but isn't aversive to a little sex that supports a good story.
What I hinted at was a sister site like SOL without the hard-core sex stories. Minimal, or some sex would be OK,
There could be hard-core sex in a minimal or some sex story. I do that. The sex is graphic, but the amount of plot, that is, what's going on when the sex isn't going on (non-sex scenes), determines if it's much, some, or minimal sex.
I believe your definition of hardcore is porn. That used to be the old definition of a stroke story — a sex story without plot.
But what's porn and what's not is very subjective. I'm sure many people think I write porn because my sex scenes are graphic. But that's because of the stigma of sex. My violent scenes in my thrillers are also graphic. Hell, at the time of D.H. Lawrence's death, he was considered a pornographer. Today he's considered one of the greatest Twentieth Century novelists.
There could be hard-core sex in a minimal or some sex story. I do that. The sex is graphic, but the amount of plot, that is, what's going on when the sex isn't going on (non-sex scenes), determines if it's much, some, or minimal sex.
Because of the hard-core and graphic depiction I would qualify your example for the sex stories site, not a more vanilla site.
But what's porn and what's not is very subjective. I'm sure many people think I write porn because my sex scenes are graphic. But that's because of the stigma of sex.
Yep, very subjective so it will up to Lazeez to decide what the boundaries are for each sister site.
Because of the hard-core and graphic depiction I would qualify your example for the sex stories site, not a more vanilla site.
That's my point. I believe my stories should be on any site that permits sex scenes.
If you want to suggest an erotica site where all the sex is behind closed doors, that's different. But that's not SOL stories with minimal or some sex. That would be no-sex.
If you want to suggest an erotica site where all the sex is behind closed doors, that's different. But that's not SOL stories with minimal or some sex. That would be no-sex.
The problem is that everyone has his own opinion to what he considers "much" and "graphic". At what level do those terms come into consideration? My opinion is that a "somewhat vanilla" sister site should allow sex, maybe up to the point of "some sex" but without the extreme codes like I mentioned before. Those stories where the story is more important than the sex. Most likely the current stories that are coded as some, minimal, no sex, and no extreme codes. It's not up to us to decide what the limits would be if such a sister site came into consideration.
some, minimal, no sex, and no extreme codes
Who decides what 'extreme' codes are?
Most people would agree 'former people' would be extreme, but some wouldn't include 'former food'.
Most everyone should agree prepubescents are extreme, but what about young teens?
Is rape extreme? How about if two people get drunk and have sex and then one regrets it? What if the guy just turned 18, and his girlfriend is still underage? What about gaining consent through blackmail?
Is "anything beyond Ma/Fa, rom" extreme?
So many people are going to give so many different definitions...
The problem is that everyone has his own opinion to what he considers "much" and "graphic".
I agree. That's why I said it was subjective.
But I believe in imagery in my writing. So when the bad guy gets shot in the head, I will graphically describe the bits of bone, brain, and blood coming out the back of his skull. When I describe a sex scene, I don't hold back. Now I'm more interested in the emotions/reactions of the participants than the insert A into slot B, but I write it graphically.
For me, that's not porn, no more than the blood and guts is porn (which it is to some people). My wife won't read my novels. But when she got her masters in English Literature and Creative Writing, her professor wanted her to write like a former student of his, Erica Jong. She wrote "The Zipless Fuck." My wife couldn't, yet D.H. Lawrence was one of her favorite authors. But back then sex wasn't as graphic as it is today. Hell, if you watch the old Dick Van Dyke TV show, Rob and Laura slept in separate beds. Compare that to the sex scenes in Grey's Anatomy (I've been binge watching them with the stay-at-home).
Finestories
I guess the group of sites could include "Coarsestories" but I am not sure that the sales to premier readers who pay approximately $70 a year to read SOL with all its current benefits including access to older stories would continue if there were even more options. If Coarsestories were the same price as Finestories (free) there might be a few premiers who decide not to renew their annual payment. That would make financial survival even more difficult. Maybe Bookapy is adding enough money to pay for any loss of premiers but somehow I doubt it, at least not yet. If something is not broken there may not be a need to "fix" it.
If Coarsestories were the same price as Finestories (free) there might be a few premiers who decide not to renew their annual payment.
Nobody said that any (new) sister site should be free. It might even be a commercially smart move to diversify premium memberships into different memberships that start with SOL and includes one or another of the sister sites.
some hand out very low scores just because the story contains no sex.
And some hand out very low scores just because the story contains too much sex for them.
And some hand out very low scores just because the story contains too much sex for them.
I actually got a reader complaint of "too much plot, not enough sex".
I actually got a reader complaint of "too much plot, not enough sex".
That reader is a candidate for a much sex stories sister site :)
I actually got a reader complaint of "too much plot, not enough sex".
I've had a few of those, too. But more often "I skim the sex for the plot" type of comments.
But more often "I skim the sex for the plot" type of comments.
I haven't gotten any of those.
I haven't gotten any of those.
They led me to reduce the explicit sex content and didn't seem to affect readership (or patronage).
I remember when Gina Marie cut back on her explicit content - she said it was when she was writing a story, paused, and thought "I guess I should put a sex scene in here" but skipped over it to keep telling the story.
And later, she won "Best Lesbian Story" with a story with no explicit content. But I'm sure many readers remembered scenes she'd never actually written...
I haven't gotten any of those.
Over a quarter century ago, one (now inactive) writer on alt.sex.stories got repeated comments of the variety "If you tone the sex down a bit, you could get this published."
Granted, there wasn't much call for him to actually reduce future explicit content, but I've seen it over the years.
Generally, it's only going to happen in two cases:
1. you have that good of a story outside of the sex scenes
2. your sex scenes aren't aligned with your readers' kinks or are otherwise not very exciting
I've encountered any number of stories where the second was true, and fewer where the first is true.
I actually got a reader complaint of "too much plot, not enough sex".
I hope you instructed said mouth breather that he should stick to 'stroke' stories from now on.
Or do you consider that graphic sex spoils a story?
Only when all the sex scenes are more or less copy and paste.
Definitely...!!!
Or...we could cover joy with library paste infused with catnip and stick her in a closed room full of kittens.
Or...we could cover joy with library paste infused with catnip and stick her in a closed room full of kittens.
Do Premier Members get to watch free?
AJ
Do Premier Members get to watch free?
Only until they cum... so you can enjoy the first seven seconds...
*insert evil giggle here*
:)
Just because you know I like a little pussy...
...does NOT mean I consider kittens in the same way.
:)
ps
Library paste..?? You need to consider a more pleasantly edible alternative..!!
Library paste..?? You need to consider a more pleasantly edible alternative..!!
From experience, cats actually LIKE library paste.
I could use ethalyn glycol, but I don't want to kill the kittens.
I don't want to kill the kittens.
Why not? It's having sex with the one you love most and it doesn't really make you go blind.
AJ
I could use ethalyn glycol, but I don't want to kill the kittens.
Ok. I'm so going to lace your lube with chilli oil...
:)~
Would it be appropriate to create a tag for this?
In most of the post-apoc or plague stories that I've read, the plague was the cause of the situation. It was basically mentioned, but it was not an important part of the stories.
I've read the descriptions of several Covid based stories, but wasn't interested. Covid was used at the reason the characters were together, but the stories seemed as if they were more about the sex the characters engaged in. We already have codes for the sexual activities.
Codes are used to attract readers to a story and to caution readers about content they would not want to read. For the preceding reasons, I do not see a Covid/Pandemic tag as a useful addition to a list of codes that is already very long. As karactr said, "This is just a bump."
Hi
I have a single 'minimal sex' novel (Through my Eyes. Again.) on SOL - and I'm posting it also to Finestories. It would seem to me from the ongoing story stats that SOL has a much larger readership than Finestories. I am also posting it on RoyalRoad - but it's not cutting through, so I doubt I'll post the sequel there unless things change significantly.
As things stand, SOL seems to be giving me the best coverage...
Iskander
It would seem to me from the ongoing story stats that SOL has a much larger readership than Finestories.
I think there are several reasons for that. First of Finestories is still young compared to SOL and other sites. Second, most readers on Finestories are probably originating from SOL and it's only a relatively small part of those readers that specifically want the no-sex stories. Give it time and it will grow.
and I'm posting it also to Finestories.
You may want to rethink posting the story to Finestories, or at least check with Lazeez before you do so. Finestories is a no sex story site. It allows under-age readers.
Category search was sort of something that grew out of tags. Tags predated SOL, having been used on USENET for years. Both for sex stories and fanfic [even if half or more of fanfic was lemon/hentai].
If Lazeez ever does get around to merging the underlying story database so that all three sites are severed from one with just one submission wizard, he'll have to merge the categories between the sites so there is one consistent taxonomy across all three, with finestories hiding inapplicable categories.
If Lazeez ever does get around to merging the underlying story database so that all three sites are severed from one with just one submission wizard,
That could be problematic. I can see a submission wizard from the SOL site (one that allows adult content) posting stories on Finestories (e.g., by checking a box to do so), but you can't have a wizard sitting above all three sites with options to post to one or more. You could have an underage author posting on Finestories. They shouldn't know SOL exists. For that matter, you wouldn't want Finestories readers who are not SOL readers to know SOL exists. It's like me keeping my erotica and YA novels separate under different author names.
ETA: Think of it another way. Let's say Lazeez started with Finestories and then decided to create a sex story site. He wouldn't link the Finestories site to it.
They shouldn't know SOL exists.
With today's horny internet-savvy underage authors and readers, most have undoubtedly found SOL. Some are probably registered as free members and possibly as authors.
With today's horny internet-savvy underage authors and readers, most have undoubtedly found SOL. Some are probably registered as free members and possibly as authors.
True, but you don't want to make like you know that.
That could be problematic. I can see a submission wizard from the SOL site
The plan that Lazeez has previously stated is ONE posting wizard and One database of stories.
Stories will be served to each site based on coding and what's appropriate for each site.
