What are your thoughts on smut stories?

[Sylver]

Greetings everyone, I hope you all enjoyed a happy holidays and a happy new year!

I'm new to this website still and haven't been active on the forums. This year, I am continuing my story which in short is a character-driven fantasy romance that gradually grows from a slice of life tale into a more serious dramatic adventure with mystery and action added in. Currently, my story is on chapter 38 but I have a few growing concerns about my work and the reception it receives. The views haven't been as high as I would like compared to newer stories in the site, and I take that personally as it reflects on the level of my work. It may not be the best mindset but I think that if I am doing something right with my written work, people would notice and take interest.

One concern of mine is that my story includes a lot of smut content, which I recently learned is a popular genre or tag in Scribble Hub, but that doesn't really help in my mind. Yes, my story contains smut but they serve a role in the story so it's not just smut for the sake of smut. It builds on the romance and connection the characters have as they develop and grow a stronger bond with each other, not to mention it reflects the time period it is set in as this is a fantasy setting with ancient technology, so sex was more common without much gossip around or lacking the influence of social media and dating apps.

I wanted to ask what kind of reputation do smut stories have, and do you have any recommendations for any stories you like that contain sexual material?

Because it is possible in my case that viewers pass off my content due to its focus on sexual material when the direction of the story is leading to a more serious shift in tone. There are other factors as well, maybe I'm taking too long to end the first act of the novel and so people have lost interest. It's just speculation on my part, but it would mean a lot if you could share your perspective on smut stories on this site.

One last thing, how do I share my story under my posts by showing the cover image which links to the main story page? I've looked around but I can't find that specific response, I don't think it's just a copy and paste of the main story URL, is it?

Thank you for your time!

 

[RiaCorvidiva]

I like works with a plot that isn't just smut. That doesn't mean that I'm averse to reading sexual content, but personally, I like content that's more than just one trip to the bedroom followed by an excuse to go back there.

But some people like that content. While different sites and different populations have different preferences and different metas, consistent, quality content over a long period of time seems to be the best path to growth.

 

[Shrimp_eater]

I think i remember another post you made a while ago, and the answer you received then still stands. Your story is doing very well by most standards. Others that might receive more views usually have sought after tags (like girls love or litrpg) or are fanfics from some popular series, or maybe are written by authors that already have some following. You can't really do anything about that.

To share your story under your posts, click on your name on the right upper corner of the screen and then on 'signature'.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

The views haven't been as high as I would like compared to newer stories in the site,

Bruh. You have more than enough views. Obviously you always want more, nothing wrong with that. Simply keep writing and you will get there. As for your question, forums are non-representative. SH readers like smut. It's not the only thing they like, but they like it. Lastly, sometimes new(relatively new) stories will barely get one thousand views. With this additional info, compare it with your 18.8k Views.

 

[BigBadBoi]

Some people like smut and some dislike smut. If you're going full smut just make sure it's plot with smut not smut with plot. People can't be horny 24/7 and will likely forget the story once post nut clarity hits.

 

[anon1239]

if i want to read smut i go to ASTR or that one DUDE.
if an author needs smut to attract a reader or just for the "plot" he aint trying.
you do not want your writing to be centered around porn.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

To the Roots of Akasha

After being killed by the Hero's party, the main character was reincarnated as a weak baby goblin inside the alien dungeon/tower called the Roots of Akasha. From here, he must face different kinds of creatures from different origins... aliens, zombies, hostile AI, demons and gods. Can he fight...

www.scribblehub.com

Renalia’s Tale [Deck Building]

What if on everyone’s birthday, they got a skill card encapsulating their past year? And what if it's [Resist Hunger] seven years in a row? Renalia had dreamt of gaining new abilities and lifting her parents out of poverty with her new Deck. But none of her skill cards...

www.scribblehub.com

Hushed Paradise

Out of the blue, Yumi decided to break the tranquility and asked, 'Gani...do you think both of us will change?' 'What do you mean?' 'Do you think we will stay this close forever?' Gani glanced at the heavy-in-thought girl, 'Yumi, change is constant. We all change......

www.scribblehub.com

Here are three stories with comparable number of chapters, and no Smut or GL tag. Compare the views.
Edit. Damn, I missed that hushed paradise has smut!

 

[Sylver]

Bruh. You have more than enough views. Obviously you always want more, nothing wrong with that. Simply keep writing and you will get there. As for your question, forums are non-representative. SH readers like smut. It's not the only thing they like, but they like it. Lastly, sometimes new(relatively new) stories will barely get one thousand views. With this additional info, compare it with your 18.8k Views.

It says I have 18.8k views, but I'm looking at the number of readers that stay and not just people who click on the main page.

Just off those 18.8k views, 11.8k read the chapters. And the average views is 300. That's not to say that I'm ungrateful for them, far from that. But I'm always aiming to improve and do better, and I want to see those numbers grow as well. Not by demand, but by working my way up there.

I just wanted to clarify, I know asking for more.or wanting more views carries a negative implication. I just aim to practice my work and do better, and the views I get reflect that in my mind. It's flawed but it helps push me to keep doing more. Thank you for your response

if i want to read smut i go to ASTR or that one DUDE.
if an author needs smut to attract a reader or just for the "plot" he aint trying.
you do not want your writing to be centered around porn.

What if it contains more than that, or am I stuck between having my cake and eating it too? I guess the question is, can a story have porn but be centered on something more as its focus?

 

[Shrimp_eater]

Just off those 18.8k views, 11.8k read the chapters. And the average views is 300.

Thats just how it works, go on your stats page on the dashboard and you'll likely see even lower "valid reads" (people who spend more than 30 seconds on a chapter).

Thats the reality for any form of product being advertised. Many see it, fewer consider, even less actually engage with it.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I know asking for more.or wanting more views carries a negative implication.

To me it does not have any negative implication at all. I probably phrased my first reply weirdly. When I was actively writing, I was writing with the goal of making it my job. To make it my job, I need views. I more than understand and support any author who want more views, as long as they don't do anything super scummy.

But I'm always aiming to improve and do better, and I want to see those numbers grow as well. Not by demand, but by working my way up there.

If you want to improve, you can look for feedback in feedback threads. You can also find various guides here.

[Tutorial] For new users of Scribble Hub!

This tutorial is constantly maintained by yours truly and encompasses the basics for readers and writers. Check Section-C for finding more writing tutorials and a helping hand in developing your story by other ScribbleHub users! To navigate more easily ctrl+f the titles in the table of contents...

forum.scribblehub.com

Also, there are no shortcuts(unless you do some super scummy stuff), so that's why you should simply keep writing.

Just off those 18.8k views, 11.8k read the chapters. And the average views is 300.

I gave links to three comparable works. You can compare the stats.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Smut has to be labeled properly.
It’s almost the same as a sexual preference.
You will probably turn off people with it too.

 

[Sylver]

I think i remember another post you made a while ago, and the answer you received then still stands. Your story is doing very well by most standards. Others that might receive more views usually have sought after tags (like girls love or litrpg) or are fanfics from some popular series, or maybe are written by authors that already have some following. You can't really do anything about that.

To share your story under your posts, click on your name on the right upper corner of the screen and then on 'signature'.

Oooh, I did that but all I have is the link there. How do I make it so that the cover image of the novel I'm working on is presented as well?

And well, it's possible. I don't know, I felt confident in the last week of the year when my views shot up for a few days. Suddenly I had over 1k views for one day before it gradually declined. I know the solution is to keep writing to attract more views, I'm just left in the dark hoping that the content I am writing is any good. I like it, but I also want others to like it too.

Smut has to be labeled properly.
It’s almost the same as a sexual preference.
You will probably turn off people with it too.

I understand. Part of my concern is worrying about the use of sexual content, for now I am beginning to wonder if that might have been a mistake. Maybe I would be experiencing a stronger feedback with higher views if I had written my story without any smut

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Oooh, I did that but all I have is the link there. How do I make it so that the cover image of the novel I'm working on is presented as well?

And well, it's possible. I don't know, I felt confident in the last week of the year when my views shot up for a few days. Suddenly I had over 1k views for one day before it gradually declined. I know the solution is to keep writing to attract more views, I'm just left in the dark hoping that the content I am writing is any good. I like it, but I also want others to like it too.

I understand. Part of my concern is worrying about the use of sexual content, for now I am beginning to wonder if that might have been a mistake. Maybe I would be experiencing a stronger feedback with higher views if I had written my story without any smut

It’s possible.
the most popular stories are action/adventure ones. Not smutty ones.

While smut is popular, there are so many bad ones on SHF including the one I wrote that people are not looking for quality when they read it.

Think about how it is with a porn movie. People aren’t reading for the plot.

Smut often detracts from a good plot because people are just going to skip it to the smut points.

 

[Shrimp_eater]

Oooh, I did that but all I have is the link there. How do I make it so that the cover image of the novel I'm working on is presented as well?

You paste the cover/image of your novel then and click over it on the editor, it'll give you an option to assign a link to it.

And well, it's possible. I don't know, I felt confident in the last week of the year when my views shot up for a few days. Suddenly I had over 1k views for one day before it gradually declined. I know the solution is to keep writing to attract more views, I'm just left in the dark hoping that the content I am writing is any good. I like it, but I also want others to like it too.

Unfortunately proper feedback isn't something you'll get very easily, vast majority of your readers will be completely silent. Your best bet really is using the forum for help though that also has its shortcomings, namely many of the users offering to review others stories might just not be interested in them. I'm free tonight, i'll take a look on your novel since it seems like something i'd read.

 

[Sylver]

To the Roots of Akasha

After being killed by the Hero's party, the main character was reincarnated as a weak baby goblin inside the alien dungeon/tower called the Roots of Akasha. From here, he must face different kinds of creatures from different origins... aliens, zombies, hostile AI, demons and gods. Can he fight...

www.scribblehub.com

Renalia’s Tale [Deck Building]

What if on everyone’s birthday, they got a skill card encapsulating their past year? And what if it's [Resist Hunger] seven years in a row? Renalia had dreamt of gaining new abilities and lifting her parents out of poverty with her new Deck. But none of her skill cards...

www.scribblehub.com

Hushed Paradise

Out of the blue, Yumi decided to break the tranquility and asked, 'Gani...do you think both of us will change?' 'What do you mean?' 'Do you think we will stay this close forever?' Gani glanced at the heavy-in-thought girl, 'Yumi, change is constant. We all change......

www.scribblehub.com

Here are three stories with comparable number of chapters, and no Smut or GL tag. Compare the views.
Edit. Damn, I missed that hushed paradise has smut!

It may do me some good to check those out, I see they're not too lengthy averaging around 30 chapters so far. Geez, why so little views though? I'm assuming these are well-written stories, is this why some users scoff when I say that I want to gain more views?

You paste the cover/image of your novel then and click over it on the editor, it'll give you an option to assign a link to it.

Oooh thank you so much! Ahh, look at that cover art. She looks beautiful Now I feel like one of the writers on this forum! You have my gratitude!

 

[Seren]

All I can think about is how fine they are. Reading smut stories helps me learn about the couples' experiences and knowledge of the moves. However, reading smut makes me embarrassed

 

[Sylver]

All I can think about is how fine they are. Reading smut stories helps me learn about the couples' experiences and knowledge of the moves. However, reading smut makes me embarrassed

I can see that about feeling embarrassed, it gets easier to read over time I remember feeling like I was breaking some sort of rule when I first started writing my own content haha! I would later come to realize that it wasn't the smut that I was after though, it was the romance and relationship between the characters which drew me back

I'm free tonight, i'll take a look on your novel since it seems like something i'd read.

Would you be able to message me in private if you do get around to that? I'd love to hear your feedback and see what my story could use to improve, if you don't mind?

 

[Seren]

I can see that about feeling embarrassed, it gets easier to read over time I remember feeling like I was breaking some sort of rule when I first started writing my own content haha! I would later come to realize that it wasn't the smut that I was after though, it was the romance and relationship between the characters which drew me back

I feel you, yahahaha

Would you be able to message me in private if you do get around to that? I'd love to hear your feedback and see what my story could use to improve, if you don't mind?

 

[Kalliel]

I took a look at your tags and synopsis, and this is my opinion that I've formed in two minutes (Which means it's probably not reliable).

As I've commented on your previous post, I think girl's love stories are popular on here, so there's nothing wrong with adding the girl's love subplot tag in your story if it has that element.

Now, I am a GL writer, and I am also a GL reader. Looking at your story, I was somewhat reluctant to go in, let me explain.

The synopsis begins with a guy taking in a stray cat, which might create the impression that he is the protagonist, even though it might not be so. And... well, you have both male and female protagonist tags, so it can be quite confusing for the readers to decide which one is the protagonist.

The point being, with the smut tag, it can be misunderstood that this is a story about a guy romancing with a nekomata, and then somehow there's a GL element...? This can be true, or not be true, and that's the thing—I am not sure what I will be reading. That could turn away quite a lot of people.

In conclusion, I think you should change the synopsis a bit to center around the nekomata if she is the protagonist, and maybe adjust your tags a bit so people would know exactly what they're getting.

What if the guy really is the protagonist? Discard whatever I said, then.

 

[Prince_Azmiran_Myrian]

I demand you reject your intrusive thoughts.