Story stats: Freya and the Space Hippies

My first story for 2024 Freya and the Space Hippies has been published for two days and half days. Let’s check on reader reception.

Response has been tepid. Only 57 votes, 4 favorites and a score hovering around 4.67. The few comments have been positive.

This is my first attempt at a story in the Science Fiction category, which is less popular than others. Plus, it’s a short story at only 5,190 words with a formulaic plot. So, the response isn’t surprising.

Still, I had fun writing it and readers seem to have enjoyed it. Growing up, I read nothing but science fiction–Dune, Heinlein, Asimov, Bradbury and Jerry Pournelle/Larry Niven, before I learned of their fascist leanings–so writing science fiction felt pretty natural.

Count the tropes: Pickle-face and the Professor

But soon they’ll be in bed together. Hat tip: DALL-E

We haven’t played “count the tropes” for a while, so let’s look at post-Christmas romance Pickle-face and the Professor. For chance, this time instead of combing through tvtropes.org, let’s use the more concise list of tropes in The Trope Thesaurus by Jennifer Hilt.

What is a trope? The Trope Thesaurus gives a concise definition: “A trope establishes a predictable character, setting, or scenario.”

But, but then don’t tropes make a story stereotypical and cliché? Not when used right. Jennifer Hilt puts it this way:

I stopped thinking of tropes as end products and started thinking of them as raw materials that could create characters and increase conflict.

The answer was in the twist.

What if we were able to use the reader’s familiarity with tropes like a springboard to take us to more intriguing storytelling heights?

In the Romance genre (and thus in Erotic Romance), many tropes are common and beloved, especially “Enemies to Lovers,” used most famously in Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice. Though first published in 1813 it has never gone out of print and still moves readers today. Tropes can springboard a plot, but can also be used to add depth to people places and things.

I purposely set out to write an enemies to lovers romance in Pickle-face and the Professor, so let’s start with that trope then look at others that might apply:

Story stats: Pickle-face and the Professor

My final story for 2023 Pickle-face and the Professor has been published for two days and a bit. Let’s see how readers have reacted.

A writer figuring out story stats (credit: DALL-E)

After 2+ days, reader response has been incredible—much better than expected for such an odd, disjointed story. The rating sits at 4.78 and with 288 votes that’s probably around where it will stay.

All comments have been very positive, and many readers have gone on to read and favorite some of my other stories.

Some of the better comments:

5 Stars! A really beautifully crafted story, so well told. I always love what you write. You’re just so gifted.

Great balance of narrative and dialogue with good plot flow.

Terrific story! Well written with two likable and relatable character. Free use in a romance story! I never would have imagined it, but it worked.

The “free use” angle I was sure would draw the ire of self-appointed gatekeepers of the Romance category, similar to the lashing Back to Where It Almost Began got for mentioning pegging. So far, that hasn’t happened.

When you hate the title but it works

Christmas Pickle, Dean Johnson via Wikipedia

My latest story Pickle-face and the Professor is far more popular than I expected. I’ll publish my usual full stats tomorrow, but right now with 3300+ views and 246 votes, the score has settled at 4.77 with positive comments and a bunch of favorites. So, it seems to be popular with readers, many of them new.

It’s impossible to be sure, but I suspect the title has a lot to do with drawing them in. It’s humorous, unique, and immediately forms images in one’s mind. Readers who would normally pass over such a story are giving it a click.

The story itself is an unapologetic male fantasy, as usual for my works. The main character is a respected expert, Allie the female character was a fan of his and has the stereotypical body US readers prefer: tall, blonde, big boobs. She even likes to cook.

But I hate it that title. It’s derogatory to Allie and too similar to the dismissive, misogynist term “butterface” used to describe women with great bodies but unattractive faces.

If I’d thought a little more, I could have gone with “A Christmas Pickle”: it’s short, and encompasses Allie’s sour resting expression, the pickle the characters find themselves in, and also the little-known American custom of hiding a “Christmas pickle”—a pickle-shaped ornament—on a Christmas tree. The first person to find it gets an extra present or good fortune for the year.

Would that clever and better title be drawing as many readers? Probably not. On Literotica, the main way to attract readers is by title and subtitle, so they have to have punch.

Now, it’s possible to rename a story already published on Literotica. I’m tempted to do so, but given the relative success of the story, I won’t.

As much as I hate it, the title seems to be drawing new readers to the story and to my other stories. The story itself is not misogynistic and presents Allie sympathetically and positively—more positively than the male character. Reader learn that despite “resting bitch face,” Allie is a spectacular person.

So, I’ll keep the title for now.

What do you think? Leave a comment!

Behind the story: Pickle-face and the Professor

Stable Diffusion concept for Allie

My final story for 2023 is now live on Literotica: Pickle-face and the Professor.

(Yes, it’s a terrible title. I wanted something eye-catching and light-hearted, but it’s derogatory to the female character. “A Christmas Pickle” would have been better, now that I think of it).

It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance between two sparring cryptocurrency experts who get stuck in a chalet during the week after Christmas.

I’ve long wanted to write a story exploring “resting bitch face” and how unfair it is. Some people just naturally look nasty and are judged for it. I’ve also known someone whose face, like Allie in the story, completely transforms into the happiest, warmest, sunniest expression when she smiles. Not that that was any indication of her personality or that she should have to smile.