One thing that readers could do (and there are a lot of readers) is USE THE DAMN COMMENTS feature on stories to say what you'd like to see.
I've seen this being used more often lately, and I'm glad of it.
But that's one reason that the comments feature was invented: to tell the author what you think. What you liked or didn't like. What you'd like to see happen.
Take, for example, "Jeremy After Football Practice":
https://eunuchworld.co/s14451
Minor, G, testicles, anal, oral ... all that rot.
Mandler made a great comment: Very nice take on an old story line, liked all the details. Thanks for writing.
I added that I very much enjoyed the ending. I should have added that I'd like to see more of what happened to Jeremy and Eddie as they get used to being castrated.
Yes, the theme of this story is one done to death: a soccer/football boy gets kidnapped at practice, castrated, played with, fucked, etc.
And then he goes back for more. But it was the details, and the ending, as we both commented, that made it work.
The author now knows he's done something right.
All 16 stars and two commenters worth of it.
But with forum feedback as slow as it is, I don't know if any writers are going to come right out and ask for what readers want to see. Or where to go if they get stuck.
I'd very much like to see this happen, though.
I am encouraged by Martineasy and all the other newer authors turning stuff in.
I hope the trend continues, and I hope that some regulars with a LOT of highly rated stuff come back.
I also hope to see this thread continue to get replies.
Now, I'll be the first one to encourage posting on the forums about story help and feedback. I think it's a great idea!
Encourage the writers, though. Here or there, in the comments.
And I don't say that just because I write stories.
Frankly, I don't give a good God-damn one way or the other if anyone rates my stuff or says a word.
I post it because of the few that I know will like it, and I want to share it.
More often than not, I just write it for me, then either save it off on a card or just delete it when I'm bored with it.
The thing is, though, today I compiled a bunch of stats on top-rated stories.
Given the amount of members and traffic, the fact that the highest rated story on EA is at 98 stars?
That's just fucking sad.
It's beyond sad.
It's "pull the plug on the damn server sad".
Back in the day, it was a tank full of stories every day. Comments on the board, in email, on various IM's services like ICQ or AIM...
Ah, those were the days!
Now, we've had 1 story in 3 days...