Best time to submit stories?

[DrHappy]

My next story is almost complete, and I’m wondering whether it would be best to wait a few more days before submitting it so that it would be published after March 31. I’ve had one story 1-bombed about an hour after publication. My other story did very well and won the in its category for the month.

Is there a time of the month that is best to submit a story in regards to ratings or anything else?

Would a story be more likely to be 1-bombed if it is submitted at the same time as a themed contest like the “April Fool’s” contest?

If an author would like to have a story considered among the top in the category for the month, would it be best to avoid having a story published near the end of the month when its voting period would be short?

I don’t think that I’m not overly concerned about ratings, but I do care some.

 

[soulhouse]

I'm not qualified to answer your questions directly, but it might be worth waiting until it's confirmed the voting bug has been squashed.

 

[KeithD]

I think there are too many variables here to try to game the system on submission to get some sort of competitive advantage. I'll submit my next one tomorrow. I usually submit to the regular file on Sunday--not for any particular calculated reason other than I can keep in mind that that's my submission date.

 

[8letters]

My next story is almost complete, and I’m wondering whether it would be best to wait a few more days before submitting it so that it would be published after March 31. I’ve had one story 1-bombed about an hour after publication. My other story did very well and won the in its category for the month.

Is there a time of the month that is best to submit a story in regards to ratings or anything else?

Would a story be more likely to be 1-bombed if it is submitted at the same time as a themed contest like the “April Fool’s” contest?

If an author would like to have a story considered among the top in the category for the month, would it be best to avoid having a story published near the end of the month when its voting period would be short?

I don’t think that I’m not overly concerned about ratings, but I do care some.

Monday is the best day to have your story published as it is the day with the fewest stories published. You can request that your story be published on a Monday in the notes. Sadly, I can't find my post where I gave the story stats by day of the week.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

First off, this is a bad time, as Soulhouse notes, to be submitting. The entire system seems wobbly right now, although it seems to be under repair as we speak.

I agree with Keith re gaming the system. In any case, there seems to be a clot of trolls who will almost always one-bomb every new entry, just on principle. It's like the sun rising in the east, part of life. (There's another clot which swings into one-bomb mode on all announced contest winners, but that's another issue.)

Publish when it's finished and good luck.

 

[LexxRuthless]

First off, this is a bad time, as Soulhouse notes, to be submitting. The entire system seems wobbly right now, although it seems to be under repair as we speak.

I agree with Keith re gaming the system. In any case, there seems to be a clot of trolls who will almost always one-bomb every new entry, just on principle. It's like the sun rising in the east, part of life. (There's another clot which swings into one-bomb mode on all announced contest winners, but that's another issue.)

Publish when it's finished and good luck.

I just had a story go "live" five hours ago, which seemed an odd time but mine wasn't the only one to appear in the category at that time. I rather hoped I might dodge some of the down-vote knuckleheads due to the unusual timing, but my story has already been hit with something like 25 1-bombs.

As noted in another thread, this disheartening trend has been noticeable for a few weeks, across multiple categories.

 

[AvroAnsonXIX]

(1) Say: "Fuck it, this is a good story," out loud. (2) Turn off votes and anonymous comments. (3) Submit the story when its done. (4) Have another drink of wine.

 

[NotWise]

The best time to publish a story is after it's done -- never before.

I agree with Keith and others who said there are too many variables to game the system. I tried, and I rarely got it to work out.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

My stories all go live at 7am GMT, which I'm guessing is midnight Eastern USA.

Contest entries get to be at the tops of that day's New stories and get many more views than non-contest, unless you are in a very popular category (I/T and LW, I think?). How many one-bombers you'll attract is random.

 

[DrHappy]

Thank you for everyone's comments! For better or for worse, I submitted my story a few minutes ago.

 

[Emirus]

Delete and submit again

I had a story which received four votes in the first hour. A 5 - 4 - and two 1, giving it 2.75, together with about forty views. It didn’t receive another vote or view until it dropped off the first page. I asked for it to be deleted and, as soon as that occurred, I submitted again. No problem the second time but why I have no idea. What’s the answer to 1-bombs? Who knows.

 

[mynameisben]

As far away from the full moon as possible.


Ben

 

[NotWise]

The best time to publish a story is after it's done -- never before.

I agree with Keith and others who said there are too many variables to game the system. I tried, and I rarely got it to work out.

On second thought, maybe the best time to post a story was this time last year, before the ratings plummeted.

 

[AvroAnsonXIX]

On second thought, maybe the best time to post a story was this time last year, before the ratings plummeted.

Be sure to buy lottery tickets when you travel back in time to submit your story.

 

[PennameWombat]

The only thing I keep an eye on is around the time contests are starting if I have a story that isn't a contest entry. There's usually a bunch of stories that are being posted and I don't want mine lost in the flood. Or worse, way back not long after I joined I submitted one such and it seemed to confuse people who expected themed entries. Now I'll hold off for a few days from the beginning.

Otherwise I submit when it's ready. I've had such variable times in getting them posted (1 or 2 days through a week) that I don't try to game the day. When it's ready, I submit it.

 

[LAHomedog]

I had a story which received four votes in the first hour. A 5 - 4 - and two 1, giving it 2.75, together with about forty views. It didn’t receive another vote or view until it dropped off the first page. I asked for it to be deleted and, as soon as that occurred, I submitted again. No problem the second time but why I have no idea. What’s the answer to 1-bombs? Who knows.

How are you guys opening your votes results and seeing what the actual votes are like "A 5, 4, and two 1?" How do you do that. I have been trying to do that ever since I started posting and can't figure it out.

Thanks.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

The best time to publish a story is after it's done -- never before.

I agree with Keith and others who said there are too many variables to game the system. I tried, and I rarely got it to work out.

^^^^ yep, once it's done, then publish it and not a second before then.

 

[DrHappy]

1-bombed less than an hour after it went live. It’s a 10 Lit page story, so they obviously bombed it without reading it.