What am I doing wrong??

[KingOfHalves]

I've been publishing here for a few years. My stories consistently make the Hot list, but in spite of that I feel like I barely have any readers.

I'm confident that my work is good. The readers I do have give great ratings and leave positive comments. Over on StoriesOnline my story is consistently in the Top 10 most popular serials list. I feel pretty safe in saying it's not a quality issue, so I'm clearly missing something.

I'd love any advice from other authors about how to increase visiblity on Literotica.

 

[KeithD]

My advice is to cool it. You either have ridiculously high expectations or you're taking a trolling run at the discussion board. You have only one interminably long story going here, each chapter of which has a very high score and a red H.

 

[ElectricBlue]

You've written one long story in sci-fi and fantasy which is ongoing. That story isn't going to attract many new readers because it's been running since 2018, and your reader base is, so far, based on that single story.

Your solution, quite simply, is to write new stories in different categories.

Write more, and think about stopping the long yarn. After 35 chapters and 350,000 words or whatever, surely that story's done?

 

[KingOfHalves]

My advice is to cool it. You either have ridiculously high expectations or you're taking a trolling run at the discussion board. You have only one interminably long story going here, each chapter of which has a very high score and a red H.

Wow, ok.

I didn't realize that's how this forum operates. I see many stories with scores similar to the ones mine tend to get but much higher view numbers, so I thought I must be doing something wrong.

Nevermind, I guess. Thanks anyway for the reply.

 

[KingOfHalves]

You've written one long story in sci-fi and fantasy which is ongoing. That story isn't going to attract many new readers because it's been running since 2018, and your reader base is, so far, based on that single story.

Your solution, quite simply, is to write new stories in different categories.

Write more, and think about stopping the long yarn. After 35 chapters and 350,000 words or whatever, surely that story's done?

Nope. It's a serial. There's lots of story left to tell.

Writing some stand-alones in other styles is a good idea though. Thanks!

 

[gunhilltrain]

I've been publishing here for a few years. My stories consistently make the Hot list, but in spite of that I feel like I barely have any readers.

I'm confident that my work is good. The readers I do have give great ratings and leave positive comments. Over on StoriesOnline my story is consistently in the Top 10 most popular serials list. I feel pretty safe in saying it's not a quality issue, so I'm clearly missing something.

I'd love any advice from other authors about how to increase visiblity on Literotica.

As KeithD said, you seem to be doing great. I'm going to take a guess here: maybe it's you, maybe you're tired of spending years on this one series? Maybe you'd like to try something new? Only you know the truth.

 

[KeithD]

Wow, ok.

I didn't realize that's how this forum operates. I see many stories with scores similar to the ones mine tend to get but much higher view numbers, so I thought I must be doing something wrong.

Nevermind, I guess. Thanks anyway for the reply.

EB66 has, I think, nailed the views issue. It's just one story, going on forever. You can't expect multitudes sticking with you for three years of a single never-ending story. Apparently those who have enjoy your story and are giving you high marks. You are the envy of the neighborhood for continuing to pull that off after 35 goes at the story.

 

[NotWise]

I've been publishing here for a few years. My stories consistently make the Hot list, but in spite of that I feel like I barely have any readers.

I'm confident that my work is good. The readers I do have give great ratings and leave positive comments. Over on StoriesOnline my story is consistently in the Top 10 most popular serials list. I feel pretty safe in saying it's not a quality issue, so I'm clearly missing something.

I'd love any advice from other authors about how to increase visiblity on Literotica.

Don't put stories in SciFi&Fantasy. The category has a very small but dedicated readership. So you can get great scores from a small number of readers, and then your stories disappear into the ether.

I don't have a clue how SciFi or Fantasy stories work on other sites. On Lit, you will get more readers by writing for different categories. The readers in other categories may not be as friendly.

 

[KingOfHalves]

EB66 has, I think, nailed the views issue. It's just one story, going on forever. You can't expect multitudes sticking with you for three years of a single never-ending story. Apparently those who have enjoy your story and are giving you high marks. You are the envy of the neighborhood for continuing to pull that off after 35 goes at the story.

Well now I kinda feel bad. I didn't realize long running stories were abnormal or unpopular. I just saw low view counts and thought I was missing something.

 

[KingOfHalves]

Don't put stories in SciFi&Fantasy. The category has a very small but dedicated readership. So you can get great scores from a small number of readers, and then your stories disappear into the ether.

I don't have a clue how SciFi or Fantasy stories work on other sites. On Lit, you will get more readers by writing for different categories. The readers in other categories may not be as friendly.

That's fantastic information. Thank you.

 

[KeithD]

Well now I kinda feel bad. I didn't realize long running stories were abnormal or unpopular. I just saw low view counts and thought I was missing something.

They aren't unpopular. You have high scores and Red H's on every single chapter. I think you need to look around a bit to see how it's working with other authors here and readjust your expectations. As noted, look at other serials in the same category.

 

[RejectReality]

Sci-Fi & Fantasy performs better on SOL. There are a larger share of the readers there who enjoy the genre. You're always going to see comparatively higher sustained readership there. Here, the category is a niche.

You can build a large readership and big numbers, but it either takes lightning in a bottle or a damn long time.

By Lit standards for the category, you're doing well.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Well now I kinda feel bad. I didn't realize long running stories were abnormal or unpopular. I just saw low view counts and thought I was missing something.

They're not. It's just that some writers go on for ever and never finish, or just go on forever. There are writers out there with a hundred chapters - no idea how many readers though, coz I never read them - so you're not alone.

There are plenty of readers who love a long story - you've obviously got a bunch of them, judging by your scores, but with only one story you've set your own limits. At the heat death of the universe, all you'll have left is you and the reader who's still alive.

To me it's a no brainer: if you want more readers, write more stories to attract new readers.

 

[PennameWombat]

Well now I kinda feel bad. I didn't realize long running stories were abnormal or unpopular. I just saw low view counts and thought I was missing something.

They're not necessarily abnormal or unpopular. The Top 500 SF&F list is largely made up from a single 100+ chapter serial... In fact, many of the Top lists in various categories are dominated by long serials...

But it is very normal for the view counts to drop off for each subsequent chapter or entry. New entries in the serial mentioned above now get scores of 4.9 because only the truly dedicated read it. Thus, they dominate the Top lists (there was a recent thread here about that very subject.)

Nope. It's a serial. There's lots of story left to tell.

Writing some stand-alones in other styles is a good idea though. Thanks!

I started like you, to a degree. I have a primary serialized story set in a universe. But. I use the contests to pique my thoughts and write stories that are set in that universe but introduce new and different characters, although anyone can make a cameo. But I ensure these read as stand-alones, so readers don't need the full serial context, even if those who do know it might pick up the odd nuance here and there.

I also get ideas outside of that universe and write those. So now I have a few universes that are sandboxes, not all of them are SF&F (by universe I just mean my setting.) Not that I'm claiming to be one of the big guns here.

And to echo, I like writing in SF&F, but yeah, readership isn't huge. So I spread out to various other categories, even though some of those have a SF or F element in them, just not the dominant or major theme.

 

[HeyAll]

Think like a buisnessman.

Find out what the market wants and how to give it to them.

Then figure you which of your writing interests align with that.

Of course, writing what you love is the main thing. But if your goal is more readers, then you need to study and think about Lit readership. Also analyse what makes certain stories popular.

 

[davion2308]

Aggressive!

I'm not piling on but I agree with the above comments from everyone.

You have great scores from a story that exists within a single, less-popular category. I haven't read your stories but the scores are great and people seem to enjoy them. But you're not doing anything wrong since you're writing well and you're enjoying your serial story.

Let's not focus on what you're 'doing wrong' if you want more viewers. Let's talk about what else you could be doing.

1. Post in every single category over the next six months. Post a story everywhere so they see your name. And when you post somewhere new, you'll get more clicks and people will go back and see "Oh, these stories have a lot of "H" stories and I'm never in Sci-Fi but I might take a look.

2. Bring new characters, new themes, different ideas or write in different categories with your existing serial story. The tough part, though, is that people will get the idea they should start from the beginning and start at Sci-Fi. That may dissuade them from participating in the journey that is the work.

Do those two things and let us know what changes.

Good hunting!

 

[AlinaX]

Piling on here, but there's no great harm in sticking to one category. However, having a single long serial will make it difficult to attract new readers.

Write more stories. New stories attract new readers.

 

[jaF0]

You have only one interminably long story going here, each chapter of which has a very high score and a red H.

You've written one long story in sci-fi and fantasy which is ongoing. That story isn't going to attract many new readers because it's been running since 2018, and your reader base is, so far, based on that single story.

You can't expect multitudes sticking with you for three years of a single never-ending story. Apparently those who have enjoy your story and are giving you high marks. You are the envy of the neighborhood for continuing to pull that off after 35 goes at the story.

Don't put stories in SciFi&Fantasy. The category has a very small but dedicated readership.

How long has Coronation Street run? Has it maintained viewership? Ratings? Has it run out the story line?

What about the Star Trek series?

James Bond?

 

[gunhilltrain]

Well now I kinda feel bad. I didn't realize long running stories were abnormal or unpopular. I just saw low view counts and thought I was missing something.

That's not necessarily true. You can look at other authors like KeithD suggested below. But in the end, it's your work, your call. There is no secret formula among the other authors, and who knows what all of those readers want? (On this site so many of them are anonymous anyway.) You have to find your own way, which you have been doing already. But try some new stuff beyond the series and see how it goes.

 

[AlinaX]

How long has Coronation Street run? Has it maintained viewership? Ratings? Has it run out the story line?

What about the Star Trek series?

James Bond?

If each episode of Coronation Street had its episode number in the title... lol, but soaps like Corrie are major social phenomena with media buy-in.

Star Trek (until the recent additions, anyway) and James Bond are more episodic, but again are major social phenomena with media buy-in.

Hmm... How many people have decided not to watch A New Hope because it is No. 4 in the series and they haven't seen Nos 1-3?

On Literotica, any advertising of stories is minimal, and there's little guarantee of a random story being high quality, so a high chapter number is just adds to the uncertainty for new readers.

 

[MelissaBaby]

How long has Coronation Street run? Has it maintained viewership? Ratings? Has it run out the story line?

What about the Star Trek series?

James Bond?

Yep. I'm guessing that if you spent millions of dollars on promotion, you could get a ton of views.

 

[MelissaBaby]

Nope. It's a serial. There's lots of story left to tell.

Writing some stand-alones in other styles is a good idea though. Thanks!

That's how I have looked at it. I wrote a 36 chapter series over a period of three years. The views dwindled, but I retained a very loyal, appreciative readership who gave high scores. That was plenty of reward for doing something I loved.

At the same time, I did several stand alones, which were also well received.

Whatever your metric of success is, the satisfaction you get from the writing and from knowing you have given people (no matter how many or how few) something they appreciated should be your primary rewards.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Only one suggestion from me, KingOfHalves, don't pull a Disney and beat the story to death, and take a hammer to what to a tale that did well for so long. Disney does that with all their franchise tales, hammering away, suck every dime from the thing, until, in the end, you can't wait for no more stories. Not saying you are doing that, the scores are awesome.

With that said, as writer, I need variety. Even so, I'd kill a duck, a chick, and other animals for all my stories to have little red H's. Actually, I wouldn't kill for it, but I'd steal, lie, and cheat if it'd do me any good.

 

[gordo12]

It's a well-known fact here that readers drop off for multi-chapter stories. After a while, you have a small, well-defined core of readers. But some of those will gradually abandon the story. Bored, dying, moving, losing interest, who knows?

New readers will look at 35 chapters, and no way in hell are they starting that.
(I refuse at 4-5)

Sci-fi also has a small readership. A story I put in there almost three years ago has only 11k readers so far. Another last year has 4k. That's tiny in the face of categories that will get you 40-50 or 100k readers in a few days.

As others have said. You don't need to abandon; add something different to attract new readers.

 

[MelissaBaby]

New readers will look at 35 chapters, and no way in hell are they starting that.
(I refuse at 4-5)

I agree with your post generally, but this point is not necessarily true. I ended a 36 chapter series and noted in the description of the last chapter that it was the conclusion, and I got a bump in readership for the earlier chapters.