Categories: The Tale of the Tape

[BobbyBrandt]

There have been several posts here discussing the pros and cons of different categories and the readers that frequent them. I thought that I would analyze my own submissions for a comparison between categories.

I have submitted 21 stories (69 posts) since 2014 in six different categories. Here are the averages broken down in each of those categories:

Romance (3 submissions): Average Rating = 4.38; Average Views = 11,390; Average Votes = 350; Average Comments = 22; Average Favorites = 17

Novels/Novellas (56 submissions): Average Rating = 4.81; Average Views = 24,191; Average Votes = 1073; Average Comments = 28; Average Favorites = 28

Celebrities/Fan Fiction (4 Submissions): Average Rating = 4.65; Average Views = 5487; Average Votes = 64; Average Comments = 2; Average Favorites = 6

Erotic Couplings (1 Submission): Average Rating = 4.52; Average Views = 10,316; Average Votes = 208; Average Comments = 1; Average Favorites = 7

Incest/Taboo (3 Submissions): Average Rating 4.67; Average Views = 24,624; Average Votes = 425; Average Comments = 11; Average Favorites = 24

Loving Wives (2 Submissions): Average Rating = 4.16; Average Views = 38,327; Average Votes = 785; Average Comments = 46; Average Favorites = 33

I thought that sharing this comparison would be a graphic representation of how readers in different categories view the work of the same author. Feel free to share your own category averages to further illustrate the point.

 

[lovecraft68]

Couple thoughts.

I kick out the high novels/novellas scores because they're mostly based on two long series, and I'm sure you've seen that the advantage of long series here has been discussed often. If you haven't gist is the longer the series goes the more trolls and casual readers you lose, as well as new readers who don't want to start something that's already 15 chapters. You end up with a core readership that is going to 5 you to death because they're invested in the story

You other examples would all go higher if you post more stories in each one, as each one gains more attention and the reader will look to see what else you have in the category.

LW might be an exception in score because of how many factions there are. One 'wrong' story could land you a 2.7 and bring your average down. But at the same time could boost your comment average because you get more comments on stories they don't like.
Example my recent LW story is 2.70 but 59 comments.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Couple thoughts.

I kick out the high novels/novellas scores because they're mostly based on two long series, and I'm sure you've seen that the advantage of long series here has been discussed often. If you haven't gist is the longer the series goes the more trolls and casual readers you lose, as well as new readers who don't want to start something that's already 15 chapters. You end up with a core readership that is going to 5 you to death because they're invested in the story

You other examples would all go higher if you post more stories in each one, as each one gains more attention and the reader will look to see what else you have in the category.

LW might be an exception in score because of how many factions there are. One 'wrong' story could land you a 2.7 and bring your average down. But at the same time could boost your comment average because you get more comments on stories they don't like.
Example my recent LW story is 2.70 but 59 comments.

The "long series" stories you mentioned are chapter stories. Two of them were submitted as individual chapters and two were submitted as parts containing multiple chapters. Since all of them were completed, and with the exception of one, submitted all at the same time, I'm not sure how your comment applies since they all average comparable to the single submission stories in the same category.

The point of my post is not how to raise my numbers. It is to demonstrate that while an author's vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills might remain consistent, the choice of category here does impact the reception a story receives.

 

[Trionyx]

I would be very careful about drawing too many conclusions from data sets with such low numbers (1, 2, 3, 3, 4). This is particularly true when one considers how extremely variable scores can be on an author’s stories in a single category.

 

[lovecraft68]

The "long series" stories you mentioned are chapter stories. Two of them were submitted as individual chapters and two were submitted as parts containing multiple chapters. Since all of them were completed, and with the exception of one, submitted all at the same time, I'm not sure how your comment applies since they all average comparable to the single submission stories in the same category.

The point of my post is not how to raise my numbers. It is to demonstrate that while an author's vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills might remain consistent, the choice of category here does impact the reception a story receives.

The point still applies. Chapters/series can't be compared to stand alone stories because they garner a built in base, which is why I said to set them aside from your other examples.

But yes, its been discussed often that not all categories are created equal due to various size fan bases. There's no wrong or right, its some things are more popular than others. That has led to a few bitter twits here denigrating people who write in larger read categories, implying they write just to pander and aren't real authors, meanwhile because they write in lower read categories, somehow they're 'better'

I think the stats here, the votes, scores, H's and top lists were meant to be both a reward and something exciting for the author to see the reactions to their stories, same for comments, feedback. All this was well intended. But when you have a system based on people and many people suck, well, we get all the other variables.

End of the day I'll say what I say in all the stat threads. Don't focus on them. Write what you want, post where you want, and be true to your muse and not chase the numbers. You seem like you write a variety of things so some you'll get the numbers some you won't. But when all this becomes more important than the story, that's the problem too many fall into.

 

[lovecraft68]

I would be very careful about drawing too many conclusions from data sets with such low numbers (1, 2, 3, 3, 4). This is particularly true when one considers how extremely variable scores can be on an author’s stories in a single category.

Right, the OP has 3 stories in I/T. If they went on a run in that category, and end up with 12, those averages-as far as votes comments-will go up. Score I don't think has anything to do with how many stories. Then again if you build a base there you'll get the "Not your best, but I like your other stuff so 5 anyway" types. That is a comment I have seen several times over the years.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

The point still applies. Chapters/series can't be compared to stand alone stories because they garner a built in base, which is why I said to set them aside from your other examples.

But yes, its been discussed often that not all categories are created equal due to various size fan bases. There's no wrong or right, its some things are more popular than others. That has led to a few bitter twits here denigrating people who write in larger read categories, implying they write just to pander and aren't real authors, meanwhile because they write in lower read categories, somehow they're 'better'

I think the stats here, the votes, scores, H's and top lists were meant to be both a reward and something exciting for the author to see the reactions to their stories, same for comments, feedback. All this was well intended. But when you have a system based on people and many people suck, well, we get all the other variables.

End of the day I'll say what I say in all the stat threads. Don't focus on them. Write what you want, post where you want, and be true to your muse and not chase the numbers. You seem like you write a variety of things so some you'll get the numbers some you won't. But when all this becomes more important than the story, that's the problem too many fall into.

This is becoming too much about me and not the point of the matter. Maybe if the numbers were presented in a table or other format, it would be clearer.

I used my own numbers as an example of how one author can receive a different reception to their work based solely upon the category the story is posted in. I haven't yet ventured into several other categories, so hopefully, an author who posts in those could share their numbers to illustrate more differences.

I am still missing your point related to stand-alone versus chapter stories. If I post a single story in one submission of 100,000 words or I post twenty chapters of a story at the same time totaling 100,000 words, the readers' experience is the same. The only difference on Literotica is that the twenty chapters submitted would be published one each day. After twenty days, everything is the same between single submission and chapter submission, and my averages bear that out.

 

[RejectReality]

This is becoming too much about me and not the point of the matter. Maybe if the numbers were presented in a table or other format, it would be clearer.

I used my own numbers as an example of how one author can receive a different reception to their work based solely upon the category the story is posted in. I haven't yet ventured into several other categories, so hopefully, an author who posts in those could share their numbers to illustrate more differences.

I am still missing your point related to stand-alone versus chapter stories. If I post a single story in one submission of 100,000 words or I post twenty chapters of a story at the same time totaling 100,000 words, the readers' experience is the same. The only difference on Literotica is that the twenty chapters submitted would be published one each day. After twenty days, everything is the same between single submission and chapter submission, and my averages bear that out.

While a super long story has people lose interest and back-click without voting, thus leaving mostly those who loved it to cast 5s, a chapter 20 pretty much only has people even opening it that are super invested. The scores are naturally going to skew higher.

 

[lovecraft68]

This is becoming too much about me and not the point of the matter. Maybe if the numbers were presented in a table or other format, it would be clearer.

I used my own numbers as an example of how one author can receive a different reception to their work based solely upon the category the story is posted in. I haven't yet ventured into several other categories, so hopefully, an author who posts in those could share their numbers to illustrate more differences.

I am still missing your point related to stand-alone versus chapter stories. If I post a single story in one submission of 100,000 words or I post twenty chapters of a story at the same time totaling 100,000 words, the readers' experience is the same. The only difference on Literotica is that the twenty chapters submitted would be published one each day. After twenty days, everything is the same between single submission and chapter submission, and my averages bear that out.

20 chapters is twenty times on the new list which will get more eyes than one long story posted just once.
The one long story will end up with a final score.

The pattern of a long series if as it moves along you will see lower views, votes, but higher scores as it gains a dedicated following, that doesn't happen in a one shot story. Then we get into why most people aren't fond of long chapter stories from the perspective of your oneshot story can get on a top list...once. But 20 chapters could have most of them dominating the same list, which means more attention which means...

I think you're the one not understanding the difference.

 

[RejectReality]

Haven't run any of my numbers in forever, and the boy is being too loud to write, so... ( Keeping in mind that RR goes back to '09 and Dark/Les to '06 )


Averages As RR:

Cat | # subs | Score | Views | Votes | Comments | Favs

Anal | 4 stories | 4.64 | 197682 | 1779 | 24 | 222

BDSM | 1 Story | 4.68 | 34859 | 164 | 4 | 23

Erotic Coup | 17 stories | 4.62 | 50941 | 431 | 8 | 35

Exh&Voye | 3 Stories | 4.65 | 21115 | 330 | 5 | 24

Fetish | 3 Stories | 4.72 | 99292 | 1094 | 26 | 106

First Time | 1 Story | 4.78 | 85183 | 936 | 23 | 77

Gay Male | 1 Story | 4.74 | 29005 | 318 | 16 | 35

Group Sex | 14 Stories | 4.67 | 103866 | 797 | 10 | 76

Incest | 5 Stories | 4.74 | 278009 | 3603 | 54 | 458

Interracial | 2 Stories | 4.70 | 49429 | 684 | 19 | 64

Lesbian | 1 Story | 4.64 | 35618 | 376 | 9 | 32

Letters | 4.63 | 8827 | 224 | 5 | 18

Loving Wives | 1 Story | 4.56 | 120299 | 984 | 50 | 60

Mature | 36 Stories | 4.66 | 123144 | 1341 | 17 | 88

Mind Control | 1 Story | 4.48 | 160661 | 1458 | 13 | 83

Sci-Fi&Fant | 1 Story | 4.67 | 7880 | 163 | 7 | 10

Toys&Mast | 4 Stories | 4.6 | 62973 | 501 | 9 | 55

Trans&Cross | 4.49 | 17539 | 191 | 8 | 22


Averages As Les:

Cat | # subs | Score | Views | Votes | Comments | Favs

Anal | 1 Story | 4.46 | 171306 | 338 | 5 | 17

Chain | 5 Stories | 27633 | 81 | 3 | 18

Erotic Coup | 1 Story | 4.53 | 41700 | 144 | 7 | 10

Erot Horror | 1 Story | 4.36 | 29621 | 73 | 7 | 7

Exh&Voye | 8 Stories | 4.69 | 41480 | 231 | 4 | 13

Group Sex | 4 Stories | 4.62 | 68770 | 278 | 8 | 21

How To | 1 Story | 4.47 | 42964 | 47 | 6 | 11

Humor | 1 Story | 4.54 | 21643 | 56 | 9 | 1

Incest | 21 Stories | 4.65 | 122002 | 862 | 12 | 58

Loving Wives | 1 Story | 4.34 | 179514 | 1057 | 72 | 59

Non-Erotic | 1 Story | 4.30 | 19639 | 98 | 9 | 2

NonHuman | 9 Stories | 4.72 | 23068 | 267 | 10 | 33

Romance | 3 Stories | 4.68 | 45420 | 603 | 16 | 37

Sci-Fi&Fant | 11 Stories | 4.73 | 52010 | 363 | 14 | 27

Toys&Mast | 2 Stories | 4.46 | 25565 | 52 | 0 | 4


Averages As Dark:

Cat | # subs | Score | Views | Votes | Comments | Favs

Chain | 9 Stories | 4.71 | 39857 | 162 | 8 | 8

Erot Horror | 2 Stories | 4.51 | 58775 | 158 | 18 | 22

Humor | 12 Stories | 4.68 | 19152 | 51 | 16 | 2

Sci-Fi&Fant | 85 Stories | 4.78 | 30780 | 264 | 8 | 11

 

[SimonDoom]

Those are good numbers, and I'm glad to see you publishing in multiple different categories. I think it's more fun to do that, although you have to brace yourself for the fact that the reader reception may vary from category to category. I've had some success in incest, and I always have to adjust my expectations when I publish a story in another category. I've published stories in 12 categories so far (52 stories total) and I'm hoping to publish stories for the first time in Fetish, Nonhuman, and Gay Male before long.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

20 chapters is twenty times on the new list which will get more eyes than one long story posted just once.
The one long story will end up with a final score.

The pattern of a long series if as it moves along you will see lower views, votes, but higher scores as it gains a dedicated following, that doesn't happen in a one shot story. Then we get into why most people aren't fond of long chapter stories from the perspective of your oneshot story can get on a top list...once. But 20 chapters could have most of them dominating the same list, which means more attention which means...

I think you're the one not understanding the difference.

No, your explanation relative to the top lists makes sense. I guess I'm viewing it from a longer-term perspective where things would balance out between the two.

 

[JuanSeiszFitzHall]

I’m something of a stat geek, so my impulse is to ask for more details, like whether the ratings within a category are weighted, or whether views within a category are total or average-per-story. But I have a deeper issue with whether the data presented here mean anything. Even if someone tries to find a formula to please a specific readership, and seeks then to repeat it endlessly, a writer is not a mass production line. Stories vary. So, I suspect, do readers, even those who claim to want one thing and nothing else. While a writer’s execution of technical aspects (spelling, punctuation, grammar) can be uniform throughout all writings, I think it’s unlikely that content aspects like setting, plot, and character development will always emerge from the same cookie cutter. So, speaking only for myself, I don’t see the data in this thread as useful.

Full disclosure: I don’t want to present this kind of data about my own Lit postings. I decline to embarrass myself intentionally.

 

[SimonDoom]

20 chapters is twenty times on the new list which will get more eyes than one long story posted just once.
The one long story will end up with a final score.

The pattern of a long series if as it moves along you will see lower views, votes, but higher scores as it gains a dedicated following, that doesn't happen in a one shot story. Then we get into why most people aren't fond of long chapter stories from the perspective of your oneshot story can get on a top list...once. But 20 chapters could have most of them dominating the same list, which means more attention which means...

I think you're the one not understanding the difference.

I'm not so sure about this. I'm not sure you're wrong, but I'm not sure you are right.
8Letters did some compelling data analysis that there is a significant gap between the views that standalone stories get versus chapter stories on a per chapter basis. Standalone stories get more. The evidence for that is pretty strong.
So if I publish "Erotic Story" as one alternative and "Erotic Story Chapter 1" as another, "Erotic Story" will get significantly more views initially.
It's possible that if you keep publishing subsequent chapters, readers will be prompted to return to the first chapter and over time boost its view levels over those that it would get as a standalone. But I'm not sure the data bears this out.
Plus, the most important question is, under which scenario will the most people FINISH the story? The important thing is for them to read it all the way through and enjoy the entire story. Sure, with 20 chapters you'll get more total views, but that doesn't equate to unique readers. And that's what matters. The total view number is artificial.
I think there's some reason to believe that the way to maximize the number of people who actually read the story all the way through and enjoy it is to publish it as a standalone story.
Here's a hypothetical to illustrate what I mean:
In Scenario 1, you publish a standalone Erotic Story that after year has 100,000 views and 1000 votes.
In Scenario 2, you publish Erotic Story in 20 chapters, say over a period of two months, and the total views for all chapters after one year are 500,000, but your final chapter has 200 votes. That would indicate that under Scenario 2, far fewer people actually read the story to its conclusion.
Scenario 1 is preferable, isn't it? The total views don't really matter, except they might, possibly, if your goal is to maximize favorites and followers.

 

[ElectricBlue]

In Scenario 1, you publish a standalone Erotic Story that after year has 100,000 views and 1000 votes.
In Scenario 2, you publish Erotic Story in 20 chapters, say over a period of two months, and the total views for all chapters after one year are 500,000, but your final chapter has 200 votes. That would indicate that under Scenario 2, far fewer people actually read the story to its conclusion.
Scenario 1 is preferable, isn't it? The total views don't really matter, except they might, possibly, if your goal is to maximize favorites and followers.

Chaptered stories very often exhibit high View count and high Vote counts that bear no resemblance to the final chapter stats. So, bizarrely, readers react favourably to Chapter One, but still don't read the thing to the end. All of my chaptered stories exhibit this.

If one extrapolates that same behaviour to a stand-alone story of the same length, I think it's equally likely the story will see the same "did not finish" drop out rate. Why would more people, all of a sudden, finish, just because it's a single story?

I see no evidence whatsoever that stand alone stories do better - your two scenarios aren't apples for apples, for starters. With a single story, you simply don't know how many finish. At least with a chaptered story, you have the concrete data of the last chapter, which tells you something. With a stand alone story, you have no idea.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Chaptered stories very often exhibit high View count and high Vote counts that bear no resemblance to the final chapter stats. So, bizarrely, readers react favourably to Chapter One, but still don't read the thing to the end. All of my chaptered stories exhibit this.

If one extrapolates that same behaviour to a stand-alone story of the same length, I think it's equally likely the story will see the same "did not finish" drop out rate. Why would more people, all of a sudden, finish, just because it's a single story?

I see no evidence whatsoever that stand alone stories do better - your two scenarios aren't apples for apples, for starters. With a single story, you simply don't know how many finish. At least with a chaptered story, you have the concrete data of the last chapter, which tells you something. With a stand alone story, you have no idea.

The focus on how categories influence the numbers has morphed into something entirely different, but go with the flow...

I analyzed the four chaptered stories I have and saw the following:

Average percentage of views for last chapter to first = 53%
Average percentage of vote for last chapter to first = 103%
Average percentage of favorites for last chapter to first = 55%

Can we say that 53% of the readers who started the story finished it? No. Maybe the view count for the lowest viewed chapter is the number of readers who finished the story? There is no way to know. Just like there is no way to know how many readers finished any story on here.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Can we say that 53% of the readers who started the story finished it? No. Maybe the view count for the lowest viewed chapter is the number of readers who finished the story? There is no way to know. Just like there is no way to know how many readers finished any story on here.

I think it's reasonable to think the number of Views of a last chapter of any fairly lengthy story is going to be roughly equivalent to the number of folk reading the whole story. Why else would they go there?

Most long stories show a drop off, especially over the first three chapters. I figure by chapter three, those readers are more likely to stay for the duration. For my long stories, the Views from Ch.3 to the end are a fairly straight line, with some drop off overall. Any perturbations I put down to folk reading a favourite chapter twice.

My point though, is that a chaptered story gives you a bit of an idea how many readers are finishing stories, whereas a standalone story gives you no clues at all. Those folk who say, "Gee, look at all those views, these standalone stories are so much better," are kidding themselves, I think. I'd say more people quit a story than finish reading it, by a long shot, regardless how it is presented.

 

[MajorRewrite]

I was surprised to see that your Loving Wives stories get the most views, even beating Taboo stories. LW has some things going for it.

 

[CiaoSteve]

Not sure quite what it tells me other than the genres which are most well read (and be careful with Novels and Novellas as early on I published in specific categories before changing to N&N, so this may be misleading) Was interesting though to take a look.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

As much as I love the number crunching topics, I think one important fact is being neglected here. The fact that you can establish yourself in one category for example, and get faithful followers who will then most likely read your stories in a completely different category, a category they would never read otherwise, but because they like your style they venture there and likely give you a 5. So it stands to reason that established authors who give a try in a new category will likely get a higher score than those who write exclusively in that particular category.
I know for a fact some of the followers I acquired when I first started posting in Lesbian Sex, crossed over into SciFi and Fantasy to read my stories there, even though by their own admission they have never ventured there before. I can only imagine the effect on scores when you acquire a large group of followers in LW for example or such popular category and then start writing in a far less popular category. Even if only 1/10 of your followers venture into that new category to read your story, you already boosted your stats insanely, as it is likely that people who like your writing and support you would give you a 5, no matter how much they really enjoyed the story in a non preferred category.
I have seen that happen quite a few times, when stories that are not that good get insane ratings because of the crossover followers who overwhelm the votes of the usual category lurkers. Not that it matters much, as ratings are not an accurate way of measuring anything tbh, not even popularity, but I would say it creates some unrealistic impressions in certain writers that they are universally good.

 

[SimonDoom]

As much as I love the number crunching topics, I think one important fact is being neglected here. The fact that you can establish yourself in one category for example, and get faithful followers who will then most likely read your stories in a completely different category, a category they would never read otherwise, but because they like your style they venture there and likely give you a 5. So it stands to reason that established authors who give a try in a new category will likely get a higher score than those who write exclusively in that particular category.
I know for a fact some of the followers I acquired when I first started posting in Lesbian Sex, crossed over into SciFi and Fantasy to read my stories there, even though by their own admission they have never ventured there before. I can only imagine the effect on scores when you acquire a large group of followers in LW for example or such popular category and then start writing in a far less popular category. Even if only 1/10 of your followers venture into that new category to read your story, you already boosted your stats insanely, as it is likely that people who like your writing and support you would give you a 5, no matter how much they really enjoyed the story in a non preferred category.
I have seen that happen quite a few times, when stories that are not that good get insane ratings because of the crossover followers who overwhelm the votes of the usual category lurkers. Not that it matters much, as ratings are not an accurate way of measuring anything tbh, not even popularity, but I would say it creates some unrealistic impressions in certain writers that they are universally good.

I cannot say I've observed much crossover effect in terms of scores from having followers. I write a lot of stories in the Incest and Exhibitionist categories, and have picked up followers as a result, but it doesn't feel like my scores are getting a boost when I publish in other categories. I DO see an impact of views, and therefore favorites; there's no question about that.
There's no question that you'll get more views if you publish in Incest and Loving Wives, but in looking at the most-followed lists I see plenty of authors with many followers who have completely different philosophies and write in different categories, like Gay Male, or Lesbian, or Romance, or Sci Fi. The best strategy to get higher scores is to write as well as you can, and the best strategy to pick up followers is to write often and write well.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I cannot say I've observed much crossover effect in terms of scores from having followers.

How can you objectively measure that? I assume you meant that, when you write in a new category, you are not getting scores that are much different compared to your Incest or Exibitionist scores, but maybe they would have been lower if you didn't already have a large group of followers, because you didn't write equally well in that new category? And when I say 'didn't write equally well' I actually mean you didn't write in the way that readers of those categories like, or in the way they find authentic, regardless of your overall writing skills.
I am just saying, general writing skill aside, I do not believe writers can write really well in every category, as you lack the understanding and the drive to write it properly, because it is not one of your preferred kinks. If there are those that can pull it off, they are rare, that much I am certain of.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

How can you objectively measure that? I assume you meant that, when you write in a new category, you are not getting scores that are much different compared to your Incest or Exibitionist scores, but maybe they would have been lower if you didn't already have a large group of followers, because you didn't write equally well in that new category? And when I say 'didn't write equally well' I actually mean you didn't write in the way that readers of those categories like, or in the way they find authentic, regardless of your overall writing skills.
I am just saying, general writing skill aside, I do not believe writers can write really well in every category, as you lack the understanding and the drive to write it properly, because it is not one of your preferred kinks. If there are those that can pull it off, they are rare, that much I am certain of.

The trends that I suspected that started after I published my first Incest/Taboo story are what prompted me to start following the numbers.

Comparing my data dump from September 22 to the one on October 16 after the I/T stories were published show:

* Stories in all other categories had an average of 334 more views each. Not huge when compared to the 75,530 views for the I/T stories combined, but it is reasonable to consider the increase is due to category crossover.
* Stories in all other categories had an average of 8 new votes each. The new I/T stories had 1,168 votes combined.
* Stories in all other categories were selected as favorites 27 times. The I/T stories have been favored 125 times.

I think one of the most telling figures is that I have added over one hundred followers since the first I/T story was published. It remains to be seen how loyal the following will remain if I don't publish any more I/T stories for a while.

I would interested in the experience of others who have had a story published in one of the more popular categories for readers what influence the story did or didn't have on stories in other categories, and how long did any influence last?

 

[SimonDoom]

How can you objectively measure that? I assume you meant that, when you write in a new category, you are not getting scores that are much different compared to your Incest or Exibitionist scores, but maybe they would have been lower if you didn't already have a large group of followers, because you didn't write equally well in that new category? And when I say 'didn't write equally well' I actually mean you didn't write in the way that readers of those categories like, or in the way they find authentic, regardless of your overall writing skills.
I am just saying, general writing skill aside, I do not believe writers can write really well in every category, as you lack the understanding and the drive to write it properly, because it is not one of your preferred kinks. If there are those that can pull it off, they are rare, that much I am certain of.

I agree it's mostly conjecture, but I don't see much evidence that it's having a positive effect. It's possible, I just don't see it.

Some of my writing subjects overlap, and some don't. Many incest readers don't like anal stories. So it's possible that when I published an anal story, my incest-based followers checked it out, but some of them might not have liked it because of the subject matter.

What I see is that when I publish a new story, it boosts the views for all of my stories, although it varies widely. If I publish in category A, then every one of my category A stories will get a boost. Stories in other categories may get little or no boost. Incest stories tend to boost all categories at least somewhat, because they get relatively so many views.
Something I have NOT noticed is an overall increase in my scores, despite the fact that my healthy pool of followers keeps growing. My general score range is very similar to what it was when I started.

Concerning BobbyBrandt's question about how long the influence lasts, my experience is that if I publish a new incest story it will dramatically increase the views my other incest stories get for a few days, and somewhat boost them for a while longer. There's a pretty good boost to the views I get for other categories of stories, but not as much and not for as long. If the new story is very popular, the boost will be longer. If it's not so popular, the boost may be minimal and won't last long.

Within about two weeks, maybe less, the boost is gone and views for old stories settle down to what I call "background" levels, which are the number of daily views I get when I haven't published a story in over a month. Those levels are remarkably stable over a very long time.

 

[FifthEstate]

There have been several posts here discussing the pros and cons of different categories and the readers that frequent them. I thought that I would analyze my own submissions for a comparison between categories.

I have submitted 21 stories (69 posts) since 2014 in six different categories. Here are the averages broken down in each of those categories:

Romance (3 submissions): Average Rating = 4.38; Average Views = 11,390; Average Votes = 350; Average Comments = 22; Average Favorites = 17

Novels/Novellas (56 submissions): Average Rating = 4.81; Average Views = 24,191; Average Votes = 1073; Average Comments = 28; Average Favorites = 28

Celebrities/Fan Fiction (4 Submissions): Average Rating = 4.65; Average Views = 5487; Average Votes = 64; Average Comments = 2; Average Favorites = 6

Erotic Couplings (1 Submission): Average Rating = 4.52; Average Views = 10,316; Average Votes = 208; Average Comments = 1; Average Favorites = 7

Incest/Taboo (3 Submissions): Average Rating 4.67; Average Views = 24,624; Average Votes = 425; Average Comments = 11; Average Favorites = 24

Loving Wives (2 Submissions): Average Rating = 4.16; Average Views = 38,327; Average Votes = 785; Average Comments = 46; Average Favorites = 33

I thought that sharing this comparison would be a graphic representation of how readers in different categories view the work of the same author. Feel free to share your own category averages to further illustrate the point.

Thank you