I don't understand readers!

[smilodonwriter]

Although I've been posting my stories to Literotica for about a year now, I have to confess I still don't understand reader behaviour here.

I have two multi-part stories posted, 'Walking the Dog' and 'Like Father Like Son', which is 'in progress.'

Now I can understand that votes may be different for each part posted simply because readers will enjoy one chapter more than another. The one that gets me is the reader views.

The last chapters of 'Walking the Dog' have significantly more views than any of the other chapters. No one reading the last chapters in isolation would have a clue what the story was about, nor would it make sense to anyone who hadn't read the other chapters. (Unsurprisingly, the chapters with sex outscore those without!)

Similarly, Part Two of Like Father Like Son has more views than part one. Readers starting at Part Two would have some trouble relating to some of the characters.

Is this a phenomenon other writers have experienced?

It is a pity that multipart stories aren't simply updated so the story stays together and gives people a chance to read the whole thing without having to 'search' for it.

smilodon

 

[Couture]

I've had it happen before. I suspect that one chapter had an "H" and the other didn't when it was on the new list. I guess the readers wondered what the hell was going on in chapter 7, but that's their business and not mine.

The good news is that those who liked it, probably read your other chapter.

 

[Rainbow Skin]

> (Unsurprisingly, the chapters with sex outscore those without!)

Surprisingly, if by 'outscore' you're referring to views, not votes or rating, since they can't tell what sex is in it until they've viewed it.

Unless they keep calling up and viewing the sex...

 

[smilodonwriter]

I don't understand readers

I was referring to votes/scores. Should have made that clearer.

smilodon

 

[ag2507]

Just some random thoughts

People may read all the syory but may only comment or vote on the last part

In general I don't read chapter 2s and seldom read anything with more than 3 chapters - I just don't have the time.

Often people only read the items posted under New, again no one has the time to trawl through everything

Reading a well written chapter n, even if there are odd preexplained events, can be satisfying

There are as many interpretations of a story as there are readers: and none of them are what you intended - that's normal.

Once published, you have to let go and get on with the next one.

AG

 

[the_bragis]

Hello smilodonwriter,

When I first read you post I thought, well maybe one story or chapter has a better blurb than the others, or maybe some are 'hot' and others are not. But heck no! None of the blurbs really say much at all, and they all either have a little red 'H' or a little green 'E', or both.

Damn it I think you must hold the record for the most awarded stories on this site. Let me tell you I'm impressed!

You're obviously a very talented writer. Don't worry about views verses views, readers are very fickle people. Just sit back and bask in all those lovely little coloured letters next to your titles.

Have a great day,

Alex (fem).

 

[smilodonwriter]

Hello, Alex,

Thanks very much. Of course, it would help if I knew what those little symbols meant!

I wouldn't wish to give the impression that I'm bothered by any of this - I'm merely puzzled. I would never read the middle or the end of a story without having read the beginning.

I suppose that may be because I'm interested in stories per se, rather than in individual scenes; and I can see that someone looking for instant gratification may read only the erotic bits without worrying about the context.

Perhaps that's the answer to my original question.

smilodon

 

[Bobbs]

Thanks very much. Of course, it would help if I knew what those little symbols meant!

Me too! I've been browsing the forum looking for the answer to that question. Didn't know if it was good or bad.

Mine have a "H" but I've also seen a "E" I think. What do they mean??

Thanks for any help!

Bobbs

 

[hiddenself]

Me too! I've been browsing the forum looking for the answer to that question. Didn't know if it was good or bad.

Geez. You guys don't get out much at Lit, do you?

H -- Hot (4.5 average or higher on viewers' voting -- must have at least 10 votes)

E -- Editor's pick (Laurel assigns)

W -- Winner of contest

There, enjoy yours!

 

[smilodonwriter]

Thanks very much!

You're quite right, I don't get out much here.

smilodon

 

[Bobbs]

Thanks so much - and no, I don't get out much around here either. Only been around for a couple weeks. Thanks so much for the info!

Bobbs

 

[jfinn]

I could give you one other reason for the skewed numbers. It may be that some people, me for instance, don't always read all of your stories in one place. I know I've read chapters on at least two other sites because I've seen them and realized they were ones I hadn't found here yet. It's easy to miss something at Lit because it's so huge where some other places make it a little more user friendly to find serials so that might have something to do with it.

Jayne

 

[PAUL C]

it worries me

earlier in this fred somebody said he seldom reads chapter two of a story even less more than that.

my stories are in the 14 plus chapter chategory.

is there any hope for me?

 

[Chicklet]

Re: it worries me

is there any hope for me?

no

(pats paul on the head)

 

[Kanga40]

The problem with differing scores and read numbers with multipart stories is easily remedied.
Post the whole story in one go!
Personally I rarely actually vote for parts of a series, I like to read the whole story before deciding what I thought about it.
There may easily be good and not so good chapters to a series, but the overall impression can well be that it is an excellent story.
With the 'series' approach the problem always arises that chapter four may well mean absolutely nothing to those who haven't read the preceding chapters, especially when "Fred" suddenly appears for a few short words - and he hadn't been around since the second paragraph of chapter one!
There are of course the serial 'chapter writers' on Literotica, and yes, I will often log on a few times early in a day to see if the next chapter is posted yet. But overall I would much prefer to read a story right through from start to finish.
So, my plea is "Write the whole story before you post it", unless the parts truly stand alone. Please.

 

[Kanga40]

My post above

Hey, I see where it says I'm a virgin.......
Now at last I am famous, 55 yrs old, three sons AND STLL A VIRGIN!
They better rewrite the bible right now.

 

[smilodonwriter]

Hi Kanga,

It was my intention to post the complete story here. However, I post chapters to my website and elsewhere and I was getting e-mails from regular literotica readers asking me when I was next going to write something.

As a result I started putting up the chapters. That works OK on some other sites. Add a new story and the whole piece is updated. It's only here that the thing ends up in fragments.

smilodon

 

[CWatson]

> It's only here that the thing ends up in fragments.

Maybe someone should talk to the webmasters about that: like, the ability to choose between having your story updated in pieces or having the original file appended. I don't know how much coding that would take, and I don't know how busy our webmasters are (in case you hadn't noticed, I'm new here; Hi smilodon, I first found your stuff at StoriesOnline and it's cool to see you 'round here as well!), or even if anyone would get behind this feature. But its just a thought.

 

[smudgebucket]

One small point I would like to add. I've found that stories that are posted on Fridays and Saturdays seem to get more votes and feedback than stories that are posted in the middle of the week. Obviously there are more people available to read the newer stories then. As the stories slip out of the 'new' catagory they become a little less read even though they appear as 'new' for awhile in their group[lesbian, erotic couplings, etc.]