Popularity Puzzle

[LargoKitt]

Looking at the stats on my just posted chapter Diversity Twins Ch. 06 - Freshman Orientation I am fascinated by what the combo of indicators hint about how the chapter is being seen. Almost 1500 views in the first couple of days. Okay, I'll take that, though there are probably popular authors who see views in the tens of thousands right off the bat. Lesbian story. The title: Okay, the word 'diversity' is going to set up certain expectations, and chase away those who are pissed off at anything 'woke'. (Let 'em go back to sleep.) Freshman Orientation. Okay, privates perk at the possibility of young, inexperience people getting 'initiated'. Lesbian category. Okay, that's going to draw women who love women and men who love women loving women. Not a big mob, but a pretty good crowd. 3.5/5 rating. Hmmm. Okay, five whole people bothered to vote. Those readers probably at least skimmed to the end of the story. Must be some threes in that vote, let's say 3,3,4,4,5. Maybe one three is a lesbian reader who wanted more romance and less raunch. Maybe another was a disappointed man who wanted an innocent ravished. Somebody loved the series. Somebody loves the series but this episode disappointed. I know, I know...don't overthink it. But Lit could just skip all those stats and have not 'hots' or 'editors' choice' or winners.

I take heart in the fact that I am trying to create better, more 'fleshed out' stories (often with the flesh less important) and am seeing lower reads and ratings.

OTOH, I have a gut feeling that since Laurel and Manu took down the art, fewer people are visiting Lit, for any reason. Targeting NSFW may make folks feel something is looking over their shoulder.

 

[NotWise]

I'm not sure what the puzzle is. It's a later chapter in a series, and the readers' response on later chapters can be wonky. In any case, five votes isn't enough to be meaningful. Speculating based on a guess at the vote distributions is mostly a waste of time.

I haven't published in LS, but my impression from those who do is that the readers tend to reward romantic stories, and stress relationships over sex. I skimmed your story, and it seemed like nearly wall-to-wall sex.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I just published a novel as five parts. The first four are all rated above 4.5.

With six votes, part 5 has 3.67 (on 6 votes).

I don't know why either. I do know that the first two votes were a five and a one, because I was refreshing a lot this morning.

No comments yet, so I don't have any clues.

--Annie

 

[iwatchus]

I just published a novel as five parts. The first four are all rated above 4.5.

With six votes, part 5 has 3.67 (on 6 votes).

I don't know why either. I do know that the first two votes were a five and a one, because I was refreshing a lot this morning.

No comments yet, so I don't have any clues.

--Annie

That could easily be four 5's and two 1's, especially since you know it has a 1. The 1's rally hurt when you don't have many votes yet. If you're lucky, the both get swept and you have a 5 with four votes. Usually ratings go up, by and large part by part.

 

[LargoKitt]

That could easily be four 5's and two 1's, especially since you know it has a 1. The 1's rally hurt when you don't have many votes yet. If you're lucky, the both get swept and you have a 5 with four votes. Usually ratings go up, by and large part by part.

I don't understand the 1s business. Just spite for the sake of spite, or maybe boys kicking over sand castles. "Hey, Jackie, look what I did..."

 

[THBGato]

Somebody loved the series.

Hi!!

There is definitely somebody going around just one bombing new stories and/or stalking writers they disapprove of. But, as others said, it's way too early.