Question about "Popular Authors" list

[JKendallDane]

On each of the category hub main entry pages; along with new stories, HOF, recent comments, and recently popular stories; is the "Popular Authors" list.

Since I am occasionally showing up on the GM list, I'm curious as to how it compiles. Are the results based on hits to stories, favoriting (author and/or stories), or what?

Anyone with an answer or calculated guess?

 

[sr71plt]

I think it's based on category-story views.

 

[Darkniciad]

There hasn't been any sort of information revealed about how it works, but SRs guess is as good as any.

I have noticed that when I get favorites, I seem to appear or rise on those lists. That could very well be a result of rising views and not any part of the criteria, though.

 

[lovecraft68]

Another guess-as that is all we have-is I think it is all around "traffic"

I notice I show up there when I have a new story or have recently had a good deal of comments/favs to my other stories and I have been favorited as an author.

I don't think it has anything to do with actual story views though.

 

[johnnieblue44]

Another guess-as that is all we have-is I think it is all around "traffic"

I notice I show up there when I have a new story or have recently had a good deal of comments/favs to my other stories and I have been favorited as an author.

I don't think it has anything to do with actual story views though.

I agree with "LC" (who is a bright lady), I don't believe it has anything at all to do with the number of "views".

I think it's pretty much what the title of "popular author" would connotate.....which is, simply, the number of readers who either favorite you as an author, or favorite one of your stories.

I just posted a story in the Mature category last week, which was received very favorably (bows humbly), and I noticed that I jumped very high on the "popular author" list.

 

[Darkniciad]

I used to think it was primarily based upon favorites, until the final chapter of Danica popped back onto page 1 of the toplist and the hall of fame after hovering just shy of it for a while.

The first couple of days didn't produce any more favorites than usual because the story is somewhere around 500k words. I still jumped on the popular authors list prior to the new string of favorites that popped up after people finished the story.

And it's recently happened again in exactly the same way.

So if favorites are a component at all, I don't think they're a dominant factor.

It does appear to cross categories, but that could very well be new readers going through your list and actually reading stories in those categories.

 

[lovecraft68]

I used to think it was primarily based upon favorites, until the final chapter of Danica popped back onto page 1 of the toplist and the hall of fame after hovering just shy of it for a while.

The first couple of days didn't produce any more favorites than usual because the story is somewhere around 500k words. I still jumped on the popular authors list prior to the new string of favorites that popped up after people finished the story.

And it's recently happened again in exactly the same way.

So if favorites are a component at all, I don't think they're a dominant factor.

It does appear to cross categories, but that could very well be new readers going through your list and actually reading stories in those categories.

The factors you mention could also be delayed. YOu might have a "hot streak" but not show on the list because the site is slow to note it then appear when its over.

 

[Darkniciad]

The factors you mention could also be delayed. YOu might have a "hot streak" but not show on the list because the site is slow to note it then appear when its over.

The activity on new stories doesn't support that. New favorites appear all day long, so the recent activity page at least has a very frequent update schedule, if it isn't generated in real time. I've refreshed that page two or three times in as little as ten minutes and had new favorites appear with every refresh when a new story goes through the roof on me, which leads me to believe it's generated in real time.

 

[lovecraft68]

The activity on new stories doesn't support that. New favorites appear all day long, so the recent activity page at least has a very frequent update schedule, if it isn't generated in real time. I've refreshed that page two or three times in as little as ten minutes and had new favorites appear with every refresh when a new story goes through the roof on me, which leads me to believe it's generated in real time.

Oh, I wasn't talking about that function. What I meant was the effect those favs would have on this "popular author" feature could be delayed.

I have had stretches of getting a lot of activity, but not been on that list. Then when things seem "quiet" I'll find myself there.

Wondering if it really works, I know it is fluid and never looks frozen, but the names I see on some of them don't seem to jive with what has been popular at the time.

 

[Darkniciad]

Oh, I wasn't talking about that function. What I meant was the effect those favs would have on this "popular author" feature could be delayed.

I have had stretches of getting a lot of activity, but not been on that list. Then when things seem "quiet" I'll find myself there.

Wondering if it really works, I know it is fluid and never looks frozen, but the names I see on some of them don't seem to jive with what has been popular at the time.

With as rarely as I put out new stories as Dark, it's a good barometer for things like this. Activity on those stories is so consistent I could almost tell time by it until something unusual happens such as a story popping up on the Hall of Fame.

It's easy to narrow down possible influences on things.

Then when I need information on the other end of the spectrum, I've got RR. Those stories are all written to the "maximum draw" formula that's worked best for me. That's why they end up there. If they get too long, Les gets them. When I want to see how something reacts to high activity, all I need to do is wait until I have a couple of RR stories I can release in close proximity.

The only time I see unusual names on the list seems to correlate with that author having a surge from new stories, and the oddities almost always seem to happen in low-traffic categories where residual readership bleeding over from more popular categories is enough to move the needle against the lower day-to-day averages.

 

[lovecraft68]

With as rarely as I put out new stories as Dark, it's a good barometer for things like this. Activity on those stories is so consistent I could almost tell time by it until something unusual happens such as a story popping up on the Hall of Fame.

It's easy to narrow down possible influences on things.

Then when I need information on the other end of the spectrum, I've got RR. Those stories are all written to the "maximum draw" formula that's worked best for me. That's why they end up there. If they get too long, Les gets them. When I want to see how something reacts to high activity, all I need to do is wait until I have a couple of RR stories I can release in close proximity.

The only time I see unusual names on the list seems to correlate with that author having a surge from new stories, and the oddities almost always seem to happen in low-traffic categories where residual readership bleeding over from more popular categories is enough to move the needle against the lower day-to-day averages.

So its a bit telling about lit in general that RR-which is pretty much your porno stroke persona-seems to get the most action.

Says a a lot about what people want.

 

[JKendallDane]

Thanks for all the possibilities. At this point I am leaning towards believing that story views may be the top criteria, with favorites being some kind of factor also. Guess Laurel is the only one who could truly give us the answer as to how that particular list generates.

It does appear to cross categories, but that could very well be new readers going through your list and actually reading stories in those categories.

The cross category point was a big part of why I asked the question also. I have noticed (in GM anyway) that quite often names will appear that have very few GM stories mixed in their large portfolio. Many times those stories have very mediocre scores, and/or are from years and years ago, which would seem to dictate that their GM stories aren't suddenly being viewed by a large number of readers...but the authors are still very active and much more prolific in other categories and bleedover views pops them into the ranking.

 

[RoyceConnors]

Best I came up with was number of comments made. Some authors on the list suck bad, but comments saying they did put them on the list. Only way they could make a list like that. I noticed when my comments are up, I make the list, even if scores and views aren't as good.

I know it isn't points, or I would have been at the top endlessly with straight 5's on some chs. I don't think it's views either, because I've had great views and still haven't made the list. I would think 5k+ views in one day would put me on it, but it didn't, so comments was my only other thing to consider.

 

[RejectReality]

I don't think it's views either, because I've had great views and still haven't made the list. I would think 5k+ views in one day would put me on it, but it didn't, so comments was my only other thing to consider.

Depends upon the category. In some, 5k would be extremely good, while in others, it's a complete bomb.

I seriously doubt comments have much of anything to do with it. I've moved on the list without a single comment. That's something I eliminated as having any serious influence pretty early on. ( along with score )

More likely, a large number of comments is the result of a large number of views. Views are what I've narrowed down as the most likely of the prime criteria - with views in the actual category carrying extra weight.

If it was number of overall views, and the category had minor or no influence, I'd expect to see more anomalies when someone posts a Mom-Son story, for example.

I had 200k views in a day on one of my M-S stories, and while I did appear/move up on some lists such as Sci-Fi, Chain, etc., it was nowhere near what I would expect in such low-view categories with an explosion of 24 hour views like that.

 

[lovecraft68]

Looking at a few popular lists just now I am leaning towards it simply being about number of stories as a significant factor and possible traffic from that story.

In incest "desert dog" or however he spells it is number one today. He is 3 or 4 the previous day which is when his new story came out. he was nowhere on the 30 day because he has not put anything out in a long time.

In a couple of other categories-and once again incest-what I notice is a lot of the names are prolific authors. If you're putting up a story a week or more than that you will always be near or at the top of the list regardless of comments/views/favs

It is a "what have you done lately" list.

Brett J and Susanjillparker are always there because they churn out stories like no tomorrow.

so it has nothing to do with skill or talent, but just a matter of always being "in the face" of the category by posting a lot.

The perfect example is Samuelx who is almost always #1 in interracial. His stories are horribly received, but he is #1 most of the time.

Quantity over quality it appears

 

[patientlee]

Quantity over quality it appears

The mantra for many.

 

[lovecraft68]

The mantra for many.

A new story can put almost anyone on that list for day, but to stay either the old stuff has to keep getting attention or you just have to keep putting a story out every few days.

I was exchanging pm's with someone involved in the 2013 survivor contest an they mentioned that they noticed the quality of many of the stories going downhill as people kept forcing things out to compete and that included their own work.

A couple of the most prolific authors on the site get little traffic per story, but its another story.

 

[JKendallDane]

Looking at a few popular lists just now I am leaning towards it simply being about number of stories as a significant factor and possible traffic from that story.

It is a "what have you done lately" list.

So it has nothing to do with skill or talent, but just a matter of always being "in the face" of the category by posting a lot.

Quantity over quality it appears

Those are excellent points that make sense and quantity of submissions (quality be damned) certainly must play a big part. However, robcub32's success in GM goes against each of those assumptions. His entire Lit portfolio consists of a total of only 43 chapters and stories; hasn't had a new story hit the site in over 2 years; but can be consistently found on the most popular list.

Since 17 of those 43 stories are in the HOF (four of the top seven in fact), his reputation and profile is much higher than most everyone else that writes in the category. Both old and new traffic must be reading his stuff or he wouldn't be showing up on the popular author list as often as he does.

 

[lovecraft68]

Those are excellent points that make sense and quantity of submissions (quality be damned) certainly must play a big part. However, robcub32's success in GM goes against each of those assumptions. His entire Lit portfolio consists of a total of only 43 chapters and stories; hasn't had a new story hit the site in over 2 years; but can be consistently found on the most popular list.

Since 17 of those 43 stories are in the HOF (four of the top seven in fact), his reputation and profile is much higher than most everyone else that writes in the category. Both old and new traffic must be reading his stuff or he wouldn't be showing up on the popular author list as often as he does.

Oh for sure a good writer that dominates his/her category will appear there because of the traffic of old stories.

So its not all about being prolific, but it takes a good following and quality body of work to have you there so there is a mix.

In general though going by the names I see and categories/authors I am familiar with it does reward quantity over quality.

in incest Alwayswantedtoo is pretty much always there-he is a top 6 or so author all time here-but not always on the top part of the popular list because his stories are long and of high quality and he is not turning them out every four days.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

150 years later Tolstoys WAR & PEACE remains the gold standard for writing. I cant imagine how you'd improve on it at the LIT Taco Hell.

 

[JKendallDane]

In general though going by the names I see and categories/authors I am familiar with it does reward quantity over quality.

I wasn't disagreeing with your point, but merely saying that there are some exceptions. I have no doubt that overall, quantity over quality does seem to be a major factor.

 

[RejectReality]

If it's based on views, authors with new stories are going to have a serious advantage on the short-term lists - especially authors who write predominantly in the same category.

I really think the popular authors list should default to the 30 day list with the other two in tabs, as it's a far better representation of staying power than the other two. I think that would be more valuable to readers trying to find the cream of the crop in the category.

 

[RoyceConnors]

Only Laurel knows what the list really represents and most likely is her popular list. Stories get a green E at her choosing. Same as scoring is all about her enjoyment. Why would a site owner want to see trolls pissing off their writers by giving them a weapon like a 1 bomb? Why doesn't a 5 counter a 1 in scoring?

I gave up wondering what they must think of to run the site like this, but as a free site and some exposure to the market, I won't complain too much.

I've tried to look at what makes a writer popular and nothing really makes sense. I look at the top lists and in my main category, Celebs, in the 12 month period, I have 6 of the top 10 spots. I always have 3 or more in the top 10 for the 30 day period. I'm not on any lists for more than a day. I see writers in the same cat. as me, putting out a story on the same day as mine and they'll be on the list and have a lower score than me, less faves, only comments on their stories made them more popular.

I post two chs a week, one for each series, so I submit a fairly good amount of material constantly, but not on a list.

Like I said, I gave up trying to figure out Laurel and how she runs this site and just enjoy what I do and make people happy reading my stuff. I just know I earn whatever scores and icons I get and be happy with it.

 

[sr71plt]

I still think it's primarily total views for the period given on stories in the particular category. I am perpetually at the top of the GM "most popular" listings--on the "today" list I'm always either at the top or not on the list at all (with some correlation to having a new story posted). On the "week" and "30 day" lists I'm almost always at the top. I think it's because I'm also at the top of the GM productivity list with more than twice the GM stories as the next guy on the list. I doubt it's rocket science--that it's pretty much just the total number of view hits for that category in that time period and that I float on top of list on the basis of number of stories available to read.

And I think that's as good an index to popularity here as any. Views represent opening/reading of the stories, and when they continue to open an author's stories, they are voting their own view of high quality. The ratings certainly don't reflect high quality very well because of the easy troll voting system we have here (and folks like Lovecraft68 who like to dump on the quality of someone's story on the basis of his hate campaigning for the author, not because he's actually read the stories or has much of an idea what high quality of a story would be in any categories other than his favorite ones).

 

[lovecraft68]

I still think it's primarily total views for the period given on stories in the particular category. I am perpetually at the top of the GM "most popular" listings--on the "today" list I'm always either at the top or not on the list at all (with some correlation to having a new story posted). On the "week" and "30 day" lists I'm almost always at the top. I think it's because I'm also at the top of the GM productivity list with more than twice the GM stories as the next guy on the list. I doubt it's rocket science--that it's pretty much just the total number of view hits for that category in that time period and that I float on top of list on the basis of number of stories available to read.

And I think that's as good an index to popularity here as any. Views represent opening/reading of the stories, and when they continue to open an author's stories, they are voting their own view of high quality. The ratings certainly don't reflect high quality very well because of the easy troll voting system we have here (and folks like Lovecraft68 who like to dump on the quality of someone's story on the basis of his hate campaigning for the author, not because he's actually read the stories or has much of an idea what high quality of a story would be in any categories other than his favorite ones).

For starters you're reinforcing the point that being prolific has a lot to do with the list moireso than scores or views or traffic or favs or whatever.

Second I laugh at the word "productive" on a free site. What exactly is your productivity getting you? I think "prolific" is the perfect word and certainly not insulting.

As for me not recognizing good vs bad writing in a category I am unfamiliar with I'll give you that point.

But am going to counter with this one. I would assume the people who routinely read and vote on GM stories know good from bad and what they do and do not like.

You have somewhere in the vicinity of 400+ (or more) GM stories.

You do not have one, not one entry in the top 250 list. So I guess you'll have to now say that no one who reads GM recognizes good writing. But it would not be the first time you've made remarks like that.

You get a top spot on that list for spitting out a lot of stories. Many of which by your own admission have been previously published. Figured I would toss that in so no one would think you are actually writing that many new stories a month.

As for views? Your stories are below average. YOu get very and I mean very few comments. As for favs? Your stories barely get a handful of favs-and favs is a good indication of how a story is received.

Another good story/author indicator is how many fav you as an author. You have 652 stories and just hit 1000 on the fav author list. That means each of your stories gets you on an average of less than 2 new favs pages.

What all this means is your stories are nothing exceptional in any way, but you put out a lot of them so you prove the point of the popular list being pretty much all about having a new story as often as possible.

You're pretty much the SamuelX of GM.

You can call that a hate campaign. I call it numbers do not lie.

Keep your popular and "productive" lists. I-and most people-would rather show up on top lists based on actual reader participation.