question about top lists

[nicecthulhu]

Hello all.
Does anyone know what the rules are for stories being posted on the top lists, specifically the 12 month top lists?
I've looked over some old threads and I haven't found any explanations for a little mystery in rankings.
Specifically, I've a story in erotic horror that's been over 4.9 for a couple of months but it reads 4.71 on the list, while there are stories with less votes that were posted in February of this year that are ranked above mine.
I'm assuming that stories posted a little higher, say in the top 5 or 10 may get extra readers.
I have no idea if most of the stories ranked above mine are better than mine, because I've only read the one (Succubus Rising, and it definitely was better). Better is subjective anyway.
The main top list appears to have a minimum required vote, but I can only assume the minimum on the 12 month is 10 or 11 votes.
Thank you for any information you can pass on.

 

[RedMonkeyButt]

Hello all.
Does anyone know what the rules are for stories being posted on the top lists, specifically the 12 month top lists?
I've looked over some old threads and I haven't found any explanations for a little mystery in rankings.
Specifically, I've a story in erotic horror that's been over 4.9 for a couple of months but it reads 4.71 on the list, while there are stories with less votes that were posted in February of this year that are ranked above mine.
I'm assuming that stories posted a little higher, say in the top 5 or 10 may get extra readers.
I have no idea if most of the stories ranked above mine are better than mine, because I've only read the one (Succubus Rising, and it definitely was better). Better is subjective anyway.
The main top list appears to have a minimum required vote, but I can only assume the minimum on the 12 month is 10 or 11 votes.
Thank you for any information you can pass on.

Wait, I have a story on a list?

Edit:

Cool. I think Succubus Rising will fall in the votes for the EH top lists as the year wears on because it's so long. It's not even in the top 50 for the main story lists, only on the EH list.

I seem to remember there being a voting link somewhere, but I can't find it now... WTH.

 

[Darkniciad]

There's some strangeness going on with how the 30 day and 12 month toplists are built that I haven't really had time to research and figure out just yet.

One thing someone mentioned ( which I haven't confirmed ) is that whatever score you had at your highest vote total is the one that shows up in the toplist. So, if you had a lower score and your story was swept, raising the score, the higher score won't show up in the toplists until your current vote total surpasses your old vote total.

One thing I do know is that if the above is true, it's not absolute. In the very least, it doesn't necessarily apply to contest stories, which I have watched a lot more closely by virtue of tracking the statistics for the contests ( 30 day list only )

There is a minimum vote total of 100 on most of the all-time toplists ( a very few have lower minimums, such as chain stories )

I think the 12 month toplist functions off the old 10 vote minumum, but that could just be that no story has ever had less than 10 votes and a score sufficient to make the toplist when I happened to look.

The 30 day toplist doesn't appear to have a minimum, because I've seen single digit vote totals there.

I've been too busy with other things, but if I ever decide to take on the project ( which becomes more likely as more people ask this question ) I'll be sure to post whatever I figure out about this here in the AH.

 

[nicecthulhu]

Thank you for your responses

First off, RedMonkeyButt I don't think Succubus Rising will fall that much, unless you have had a lot of people give it repeated 5s. Then it'll only fall if it gets struck by these sweeps that the more experienced people around here keep talking about. I found it in the 12 month list for EH and it's likely still on the 30 day list as well. It is long, but with my stories it seems that long stories don't get scored low simply because they're long. Maybe if it's overlong... But your story is just good and complex. Most of the readers who take the time to vote will likely appreciate it from beginning to end. Those who don't like long stories probably won't take the time to jump to the end to give it a low vote.
I was just hoping that if my story jumped from 15 or 16 to 1st (because of its current score of 4.93), I might get some more readers, some more scores, some more comments and some feedback. I expect my own score will go down as more people vote (it only has 14 votes), but then I'd have a good idea of how it really compares to others I've written (a better statistical sampling).
Second, Darkniciad thank you for the explanation. I lost 4 votes around Christmas (raising my score to 4.9+) and have only regained 1 since that time, so your second paragraph explains what I'm seeing.
100 votes is definitely the cut-off for the all-time lists, as I've a couple of stories in the 80 and 90 vote range which aren't on the all-time list and might squeak in once they hit 100 votes.
Now if I could only get over being Canadian and plug my own stories instead of other author's...

 

[lovecraft68]

One thing about top lists, is they occasionally will put a target on your back. Especially if one of yours takes number one away from a fan favorite.

Ask me how I know

 

[Ironiclaconic]

Yep. Scores don't change much after you have 50-100 votes Small changes in top list scores after that are driven by a couple things. As you publish more stories you make new fans and your fans drive up the votes for your other stories as they seek them out. That is in your favor. The downward pressure comes from fans of other authors playing whack-a-mole with any story that gets ahead of their favorites. That happens most on stories that risk winning the monthly contest (I have often had stories get one bombed on the 14th, just before the announced cutoff) or toward the top of the all-time list.

 

[nicecthulhu]

I've got to learn to put breaks between my paragraphs!

Yes, trolls are a bit of a concern. However, I think the risk of being spotted by a troll, because I'm high on the 30 day or 12 month top list, is worth it if a few new readers find my story too. I don't expect to climb high enough in the all-time to lists to attract ne'er do wells.

Besides, I have a few troll-hungry shoggoths sitting around doing nothing... And Nyarlathotep hasn't gotten off his lazy ass in decades. It would be nice to keep him occupied for awhile...

 

[lovecraft68]

Yes, trolls are a bit of a concern. However, I think the risk of being spotted by a troll, because I'm high on the 30 day or 12 month top list, is worth it if a few new readers find my story too. I don't expect to climb high enough in the all-time to lists to attract ne'er do wells.

Besides, I have a few troll-hungry shoggoths sitting around doing nothing... And Nyarlathotep hasn't gotten off his lazy ass in decades. It would be nice to keep him occupied for awhile...

Now I know you know your Lovecraft when you start talking about Shoggoths!

Personally I never liked them. The night gaunts and Pickman's ghouls were always my favs.

Although seeing I'm into writing incest I should give the Martenese family a nod.