Reads, and why this is so!

[daveslounge]

Hello. I'm new here, and kinda like it. But I have a question about the 'hits' or 'reads' of my stories.
My first story sucked, so that's not important.
My second story was read over 72000 times, and I recieved over 30 'feedback' e-mails, most of whiched asked for a follow-up. I thought this was great, so I posted another.
The next one has been read a mere 29000 times, and though I have written more in the series, the numbers have gone down considerably!
Realizing that the follow-up stories may have sucked (though the 'ratings' have been consistant), I decided on a whole new story.
That one is at 7000 reads after four days. Again, the 'rating' has been favourable. I was wondering if anyone has an explanation?
Why would one story 'go through the roof' in reads and not another?
The explanation I give myself is that the (72000 times read) story
came out around Christmas, when people were on holiday.
But then again, why have I not recieved 'feedback'??
HA! Lots of questions!
Just don't want to spend days on another story only to be ignored, I guess!
Thanks!!

 

[SexyChele]

I think you would get more feedback from writers if this had been posted either on the "Author's Hangout" or the "Story Feedback" forums. But, here's my opinion.

One thing I've learned is that when you write in a series, especially if you number them in chapter order, you will lose a certain portion of your audience. I, for one, will not go back and read parts 1 - 3 if a current story is numbered as part 4. In fact, I won't even open it. I have two sets of stories up that would be considered a series. One is not numbered at all, and a reader cane pick any story at any time and not lose anything. Each stands alone. The other one, a set of audio stories, I published all together.

I would think that those who are reading your subsequent chapters are those who are interested in the continuation of the story. Readers can be somewhat fickle. They read a story, like it, want more, and send feedback to the writer asking for such. However, by the time the writer finishes the project and it is posted, some of those readers have moved on.

Also, you have to remember that a "view" is not necessarily a "read". All the "views" tell you is how many people clicked on the story. It doesn't tell you how far the reader went in reading it, if they did at all.

It could be that you received a high number of views because of the Christmas holidays, yes. It could also be that you had a great title or tagline, or simply that a large number of people enjoyed the story. I would go with feedback more than views.

There will be some stories you pour your heart into and are not well-received. Then there are those stories you whip out on a whim that you don't think are very good, and the response from readers is overwhelming. It's just difficult to figure the average reader sometimes.

I wouldn't give up on writing just because you feel you aren't getting the responses you want. Write because you want to and enjoy it. That is what matters, after all.