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A Numbers Game

Dabeagle

Entry posted by Dabeagle

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Yesterday I made a post on my message board and my site Facebook page because, dear reader, I'm angry with you. The numbers I am about to share, specifically, don't apply to GA—but you have just to look at the number of views for a story versus the number of reviews, as that seems to be the standard for contact on this site.

 

You know, reader, I'm a reasonably busy guy. I have a full time job, husband and all the bills that go with a home and a life. I have two kids full time with more than the average kids share of issues. I have a third child on weekend visits that sometimes takes me two hours to bring him back and forth who will move in soon, full time. Three dogs, who are social creatures and need their time, as well.

 

If I, say, get into anything outside that like...a video game, book series or what have you, I have less time for writing. I know this isn't brain surgery, but I want to put that out there.

 

My site has always been free of charge. Through the boom early years when I posted updates once a week to more than one story line like clockwork to the famine years where I couldn't string words together, it has always been free. The coin I asked, begged, bargained and cajoled you, reader, for was your thoughts.

 

I have no other metric to know how a story was received, if it was as good on your screen as it felt putting it together or if it was a dumpster fire with a few semicolons. In that respect, reader, as a group you're in default.

 

I know people are busy, too. Some of you are probably busier than I am. But, as the title says, this is a numbers game so let me share a few with you.

 

On 9/11 I released the Sanitaria Springs story Love and Loss. Now, given it was the anniversary of a big event, a national tragedy, there could be some give here, right? A little leeway. Those numbers, though, are: Page Hits are 333. Email responses: 3. 1 message board post with response. Out of 333 readers, excepting duplicates for reading more than once or having to close the window and come back to it, out of that raw number 329 people read it and had squat to say. I'm not sure what that works out to as a percent, but it seems fucking lopsided. Was the story bad? Was it bland enough that it was worth reading but not worth the effort to comment? Even as a guest on the MB?

 

On 9/18 I released the Sanitaria Springs story The Journey. I did so with a little joke because I wonder, sometimes, if folks are tired of Lucien and Robin who are my favorite guys. In the two days since it was released the numbers are: 170 page hits. 1 MB post that only makes sense if you read the story. 2 email responses. 167 people read it and left.

 

I wish I could fire you, dear reader. I wish there were a way to find readers who would honor, at least sometimes, the idea that says I did my job. I created and placed it publicly for you to enjoy and all I ask in return is that you tell me what you thought. Instead, maybe because it's free so has no value to you, you take. And take. And take and don't give shit back.

 

I have three SS stories left to post and I accepted the challenge to write in my friend Cynus's Fearless universe. Once that's done, I have no further plans to indulge you, reader.

 

I know this won't change you. You'll go elsewhere and work that cost me hours and plenty of invested emotions and late nights and trying to find just the right word or phrase to make it resonate will be about as important to you as your last oil change.

 

The numbers don't lie. You aren't keeping up your end. And as far as my own site is concerned, with monthly hosting fees, site domain renewals for .com, .net and .org I am quite literally paying for the privilege of being ignored.

 

I've heard the excuses (make no mistake, it's what they are) of 'someone else will do it' or 'I don't know what to say'. Let me give you a hint: someone else isn't doing it. And tell them something you particularly enjoyed, tell about something that upset you, frustrated you or if it was just a nice way to spend an hour or two, then for pity's sake, tell them that.

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  • Site Administrator
Myr

Myr 32,588

Posted

  • Site Administrator

Dabeagle, we've both in this game for a long time.  It has been my experience that reviews don't really occur unless you break the reader out of their reading pattern.  This is where cliffhangers got so popular.  Shorter chapters that leave the reader wanting a bit more with time between posting helps too.

 

It's sad that it works that way, but that is what it is.  If I get into reading a story, I often forget to leave a review or comment until I've run out of chapters.  That's also a testament to your writing if you hook people enough to keep them driving on through your stuff.

 

Here on GA, the number to watch is the chapter to chapter fall off and number of followers. 

 

Also, here on GA, we do not allow anonymous reviewers due to spam issues.  And ~75% of traffic are guests.

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  • Site Administrator
Graeme

Graeme 16,834

Posted

  • Site Administrator

I'll add one other observation. The better the writer, the less feedback they get. That's not a hard and fast rule, but when this issue has been raised by other authors, one common response has been 'I didn't think you would want to hear from me because I don't know what to say to an author like you'.

 

A few authors have a loyal and vocal audience, but most don't. All we can do is look at how many people are reading, and see if the numbers stay about the same when new things are posted.

 

Personally, I'm lucky to get an email per chapter. Most of my feedback is here at GA in the reviews. However, I'm not posting to get feedback. Any feedback I get is a bonus, because I write for the enjoyment of creating, and I post what I write as a thank you for those that have helped me.

  • Like 1
Gandalf

Gandalf 657

Posted

I have followed your stories since you were writing with Josh Aterovis. I have tried to work on your site without a lot of success. I suspect I comment more than many but less than others. I do try and as I think we discussed GA is one of the easier boards to respond on so I do but I tend to read your stories on your site. I love the way I can cross check Sanataria Springs stories there but not so much on other sites. I hope you rethink not continuing but realize that You have been through a lot personally and with your writing community. At the least I hope you at some time come back. Your talent and concept of Sanataria are clearly infectious. I know that for me at this time I have no device that is really easy to type on so my responses are shorter or non existent. I'm not sure what to do about that. Pax Steve

  • Like 1
Timothy M.

Timothy M. 50,196

Posted

I admit I followed your link over to your other site and read most of the Sanataria Springs stories there without leaving or sending you or the other authors feedback. It was mainly because I wasn't sure how to do so, and I was too lazy to search for a way. I don't know what 'message board post' entails, but I'm guessing it's something similar to a blog or FaceBook, something I'm not familiar with. I don't email people if I can avoid it, that's why I like GA with the review and PM system. I guess I should have sent you a PM here saying I liked what I read over there.

But you're definitely not the first author to be frustrated with the lack of response, and rightly so. I'm familiar with the frustration of having readers who don't give anything back. It was one of the reasons I moved here from LitE, in spite of most of my stories being unsuitable for GA. If one out of fifty readers leaves a review I count myself lucky, but one review per 100 views is more normal and still very good for GA, I think. Some stories hardly get any reviews at all, or only from a few vocal fans.

Anyway, most authors here will understand your frustration. It's the main reason I try to write reviews as much as possible, but I have to admit I read more stories than I manage to comment on, apart from a like. Though that's also because I don't like to leave meaningless reviews like 'great story' or 'I'd like to read more.' I often return and read a story or chapter more than once before reviewing. I'll get around to Love and Loss again asap.

  • Like 1
Dabeagle

Dabeagle 22,385

Posted

I admit I followed your link over to your other site and read most of the Sanataria Springs stories there without leaving or sending you or the other authors feedback. It was mainly because I wasn't sure how to do so, and I was too lazy to search for a way. I don't know what 'message board post' entails, but I'm guessing it's something similar to a blog or FaceBook, something I'm not familiar with. I don't email people if I can avoid it, that's why I like GA with the review and PM system. I guess I should have sent you a PM here saying I liked what I read over there.

But you're definitely not the first author to be frustrated with the lack of response, and rightly so. I'm familiar with the frustration of having readers who don't give anything back. It was one of the reasons I moved here from LitE, in spite of most of my stories being unsuitable for GA. If one out of fifty readers leaves a review I count myself lucky, but one review per 100 views is more normal and still very good for GA, I think. Some stories hardly get any reviews at all, or only from a few vocal fans.

Anyway, most authors here will understand your frustration. It's the main reason I try to write reviews as much as possible, but I have to admit I read more stories than I manage to comment on, apart from a like. Though that's also because I don't like to leave meaningless reviews like 'great story' or 'I'd like to read more.' I often return and read a story or chapter more than once before reviewing. I'll get around to Love and Loss again asap.

I think when we talk about serial stories it's harder to comment each time, but shouldn't be too hard to sum things up- especially since some folks wait for a story to be done before reading at all.

dughlas

dughlas 109,207

Posted

I've found it extremely difficult to post comments to the stories on your site. Had tried for some of the earlier stories and became discouraged and didn't try again until recently, managed to get through with one. Tried today to comment on "Charmed" but couldn't get it to post. "Charmed" is another of your great stories. It reminds us that things often differ from outward appearance. Neither Dylan nor Cris has an enviable home life. I hope you'll continue and post the thrid and final installment.

I am saddened to think this is likely the end of new stories of Sanitaria Springs. Fortunstely, you and the others have provided a body of work worthy of rereading. Thanks.

JamesSavik

JamesSavik 24,803

Posted

Why do you think you haven't seen anything but a short from me in a long time? It's too much work to do for nothing.

Lisa

Lisa 6,470

Posted

Dabeagle, I comment on all the chapters of stories I've read. I haven't read Sanitaria Springs, so I didn't bother reading the stories with the characters in them. When I have more time, I'd love to read the whole series.

 

I love the stories you write and the way you write. That's why I was so excited to see you here. I don't know if you remember, but I started reading your collaborations on Mark Peters' site. Of course I haven't been on that one in years, so I don't know if you're still even on it.

 

I truly hope you don't abandon us. I always get excited when I see a new story from you. =)

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