One of the things that I've really liked about looking for stories in the way that I have is seeing how authors skills have improved over time. Seeing how they have responded to reader thoughts and comments shows how much those responses have meant to authors and the encouragement that they have taken from them. It has helped me to appreciate how much hard work has been put into their stories.

I started off by looking at the most recommended stories and reading those. if lots of people have recommended a story, it can't be a bad thing! It also encouraged me to read other genres than I might have searched for.

5 minutes ago, Mawgrim said:

I started off by looking at the most recommended stories and reading those. if lots of people have recommended a story, it can't be a bad thing! It also encouraged me to read other genres than I might have searched for.

@Mawgrim that's a valid point about going back into the archives. Another is that you get to read stories from authors who are no longer on GA for many different reasons, there are a lot of really good stories in the archives to read that current members would enjoy.

@Mancunian Thanks for sharing your insights. Too bad I missed the chance to start a conversation via messenger with you when you reviewed my story! ^^

21 minutes ago, Zuri said:

@Mancunian Thanks for sharing your insights. Too bad I missed the chance to start a conversation via messenger with you when you reviewed my story! ^^

I hope that you find my thoughts about stories in the archives useful and find something of interest.

As for my review on your story, Subconscious Mind, I mean every word I said and it is a story I recommend to other readers wether they be members or guests, I definitely enjoyed it. I only leave a review if I feel a story deserves it.

6 minutes ago, Mancunian said:

I hope that you find my thoughts about stories in the archives useful and find something of interest.

As for my review on your story, Subconscious Mind, I mean every word I said and it is a story I recommend to other readers wether they be members or guests, I definitely enjoyed it.

Thank you 😊 Yeah, I have my difficulties navigating the stories archive—but that's not because of shortcomings on GA's side. I just haven't figured out how to decide on what I want to read and commit myself to. That's why I started checking out contributions of those, I already interacted with in some way.

@Zuri what I have done is simply to apply the filter for completed stories and gone back to the first stories. from there I've read the story intro or the first half a chapter, if it then appeals to me I've continued to read. Some haven't appealed so I've exited and gone on to the next story, others have had an appeal so I've continued to read. In doing so I've left reactions and/or comments or reviews that I feel are deserved. Some will agree with my reactions/comments/reviews others will disagree, but that's just a difference of opinion and we are all entitled to our own opinions. 

I'm just hoping to get others to find gems of their own if they are prepared to look, there are plenty there.

@Mancunian Thanks for sharing your tack—I'll try to fiddle around with the archive a bit this way. I guess, I can sometimes a bit picky and the amount of stories can be overwhelming from time to time, but I really like @Myr's suggestion on your other blog post to create recommendation collections so that users can flip through what like-minded users liked.