Choosing stories to read.

[ReaderPaul]

12 minutes ago, Luca E said:

People have brought up the topic of AI with the view that they are emphatically opposed to anything with even the slightest hint of AI influence. It's not the thread topic (should maybe start one), but my thoughts are: have you heard of Ludittes?

I am familiar with the Luddites.  I am suspicious of AI because it gives too many wrong answers.  I am familiar with the general location where I live, and asked about the address of a new business in the area.  It said the location was such-and-such, then added two descriptors which were wrong, including saying the new address was right behind the county courthouse -- which would have moved the courthouse 10 miles closer to where I live -- and put in on the railroad tracks in the town where the address is!  And I've had other wrong AI answers as well.  Recently a German court said Google is liable for the wrong answers its AI gives, if someone is harmed.

[Luca E]

@ReaderPaul you have good reason to be weary, if anyone thinks AI gives you correct information they are mistaken, because it only searches the web and compiles what it finds, and we all know the web is full of crap. Ask a question on a forum and you get everyone's opinion, their prejudices, and more besides, everything except the answer to your question.

[Cane23]

[Davide]

I only look at authors' names in the sense that, if I have read something by that author before, my opinion about it may increase or decrease my chances of reading it. The name of an author I know nothing about has zero impact on my decision on whether to read their story. Other things that have no impact on that decision include whether a story has sex or nor and whether it's told in the first or third person. Things that can eliminate me reading a story are me suspecting the author has used AI for it and the presence of genres or themes I'm not interested in. Besides my pre-existing knowledge of an author that I mentioned, the main things I look at are the tags to see if it focuses on genres or themes I enjoy and the description to see if it seems captivating. A story having a lot of likes, comments per chapter and recommendation can increase the chance of me reading it. But the lack of those things doesn't decrease it because sometimes good stories by authors that aren't as well known can remain somewhat unnoticed. If a story already has multiple chapters out when I find it, the chapters having a sharper decline than usual in the number of comments as the chapter number increases is also a negative point. When I'm still unsure, I sometimes read the first chapter of a story before making a decision. But whether I have more or less free time when I see a story can also influence whether I read it or not.

[Headstall]

8 hours ago, Luca E said:

Interesting! I read story descriptions and reviews, although often they are not very comprehensive. Views, I ignore entirely, number of page hits doesn't influence my choice of what to read. Same for reputation, if that means classic, promising authors, because who decides that and on what basis? But still, being honest, names like cover images influence me even despite myself. I'm trying to decide what to buy (read) in a shop with the shelves packed full. Spoilt for choice, or too much choice, which usually leaves me in the story in process section and I hardly ever look at old stuff!

I did not mean reputation in the context you name. I guess I should have used another word to avoid confusion. You can glean a lot from people's comments in the forums about an author or story, or in the stories themselves, and whatever topic an author might post on. Like in things like Ask an Author, and the features @Cia does monthly. These include interviews with the author, and elicits comments from readers, and those stir my interest in a story, like what it said about it. It tells me who is current, who is widely respected, or who is up and coming and intriguing. That is what I meant by reputation, not the 'site reputation #". As far as promoted authors, I believe that is decided by a team who pays attention to writing quality and follows an author's path to see whether he or she warrants a designation. Valid source of information IMO, but not the be all and end all... just another tool. Cheers!

[Headstall]

On 6/24/2026 at 2:20 AM, Luca E said:

Interesting! I read story descriptions and reviews, although often they are not very comprehensive. Views, I ignore entirely, number of page hits doesn't influence my choice of what to read. Same for reputation, if that means classic, promising authors, because who decides that and on what basis? But still, being honest, names like cover images influence me even despite myself. I'm trying to decide what to buy (read) in a shop with the shelves packed full. Spoilt for choice, or too much choice, which usually leaves me in the story in process section and I hardly ever look at old stuff!

As far as views, if a story has ten chapters and a hundred views, I take that into account. It tells me readers aren't connecting, and I'll read chapter comments to see if that is in fact correct. I don't see 'views' as worthless, personally. As far as 'old stuff', I see no difference in when a story was written. A good story is a good story. I've read a crap ton of the older works, especially before I began writing, and they were incredibly inspirational to me when I did start writing, not to mention often thoroughly entertaining.  I feel I owe those older works something. To dismiss them seems an injustice to ourselves and to them. We have plenty of tools here to help us decide what to spend our time on, and each one is valid.  Just saying. 

Edited June 30 by Headstall

[Headstall]

9 hours ago, Luca E said:

People have brought up the topic of AI with the view that they are emphatically opposed to anything with even the slightest hint of AI influence. It's not the thread topic (should maybe start one), but my thoughts are: have you heard of Ludittes?

The topic is 'choosing a story to read', and I gave you my reasons for choosing. AI was a small part of that answer, and I do not consider myself a Luddite. I do however question what we are doing with regards to THIS new encroachment on the arts... and people's livelihoods.  

[chris191070]

After reviewing over 700 stories, I have read many different stories on this site. I rarely look at the name, to start with. I've read alot of stuff, by new authors and established authors. What matters most is that it a good story.

[Jason Rimbaud]

13 hours ago, Luca E said:

People have brought up the topic of AI with the view that they are emphatically opposed to anything with even the slightest hint of AI influence. It's not the thread topic (should maybe start one), but my thoughts are: have you heard of Ludittes?

There is a topic of AI Influence. 

 Here 

Quite a lively debate a few weeks ago. You might find it interesting to read what people think about AI taking over creative spaces. I'm not sure Luddites is appropriate for many of those arguments stated there. 

[Luca E]

13 hours ago, chris191070 said:

After reviewing over 700 stories, I have read many different stories on this site. I rarely look at the name, to start with. I've read alot of stuff, by new authors and established authors. What matters most is that it a good story.

Thing is, how do you know what might be a good story before reading it, and before reading it you have to, as it were, pick it up off the shelves. When looking at the shelves you have only the info from the presentation, title, author name, summary, cover image, genre, tags, etc. So whilst I don't go looking for author names they are right there with the story title and both influence me.

[Luca E]

13 hours ago, Headstall said:

You can glean a lot from people's comments in the forums about an author or story, or in the stories themselves, and whatever topic an author might post on. Like in things like Ask an Author, and the features @Cia does monthly. These include interviews with the author,

I read these blogs about authors and stories and I agree with you they are very useful and informative and influence what I read. People's comments I'm not sure about, they are very varied, I don't think they influence me too much.

[Luca E]

9 hours ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

There is a topic of AI Influence. 

 Here 

Quite a lively debate a few weeks ago. You might find it interesting to read what people think about AI taking over creative spaces. I'm not sure Luddites is appropriate for many of those arguments stated there. 

I'll take a look 👍

[Luca E]

I have one supplementary question to help clarify what decides you to pick up a story and read the first chapter. What makes you pick a story and open chapter one?

If you say summary, title, author, that's all the answer I need. If you say genre or tags, I need more, why this story and not a hundred others in the same genre or with the same tags.

You can say, I open every new story, you can say it was recommended (where?).

THE QUESTION: Thinking about the last and only the last, story you clicked to open chapter one. Why did you choose to open that story?

[ReaderPaul]

8 hours ago, Luca E said:

     I have one supplementary question to help clarify what decides you to pick up a story and read the first chapter.  What makes you pick a story and open chapter one?
     If you say summary, title, author, that's all the answer I need.  If you say genre or tags, I need more, why this story and not a hundred others in the same genre or with the same tags.
     You can say, I open every new story, you can say it was recommended (where?).

THE QUESTION: Thinking about the last and only the last, story you clicked to open chapter one. Why did you choose to open that story?

Thinking back over the last two new stories I opened, one by @chris191070, and @Headstall, it was because I have read other stories by those authors and liked the stories, articles, poems, or whatever by those two authors.  Same way with certain other authors.  If I see new story by, for example, @Geron Kees or @Myr or @BendtedWreath or @P. E. Knapp, I will check the story out.  

On stories by authors not previously read, several factors go into choosing.  Do I have time to read the chapter or story without major interruptions?  If not, I may have to come back to that story later.  Is it a description which sounds interesting, AND in a genre I normally read?  For example a horror story genre I would not read UNLESS it was by an already known and liked author.  Of the six authors listed above, I would -- because they are those authors -- at least start a horror story by one of those, and a couple of other authors.

I hope that answers your question in part.

[CassieQ]

13 hours ago, Luca E said:

I have one supplementary question to help clarify what decides you to pick up a story and read the first chapter. What makes you pick a story and open chapter one?

If you say summary, title, author, that's all the answer I need. If you say genre or tags, I need more, why this story and not a hundred others in the same genre or with the same tags.

You can say, I open every new story, you can say it was recommended (where?).

THE QUESTION: Thinking about the last and only the last, story you clicked to open chapter one. Why did you choose to open that story?

The genre and the description matter the most to me.  I'm not going to read a genre I'm not interested in.  If the description looks interesting, I'll click.  If it looks vague or boring, I won't.  As far as tags, I use them more to weed out things I don't want to read about.    

The biggest draw is the author.  If I see an author that is fairly active on the site, I'm more likely to check them out than some person I've never even heard of.  For example, I started reading Encrypted by @Jeff Burton and Tyler's Dilemma by @Jason Rimbaud after seeing them post status updates for them on the site.  

[Krista]

1 hour ago, CassieQ said:

The genre and the description matter the most to me.  I'm not going to read a genre I'm not interested in.  If the description looks interesting, I'll click.  If it looks vague or boring, I won't.  As far as tags, I use them more to weed out things I don't want to read about.    

The biggest draw is the author.  If I see an author that is fairly active on the site, I'm more likely to check them out than some person I've never even heard of.  For example, I started reading Encrypted by @Jeff Burton and Tyler's Dilemma by @Jason Rimbaud after seeing them post status updates for them on the site.  

Same. 

[E K Stokes]

I think @Luca E you ask a very interesting question. I've never thought about it, so I simply followed my search process and noted it down:

1. Looked at recent stories list you always get presented with.
2. Looking for stories just started or with only a few chapters.
3. Ignored the only two on the list because they were both book 2 of a series.
4. Clicked STORIES and worked down the list.
5. Hunger & Habit, didn't understand the summary.
6. Lost in the Sand, good summary, possible read.
7. The Cockney Canuck, on hold, ignored.
8. Shooting Stars, also on hold, ignored.
9. Monstrum, good summary, possible read.
10. Strife, fan fiction, not my thing.
11. Futile Devices, good summary, possible read.

So there you have my process, I will open chapter one of one of those three possible reads and if it grabs me, I'll read that story. Which will I open first, it could be either Monstrum or Futile Devices looking at tags and genre.

I opened Monstrum first, it didn't grab me, I opened Futile Devices next and it hooked me completely. Why? Because it was showing me a scene not telling me a story. So now I'm going to read that story and take the risk it gets updated frequently and finished. And it is a risk!

Edited June 26 by E K Stokes
The story I chose to read...

[Cane23]

On 6/26/2026 at 8:35 AM, E K Stokes said:

I opened Monstrum first, it didn't grab me, I opened Futile Devices next and it hooked me completely. Why? Because it was showing me a scene not telling me a story. So now I'm going to read that story and take the risk it gets updated frequently and finished. And it is a risk!

Both choices are excellent. They have different authors and distinct styles, but each is well worth your time. Since you've chosen @CasualWanderer82, I'll just say this - with his novels, it's not simply about reading...it's about the experience. Enjoy!

[Cane23]

On 6/25/2026 at 11:00 AM, Luca E said:

I have one supplementary question to help clarify what decides you to pick up a story and read the first chapter. What makes you pick a story and open chapter one?

If you say summary, title, author, that's all the answer I need. If you say genre or tags, I need more, why this story and not a hundred others in the same genre or with the same tags.

You can say, I open every new story, you can say it was recommended (where?).

THE QUESTION: Thinking about the last and only the last, story you clicked to open chapter one. Why did you choose to open that story?

Summaries are the first thing I read before deciding whether to start a story. An unimpressive summary has caused me to miss some great stories in the past. After the summary, I always check the reviews - they can be very helpful. Of course, I'm not talking about authors I already follow.

As for question 2, the last story I started reading was The Vanguard of the Silver Boar by @Topher Lydon because it's part of his Crusades series, which I follow almost obsessively. It's an amazing read

[Luca E]

9 hours ago, Cane23 said:

Summaries are the first thing I read before deciding whether to start a story. An unimpressive summary has caused me to miss some great stories in the past. After the summary, I always check the reviews - they can be very helpful. Of course, I'm not talking about authors I already follow.

As for question 2, the last story I started reading was The Vanguard of the Silver Boar by @Topher Lydon because it's part of his Crusades series, which I follow almost obsessively. It's an amazing read

Okay, but your answers provoke further questions.

1. I understand some story summaries are rubbish, so if you missed a story because the summary didn't attract you to it, what eventually made you come back and discover that initially dismissed story?

2. The last story by @Topher Lydon was an author you already follow, but how did you find the last story you remember reading by someone you had never heard of, or how did you initially discover Topher Lydon?

I'm really interested in knowing how you actually found the last unknown author and read their story, not generally, I read summaries, reviews, but specifically, like EK Stokes described his process. Then I could add another question, after finding a new author and story, did you like/finish the story or not?

[Cane23]

8 hours ago, Luca E said:

Okay, but your answers provoke further questions.

1. I understand some story summaries are rubbish, so if you missed a story because the summary didn't attract you to it, what eventually made you come back and discover that initially dismissed story?

2. The last story by @Topher Lydon was an author you already follow, but how did you find the last story you remember reading by someone you had never heard of, or how did you initially discover Topher Lydon?

I'm really interested in knowing how you actually found the last unknown author and read their story, not generally, I read summaries, reviews, but specifically, like EK Stokes described his process. Then I could add another question, after finding a new author and story, did you like/finish the story or not?

Your questions are all spot on... I actually have to think about the answers! 😊

1) What made me come back to a story? Mostly recommendations from fellow readers, or comments from members whose literary taste I know is similar to mine. I'll admit it - sometimes I even check the comments on the last chapter (shame on me! 😄).

2) As for @Topher Lydon, how did I end up reading his stories? He's been one of the most prolific active authors on GA for quite some time. It was impossible to miss his daily chapter updates, so I'd been meaning to start reading his work for a while. I read his first story, Return of the Sun, some time ago and loved his English humor so much that I decided I wanted to read more. But with so many stories and new chapters appearing every day, I never knew where to start.

The opportunity finally came with his new series, Charlie Vs.... A brand-new story, great humor, and although it's not my favorite genre, it captivated me immediately. So now I'm hooked on his Silver Boar saga... and I'm hoping it never ends.

3) At the beginning of my GA membership, I spent a lot of time "surfing" around, looking for new stories. It was mostly binge-reading. I generally don't read unfinished stories or those that have been on hiatus for a long time.

These days, I'm following so many authors that, unfortunately, I don't have much time to discover older stories and binge-read them. I had to check my reviews to see what the last one was. It turned out to be Blame It on the Eggnog, a Christmas tale by @andy cannon.  I was drawn to it because it was a funny, modern gay take on A Christmas Carol by Dickens.

Before that, I read The Luxorian Fugitive by @Mann Ramblings. Two things came together there - my sci-fi phase and my Premium membership! 😊

Finally, one of the best ways to discover new authors and stories is the annual SA competition. It's a wonderful opportunity to enjoy works by authors I might not have chosen to read otherwise.

As for your last question - yes, that has happened to me. Sometimes I start reading a story because the summary sounds really promising, but I just can't get into it and end up stopping. On the other hand, there have also been times when a story wasn't really my thing, but I kept reading until the end to support the author.