As you signed on to the site today, you were asked to fill in your favorite genre, second favorite genre, and third favorite genre. For a certain age group, you were no doubt cursing at the surprise. Sorry about that. Everyone else is probably wondering why.
Every Saturday morning, I collect our stats on active members, Premium Subscribers, etc. As we get ready to move to the new forum software, I am working to set up our data collection and usage to better serve our members. In marketing terms, we are segmenting.
Yesterday, I ran 2 years of visitor data (no personal information, just numbers) through AI to analyze whether any trends existed. There was a lot of interesting stuff in there. Like the Secret Author contest event last summer, drove significant traffic and engagement. We also saw significant movement in the Fall anthology.
It also recommended several steps we can take to better understand our traffic. I updated the code to better understand our traffic and added more details from you, as members. In this case, your stated genre preferences.
I will now get this as part of the weekly report that shows me people's weighted genre preference. What are we doing with it? Nothing right now. We are just starting to collect the data. What will we do with it? We'll use it as part of what they call content discovery. For example, if you like Westerns, you might get a sidebar that has the newest Westerns on it. While someone else might get Historicals. The purpose would be to make it easier to find things you like.
We can also use it promote certain things. Like, hey, there are a bunch of people that love Sci-Fi, writers, here's an untapped audience.
I will emphasize that no personal information is involved. We're just trying to understand what people like and provide more of it more easily.
Top Read History Stories Since Deep Dive 8
Top 10 Most Read Historical - Alternate
Nazi's win WWII, Napoleon win's the Battle of Waterloo, Roman Empire never fell without fantasy/speculative fiction items (other than alternate history). The Man in the High Castle
Falling Apart by craftingmom Complete
Engineer Benson by Wayne Gray Long-Term Hold
Do Over by dkstories Complete
Capitol Hill - Summer of '22 Book VI by Carlos Hazday Complete
Kage Match by kbois Complete
Do Over Redux by dkstories Complete
Let's Do It by dkstories Complete
Doing It Right by dkstories Complete
Of Maps & Men by Inkognito Complete
human nature by small mercy Complete
Top 1 Most Read Historical - Ancient Greco-Roman
In reference to ancient Greek and Roman times. Cultural, political, societal. Ideas, original Olympic games, orgies, Creaser's, senators.
Shards & Fragments: Short Stories by SilvryArdor Long-Term Hold
Top 6 Most Read Historical - Ancient Orient
Near East, Ottoman Empire, Middle East, Mesopotamia. Early, middle, late Bronze Age, Iron Age.
The Spirit of the Plum Blossom Tree (TSPBT) by Kong Wen Hui Long-Term Hold
Raising a Rebel by W_L Long-Term Hold
To Dance On Your Fingertips by small mercy Long-Term Hold
Sword of the Missed (SOTM) by Kong Wen Hui Long-Term Hold
Shards & Fragments: Short Stories by SilvryArdor Long-Term Hold
The Stonemason's son and the Silk Prince by Topher Lydon Complete
Top 10 Most Read Historical - Cold War
Stories set in the height of the cold war from 1950-1990. Early Tom Clancy novels
Chronicles Of An Academic Predator by Mark Arbour Complete
Jay & Miles by ColumbusGuy Long-Term Hold
Be Rad by Mark Arbour Complete
The Land Whore by Mark Arbour Complete
A Summer in Iowa by Altimexis Complete
Do Over by dkstories Complete
1968 by Mark Arbour Complete
A Summer Love by Mark Arbour Complete
Do Over Redux by dkstories Complete
Let's Do It by dkstories Complete
Top 10 Most Read Historical - Historical Drama
Features a dramatic narrative set in a historical period, often focusing on the lives of ordinary people or families living through significant historical events.
The Freshmen by Mark Arbour Complete
Paternity by Mark Arbour Complete
Black Widow by Mark Arbour Complete
Northern Exposure by Mark Arbour Complete
9.11 by Mark Arbour Complete
Odyssey by Mark Arbour Complete
Flux by Mark Arbour Complete
Streak by Mark Arbour Complete
HMS Valiant by Mark Arbour Complete
St. Vincent by Mark Arbour Complete
Top 2 Most Read Historical - Historical Thriller
Incorporates elements of suspense, espionage, or political intrigue within a historical setting. Plots may involve conspiracies, espionage, or historical events with a thriller-style pacing.
The Kings Boy - A Medieval Novel by E K Stokes Complete
Love in a time of hatred by Gary L Complete
Top 1 Most Read Historical - Industrial Revolution
Conversion to modern inventions and processes. Not limited to railroad, cotton gin, electricity.
I Pity the Poor Immigrant by PlacidGuy Complete
Top 5 Most Read Historical - Medieval
Medieval Drama, love, poetry, romance. Think Game of Thrones
The Kings Boy - A Medieval Novel by E K Stokes Complete
Knight and Squire by Albert1434 In Process
The Prisoner of Carronne by Mark Ponyboy Peters In Process
The Purple Phoenix by GENERAL PIGNOUF Temporary Hold
A Declaration of War by Mawgrim Complete
Top 10 Most Read Historical - Non-Contemporary
Stories set in previous times
Peace of Amiens by Mark Arbour In Process
Rome by CLJobe Complete
A Soldier's Guide to Single Parenting by Dodger Complete
Live, Love, Lose by LittleCherryBlossom26 Complete
The Watchers by Topher Lydon Complete
Papa Stour by quokka Complete
Aussie Pioneers by quokka Complete
Light Bringer: Fireborn by Jack Poignet Complete
Boys of the 1950s by Tallguyct Complete
Life Goes On by Tallguyct Complete
Top 3 Most Read Historical - Victorian
Set during the Victorian era (1837–1901), these novels capture the social, cultural, and technological changes of the time. Dickensian novels are classic examples.
Shadows of the Moon by Albert1434 Complete
The Curse Of Love by arielynn24 In Process
The Frost Fair by Topher Lydon Complete
Top 10 Most Read Historical - Western
Places the story in the American West during the 19th century, exploring the challenges and adventures faced by pioneers, settlers, and Native Americans.
Bearpaw: An Old West Tale by Headstall Complete
Sidewinder by Headstall Complete
Larkspur: A Sidewinder Tale by Headstall Complete
Buckshot by Topher Lydon Complete
Where Love Lies: Book 1 by vanalas Complete
Boundaries: An Old West Tale by Headstall Complete
The Undertaker's Devil by Refugium Complete
Forever My Love by vanalas Complete
The Mistress by vanalas Complete
Journey to Salvation by Headstall Complete
Top 6 Most Read Historical - World Wars
Stories set in the time frame of WWI and WWII and in between about 1914-1945
Trench Rat by lomax61 Complete
Live, Love, Lose by LittleCherryBlossom26 Complete
Lukas by Connectwriter Long-Term Hold
Come Back To Us by LittleCherryBlossom26 Long-Term Hold
A Love Story with a Prisoner of War by joecarlson Long-Term Hold
In the Service by RolandQ Complete
Back again for another Anthology Flashback. In honor of the upcoming Poetry Anthology 2026: Choices, we are doing a flashback to 2013: Whispers in the Dark Poetry Anthology.
Let us know if you are going to have an entry for March 30th's 2026 Poetry Anthology:
The 2013 Anthology:
Top Read General Fiction Since Deep Dive 8
Top 10 Most Read General Fiction - Coming of Age
Follows the personal growth and development of a protagonist from youth to adulthood. "growing up"
The Cockney Canuck by Dodger Temporary Hold
Gap Year by Mark Arbour Complete
A to Z by Parker Owens Complete
Adam Blake by CLJobe Complete
Paternity by Mark Arbour Complete
Into the fields of Summer by gabz2000 Long-Term Hold
An English Teen, Circumcised in the USA by Riley Jericho Complete
Walls by Carlos Hazday Complete
Kept Boy to Made Man by empath Complete
Swing for the Fences by LittleBuddhaTW Complete
Top 2 Most Read General Fiction - Culinary Fiction
Stories centered around food, cooking, or restaurant culture, gaining interest for their unique settings
Essence of Life by W_L Complete
Cooking Classes by chris191070 Complete
Top 1 Most Read General Fiction - Dark Academia
Gothic-inspired fiction set in academic institutions, blending intellectualism, murder, and aesthetic dread.
Jude by E K Stokes Complete
Top 10 Most Read General Fiction - Drama
Stories with serious tone
Cards on the Table by Headstall Long-Term Hold
Dichotomy of Love by Mrsgnomie Complete
CDMX by Carlos Hazday Complete
Jay's Loelife by Mrsgnomie Complete
Endings by Headstall Complete
Sidewinder by Headstall Complete
Kept Boy to Made Man by empath Complete
Stockroom Secrets by Mark Ponyboy Peters Complete
Cross Country - Full of Surprises by Roe St. Alee Complete
Swing for the Fences by LittleBuddhaTW Complete
Top 10 Most Read General Fiction - Experimental
Stories that explore new directions and don't fit into an existing genre or several genres.
My Best Friend’s Brother Dylan Was Supposed to Be Straight by StoriesByTroy Complete
Serenity by Albert1434 Complete
The Straight Gym Bro Brad Who Lets Me Crash at His Place by DanXWrites Temporary Hold
My Bully Invited Me To His Hotel Room by StoriesByTroy Complete
His Girlfriend Doesn’t Know by DanXWrites Temporary Hold
His Beautiful Boy by CasualWanderer82 Complete
The Neighbor Across the Window by StoriesByTroy Complete
My Ex's Brother Drew by DanXWrites Temporary Hold
Men Of Honor by CasualWanderer82 Complete
My Straight Friend Jake by StoriesByMattVane Temporary Hold
Top 10 Most Read General Fiction - Family Drama
Focuses on interpersonal relationships within families, exploring themes of love, conflict, and personal growth.
The Freshmen by Mark Arbour Complete
The Cockney Canuck by Dodger Temporary Hold
Gap Year by Mark Arbour Complete
Paternity by Mark Arbour Complete
Black Widow by Mark Arbour Complete
9.11 by Mark Arbour Complete
Not just another Summer by Robert Hugill Complete
Learned to Lie by Krista Complete
Peace of Amiens by Mark Arbour In Process
A Good Place by Mark Ponyboy Peters Complete
Top 10 Most Read General Fiction - Prompt
Flash fiction and short fiction started from a story prompt
Friends First by Renee Stevens Complete
Timothy’s Terrible Prompt Stories by Timothy M. Long-Term Hold
Noah's New Plan by Rob Colton Complete
Manny Needs a Nanny by Lee Wilson Complete
The Boy on the Porch by Lee Wilson Complete
Only Prompts by Mikiesboy Temporary Hold
Promptings from Valhalla by Valkyrie Complete
The Last Boys in Clinton by Lee Wilson Complete
C Shorts by C. When Long-Term Hold
A prompt a week by comicfan Long-Term Hold
Top 10 Most Read General Fiction - Rich Boy
A very common early gay fiction trope of gay boy from a rich family does his thing. Common conflict is the lose everything because you're gay. Opposite trope of , can do it because you are rich.
The Freshmen by Mark Arbour Complete
Gap Year by Mark Arbour Complete
Paternity by Mark Arbour Complete
Black Widow by Mark Arbour Complete
9.11 by Mark Arbour Complete
Mickey by Connectwriter Complete
Flux by Mark Arbour Complete
Boss Nanny by Mrsgnomie Complete
Streak by Mark Arbour Complete
The Brilliant Boy Billionaire by Altimexis Complete
