I didn't see this when it was initially posted.
I have the same issue as to Efiction as many others; I had alot of reviews in EFiction that have just gone and now people just don't want to review again because they have already reviewed. I've saved all my reviews on a document but thats not the point.
I like GA Stories as a writer because its easy to post stories however, I think the background colour is hard for a reader to cope with.
As a beta reader, I don't really use GA Stories; i tend to just communicate via email or via msn.
Around 6 months ago, I found myself in a state of self deprecation because i had no reviews and nothing coming in and I was finding it very hard to write. Just a little feedback is all I would need eg the anthologies; the reviews that are 3 words mean just as much as those that are 300. I respond to every single one. I would love for there to be a conversation section in the reviews; which would make it so much more interactive for the author and the reader.
I personally dislike the emphasis on the forums now. I think it should be able the stories in GA.Stories and less about forum discussion. I think if the shift is made; there would be more physical reviews and more interaction.
My main issue would be the lack of interaction in the reviews section. Oh and also it feels like there are no readers anymore. I post but it doesn't get read; which is very disenhearting. Thanks to a friend I'm now Peer Reviewed (100+ Likes) and still when I post barely any response.
I never plan to leave but it would be nice to entice the readers in.
An idea might be is to eliminate the 'author' status, and make another 'signature' role such as a 'Try Out' or a 'Applicant'; so that GA Stories isn't flooded with new stories. Said Applicants wouldn't be posted in the main stream and would have their own section in the website and then the populace would be able to vote via review to make them full authors. Then have 'Author'. Then 'Promising', who as they have now their own forum. Then the highest accolade of the 'Hosted' Author, which means they would have a website and their own personal page in GA. This is what I found put me off reading hosted stories because it feels like everyone is the same now; even though the abilities of the Hosted Author far excel the work of a smaller author (such as myself).
Hope i didn't ramble too much