Okay... I have to admit to a certain fascination with a few things in terms of my stories, both the comments and the ratings. The way they move and develop over time is intriguing and at times angst worthy.
For instance, you have a story like La Faccia De Maestro, which I consider the best story I have ever written. It doesn't have a lot of comments nor a very high rating. This is bothersome as I think people are passing it by and I have no idea why. Those things hint at reasons but nothing just comes out and says it.
Then you have chapter 1 of A Splintered Life, which has the highest rating and most comments of anything I have ever done. I do love that story and am very proud of it, but it is amusing that that particular story got so highly rated. Is it because I mentioned it here in the blog, thus generating interest? I don't know.
The numbers for different stories give me an idea of what people think, but nothing concrete and I do feel like a sad pathetic little monkey for caring so much. I see my work and compare it to others and nothing tells me why my ratings and comments are less than other people's stories.
However, I must admit I was tickled to notice that I had gotten new votes and comments to older stories. That really made my day.
Sorry to have bothered you.
Comments
I feel compelled to disagree with you...
...We have more than a few great writers here with whom you might compare yourself. You, my sweet sister are a superb author, one of the best. I find your work captivating. Your dialog is compelling, your plots intriguing and your characters rich. I can always count on your stories to challenge me and spur my own imagination. I can't speak for anyone else, nor would I try to. What I can say is this. I read La Faccia del Maestro today. Wow... And I'm following along with A Splintered Life. Again, fantastic. Of course, to paraphrase John Wayne, I only gave you one woman's opinion. And I can also say that your stories always make my day. With much appreciation and thanks.
She was born for all the wrong reasons but grew up for all the right ones.
Possa Dio riccamente vi benedica, tutto il mio amore, Andrea
Love, Andrea Lena
Thank you. I love my art
Thank you.
I love my art and work hard to paint pictures with words. I just love the fact that some of my stories connect to people.
Thank you.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
Sad Little Monkey...
...Like my Mom says, I too must disagree with you. I've been a fan of your since coming to this site and I look forward to reading whatever tale you happen to spin for us. If there isn't an improvement in attitude, especially for the New Year, we may have to spank the monkey! OMG!!! Did I really write that!!??? Mom...don't look!!!
Just another little brat
OMG... you're going to do
OMG... you're going to do what to me! EEeeeekkkkkkk! A Pervert!
So you are part of the beatings will continue until morale improves kind of person. Don't worry, my attitude is not that bothered by things. It's just that some days I feel that way, but it is generally played for the cute.
Thanks,
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
There is something to be said . . .
. . . about a catchy title.
I suspect many readers passed the story by simply because of the title. The title may not be indicative of the story's content but it's a hook that draws the reader in and some titles may simply turn a reader off. Use of a foreign language title for English-speaking individuals can make a reader pass by because he/she thinks it's pretentious or too esoteric and that makes them think the story that follows will be the same. Some may even feel intimidated by the title - fearing that if they can't understand the title they may not grasp the story.
Commentator
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Yeah... there is some truth
Yeah... there is some truth to that, but for the story in question it was the only one that fit. And I didn't want to give away too much in the teaser, so that was kind of weak as well. Sometimes that can be rather tricky.
However, part of me thinks that a title like that might intrigue a reader to delve into the story, but then again, it could be just me.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
It's the old problem
If you put too much in the title or the teaser, it can deflate the impact of the story by letting too much out.
On the other hand, if you're too cagey with the information you hand out at the top, people might not even start reading at all.
The only way that situation resolves itself is when you get a reputation for writing a good tale. Then people will read your stuff whatever you call it or tell them (within reason). That doesn't do a lot for attracting new readers, though. As I said, it's the old problem.
Penny
Yeah, that is part of the
Yeah, that is part of the problem with that story. Since it is short and very intimate to the characters thoughts and ways of doing things almost anything I say is going to take away from the impact of the story. Sometimes you just can't win.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
That's it
Given the available time and the number of new stories being posted on a daily basis, each of us has to find a way to sort through the choices and narrow down the selection somehow. The three easiest ones to use are Title, Author, and Keywords. A title is the preliminary sort as I scroll down the page. Then I check the author and keywords. I now there are some authors I am not going to read, I've sampled enough of their work to have made up my mind. Likewise there are a few I will always at least look at. This is a bit more flexible, I hope for certain things, but there are a few that send me on.
The teaser is the final deciding point, a fine screen to sift with so to speak. I can't say how many stories get this far only to fail the teaser test, but it does happen. (I really hate a multi-chapter story that uses the same teaser for every chapter.)
But in the beginning it's the Title. I don't mind if somebody chooses to post in a foreign language, it's their story, after all. I'm not going to throw a hissy fit and demand everything be translated into English (or even American), although I may tease the author a bit. In a fun way, I hope. But I almost certainly will not click on the story.
Just like browsing in a bookstore, a story has to catch my attention, and what draws mine might deflect another's. In the end, you as an author has to hope that the hook you have baited and cast out catches the readers you want.
KJT
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
I try my best with the
I try my best with the teasers. Sometimes I have title issues, but all writers have that issue. And teasers make me crazy. But I do what I can to make them interesting.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
Here's an example of a really good teaser...
... is worriedly talking to her mother about all of the things that have been bothering her lately. Why is it that parents don't really listen? On a site like this, with emotional stress in families that go beyond the normal give and take? "Why is is that parents don't really listen?" This is story I'd read immediately...oh wait...I already did.
There's such a tension between writing what the reader expects and what any author wants to say. "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" written by Betty Smith The story of Francie Nolan's life growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1900's. will still be met with, "Elm?...Oak?" "The Old Man and the Sea" will still find some folks wondering if he was fishing for Marlin or Tuna. Clever titles both, and neglected by many readers, but also two of the most read books of all time. Sometimes you just can't win, but sometimes you do, and that's pretty good.
She was born for all the wrong reasons but grew up for all the right ones.
Possa Dio riccamente vi benedica, tutto il mio amore, Andrea
Love, Andrea Lena
I try to win but the whole
I try to win but the whole title issue is tough. The novel I am getting ready to pimp has a title that I'm not sure of, but I can't figure an alternate title. It can get really frustrating.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.
Heather
We are the change that will save the world.