Funny

Printer-friendly version

Author: 

Taxonomy upgrade extras: 

I posted a new story two days ago. In terms of reads it is my most successful yet, and I am very grateful to the readers and those who have commented, but that is not the point of this blog.

I have come to expect that when I post a new piece that there will be a little renewed interest in my older stuff, a kind of ripple effect if you like. Some people, who perhaps have never read any of my stories before, will be curious enough to at least click on to an earlier work. They may click off straight away. We'll never know, but the hit is registered, so an extra 20 or 30 reads may be registered on a tale or two and I'm grateful but unsurprised.

But for the last 48 hours something has happened that I haven't seen before. A story that is a personal favourite of mine, but, to my chagrin and frustration, never clicked with what Angela Rasch describes as the BC sweet spot, has garnered over 400 hits! In those two days it has registered a 40% increase in readership.

Now, I wonder if some gremlin held explorers' buttons down while they surfed or did my little piece suddenly become flavour of the month? And, if so, why? Of course I'm going to do an absolutely shameless plug here and tell you the name of the story, just to satisfy your curiosity, naturally.

Seriously, though, I ask our admin angels if they can tell whether the collateral reaction to "Movin' Dirt" was some kind of software error or a genuine curiosity, And, if so, how the hell can I duplicate that reaction in the future?

Joanne

Comments

I have a possible answer

Well you see, Joanne, you have recantly posted "Lina". And it so happens, that in your story list (as noticed on the right usually) it appears right before "Movin' Dirt" you so like. Because of this fact, if you look at the links at the bottom of "Lina", the link to your favourite story will be present there, as will be one for "Ladies' Revenge", BTW. And so I think readers go through the nearest link and come straight to "Movin' Dirt". Please tell me, is the other story having the same fluke now?

Faraway


On rights of free advertisement:
Big Closet Top Shelf

Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!

Faraway


On rights of free advertisement:
Big Closet Top Shelf

Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!

Doh! Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!

joannebarbarella's picture

Thanks Faraway....I think. I never noticed the link. When you read your own story you don't look for that. The other link is actually a blog, so it doesn't show the additional hits in the story lists. Having said that, the additional number of hits hasn't been anything like that magnitude before,

Joanne

I'm not all surprised

Movin Dirt may be the next link, but I read it when it first came out and thoroughly enjoyed it, then, and again later. All I can say is keep up the good work. Not everything all writers write appeals to all readers, but sometimes, it is just all good.

You deserve the votes

I suppose I'm a sucker, but your note lead me to read your story "Movin' Dirt" Nice story. The end reduced me to tears.
Beth

New Hits

Puddintane's picture

I strongly encourage every author with multiple stories to create an author page (or ask to have one created on your behalf) so all your stories can be linked to one another through the Outline tab on the story edit page. Having stories linked can be a huge boost to your older stories, because as you post new ones, readers who like that story have an instant pathway leading directly to others written by the author they quite liked. The more organisation there is, the easier it will be to explore your virtual "home page."

Cheers,

Puddin'

-

Cheers,

Puddin'

A tender heart is an asset to an editor: it helps us be ruthless in a tactful way.
--- The Chicago Manual of Style