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Like many authors who publish, I get considerable pleasure from knowing that others have enjoyed my work, and the Vote counter was the way in which I could see the number of readers who did so. I have never paid much attention to Hits, equating that to people picking up a book in a bookshop, thumbing through it, and mostly putting it down without purchase. As such, there was always a vast difference between Hits and Votes. Whilst the comments are wonderful, they are always going to represent only a minority of readers. I was therefore dismayed to see the Votes system suspended for operational reasons.
With my latest story, serialised in six chapters with one chapter published every day, I added two links at the very end of Chapter Six - one asked readers who had enjoyed the story to click on my own "Vote" link; the other went to a page of author's notes.
There was a consistent 2:1 correlation between the number of hits on Chapter Six and the number of readers visiting the author's notes (1931:963 at time of writing), so it would appear relatively safe to say that 50% of the hits (ie 963 people) had been following the story, read all six chapters and been sufficiently interested to read the author's notes attached. (I can't believe many people wanted to read the author's notes twice.)
But less than 13% of the hits (247) resulted in a link to the Vote page to say they enjoyed the story. Now don't get me wrong. 247 votes is much higher than any vote I'd had on previous stories, and I am delighted that all those people enjoyed my story. But what about the 716 people who presumable read each of the six chapters and the author's notes, but who didn't click to say they enjoyed it? Perhaps they missed a bit and skipped to the end and then read the author's notes. (Chapter 5 hits were down slightly, but nothing like that equating to 716 readers).
I wonder whether there is a misleading symbolism to the word "Vote". The word is fine for a competition, where you want readers to vote for one story in preference to another, and as such, people quite rightly regard their vote as having a value not to be idly wasted. But in my case, I'm simply looking for feedback from people who enjoyed the story. Perhaps next time, I will have a "Thank you" link, rather than a "Vote" link.
Any thoughts?
Comments
Expectations
Surely you don't expect everyone who readers a story here to feel the need to take the time to show their appreciation for your efforts? While there are always a number of people who do so, there are those who expect to be served up with quality stories, for free, without them having to do anything in return. It's just the way things are. As I was often told when I was a young officer, some people wouldn't be happy even if you shot them with a clean bullet.
This may seem snarky and a little bitter, but as I said, it is the way things are.
Nancy Cole
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
I've Given Up
Charlotte, even when the vote counter was working there was simply no correlation between hits, votes and comments. God knows, I've tried to put some kind of value on each one, and I'm sorry, love, but it just don't work.
One of my own favourite stories got the least number of reads and the second highest number of comments and votes of any of my offerings. As they say in the USA, go figure!
As one who read every chapter and voted and read your notes I can only say, rejoice that you are a popular author, and keep on writing,
Joanne
Don't worry about it.
You think too much, Charlotte. Don't worry about hits or such, just do as you like. While it's always nice to get some kind of appreciation for spending the time to write something for the masses to read (for free no less), one must accept that appreciation aren't always forthcoming. Sometimes, people just want to read, sometimes people are busy, sometimes people think that they have commented enough and sometimes people think that it's enough that other commented or showed their appreciation in their stead. But out of a hundred people who read one's story, I think only one or two would be willing to give a comment or some kind of appreciation on regular basis. Some others may do so on some rare occasions, while others probably will not do anything other than read, as they're only here to read.
It's like me cooking 'curry mee' in college and served it to my friends. I didn't ask for them to pay me for the time and materials I spend to cook it for them, despite the common trend to do so there. I considered it as some kind of experimentation, something like I'm using them as guinea pigs to see if I'm good enough. IF they want to pay me back, sure I'd welcome it, but I won't ask them for payment.
I believe that if one doesn't expect much, then one won't be disappointed. Expectations are a pretty nasty thing in my eyes. Sure hope to see more comments to my stories though. I didn't think too much of that though, as I didn't want to become a child of envy like the characters in my story. :P
At least you have loyal fans, I think that's already a flattering thing by itself.
Eris.