My second story, The Duchess of Arad, was very well received, and that made me very happy! Like many obsessive-compulsive people, I have quirks, and one of those quirks is data, patterns, and figuring out the WHY in things.
I noticed an odd trend in the story stats for Duchess. Chapters 9 and 11 were bypassed quite a bit. I wondered why. It could not be that people hated those chapters, because once you click, love it or hate it, the click was registered as a "hit" regardless.
I figured it out, I think. Chapter 9 is entitled "The Battle of Dubois Manor". Chapter 11 is entitled "Funeral for an Old Friend". Both of these are negative, or downer titles. I think some people saw the title and decided that it wasn't for them?
If I am correct, it might be a good lesson in choosing chapter titles.
Anyways, that's my theory and I'm sticking to it, till something better comes along!
Comments
I think you're wrong
I doubt the title of a chapter has much to do with the number of hits on a chapter. I have several long series posted and the hits vary by one third from one to the other. I think it has more to do with content than a title. Show Me The Money ended up being an experiment that wasn't planned. I began posting the first chapters at FM since I was also posting my Runway series here first. Due to complaints that some readers didn't want to go to the other website I let the posts come here first and of course had a dramatic rise in hits. When things leveled out the hits went up and down, with the better chapters having more hits, you know the ones, especially the one about her mother. One that had the least amount of reads was one I thought would have more, but that's just me. The same happened to Runway, up and down, and I think that if there are more stories to draw interest from your story the counts will go down. Another factor is how much time you have between chapters. During Show Me The Money I burned out and didn't post a chapter for over a month and the hits went down and because of this I don't post unless a story is finished. Having a time line for something that should be fun turns it into work and it shows in the story. Oh well just my two cents and don't stress over titles and reads, Arecee
my chart
My chart list hits if I post before Bike, after Bike, or if Bike wasn't posted at all. Also, some days of the week get better hits than others, I can't expect everyone not to have a life.
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
you may be right, I may be crazy
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for...
Wait, where was I. Oh, yeah. You may be right, I don't know. Thought I would share my stats and see what people thought, anyway!
Also, someone messaged me and pointed out that if you click on "Printer Friendly" the hit only counts on chapter 1, thus explaining the huge drop in reads from 1 to 2.
I don't know for sure why there is a dip in chapters 9 and 11, it just looks so weird to me that it inspired my post!
Just great!
Now I'm gonna have Billy Joel playing in my head all night....
*sigh* could be worse...a LOT worse...but still..there are better Billy Joel songs to stick in my head!!
{{Hugs}}
We built this city....
We built this city on rock and rolllllllll....
So sorry!
Arrrgh!
Now you must make me use the ultimate weapon... the song I must use to erase a song I can't stand... the ultimate "song eraser"... PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON.
(problem is, then you can't get PUFF outta your head...) **Sigh**
Sighs are the natural language of the heart.
-Thomas Shadwell
I'd have to disagree
Alert!
WEAPONS GRADE SONG!
It's a world of laughter, a world of tears
It's a world of hopes, a world of fear
There's so much that we share
And it's time we're aware
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small world after all
It's a small small world
:p
Nope it's this one.
Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale a tale of a fateful trip
It started from this tropic port aboard this tiny ship...
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
The mate was a mighty
sailing man,
The skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day
For a three hour tour, a three hour tour...
Here on Jenny C'sssss Isssllle!
Now just watch Tels write up an episode for that idea! ^^
Actually the song that I find kills all is
The song that doesn't end. You all know the one right...
It goes like this:
This is the song that doesn't end
Yes it goes on and on my friend
Some people started singing it
Not knowing what it was
And they'll continue singing it forever just because ...
~repeat~
:P~
Bekah
What about...
Sorry, I've got love for the Piano Man myself. :P
Peace be with you and Blessed be
Love the chart
I suspect your analysis is correct. But if what you say is true, then I'm doomed. Who's going to read a chapter entitled "Wave of Mutilation"?
not as think as i smart i am
well....
If it is by YOU, Rebecca, I'll read it regardless of the chapter title, as I know what a damn good writer you are!
Me
This story is so good you could call a chapter 'Don't read this' and I still would, Arecee
I'll read it
Because its by you and also because I suspect strongly it would be the bad guys getting their comeuppance :D
Sephrena
JennySugar, I have
read and enjoyed your stories. Any who do not, are missing out on a good read.
May Your Light Forever Shine
Aww
Thanks Stan, that means a lot :)
There also might be some
There also might be some correlation to comments. I for example are am compulsive comment checker on stories where I have commented. I'm just that curious what other people think. Something like that would raise the klick counter.
In general you might be right, about the title... and the themes of course. Erotica get less reads. Many rea life titles get less reads and universe stories get more reads than all the rest.
I haven't created stats to check it, I've got to admit, but that was my impression,
Beyogi
Comment Related Hits
Like Beyogi, I'll hit a story I've read before the next time I'm here, if it's still on the front page and has new comments showing. If I've commented on it myself, I may even check it again before I sign off the site during the original session.
Eric
More than just a quirk
With around 600 hits and a glich of 20 - 30%, that's more than coincidence. It could well be the titles, but other things could also come into play, such as the synopsis or pictures, if you use them.
pictures
I hadn't thought about that aspect, but pictures could be an influence. My first story had no pictures at all and the hits on it were way wayyyyy lower than Duchess.
I write and post what I want, when I want
If people read them, fine. If not, well you win some and you lose some.
Some stories are virtually instant - idea at lunchtime, written and posted by end of day. Some others take years to reach fruition, often going through numerous re-writes along the way.
I rarely do magic, fantasy, children, school, age regression. forced or anything that's not real life. Firstly, they don't appeal to me and, secondly, I probably wouldn't be much good.
I don't post everything I write.
Titles: I've taken a lot of advice on this subject and understand that the title, or subtitle, can make or break a story. A working title of 'The Idiot Fringe' could be posted as 'Sponges'.
Statistics - now there's a mystery. Life's too short....
Songs that get in your brain - It's like a juke box in there. My eclectic taste in music means that it could jump from Bach to Barry Manilow. Could it be magic?
S.
Stats and Titles and Mysteries
Susan,
Yes, I certainly don't get all angst-ridden over the stats, but a lot of my job over the years has been looking for trends and patterns in stats so it sometimes leaks over into my "me-time". Occupational hazard, as they say!
I agree, a title of a story, or a chapter title, could drive a lot of clicks - or drive them away!
I will admit, dropping "We Built This City" lyrics in here was pure evil, but we all have a dark side, no?
Statistics
My professor for my first college statistics class opened his very first lecture with: " 'Statistics never lie but liars always use statistics' is a very true statement. We will study this anomoly in depth during this semester." He then proceeded to prove the truth in the statement. Ever since then, when I hear someone open a statement with "Statistically speaking..." I wait with bated breath for the lie to follow. I now love to have someone give me a set of data and then give them "statistical proof" of both the positive and negative values of that "fixed" data.
Don't worry about statistics. They're only there for the controlling people to confuse the more intelligent people. Write what you love and love what you write.
Hugs,
Erica
Sparing the innocent
Yes, yes it was. If it wasn't for the collateral damage I'd respond with Billy Ray Cyrus. ;)
not as think as i smart i am
Who Cares
Hey Sugar did you have fun writing the story? if the answer is yes then who cares what some people think. They didn't read your wonderful story then it was thier loss.
KUDOS on a job well done . Please Please don't stop writing because of a few who didn't like it and write for the many who did like the story.
HUGS & KISSES RICHIE2
No worries!
I have one chapter done of Part 2 of Duchess, so don't worry, Rachel, Maria, and Clarisse WILL return one day, soon!
Thanks for the kudos, and I just write as it comes to me, no fear of me stopping due to lack of kudos/reads/comments!
I happen to like
'We Built This City'
Showing my age again.
S.