Over the last few days, there has been some discussion about Hits, Comments, and Kudos.

Years ago, a few authors did an extensive study on Fictionmania about what s seemed to make a story more popular.

They concluded that the single most important factor was story length.

It was suggested in a recent BS blog that there’s a formula of x% of hits for comments and x% of hits for kudos.

I’m writing to tell those authors whose numbers don’t measure up to those ratios (I’m one of them), that that author is seemingly failing to consider that she has a LONG-established reader base who know exactly what they’re going to get in a story written by her. She is an accomplished writer. I’ve read a lot of what she writes. It’s entertaining. But - her circumstances are not average.

If you want to have more hits, comments, or kudos:

1.) Shorter stories and shorter chapters within shorter stories play well.
2.) The protagonist should be young. Under 25 is good, under 16 - better, and under 12 -best.
3.) Stay away from controversial themes.
4.) Portray your male characters as potential mates, helpers, or villains.
5.) Move your protagonist on a straight-line course through complete SRS.

Overall – writers should write for their own enjoyment. It’s nice to have comments, hits, and kudos but they are absolutely NOT an indication of the quality of writing.

They are an indication that someone cares about your writing.

A writer needs to know that there’s at least one person who will read their story and will try to enjoy it. Without that assurance, the mental gymnastics required in writing falls apart. A good writer must simultaneously be in the narrator’s mind, the minds of all the characters, and the mind of the reader. Comments and kudos make that last one more possible.

Readers – if you want quality writing – do your part and let the writers know you’re there. Writers – understand that most of us are ink-stained wretches who will be found by a huge audience years after we die – maybe.

Jill