A thought came to me. What is popularity? I mean to you personally. Is it scores, views, comments?
I personally see it as a mixture scores and comments. If I get high scores and the comments reflect the score, I consider it to be popular amongst a niche - perhaps as an author a niche that I tried to capture.
If it has more views and hardly any comments or scores, or low scores, I see it as not so popular.
So, what do you see as "popular"?
It's a combination of factors, but I'd say comments weigh in the most for me... not just the quantity of the comments but the quality.
It's easy to throw in a "great story" type comment, but when a lot of readers take time to leave something really personalized that shows the story had some impact on them, then I see the story as one that commanded attention within the Lush community, so it's fair to deem it as 'popular'.
Having over 30K views is a good indicator as well.
I'm struggling with this right at this moment, because my latest series is getting few views and few comments. Votes are almost irrelevant and I'm thinking of turning them back off. I only turned them on because of the VIP contest. I didn't know what impact having the votes turned off would have on that. The comments, especially from respected authors, feed my ego the most. The views I get are low for a number of reasons that I understand, but I like to see enough views to justify the effort that I put into writing something other than a quick wank story. Having over 2K of views would, I think, be impressive for a novel written by a not very well-established guy.
I personally don't look at popularity when on here. I come here because I enjoy being a member of Lush and enjoy interacting with other Lush authors and members.
I write a story just for the pure joy of being able to share some of my writing ability with the Lush population. If a reader likes it and comments and votes, that's great.
I do like getting the comments on my stories. It does let me know that the readers enjoy what I have written.
But I never look at it as a popularity contest here. As long as I enjoy myself being a member and having readers enjoy what I write, then that is enough for me.
"So don't cry to me.
If you loved me,
You would be here with me.
Don't lie to me,
Just get your things.
I've made up your mind."
--Evanescence
When I wrote my first story I really wanted to be a popular author and have a lot of votes and comments but later I realised that I rather write for my own satisfaction and set small challenges upon myself. At the beginning I got advice like use sexy profile pictures to draw attention, put some sexy pictures on the image gallery and so on. I tried at first but I wasn't comfortable. It wasn't me I guess.
Of Course I still wish to get more views, votes and comments than I do at the moment, I mean who would not?
Personally I get awesome messages in my inbox from some people which really make my day and that matters most to me than the number of views I get.
I would not judge a story by the number of views because sometimes we tend to just click on a story, read 5 lines and close it because we do not get it...and it still counts as a view, right?
The comments (but not everyone is comfortable with writing comments) and the scores are a better indicator and the number of people who are following you or who have put the story as a favorite.
It's the comments mostly. I used to get hung up on having 'low views' but I figured that was probably due to having a crap title/promotion rather than the actual story. I love getting good comments!
I just want to say that most of my favorite stories on here DO NOT have a lot of views or votes. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the stories by Tashitasha, SITTING and a few others. Most of the stories that people respond to quickly on here are very superficial and stupid and you really can't read them. Also if a story is really short and just about the sex then I have no connection to the characters and I don't really give a shit about them so who cares if they're having sex? Tasha, Emilia, John and Jake.....Rachel.....I love you all and your stories rock!
In my view, it is not all about the number of views, votes, or comments. Although, of course, I like to receive positive feedback to my poems and the stories that I write with Alphamagus, when I see the some of stories that get far higher numbers in terms of views, votes and comments, I realize that is not the audience that I write for. Everyone is entitled to their own taste and to read what they enjoy. There are some readers who I am certain would never read my work, and that is not a problem for me. So, bottom line, numbers are not everything. Comments that are positive and thoughtful are meaningful, no matter how many or few there are.
I have the same views as Principessa. That is probably why we write so well together.
Story views can be greatly affected by the story category they are under as certain categories garner greater views. So in some cases some of your best stories may not gather near as many views as a lesser story you posted in another category.
I tend to judge my stories by the totality of views, scores, number of comments and number of votes. Certainly trolls can lower the scores of excellent stories. I definitely give greatest credence to comments from authors and commentators who have established excellent critical acclaim. No doubt comments mean the most to me.
To create a popular story and get great reviews, stretch your ability in writing, really push yourself. Proof read and proof again, follow up by finding a friend who is a quality proof reader/editor and has a good knowledge of English grammar to thoroughly read and edit your story. Do not submit your story until after you've done all of that.
Popularity is as much about marketing as writing skill. There are very good writers here who get more from their stories here by putting time and effort into spreading the word.
Jaymal is one of the best exponents of this I've come across here. Whether it's deliberate or not, he has a way of getting his friends to issue "send to all" messages to their friends list to reach a huge audience
Marketing seems like a dirty word to some people but if it's numbers you're after you really have to do more than post and hope. Of course you still have to write something that resonates with your readership. "Some books are undeservedly forgotten; none are undeservedly remembered." WH Auden
Warning: The opinions above are those of an anonymous individual on the internet. They are opinions, unless they're facts. They may be ill-informed, out of touch with reality or just plain stupid. They may contain traces of irony. If reading these opinions causes you to be become outraged or you start displaying the symptoms of outrage, stop reading them immediately. If symptoms persist, consult a psychiatrist.
Why not read some stories instead
NEW! Want a quick read for your coffee break? Why not try this... Flash Erotica: Scrubber I'm gonna have to completely agree with Buz on this one. To me, the comments are the proof in the pudding. Just because a story has views doesn't mean someone actually read it.
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I’m not too concerned about popularity for the reasons highlighted by Buz. Some readers who have enjoyed my stories have voted and left positive and complimentary comments. Those who haven’t enjoyed them have been polite enough to remain non-committal.
I have read many stories in many categories and I know that I could make significant gains in popularity by writing stories that deal with a different kind of sex and get straight to the action.
I write the way I think and if others enjoy and connect with that I’m very pleased but I won’t wright about different sexual scenarios or in a style that’s alien to me just to gain popularity.
Not that important. It's an odd opinion for an actor, but it's honestly what I feel.
For me, it's never about popularity. I write stories for myself, whether it's a revisiting of past events, or something that it titillating to me.
It’s nice if people like the stories, but I never write anything with the “approval of others” in mind. Quite frankly I couldn't care less.
I doubt I’ll be on anyone’s best seller list. Just having fun.
Comments are what I write for, that and my own satisfaction. As stated above though, when someone who has shown that they have real talent and taste feels moved enough to leave a comment, especially one that shows they really understood what the story meant, thats when I know I've written something of value.
When I first started writing here I was not even aware of all of the complexities involved, from comments, to scoring, to keeping track of views. Now, after some 40 or so stories and poems it seems to me that if people keep coming back for more, then you are popular. I hate to make it about statistics, but it is a basic fact of human nature. If you like something you want more, if you dislike it you want less. So, to keep it simple, for me the number of views compared to the number of pieces written will give you a good idea of popularity.
Authors write in the expectation of being read. Its most unlikely they would write on a desert island. Some hope to leave a legacy after death has silenced them forever. Words are our one way of getting at the future we will never see.
They enable the unlovely and the unattractive to enter the realm of desire. Fat unwholesome men, old ladies well past their prime, can in their imaginations be young studs or sex crazed beautiful young women.
But when the chips are down I would rather be popular between the sheets than between the pages.
but we all need the constructive criticism to only improve.
