Fic Talk > General Discussion
Questions I've pondered.
RokofAges75:
These are good questions!
I usually go by the summary when I'm looking for a story to read. If the summary sounds interesting, I'll check it out. I'll also try anything by favorite authors whose other stories I've enjoyed. If I get through the first few chapters and find myself enjoying the story, I usually stick with it.
The only thing that makes me abandon a story after I've committed to it is if the author updates so infrequently that I find it hard to follow the plot. Like Mare said, if I have to go back and reread previous chapters just to refresh my memory on what's going on in a newly posted chapter, that's my cue to stop reading and just wait for the thing to be finished so I can go back and reread all in one shot then. I know I'll enjoy it more when I can really get into it again and read without having to stop and wait for updates. If I've reviewed a story regularly up to a certain point and then stopped, chances are this is why, but I would answer honestly if the author asked, no matter what the reason was.
I review anything that I commit to reading, meaning I've gotten through the first few chapters and still felt like reading on. If it's a story I'm following as it's being posted, I review every chapter. If it's a story that's already finished, I usually just leave a couple of reviews, maybe one halfway through and definitely one at the end. It's the mark of a good story that I'm so eager to click ahead to the next chapter, I don't feel like taking the time to review first LOL.
The only time I don't review something I read is, like Mare said, if I'm just previewing it to find out if I really want to read it or not. If I know then that I'm not gonna stick with it, I don't bother to review.
RokofAges75:
--- Quote from: Purpura Lipstick on August 14, 2011, 06:03:48 PM ---It just makes me curious when my first chapter reads are so high and then they drop down dramatically over the next few chapters. I would love to know what made the readers lose interest in the story.
--- End quote ---
I would guess that everyone's are this way. I know mine are. The read/review count of the first chapter is always significantly higher than the chapters that follow it. At least it shows that people are willing to give your story a try, even if they don't stick with it.
mare:
--- Quote from: Purpura Lipstick on August 14, 2011, 06:08:52 PM ---that was informative Mare.
and I know it's been asked several times, I just was pondering it looking it at my read counts today. LOL.
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I don't want to sound like a Debbie Downer when it comes to read counts but I don't think they're very reliable. I know I click on many chapters of stories and stories in general just to make sure they are formatted correctly and following rules etc... that would count as a 'read' even though technically I didn't even really read one sentence. Also if authors are kind of obsessive compulsive and tend to click on their own stories all the time, that counts as well. That's why the first chapter usually has the highest amount of counts because a lot of people tend to 'click' maybe read a sentence or two and then click out.
RokofAges75:
That's true about read counts. I always click on my own chapters to check and make sure they posted right, like Mare said, and if they didn't and I have to go back and edit something, then I rack up a few more hits on the read count. It counts every single hit and refresh, even if it's just from one person, so it's definitely not reliable as a way to see how many different people have looked at your story.
Purpura Lipstick:
I've know it counts when someone clicks in it whether they read it or not which is why I was wondering about when people left reviews too. I'd love to talk to someone that is actually reading a story but never reviews.
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