I need info on completed stories

[WasatchWind]

So I hear something like this a every so often from readers on sites like this - "I hate getting into a story and then find that it's been on hiatus for a year, and so for that reason I tend to avoid reading ongoing work because I don't want to fall into the same trap."

That brings me to a question though - do these readers actually find those completed stories? A lot of these writing sites have a filter option for finding completed stories, but it seems that on all of these sites, namely, Royal Road, Wattpad, Fictionpress, the moment you stop adding chapters, the readers stop coming in.

This explains to me why I see certain stories going on for a really, really long time - they don't want to lose their audience. So how does recommendation of completed stories work, at least on scribblehub? Is it one of those things that's kept hidden to prevent people from gaming it, or does the recommendation just end as soon as the last chapter is posted?

 

[Valmond]

So I hear something like this a every so often from readers on sites like this - "I hate getting into a story and then find that it's been on hiatus for a year, and so for that reason I tend to avoid reading ongoing work because I don't want to fall into the same trap."

That brings me to a question though - do these readers actually find those completed stories? A lot of these writing sites have a filter option for finding completed stories, but it seems that on all of these sites, namely, Royal Road, Wattpad, Fictionpress, the moment you stop adding chapters, the readers stop coming in.

This explains to me why I see certain stories going on for a really, really long time - they don't want to lose their audience. So how does recommendation of completed stories work, at least on scribblehub? Is it one of those things that's kept hidden to prevent people from gaming it, or does the recommendation just end as soon as the last chapter is posted?

A very good question. Thing is, it is how the algorithm is setup. It tends to punish completed stories, and reward ongoing. A lot of readers prefer completed stories, but sometimes it cannot be found. The fortunate thing about SH at least, is that you can filter for it. The problem is that completed stories does not tend to get the support it needs, hence you see it falling.

One never really loses their audience. The book might be done, though if you write more books, that base will tend to move onto the next. However, naturally if you stop writing. It falls out of the algorithm, leading to less activity. The only way around this is for readers to consistently find it to keep it up. Without the edge of having some kind of leverage, it becomes very difficult for completed stories to keep up.

As far as I can tell. The recommendation appears to end after two or three days give or take. After a week or so, it can become inactive unless people actively search for it, and finds it. The problem also comes with filtering completed stories more accurately. As well as, the features aren’t made too obvious from what I can tell, people tend to realize the filter option a bit later than they would like. I admit on SH, I found out about the filter option around two weeks after I first came on the site.

 

[WasatchWind]

A very good question. Thing is, it is how the algorithm is setup. It tends to punish completed stories, and reward ongoing. A lot of readers prefer completed stories, but sometimes it cannot be found. The fortunate thing about SH at least, is that you can filter for it. The problem is that completed stories does not tend to get the support it needs, hence you see it falling.

One never really loses their audience. The book might be done, though if you write more books, that base will tend to move onto the next. However, naturally if you stop writing. It falls out of the algorithm, leading to less activity. The only way around this is for readers to consistently find it to keep it up. Without the edge of having some kind of leverage, it becomes very difficult for completed stories to keep up.

As far as I can tell. The recommendation appears to end after two or three days give or take. After a week or so, it can become inactive unless people actively search for it, and finds it. The problem also comes with filtering completed stories more accurately. As well as, the features aren’t made too obvious from what I can tell, people tend to realize the filter option a bit later than they would like. I admit on SH, I found out about the filter option around two weeks after I first came on the site.

That is... unfortunate. I have a completed story right now - but considering it's fanfiction I doubt that anyone is searching for it really. I also doubt that I am getting any readers carrying over, because I don't have a ton of followers.

 

[Valmond]

That is... unfortunate. I have a completed story right now - but considering it's fanfiction I doubt that anyone is searching for it really. I also doubt that I am getting any readers carrying over, because I don't have a ton of followers.

Fanfiction is a bit of a trickier case as well. It more or less follows a trend, if the trend deteriorates, so does the readers. On the other hand, if it is something quite active in the community, then it will constantly rise. Those have a better chance of being searched for, since people can just type in the name.

As for the follower problem. Your better option is to branch out more, usually multi platforming will make up for the lack of followers. Some may come from other sites to read your work as well. I have readers from god knows where going to Wattpad to find my work now. It is small, but definitely noticeable.

 

[DubstheDuke]

I guess self promotion in forums? That seems about the only way to me.

 

[Reisinling]

I believe that people that browse SH and RR actually like that the story is currently incomplete. They like being part of the thing that is currently happening... but they also don't want to suffer the heartache of the story not being completed/having shitty ending.

Basically, look at TV series- people have tons of fun being in the moment, waiting for next episode, being part of the community, and they also are outraged when their favorite story goes on hiatus/has bad ending.

 

[WasatchWind]

I believe that people that browse SH and RR actually like that the story is currently incomplete. They like being part of the thing that is currently happening... but they also don't want to suffer the heartache of the story not being completed/having shitty ending.

Basically, look at TV series- people have tons of fun being in the moment, waiting for next episode, being part of the community, and they also are outraged when their favorite story goes on hiatus/has bad ending.

Well I'm doing a similar thread right now on Royal Road and they don't seem too keen on reading ongoing stories.

 

[Reisinling]

Well I'm doing a similar thread right now on Royal Road and they don't seem too keen on reading ongoing stories.

I'm sure there are people like that, but it seems that the vast majority of most popular stories are ongoing... also if its possible check their profiles for the stories they actually read! They might be just annoyed at how many stories are never finished, while reading ongoing ones

 

[AliceShiki]

The majority of readers say that they prefer completed stories because they can read the whole thing in one go... But no matter what webnovel site you go to, you'll see that the novels that get most views/day are the ongoing ones.

An ongoing novel simply gets more exposure than a completed novel, that's just how the new updates system works. At the end of the day, unless you actively search for completed novels, most novels you'll end up reading are ongoing ones, it's just easier to find them.

 

[ForestDweller]

I'm ready for my story to just die in the dust when I finish it a year from now.

Thanks why you have Patreon folks. At least you get something out of your hard work.

 

[Valmond]

I'm ready for my story to just die in the dust when I finish it a year from now.

Thanks why you have Patreon folks. At least you get something out of your hard work.

Sadly mine dies much faster, since I finish a book in about a week to a month time. ?

Hell, not too long ago, I finished a sequel in two days. ?