A lot of readers stopping at chapter one...

[RileyMarino]

Hey,

So new to SH, and have started posting up my first story.

According to the stats, a lot of readers aren't making it past chapter one. Is that an accurate reflection, or just the way SH displays things?

I've gone over my first chapter a few times, and I can't see any major problems. I would expect some people to click 'back' if it wasn't what they were looking for, for whatever reason, but the proportion seems high (a lot higher than the same story on RR, for example).

Additional question: is there any where to post this chapter to get feedback?

Thanks,
RM

 

[beast_regards]

It's likely. Either first chapter, or first few chapter like first two or three. Whether the metrics are better here than on RR, that's a question.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Many readers would have authors save up lots of chapters before they start reading past chapter 1, with some even waiting for the work to actually finish so they can binge read it.

After all, no one likes cliff-hangers.

Also, it can also be they didn't like the premise of the work, hence they stopped at chapter 1. Any case, don't let this faze you.

 

[Rhaps]

To answer your question, people usually read the first chapter to get a feel for your story, if it doesn't fit their taste then they'll not read anymore.

For feedback, try asking in the feedback section

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Both... I have a lot of stories I opened the first chapter on but never read, just marked to look at later. I doubt I'm alone in this.
Also you (and, I suspect *I*) may have a problem "hooking" people in that first chapter - either it just does not grab them, or they think "OH, just another one of these. Maybe I'll get back to it, maybe not. Yawn"

For Chapter feedback there is a Latest Chapter thing down in the Readers area that some people use for that. Not sure if it is the intended purpose but it gets used that way.

 

[TheKillingAlice]

Why don't you try putting you problem to the test here?

 

[Zinless]

Tis' normal. The first or two chapters usually have 2x-4x the amount of views compared to the chapters onward.

It's the gradual drop-off that you need to watch, and although that's normal too, if the gap between chapters above the first three are too big, there might be something swaying your readers away.

 

[ArlindoFrancisco]

For real feedback, make a post on feedback. There is a difference in the views and they do catch up eventuality, but as your story progresses, it will filter some people unless you are going for views so based on other chapters, you change the story so that is appealing for these kinds of audiences.

Is the story yours or the public? That is the question you need to ask yourself if you are in this situation; if not, another possibility is that a lot of people wait for chapters to pile up.

 

[ACertainPassingUser]

That's the reason why we should go all out on 1st chapter and gradually put less effort on the next chapters.

 

[Xcalibur_Xc]

Simply because the first chapter reflects the start of your book and most pause after the first chapter until there are 20 or 40 chs up. Some even forget because there are hundreds of books out there. Then as the chapters increase, the views decrease, it's common.

 

[GlassRose]

It might be people putting your book on a TBR list distorting those values.

 

[Corty]

It's a perfectly normal phenomenon. They read the first chapter, decide it's not for them, and they move on. I think it applies to every or most platforms too.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

It's a perfectly normal phenomenon. They read the first chapter, decide it's not for them, and they move on. I think it applies to every or most platforms too.
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Or as is often my case when reading, they decide: "This might be interesting, but I don't have the time for it now so will save it, move on, and maybe eventually come back to it." (or, less often but still happens: "If this were better edited, I would not be able to stop but ... it really needs an editor. Maybe it will be fixed later?")

 

[John_Owl]

chapter 1: People read to see if they like it. If they don't read beyond it, it's either that they didn't like the premise or they want a stockpile/completed tag.

Further chapters: You'll see a slow decline of readers though each chapter, and this is likely due to both the above reasons, either waiting for a stockpile to binge later or a completed tag so they aren't stuck waiting for an extended period for the next while. I've personally been burned by authors that once updated weekly moving onto green pastures and abandoning the work in it's entirety.

 

[RileyMarino]

chapter 1: People read to see if they like it. If they don't read beyond it, it's either that they didn't like the premise or they want a stockpile/completed tag.

Further chapters: You'll see a slow decline of readers though each chapter, and this is likely due to both the above reasons, either waiting for a stockpile to binge later or a completed tag so they aren't stuck waiting for an extended period for the next while. I've personally been burned by authors that once updated weekly moving onto green pastures and abandoning the work in it's entirety.

Ok, I understand this. For the record, I've written this entire story - so it's all getting posted, whether people like it or not :)

 

[John_Owl]

Ok, I understand this. For the record, I've written this entire story - so it's all getting posted, whether people like it or not :)

More power to you! I wasn't trying to dissuade you or anything. By all means, post what you want. Just saying that it's entirely possible people either want more so they can binge, they want the entire thing, or they just simply aren't hooked by the first chapter.

Most of my first chapters tend to be what would hook me as a reader. that said, what hooks each individual is different. Most will likely stop reading a story that doesn't hook them in the first chapter. a few may continue reading hoping for that hook, but if they aren't hooked by 5, they'll likely just stop. So in terms of keeping readers engaged, chapter 1 is by far the most important. but chapters 2-5 are nearly as important. After that, you can afford a slow chapter here or there.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I try to put bait out in the first chapter and the actual hook in the second myself...