What time and day do you prefer novel updates to happen (U.S American specifically)

[Verdant]

With my new novel updating for the first time this week, I wondered what day and time I should post it. Previously, it was 1:00am Central time on Thursdays. For non-central time people, that’s the equivalent of midnight morning time where everyone is asleep.
However, I thought of other alternative times. The idea of Friday night uploads is interesting, or Saturday morning uploads. I’m an American and it seems like a larger portion of my audience for my novels are. I would prefer to upload at a decent time. Though I might revert back to my original plan.
Any suggestions or recommendations?

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Upload time has very little bearing on actual readers. I have never noticed a difference from different times.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

6-9 AM EST and 2-4 PM EST because it's when schools usually get out and people start reading. 7-8 PM EST because people are going to bed and want something to read. Though it's all a gamble anyways so these are just estimated times from people watching over the years.

 

[ElijahRyne]

With my new novel updating for the first time this week, I wondered what day and time I should post it. Previously, it was 1:00am Central time on Thursdays. For non-central time people, that’s the equivalent of midnight morning time where everyone is asleep.
However, I thought of other alternative times. The idea of Friday night uploads is interesting, or Saturday morning uploads. I’m an American and it seems like a larger portion of my audience for my novels are. I would prefer to upload at a decent time. Though I might revert back to my original plan.
Any suggestions or recommendations?

Just be consistent and don’t worry. The most you can do to manipulate stuff like that is upload a chapter at times with little others posting so you can keep your story on the front page for as long as possible.

 

[melchi]

Just be consistent and don’t worry. The most you can do to manipulate stuff like that is upload a chapter at times with little others posting so you can keep your story on the front page for as long as possible.

This.
Being consistent matters so much more than picking the best time. If it has a good amount of content and is not radioactive people will add it.

 

[RavensQuill]

6-9 AM EST and 2-4 PM EST because it's when schools usually get out and people start reading. 7-8 PM EST because people are going to bed and want something to read. Though it's all a gamble anyways so these are just estimated times from people watching over the years.

This is an interesting take on the question I wasn't expecting to see... Definitely something worth keeping in mind as a writer.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I try to do one chapter every Tuesday, either very early morning or around noon, and maybe one (sometimes the same story sometimes a different one) on a different day.
Was unable to do this for two weeks due to travelling and an illness, so have dumped a bit more (so my stories are at 5 and 10 chapters right now) this week at random times.

 

[Fox-Trot-9]

During the day, preferably in the morning.

 

[Lysander_Works]

With as much as people have going on each day, I don't think the exact time matters as much. Probably best to target 18:30 to 20:00 for those nighttime readers. Consistency on the days of upload feels more important than the times.
Getting that first bit of initial traffic though, this may matter more?

 

[Anonjohn20]

Probably best to target 18:30 to 20:00 for those nighttime readers.

I mean, if he or she posts early, then there is nothing stopping nighttime readers from reading at night; but if she posts late, then the early readers miss out.

 

[Lysander_Works]

I mean, if he or she posts early, then there is nothing stopping nighttime readers from reading at night; but if she posts late, then the early readers miss out.

Yes, but one thing to keep in mind is the _Recently Updated_ Filter that most readers here might use when determining what to click on for the first time. Posting too early means it may get buried under more updated works. At least, that's the thought process I'm assuming Verdant is weighing when deciding on a time.

Me? I just do it between 18:00 and 20:00 because it's actually easier on me. I'm not exactly that picky, though I do state my intended time frame when publishing a new project, on my profile, which I'm sure no one follows, but you get the point.

 

[beast_regards]

It doesn't matter.

You usually update on specific time only to catch the attention of the new readers which might see your story on the latest updates.

It all lost meaning on the Royal Road long time ago. Last time I checked, your story stays in the latest updates for several seconds at best. If anyone views the web page even a few moments later, it's all lost.

The Scribble Hub may be smaller and have a better layout for the front page, but your story doesn't stay there for that much longer. (Trending section notwithstanding as it is view based, not recent updates based)

 

[Anonjohn20]

Yes, but one thing to keep in mind is the _Recently Updated_ Filter that most readers here might use when determining what to click on for the first time. Posting too early means it may get buried under more updated works. At least, that's the thought process I'm assuming Verdant is weighing when deciding on a time.

Me? I just do it between 18:00 and 20:00 because it's actually easier on me. I'm not exactly that picky, though I do state my intended time frame when publishing a new project, on my profile, which I'm sure no one follows, but you get the point.

Yeah but you forget about time zones, Your 6 p.m.–8 p.m. is someone's morning where he's headed to work or another's nighttime. So its ultimately meaningless to wait more time.

It all lost meaning on the Royal Road long time ago.

Royal Road? This is SmutHub! (please read in kind Leonidas's voice)

 

[beast_regards]

Royal Road? This is SmutHub! (please read in kind Leonidas's voice)

I mentioned the Smuttiest of Hubs in the same comment :)