I was wondering whether we could implement an author rating system (or even whether we want one or not).
The principle is very straight forward, all the author's story ratings are averaged, with the separate listing of the "Top-Rated Authors".
Is there any interest in such a listing?
Basically so readers can select more dependable authors (i.e. authors who consistently write well-written or popular works). Obviously, it would only benefit the top-ten authors. :(
What do you think would be the use of such a list?
It might help readers find new authors. However we all have our personal opinion of what a story's rating means.
The 'Top Lists' section of SOL's homepage provides the same type of help to readers based on number of downloads. Personally, I would trust number of downloads more than I would ratings.
If Lazeez choses to implement such a list, I would recommend that the list include only the ratings of stories started within a defined period of time, such as the past 3-12 months. I envision the listing as an automated feature, so I would also suggest an update interval of once at least once a month, possibly daily, weekly, or twice a month.
I would trust number of downloads more than I would ratings.
How do you compare the number of downloads for stories of different length, with different numbers of chapters, and different posting schedules over different periods of time?
How do you compare the number of downloads
That is what the current 'Top Listing' section is doing. So Lazeez obviously has a way to do it.
That is what the current 'Top Listing' section is doing. So Lazeez obviously has a way to do it.
The numbers of downloads in the top-lists are simply displayed. Unlike for the scores, there is no formula in place to make the download numbers comparable.
A story's download count and rating are determined by Lazeez's algorithms. If you wish to dispute the validity of Lazeez's algorithm, I'm not the one to talk to. I also wouldn't suggest your doing so with Lazeez.
A story's download count and rating are determined by Lazeez's algorithms. If you wish to dispute the validity of Lazeez's algorithm, I'm not the one to talk to. I also wouldn't suggest your doing so with Lazeez.
I don't dispute the accuracy of the download numbers, I dispute the comparability of those numbers.
Which part of I am not the one to dispute your issue with are you having difficulty understanding.
It might help readers find new authors. However we all have our personal opinion of what a story's rating means.
I've got no problem basing it on downloads rather than ratings, as long as the score was averaged across all their stories (to give a feel for their consistency).
That would severely limit authors like Rache, who'd often write story JUST to piss people off, despite being a terrific author, but she knew what she was doing and accepted the lower scores. The more likely to suffer from such listings are anyone who posts MM stories, and the 1-bombers would tank their listing pretty quickly. :(
no problem basing it on downloads rather than ratings, as long as the score was averaged across all their stories
You are going to have to explain that one CW. If you base it on downloads there are no scores to average.
no problem basing it on downloads rather than ratings, as long as the score was averaged across all their stories
You are going to have to explain that one CW. If you base it on downloads there are no scores to average.
You'd instead base it on 'average downloads' (total downloads/# of books). Of course, that would penalize authors with LOTS of books, as opposed to someone who posts a single ongoing series (since long series traditionally do better than most other stories), but nothing will be totally equitable anyway.
A light goes on. Score being derived from average downloads rather than its usual connotation of rating.
Sounds like a way to make one author feel good and all the other authors feel bad. I recommend not implementing this change.
Your post was my initial take on CW's suggestion.
Considering how readers rate stories, CW's comment about finding dependable authors is only partially true. If the stories posted over the past 10+ years are considered, the list of authors would not change very often. A static list of that type would not aid readers in finding relatively new authors who write solid stories, but haven't been around long enough to build up a large reader base.
author rating system.
One of the most requested features by readers.
I have my reasons, but I won't implement this.
I have my reasons, but I won't implement this.
I agree. And since you're not implementing it, I'll keep my reasons to myself.
One of the most requested features by readers.
I have my reasons, but I won't implement this.
Good! Thank you.
I feel such a system as suggested would be detrimental to many authors because you can't compare apples with oranges as against strawberries with any relevance. Such a comparison is what you try when you want a system to compare authors of different genres to each other instead just within the genre, let a lone the mess with the authors who write in multiple genres.
One of the most requested features by readers.
I have my reasons, but I won't implement this.
That's acceptable. It just seemed like a feature which would benefit readers (though not necessarily authors). If you found the suggestion unworkable, for whatever reason, that's fine with me. After all, you're the one who's got to live with the results.
I'm not sure how much value author ratings would have.
I feel like story ratings are ratings of the stories in regards to what sort of story they are. So if I rate a mystery story, it's on the basis of being a mystery story; and if I see a high rating for a say, mind control stroke story I assume it's a story that does the mind control well and the stroke well.
It's a way of, especially for more niche interests, indicating how well the story caters to those niche interests.
Whereas with authors, especially those who have themes across the board, there's not really any information, I feel. "This person writes good stories"? Cool, but I care about particular tags, and authors don't have tags.
Of course, it could also be that I know I'd be at the bottom of the author rankings, so take with a grain of salt... :D
I think the Clitorides Awards does a fair job of rating the best authors over the years.
https://clitoridesawards.org/archives/
An Author rating would seriously dampen the experimentality of some Authors in my opinion.
Let's say you have an Author who has some great stories that got some 9.x scores. Some would never threaten their "status" with stories they think would not score great, where they don't have much experience. They would write whats popular, what made them popular. All in the little niche that they have carved themselves.
Maybe they would then post those experimental or maybe-not-great-scorers on other sites.
Also, some may want to delete old stories or repost them so that they get a better score.
Let's say you have an Author who has some great stories that got some 9.x scores. Some would never threaten their "status" with stories they think would not score great, where they don't have much experience. They would write whats popular, what made them popular. All in the little niche that they have carved themselves.
Maybe they would then post those experimental or maybe-not-great-scorers on other sites.
Not an issue, just post experimental works under a pseudonym. If it proves to be popular, just change the name back again.
But again, we're arguing about the teeth on a dead horse, since Lazeez has already said he has no interest in doing it.
Not an issue, just post experimental works under a pseudonym. If it proves to be popular, just change the name back again.
That causes long term issues with the posting wizard or the story links when you change the name. I used to have the Ernest Edwards stories under a separate pen name, then I moved them into my main account. After that was done I could delete the pen name, but if I did that it meant anyone who had a browser bookmark to any of the stories would have the bookmark stop working for them, so I left the pen name in existence, but it doesn't show because it has no names beside it. However, it means whenever I post a new story the pen name is in the list and I have to select a name to post the new story under. I find that annoying, but live with it.