Every so often I scan down the top stories lists. Tonight I scanned the Top Downloads list. I can't believe that 'Six Times a Day' is still a top download. I mean it was finished 7 years ago. I started reading it when it first started being posted. I think it was still on ASSTR in those days. I stopped reading when it got too far out there for me to enjoy anymore. I understand 'willing suspension of disbelief,' but that only stretches so far.
Ignore the completion date. Take the first posting date, todays date, the total number of downloads, then do the math. Average weekly downloads are in excess of 2,000
Now consider how many readers use the top lists and click on them. The download numbers do not reflect how many actually read even the first chapter, only how many view the story index page. (Which is why chapter one download counts are always way over-inflated.)
Simply being listed guarantees more downloads than would otherwise accrue.
I can't believe that 'Six Times a Day' is still a top download.
It's the 'Illustrated' tag.
It's the 'Illustrated' tag.
An interesting titbit for those who enjoy gaming the site.
An interesting titbit for those who enjoy gaming the site.
Nope. See, https://storiesonline.net/d/s2/t9808/illustrated-stories#po168749
The illustrated tag cannot be selected by the authors themselves because in the past many added it even though their stories don't have illustrations because illustrated stories get too many hits just for that tag.