Another question, O flist...and pictures!

[tabaqui]

Or, rather - links to pictures. Remember when i posted about my books being mostly unpacked and bookshelves up? And i had pictures of said shelves?

Some of you were all 'i can't read the titles!' and i said i'd take pictures that showed the titles. I did! Of a few shelves. But they're *very big*, so i'm only putting the links here, rather than actually putting the images up. So click at your own risk! :)

Shelf one.
Shelf two.
Shelf three.
Shelf four.

And now...and observation. Or, the question. And this is not - let me be clear, *not* - a plea for more comments or a whine about how 'nobody wuvs me!'. It's just something i noticed and thought was interesting.

When i posted the first installment of Aftermath, it ended up with an astonishing 221 comments. Now, take out half of those for my replies, and say another ten for back-and-forth, that's still a *very*, very amazing 100 positive comments. The second and third parts, respectively, earned 133 and 95, or - 60 and say....42. Very, very nice. But why such a drop?

Was it because the second part didn't immediately follow on the first part, and people felt cheated? Was it because even though the header says Sam/Dean, there isn't any actual sex and in fact, only one brief kiss? Is it because it's 'unfinished' in that i don't have a number of parts and they can see how long until the end? It's odd.

And like i said - not begging for more comments, i'm perfectly happy with the amount that i get - my flist is amazing and wonderful and strokes my ego *quite* nicely. But the difference between parts one and three is really just...thought-provoking.

Any thoughts?

:)

Comments

[giandujakiss.livejournal.com]

Once you established it as a 'verse, people started waiting until the "end" of the story before commenting. I often do that with WIPs.

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

I'd guess that it has something to do with being an ongoing story with no set posting schedule or part numbers. A lot of people hesitate to get invested in stories like that, because they're so often abandoned mid-way through! Also, some people wait for the end of a multi-part series, and then leave feedback for the whole thing. When you posted the first bit, it wasn't clear that there would be more, so people were leaving feedback for a finished story. Following parts make it into a WIP, and folks, as I said, will definitely leave less feedback for those, in my experience.

[kellifer-fic.livejournal.com]

I think most people see that happen, I think it's pretty common. There was an amazing response to the first wing!fic and while I know people read faithfully, the replies get less with each installment. I know the number of people reading doesn't drop though.

I though, completely understand that as a gen writer I'm pretty spoiled for feedback... :)

[tabaqui]

That's so weird to me, as i generally leave fb on every fic i read, unless i'm reading a multi-chapter in one go, then i usually leave fb on only the last part. Which is unfair to the writer, in some ways, and sometimes i leave fb on *every* part, but not often.

I can't imagine reading something i like and *not* leaving fb. Seems odd.

*but then, i like leaving fb*
:)

[tabaqui]

Now, i can understand that if i were a fic-abandoning crazy person but i *always* finish my stuff... :)

But yeah, i get ya. I tend to leave fb on *all* parts of a story unless i read it in one go, and then i only leave a comment on the last part.

[tabaqui]

I suppose... Seems odd, though, to read and not feed. I can't imagine doing that! I like to leave comments.

But then, i also can't make myself wait for most fics to be finished - i want to read *now*, and so read each chapter as it comes out, as a rule.

[ladysybylgrey.livejournal.com]

for me, alot of whether I respond or not will have to do with when in the week I read the story. I know that sounds weird, but I am in uni for most of the week, so if I'm reading something in the mornings mon-thur, I am not likely to respond to that part, because I'm in class and don't want to attract attention, or if I'm reading it in the evening, I am likely to be really tired from dealing with school and my kid&hubby so I may not respond more than a word or two. But if I read fri-sun, I do my best to respond with at least a full sentence.

G
ps - i wasn't one of the non-posters for this tho', as I rarely read spn, never having seen the show... just thought I would throw in my two cents worth... hope you don't mind...

[lomer.livejournal.com]

It could be as simple as people who read the first one didn't realize you'd written a part two since it took you (understandably!) a little time to write the sequel.

And yeah it might be the Sam/Dean thing. *shrug* Keep writing it though! Please! And you may not have lost readers, people may just not have commented this time.

[tabaqui]

RL always trumps lj life. :) And i can totally get behind being just too wiped out to do more than stare and zone.

And no, i don't mind - you don't have to have left a comment or even have read any fic to have an opinion. :) You should investigate SPN, though! It's really a fun show.
*pimps*

:)

[tabaqui]

It's possible! Although i do post to comms, as well...

I have more to say in this 'verse, for sure. :)

[lomer.livejournal.com]

Yay it's one of my favorites!

[apetslife.livejournal.com]

I, too, always finish my stuff! Except for the two times I didn't. *grin* I think that in general people are wary of WIPs that aren't finished yet or are being "written as they go," just from long fandom exposure to such.

[lunabee34.livejournal.com]

I think it's probably a variety of things. I don't think I will ever understand what causes people to comment on fic and what prohibits them.

Half the time I write something I think will be very popular I get decidedly less than the reaction I thought and can't figure out why. And half the time I write something that I think no one else will like or care about but me, I'm pleasantly surprised by the volume of comments I get.

*shrugs*

I think in SPN, nobody is reading anything except for Big Bang right now, so depending on when you posted the last bit that may have something to do with it.

[crimsonkitty88.livejournal.com]

So many books! *salivates*

As for your review question, I don't think it's anything you've done wrong. It just seems like the way of things with sequels. The first always gets the most reviews but the second and third instalments and so on always seems to get less. It's a pattern I've noticed myself. *shrugs* In other words, people are lazy. LOL

[tabaqui]

Ooooh, yes - blame Big Bang!!
:)

Hehe. Yeah, the commenting habits of people are *very* odd.

[tabaqui]

Heeeeeee!
It's quite possible, although i would never *say* that.
*cough*

:)

[realtsunamigirl.livejournal.com]

As your self-designated world's biggest fan (tm), I haven't commented because I've only seen the first two seasons of SPN and don't want to get spoiled.

Just in case you had some silly notion about me not loving you anymore;-D

Also, I find that I don't comment on all portions of a story because I often let them pile up so I can read several at once. Unless something specific about a chapter grabs me, I'll just comment on the last part I read.

[eleke.livejournal.com]

In my very humble lurkery opinion, I think that the reason for the drop in comments is that with the first chapter, people thought it'd be the *only* chapter. Now that we, the readers, know that you'll be writing more in the verse, we're waiting for if/when you announce you're done to shower you with the praise you definately deserve.

I know it's often with me when I know that a story is chaptered, I really can't think of anything to say other than, "Great chapter! Looking forward to next one!" and once I finish I have a couple paragraphs worth of thoughts of this and that scene. I'm trying to do better about commenting now, though.

But this is just what I think - I can't really say anything for others.

[tabaqui]

That seems to be a big 'thing' with people, not wanting to read/comment until a fic is done. I'm usually way too impatient to *read* to be able to wait until a fic is all done.

I wants it naaaooooow!
:)

[tabaqui]

Heeee!
*smooch*

Dude!! You need to watch season three *soon*!!
*bounce*

[realtsunamigirl.livejournal.com]

Well I will when the silly buggers put it out on DVD. My computer chokes if I try to qwatch anything onit.

[tabaqui]

Ack!! That truly sucks.

They don't come out until the 2nd of September! Sheesh.
*pet pet*

[crimsonkitty88.livejournal.com]

hahahaha. never ever.

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

I can't speak to the particular story (don't read SPN, haven't seen more than 1/2 of one episode! *g*), but it's the way of the WiP. The most comments usually seem to be the first and last parts, with perhaps an upswing on any installment with lots of hot sex. :D

I imagine there are a variety of reasons for it, but the upshot of it is that most chapters of a multi-part fic seem to follow that pattern in terms of their responses.

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I usually comment on all parts of a WIP, but if it's presented as a finished thing, sometimes I'll only give feedback at the end, it depends on the person. Also you know how often I lose fics, it drives me nuts when I do that. But you, I like to FB each oart, even if it's just OMYEFFINGGOD THIS IS SO GOOD. ;)