Too much, probably. But I at least try to only use them to tell myself how the chapters fare compared to each other, and as a general hint as to overall reach of my stories
On one hand, yeah, it can be a useful guideline and who doesn't like to get likes, after all? Seeing the branch become popular makes you want to strike while the iron is hot. On another hand, I have a strong suspicion that there are going to be a lot of factors that skew how many likes a branch gets, especially over time. For instance, when I write Nuns vs. Knights, I don't think the first route is that much better or worse than the others, but it's got the biggest aggregate of likes because it's the branch closest to the top. Similarly, if you write something super deep in, it's just not going to get as many views or likes by lack of exposure. This is not to say you shouldn't try to make your chapters tempting and exciting, nor that you should avoid putting them deep in, but rather, to remember that just because they aren't pouring in doesn't mean you shouldn't keep on trucking with it. Plus, it's always worth remembering that there's plenty of things you'll write that you won't see likes on even though people are enjoying it. There's a sizable number of people out there who will read but never make an account. Even beyond that, you'll sometimes get bookmarks with no likes. As much as I'd encourage readers to throw a like on what they like, since it helps the writers see what is working and makes writers feel validated, I understand people have all kinds of reasons they won't or don't. Tl;dr I'd say if you feel it's good, don't worry too much if it isn't rolling in the likes. Could be all sorts of reasons. Either they'll come in time or maybe you just haven't found the right way to draw somebody there yet.
Very true, and you can see how the other factors kick in very quickly as you start writing more. The longer a story goes, the likes slowly go down, it's just natural. Like how TV shows have higher ratings in the early seasons, it's just the way it goes as the audience drifts away. Also little things, like having a big sex scene and then a breather plot chapter after it, that chapter will get less likes. It's still crucial for the story, so you can't get too fussed by it. I will admit that having a story with the same characters as a previous story get half the likes per chapter made me obsess over it. Why one but not the next one? I felt the second story was way better, so I couldn't figure it out and it made me doubt that what I enjoyed in my stories was the same thing that the readers did. But there are always other factors, and you'd go crazy trying to figure out exactly why some branches do better than other. There's just an element of random chance too, like other authors have told me that sometimes having a lot of like early in a branch just means other people hit the like button more and it's not due to the quality or whatever. To the original question though, yeah wicker it does affect me a little if I notice one plot thread is less popular. But not as much as negative comments, like when a long running story branch starts to change and some readers just politely say they don't like it as much now. That feedback make me want to drop branches as I can always tell myself a branch getting less likes is just a result of something else. One of my readers commented on a chapter yesterday when I mentioned having multiple endings that he only reads one ending or branch and usually just picks the longer one and that's it, which made me realize again that there are so many ways to get enjoyment out of these stories for the audience. Something that I noticed a few weeks ago reading the CHYOA guide was how there used to be a thumbs down button. That must have been WILD and I would have gone absolutely insane if it was a thing now, like if I got 10 likes and 3 dislikes on a chapter I'm not sure how I'd handle that lol.
I also keep a spreadsheet, but that's because I use likes/bookmarks to track which chapters get sequels (5+ likes = 1 option; 10+ likes = 2 options for chapters up to 20, which is the nominal ending point; chapter 20 and about is +10/+20). So chapters that get no likes don't get more chapters written, and that particular branch sits there unfinished until I get around to it. Chapters that get a lot of likes very quickly shoot to the front of the "write me next" queue, so some storylines get finished very quickly...and very popular storylines might get epilogue after epilogue (the Batbreeder/Wonderbreeder storyline is up to chapter 29). Personally? Eh. The few chapters that get zero likes and stay there are usually a sign to me that some things just aren't what the readers want, or suggest my writing on those chapters was particularly poor. So I take that as "lessons learned."
Likes are good for working out the relative audience engagement between different chapters. As it turns out, a lot of readers are fascinated by the concept of drunk knights... Likes are more important to me than bookmarks and favourites, but less so than comments and messages. They provide meaningful feedback, but it can be a little confusing as to whether a chapter is actually better written, or just more accessible, or just has more sex. Also, I feel that some readers might judge whether a story is worth their time based on the likes on the Introduction chapter, since that stat is the first, instantly visible one. I try not to let quantitative feedback affect my motivation to work on a story. Few stories are published with an audience by default; if you keep writing, you will naturally gain readers - and, therefore, feedback - over time. I've written chapters 30-deep that only got 2-3 likes within a week of their publishing, only to look over the map after a month or so and notice they've gone up to 10-12.
That is insane and I'm so incredibly jealous. Oh god I wish I had been tracking my stats with that sort of granularity over the past year!
I feel sorry for you. I once made try to another metod to gain likes. I just said at end of chapter that I will write next when I get five likes. It worked in few hours, so on the next chapter I rise for ten likes. It worked again XD
I understand the impulse, but feel this takes the viewer out of the moment. You'll get more likes, people will understand you need likes to keep going... So there's a trade off. But, the overall quality will suffer. I guess I'm a purist. I would preserve the quality of my story.
As a person only really writing in one story and trying to have as much branching as possible - likes are what make me go back and focus on a branch. If get at least 5 likes I know I should probably do something with it. And yes, I am a sucker for likes
I like likes. I know i shouldn't care about likes. Okay, I no longer care about likes. What the fuck, why do i get no likes? Argh!
Since a few people have mentioned they write based on how many likes they get... I'm really not a fan of that system. You shouldn't be waiting for praise before you create; if everyone did that, there would be no CHYOA. That's like waiting for a publisher to approach you before you write a book, or waiting for an employer to hire you instead of sending in your resume first. It's going to create a runaway leader effect where the most active branch gets the most likes, which means it gets more updates, etc. while other branches that may have really great content don't get updated because, well, they don't get updated. Attention should be, and usually is, a reward for hard work, not a prerequisite. I mean, write whatever you want, but I cannot empathise with the mindset of writing primarily for likes, instead of to express your own passion or to create something worthwhile.
To each their own; but I tend to think of it as a focus on the branches that the readers are interested in and want to see continued. For others, writing and publishing whatever they want is satisfying to them, but for myself a key part of publishing online is feedback on the process - be that likes, comments, bookmarks, etc. - and I like being able to gauge reader response and try to judge tastes. It's also worth noting that I didn't start the 5+/10+ like system until after I'd already gotten the story 8 chapters deep on all paths. Whether I would do the like system again...I don't know. It has its advantages, and I want to finish the story on those terms; but if I wrote or added to another story I'd probably take a different tack.
I haven't published anything here yet, and it's been a few years since I've been active posting anywhere, but... When I was young and first started writing, I was really interested in the stats that my stories got: views, likes, reposts. I was a little obsessed with it. But, what I always liked more than that were Reviews / Comments / e-mails / replies. I found that, after a while, the story became less interesting to me than getting feedback on it. I eventually found out that that was a sure sign I was 'done' with a story. The likes are important to know what people are enjoying, what of your writing appeared best to others, but the most important thing is always how the author himself/herself feels about the work.
I have a history of overworrying with likes in my story. I must admit that once I (short of) overcame that, my enjoyment of this site grew significantly... ...also, I got more likes.
