What's the 'normal' drop in views after first few chapters?

[LilRora]

So I've been wondering for a long while, because my story has ~40% less views on the second chapter than the first. Then it drops a bit more and slows at around 30-40% first chapter's views around chapters 5 to 10, and then it's a gentle slope.

So I've been wondering what's the normal ratio here for relatively short stories that are still ongoing. The main reason I'm asking is that my first chapter can be a bit heavy on certain topics, and I'm wondering how much it affects the potential number of readers.

I am aware there isn't really anything like normal number here and it can vary a lot. I'm asking more for reference than anything specific. I'm kinda anxious after mulling this topic over for a few days.

 

[Immortal_17]

T

So I've been wondering for a long while, because my story has ~40% less views on the second chapter than the first. Then it drops a bit more and slows at around 30-40% first chapter's views around chapters 5 to 10, and then it's a gentle slope.

So I've been wondering what's the normal ratio here for relatively short stories that are still ongoing. The main reason I'm asking is that my first chapter can be a bit heavy on certain topics, and I'm wondering how much it affects the potential number of readers.

I am aware there isn't really anything like normal number here and it can vary a lot. I'm asking more for reference than anything specific. I'm kinda anxious after mulling this topic over for a few days.

There is no definite answer to this question. People will read what they want to read. The first chapter is only to set the groundwork for what they can expect. And if it disappoints ,they leave. If anyone has another answer then correct me if you must.

 

[ModernGold7ne]

So I've been wondering for a long while, because my story has ~40% less views on the second chapter than the first. Then it drops a bit more and slows at around 30-40% first chapter's views around chapters 5 to 10, and then it's a gentle slope.

So I've been wondering what's the normal ratio here for relatively short stories that are still ongoing. The main reason I'm asking is that my first chapter can be a bit heavy on certain topics, and I'm wondering how much it affects the potential number of readers.

I am aware there isn't really anything like normal number here and it can vary a lot. I'm asking more for reference than anything specific. I'm kinda anxious after mulling this topic over for a few days.

The first chapter is where the hook lies, people decide whether or not to invest in reading based on it, some skim through the first three chapters, before they make up their mind.
If they like it, they might follow, or if they have time, binge read.
For a reference, my first three chapters has over two hundred views, and that number goes down in future chapters, your latest chapter will always have the least views.
My story currently has an average of 93 views on this site specifically, and it took one month to get seventy steady readers, releasing only two chapters per week.
That's just this site, it's different on royalroad, where my average views vastly surpasses my follows, but that's only because royalroad readers prefer stories with over 100 pages,

 

[Deleted member 54065]

So I've been wondering for a long while, because my story has ~40% less views on the second chapter than the first. Then it drops a bit more and slows at around 30-40% first chapter's views around chapters 5 to 10, and then it's a gentle slope.

So I've been wondering what's the normal ratio here for relatively short stories that are still ongoing. The main reason I'm asking is that my first chapter can be a bit heavy on certain topics, and I'm wondering how much it affects the potential number of readers.

I am aware there isn't really anything like normal number here and it can vary a lot. I'm asking more for reference than anything specific. I'm kinda anxious after mulling this topic over for a few days.

From someone whose work is not that popular (I have loyal readers though), drops on your audience is normal. There's no exact ratio or percent for it; if you upload in a site where most of the audience prefer a genre different from yours, expect them to drop it.

Just keep posting, and look for other sites that can take your work. ?

 

[vaurwyn]

Yes, it is completely normal.
The first chapters are what readers use to judge whether they want to read further.
This is why having a highly polished opening chapter is so important, but even if the quality is super high, there will still be a large drop off.
You can't please everyone, and realizing that your novel doesn't seem to suit their taste, readers will just drop it and move on. This isn't an indictment of your writing, because this judgment is mostly subjective. Maybe they are just not in the mood for your writing style, so don't take it personally.
Reader retention statistics become much more interesting later on, because the people who will have read 20 chapters obviously like it, and if they suddenly all drop off, it can be a sign you have messed up.

 

[J_Chemist]

So I've attached my views for my initial chapters on RR. It's a slow decline as you get further and further in the chapters because, as previously mentioned, some people will drop in on your first chapter and see what's what with your story. Then you have some who will read three to five chapters to give it a taste taste.

However, I'd personally say that after chapters 7-10, any views passed that point you can start to consider being from regular readers. Especially if your Word count is higher than typical.

People will still drop the book and views will still decline, but you'll notice it's a more smoother plateau. On top of that, if you make edits or revisions to early chapters, views may spike in them as readers may go back to read those fixes.

Understand that you should not write to please everyone, and not everyone will like your story. Write for your target audience and for those readers that enjoy your book.

Take care!
- J.C.

 

[killwrites]

For your reference, these are the views for my first eleven chapters for three different series: one with 50+ chapters, two with <30 chapters (one is updated weekly and one is updated whenever i have the time to write a new chapter lul)

Spoiler: 50+ chapters

50+ chapters

Spoiler: <30 chapters (updated irregularly)

<30 chapters (updated irregularly)

Spoiler: <30 chapters (updated daily for first seven chapters, then weekly)

<30 chapters (updated daily for first seven chapters, then weekly)

If I'm calculating stuff correctly, theres a ~25% to 30% drop from my first to second chapter across all 3 series which is quite smaller than yours, but just take into consideration they've been posted for some time now. And don't worry about chapter views tbh, valid reads are more important imo

 

[Proctor]

As an aside, there are people like me who might jump to a specific chapter and skim about to see if the author satisfies a certain threshold of mine before actually giving the story a go for real. This usually happens when the smut is frequent and explicit (no need to worry about spoiling myself) or if I think a different chapter might give me a better idea of what I'm in for (This is usually due to a reviewer).

Granted, I don't do this with fiction I buy off the bookshelf, but online I'll shamelessly poke around if I'm on the fence about something.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

Personally I’ve given up reading on SH because most works don’t have enough chapters.

That and since most work is amateur (this includes the big guys) I find it difficult to read and I’m not a fan of most of their writings. There are only a few writers on here I would say have good tone/writing that I might pay for if they wrote a subject I liked but most honestly I wouldn’t read even if I was paid to do it.

if your novel isn’t good, or can’t appeal to the majority of SH readers you will drop views by the second chapter

 

[DonutLuver]

Personally I’ve given up reading on SH because most works don’t have enough chapters.

That and since most work is amateur (this includes the big guys) I find it difficult to read and I’m not a fan of most of their writings. There are only a few writers on here I would say have good tone/writing that I might pay for if they wrote a subject I liked but most honestly I wouldn’t read even if I was paid to do it.

if your novel isn’t good, or can’t appeal to the majority of SH readers you will drop views by the second chapter

*sigh* I know. I feel like some readers saw my title and expected a male mc or GL. It's neither. Lest to say I could feel their disappointment through my screen.

 

[AnonUnlimited]

*sigh* I know. I feel like some readers saw my title and expected a male mc or GL. It's neither. Lest to say I could feel their disappointment through my screen.

Don’t let it get to you. Most readers on SH are also amateur readers… that is they don’t analyze. They just like what they like.

 

[DonutLuver]

Don’t let it get to you. Most readers on SH are also amateur readers… that is they don’t analyze. They just like what they like.

Thats fair. Thanks for the pick me up !