If you can't go for quality, then go for quantity. Is this the case with novels too?

Kaguro

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More chapters gets more views for sure, but that's only on an individual novel basis. More words and more chapters doesn't immediately set you up for success. The big series always pretty much start with huge amount of views from within a few weeks. And I think success here has a lot more to do with content and aesthetics than with the quality of what you write.
 

Maple-Leaf

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I feel that many of the writers will tell you "Never spit out quantity always go for quality".

And I would say the same, except for one little detail.

As writers, we have limits.

I won't speak for others, but I have come to understand that I am a bad writer- at least from the opinions of the public, who get to decide whether my story is good or not.

I do put thought and effort into each chapter, to the point where when I reread it I am astonished and satisfied many times, yet that satisfaction is one sided and only shared by myself and a few loyal readers. But you know what? That's fine. I enjoy my work, and even if I know that it's bad, that doesn't stop me from enjoying it. And isn't that the only real compass I have as an author?

Sure. I could look at the views and readers and say "Oh no! Compared to the other stories my story has barely and views despite having so much content! What ever should I do!?!? Should I give up as a writer?? Or should I trash the series and begin with a new premise that's better!?"

Well yeah, I could do either of those. But here's the thing.

I enjoy my story. That is my one and only compass as a writer.

If I read my story and found myself yawning, then I would know.

"Hey loser. Your story sucks. This part is boring. Get rid of it. Or change it. Or do something to make it more interesting."

But the thing is, that doesn't happen.

How am I supposed to improve something when my little tunnel visioned mind doesn't see anything to improve?

I've gone off on a tangent here. My point is, if you're writing for the money, then you probably won't be able to enjoy your own writing because you have to tailor your story to certain viewers, even if you don't like the direction it goes. Even then, how can you make a story enjoyable if you yourself don't enjoy it? An impossible task. So we are left with a decision. 1. Either have taste that fits the public, or 2. Don't expect a large audience.

On your question regarding views, which is what this whole thread is supposed to be about, I will tell you this.

After releasing over 200 chapters, my view count is a fraction of some of the good writers. Even considering that I have 200 chapters to total up views across, while they have maybe 30.

But I refuse to stop.

I love my series to death, and enjoy it so damn much that I will write and write and write until it is done. No matter how few people read it. Why?

Because I am an author.


Spoken like a true author.
 

GDLiZy

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There are millions of books to read, but there isn't enough time for that. The readers will have to choose. Aside from writing to appeal to the audience, quality is what brings people to read your work.
 
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i don't think i can really go for any of them, so i just chill i guess?
 

ConTroll

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Authors are all different. Some can pump-out chapters in a fever dream of inspiration, while others can't. Some will tell you to just keep writing and never stop, while others will tell you to write with substance.

I for one, write for my own improvement.

I guess what I am trying to say is: why do you write?

We live in an age where binge-consumption runs rampant in all forms of media. If you want shear views, then quantity will likely prevail. Sure, there's a minimum threshold of competence necessary to make a coherent and readable story, but many readers will willingly ignore poor writing for more content.
 

Stratothrax

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It's not that low... Just average nothing more nothing less.

I actually think the quality bar to meet has increased slightly in recent years, some of the popular writing that got by in the past gave me a headache to read...
 

bigbear51

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Quantity will certain get more eyes on your story, which will definitely lead to more readers joining in. But in the long term, if the quality is noticeably low, then that readership isn't going to stick around.

Of course, at least with this site, I'd say that tags and presentation are more important when it comes to attracting an audience. More popular tags will get more people to want to try the story then the less popular one. It's just how it works anywhere.
 

TheGuyThatEveryoneHates

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I'm thinking if your work is average when compared to others, then if you write more chapters, will it get more readers?

Yes. Just look at Stephen King, as well as most of the popular stories on this site and most of the fanfiction sites.

It's sort of like how YouTube vloggers publishing daily videos are much more popular than the guys who publish one really good high-quality video every month.
 

Saileri

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As I often say in most cases, try to find your own style and sweet spot. Write a bit, like 5 or 10 chapters before starting to publish and you will realize what is your usual word threshold for each one and either stick with that and choose release schedule according to how much time you have to spend on writing one chapter (including some time for a breather, like break days) or try getting more or fewer words to the match the desired amount.

Also, it can depend on the type of story a lot. For example, action-adventure will be easier to write short chapters and release often, thanks to something engaging happening all the time or most of it, while slower genres like Slice of Life, usually go with longer chapters due to how emotions, dialogue and events are described, to not finish a whole chapter with the feeling like it's empty of anything meaningful.

In my own example, I choose 1-2 releases per week from the very beginning, after I wrote 3 chapters, each taking me 1-2 days, depending on the level of detail I wanted to put into them. I started with 2.5k words in the first one, but now, after almost 3 months of constant writing, I constantly hit double that number. You naturally get better and less awkward the more you write and it's clearly noticeable for you and your readers both. Don't get discouraged at the start. I was taking much more time and making many more mistakes in the first chapters and now the flow of my writing time got slightly less chaotic.

So in other words, write, write, write, write and then choose the style that suits you and your story the best. Quantity doesn't have to mean the lack of quality. Try to not burn yourself out while getting constant messages from readers to post more of the story. It's natural that people will want more of the thing they enjoy. Respect your time and health.
 

BenJepheneT

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Well, everyone's a different type of author with how lenient they are with themselves in terms of their output.

I'd never live with myself knowing I did many but never much.
 

itzNANI

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Hmm, to be honest that is not true. Quantity does matter but when it comes to pulling in viewers that stay I'm going to have to say quality over quantity. Look at my profile, I have written a 40k word story but haven't gotten over 50 readers, however I just made a new story that had themes that appeal which, in two days has already beat my first story. Honestly I say fuck all the statistics and shit and just do you, I know how you feel but you just ignore it, focus on your story, and reap the rewards. I love my first story but I don't have enough time with school currently to focus on two novels at the same time.
 
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