The All Time Most Popular Author's List

What are the chances of extending LushStory's most popular authors of all time listing from the current maximum of 98 authors to something much higher, say 500?

It strikes me that with so many budding and past authors here, maybe it is time to increase that number. 😳😊

Anything's possible but I don't know how much enthusiasm there'll be for extending it. I could ask.

Besides, keeping it at 100 gives those not on the list something to strive for and those on the list something to fight for 😃

(I'm currently only 75th so there's plenty of room for improvement)

Where y’all seeing this info?

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Where y’all seeing this info?

Here https://www.lushstories.com/top/authors?duration=all
(can find it at the bottom of the home page, under Useful Links)

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

Anything's possible but I don't know how much enthusiasm there'll be for extending it. I could ask.

Besides, keeping it at 100 gives those not on the list something to strive for and those on the list something to fight for 😃

(I'm currently only 75th so there's plenty of room for improvement)

Thank you for answering, WW. 😊

While there doesn't seem to be a huge rush to like my suggestion, which is disappointing. But I look at it this way...

If you are not already on the list, you have no idea where you are relative to other authors. Therefore, less incentive to publish more stories and climb up the list.

I do believe it is a good idea, and I expect it to be relatively simple to do, 😳🙄 though I am only guessing!

Quote by AvidlyCurious

Here https://www.lushstories.com/top/authors?duration=all

Thank you, AC. I believe a lot of members don't know it exists. 🙄

Quote by AvidlyCurious

Here https://www.lushstories.com/top/authors?duration=all
(can find it at the bottom of the home page, under Useful Links)

... and on pages that don't auto-load endless content, thus never allowing you to reach the site footer 🙄

It is downplayed at the moment, tucked away in the footer there. Perhaps there's a way to give it more prominence as a link from the trending stories in each genre or something? Can't see any obvious place to add it, but there might be a way somehow with a little content rejig, perhaps...

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

Besides, keeping it at 100 gives those not on the list something to strive for and those on the list something to fight for 😃

It definitely gives me incentive to try and get on there. It's the reason I created a spreadsheet and update it with my scores every once in a while to see how far below I am number 100. I'm usually 1000 points plus under them 😆.

Quote by wxt55uk
If you are not already on the list, you have no idea where you are relative to other authors. Therefore, less incentive to publish more stories and climb up the list.

No lie, this interests me as well.

Quote by WannabeWordsmith

... and on pages that don't auto-load endless content, thus never allowing you to reach the site footer 🙄

It is downplayed at the moment, tucked away in the footer there. Perhaps there's a way to give it more prominence as a link from the trending stories in each genre or something? Can't see any obvious place to add it, but there might be a way somehow with a little content rejig, perhaps...

I believe once the authors know it is there, they will look for it. A bit of marketing (like this) would help.

However, as previously mentioned, I do feel the lists should be longer (especially the all-time one), as it is only really relevant to anyone who makes the list.

Quote by CarltonStJames
I created a spreadsheet and update it with my scores every once in a while to see how far below I am number 100.

Didn't realize this was a thing.

If it's something that interests a lot of writers then we should look at increasing its visibility or perhaps give some indication if you're getting close to the list, to spur you on. Maybe extend the top list a bit (250?). Or introduce a "rank" to show on people's profile, though it might be quite demoralising for a newish author to be shown as Rank: 16,384 or something!

Dunno.

I love the idea of displaying your rank on your profile page, and there are ways to present ranking information beyond just the straight number to avoid the demoralizing effect you mention.

- "You wrote your first story, congrats! (Rank 30,000)"
- "You've written more stories than 50% of the writers on this site! (Rank 20,000)" (shown after two stories)
- "You're in the top 50% of writers on the site! (Rank 16,384)"
- "Top 10% writer! (Rank 1,000)"
- "Top 1% writer! (Rank 300)"
- "Top 100 writer! (Rank 75)"
- etc

Quote by pinkysurprise
there are ways to present ranking information beyond just the straight number to avoid the demoralizing effect you mention...

Nice ideas there. If this has any kind of future, the trick will be in computing and comparing it in such a way that it doesn't bring the site to its knees.

Off the top of my head, I can't think of the best way to convert some score value snapshot into a rank text for displaying on your profile (and how often to update it) without slowing things down. It would have to compare your current score with the value from all other users, and slice/order them into tranches.

I can point the developers to this thread and see if anybody has any bright ideas.

Quote by WannabeWordsmith
I'm currently only 75th so there's plenty of room for improvement

You've no worries of me overtaking you, that's for sure. Talent will always tell.

Spurring competition among authors is always a good idea.

Interesting, when I’m looking at Lush but not signed in, Top Authors and Top Stories aren’t in the list. If I’m signed in, they are above Competitions in the list.

It’s not info I care to see. Feels like pressure or something, so I don’t care for it on my profile, but fine if others would like to see it.

As a developer, I’d think if there’s a top 100 list, there’s probably the entire author list ranked already, but just the top 100 displayed. Programming would have to be calculating all authors to figure the top, so doesn’t seem like it would be too hard to display 250.

Quote by KimmiBeGood
if there’s a top 100 list, there’s probably the entire author list ranked already, but just the top 100 displayed.

Absolutely. The number of authors to show is purely arbitrary. The decision to change that rests with the dev team and site owners.

What is far more taxing programmatically is calculating your rank compared to some other segment of authors to show on your profile.

Quote by wxt55uk
If you are not already on the list, you have no idea where you are relative to other authors. Therefore, less incentive to publish more stories and climb up the list.

You assume that climbing the list is what motivates writers. There's a not-insubstantial number of us who, you know, like to write stories. So I would suggest that you may be describing yourself and the segment of Lush writers you are a part of, but you should not assume all writers are like that. Frankly, I barely ever look at my badges, let alone something like this.

Quote by KimmiBeGood

It’s not info I care to see. Feels like pressure or something, so I don’t care for it on my profile, but fine if others would like to see it.

As a developer, I’d think if there’s a top 100 list, there’s probably the entire author list ranked already, but just the top 100 displayed. Programming would have to be calculating all authors to figure the top, so doesn’t seem like it would be too hard to display 250.

I completely agree with Kimmi. 😊

I really don't like the Top Author and Top Story lists.. it's a popularity list as opposed to an indication of the quality of the writing. That WW is only at 75 speaks volumes.

There are only 3 Competition winners in the Top 20, none in the Top 10 so its a list of who has a big fan base, nothing more.. but yeah, if it really matters, have the Top 30,000.. Lets drown in data

Quote by Seeker4

So I would suggest that you may be describing yourself and the segment of Lush writers you are a part of, but you should not assume all writers are like that. Frankly, I barely ever look at my badges, let alone something like this.

With the greatest of respect, Seeker4, one look at my profile would tell you (with one exception) that I don't write "popular" stories. Until recently I never even wrote a story in any of the top 3 genres here. It was only when I wrote my 100th story that I ventured into one. I wrote that story for fun, and yes, likes. It was to prove I could do it (I also doubled my followers with one story, so maybe I should have done it sooner).

My motivation for asking these questions is through observations. If readers/authors (the customers) don't occasionally ask questions or make suggestions, then there is a danger that LushStories could rest on its laurels and not be the popular site it is today.

Making the top author list longer seems, to me, like a good idea and relatively easy to do. 😊

If you want a more radical suggestion, then base the Top Author List on words published (sorry, Kistin). Yes, I may be just stirring it a bit with that! 😜🤣

Quote by wxt55uk

With the greatest of respect, Seeker4, one look at my profile would tell you (with one exception) that I don't write "popular" stories. Until recently I never even wrote a story in any of the top 3 genres here. It was only when I wrote my 100th story that I ventured into one. I wrote that story for fun, and yes, likes. It was to prove I could do it (I also doubled my followers with one story, so maybe I should have done it sooner).

My motivation for asking these questions is through observations. If readers/authors (the customers) don't occasionally ask questions or make suggestions, then there is a danger that LushStories could rest on its laurels and not be the popular site it is today.

Making the top author list longer seems, to me, like a good idea and relatively easy to do. 😊

If you want a more radical suggestion, then base the Top Author List on words published (sorry, Kistin). Yes, I may be just stirring it a bit with that! 😜🤣

I might be a strong contender for that if done on total words 😅

I don't really get the need to extend it. Like Susie said, it's a popular authors list, which some might use rather than the RR/EP section. It can get to be an obsession with some authors. It wasn't too far in the past we had one person spamming everyone and their granny to like and comment and the pressure got to be so much that she just started stealing stories from elsewhere to keep the content coming.

I think 100 is probably the limit I'd want to see.

Quote by Jen

I don't really get the need to extend it. Like Susie said, it's a popular authors list, which some might use rather than the RR/EP section. It can get to be an obsession with some authors. It wasn't too far in the past we had one person spamming everyone and their granny to like and comment and the pressure got to be so much that she just started stealing stories from elsewhere to keep the content coming.

I think 100 is probably the limit I'd want to see.

I feel this is a fair point... yes, I have in the past been spammed for likes.

However, I like to feel that as the site grows, it could kept under review. 😊

Quote by wxt55uk

I feel this is a fair point... yes, I have in the past been spammed for likes.

However, I like to feel that as the site grows, it could kept under review. 😊

I've never worked out why people ask for likes and favourites at the end of their stories.

It makes them sound so needy. I may be curmudgeonly but it makes me not like or favourite on principle.

Quote by deviantsusie

I've never worked out why people ask for likes and favourites at the end of their stories.

It makes them sound so needy. I may be curmudgeonly but it makes me not like or favourite on principle.

I agree. It would feel so presumptuous to ask. I don't get all that many as a rule, but I like to think they were genuinely given and earned.

Being curious, I just took a look at the Micro category top likes list. I'm at 360 down after writing 165 of them to the best of my little brain's ability. That's not much motivation to write more, staying true to myself, if numbers are the game.

Comparison can sometimes make me work harder, but it can also be a thief of joy. It’s a delicate balance. As a twin, we were constantly compared, and we learned to feel joy for the other who came out on top. I think my parents did a good job of showing us our equal value regardless of who finished first in things.

I people watch a lot and have always thought being popular could be stressful. It takes a lot of energy to stay on top with an ever-changing culture. Whenever I start looking to numbers or accolades for validation, I isolate until I feel I can honestly assess myself on my own (or get feedback from a trusted, known source) and respond accordingly.

Badges, top this or that, should bring a smile, but does it truly define you? I don’t think so.

Love to all who bravely share a part of themselves with each writing! Everyone who creates in important in my eyes. ❤️

When I originally made this suggestion, I thought it was a simple one and that there would be many authors in favour of the suggestion. Not for the first time, I was wrong. 🙄🤣

However, being the practical man, I looked at it this way... If the All-Time Favourite list isn't extended (or purged). Then one day it will become irrelevant as the numbers will be so high it will become meaningless to new authors. Eventually, the list will be full of retired authors with numbers far higher than anyone here can count. 😳

Having said that. I do believe there have been some interesting points raised on this thread. I do hope we get to see some other site improvement suggestions raised. After all, there are loads of talented, creative people here. 😊

Quote by wxt55uk

When I originally made this suggestion, I thought it was a simple one and that there would be many authors in favour of the suggestion. Not for the first time, I was wrong. 🙄🤣

However, being the practical man, I looked at it this way... If the All-Time Favourite list isn't extended (or purged). Then one day it will become irrelevant as the numbers will be so high it will become meaningless to new authors. Eventually, the list will be full of retired authors with numbers far higher than anyone here can count. 😳

Having said that. I do believe there have been some interesting points raised on this thread. I do hope we get to see some other site improvement suggestions raised. After all, there are loads of talented, creative people here. 😊

People would have said Mysteria was impossible to catch up to a couple of years ago as well. Once an author is no longer active, their work is going to fade into the archives, and the accumulation of likes will slow down, allowing others who are active to surpass them.

I suspect many new people aren't even aware that the list exists to be discouraged by it. LOL It's not exactly prominently featured.

I would hope that there is still room on here to celebrate and enjoy our "classics" whether they are still with us or not. If someone long departed (from Lush or this mortal coil) is getting enough attention to be on there, then surely they belong there. And of course, they challenge and inspire those still among us to rise and do our best.