avatarWilliam Mersey

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Abstract

<p>medium.com</p></div> 
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    </div><p id="e563">The next day, I published an old piece of erotic fiction titled <b>“Exercising My Banana At Copacabana.”</b> It’s a fluff piece I wrote over 20 years ago for my then employer. As erotica goes, it’s ok. Nothing special. And it’s not a real-life experience — which I explain at the outset.</p><p id="c5d9">There is absolutely nothing to be learned from the story. It’s simply titillation. Nothing more. “The Prison Economy” on the other hand, is informative. You come away from that article learning something.</p><p id="a5f2"><b>So guess what! “Banana” has twice as many views as “The Prison Economy” in half as much time — and a 100% read-through!</b></p><div id="2a2e" class="link-block">
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            <h2>Exercising My Banana At Copacabana</h2>
            <div><h3>Enjoying the fruits of my labor!</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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    </div><p id="1e2c">I have a bucketful of this stuff. Part of my job description required that

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I write 9 of these stories every month for my employer. And I worked there for almost 4 years! Do the math. I have a <i>lot</i> of these on file.</p><p id="78ae">I don't know what to make of this revelation. What I do know though, is that I should publish more of those erotic pieces. Gotta go. It’s time to publish another!</p><p id="a8cb"><b>More insight into understanding how to find an audience:</b></p><div id="11e3" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/11-ways-i-reached-that-100-month-plateau-6f2a6bd7fae1"> <div> <div> <h2>11 Ways I Reached That $100/Month Plateau</h2> <div><h3>Climbing the Medium learning curve is an all-consuming pursuit</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*IN8Er8t875CET_m0RPQM2A.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="bf75" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-new-way-to-attract-readers-595809c8f2d"> <div> <div> <h2>A New Way To Attract Readers</h2> <div><h3>The search goes on!</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*7tQpuZ1I40FZpQW_7BZN1w.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Interpreting Your Stats

They tell the unvarnished truth

Marcus Spiske — Unsplash

Recently, a fellow writer commented on one of my stories that she doesn’t check her stats and thus, never experiences any related to any confusion generated therein. I think that’s a mistake.

Viewing your stats is paramount if you want to understand what’s working and what isn’t with your stories. Mind you, too often it has nothing to do with the quality of your writing. It’s more about what your audience — and what readers want in general.

In the past two days, I’ve noticed a bittersweet extreme about which I’m not entirely ecstatic — but at once mindful of an opportunity I see in my views and reads.

Story #1 is called “The Prison Economy.” For those unaware, there is no currency in prison. All transactions are conducted on a barter system. I describe that barter system — peeling back the layers on numerous prison hustles which I thought readers would find interesting. Regardless, the story has very few views — and just a 50% read-through.

The next day, I published an old piece of erotic fiction titled “Exercising My Banana At Copacabana.” It’s a fluff piece I wrote over 20 years ago for my then employer. As erotica goes, it’s ok. Nothing special. And it’s not a real-life experience — which I explain at the outset.

There is absolutely nothing to be learned from the story. It’s simply titillation. Nothing more. “The Prison Economy” on the other hand, is informative. You come away from that article learning something.

So guess what! “Banana” has twice as many views as “The Prison Economy” in half as much time — and a 100% read-through!

I have a bucketful of this stuff. Part of my job description required that I write 9 of these stories every month for my employer. And I worked there for almost 4 years! Do the math. I have a lot of these on file.

I don't know what to make of this revelation. What I do know though, is that I should publish more of those erotic pieces. Gotta go. It’s time to publish another!

More insight into understanding how to find an audience:

Frelancing
Writing
Publishing
Inspiration
Statistics
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