Thoughts on the popular reading list

I don't feel like editing this.

It's been said that the WC'S most talented writer's never make it to the top of the popular reading list. While on the surface this argument seems rather preposterous it may well contain some validity. The list is an algorithm measuring views and reviews over x amount of time. How many on site friends a writer has and how many reviews they have made of other writers has an influence over a piece success/ failure on the list. The other factor, and in my mind the most significant is entertainment value. For a piece to be entertaining it has to be relatable to the reader. As I write this the current #1 is "A*s Hat by Robbie." It's a cute, funny poem written by the sexiest writer on this site on a subject everyone can relate to. The last #1 I had was Dream girl Tanka. I have to admit I was a bit baffled by that one. It was a slightly lewd Tanka I whipped out in about 90 seconds but it was funny therefore it had high entertainment value. Entertainment value doesn't always mean light fluff. PoppySilver has had some recent #1s that were out and out gut wrenching. So has Girl Friday. After I read those pieces besides being impressed with how good they were I thought "Okay women's issues poetry is in now so my hyper masculine tirades are out." Then I scored a #1 with "Slaughterhouse Dreams. A violent, metaphorical piece about being trapped in a low wage job. It was easily relatable so it had high entertainment value.

    Okay so by now you must be wondering "What Point is Ricochet getting at this time?" We don't live in a world of literary classics or bards reciting poetry to blushing girls on the banks of the Thames river. We live in a world of "fifty shades of gray" and crappy hip hop being sold to teenagers who wouldn't know great poetry if it kicked them in the gonads and this site really isn't any different. People want to be entertained. Obviously that means different things to different people but it's an important point to the "the best writers don't get the recognition on the WC they deserve" argument. Literary brilliance doesn't always translate into entertainment. I've been trying to read "Portrait of An Artist as a Young Man" by James Joyce for a couple of years now. Some literary critics have postulated Portrait of an artist to be the most important piece of literature ever written and honestly, the bloody thing gives me a headache and I use it to kill roaches now. Yes I can here the gasps of horror from some of you and yes, I am a philistine. For entertainment value I can burn through a John Grisham novel in a weekend. Literarily brilliant James Joyce may be but entertaining he is not while Grisham is easily readable though hardly profound. So who is the best writer? Someone who is literarily brilliant or someone who can spin a damn good story people can relate to?

Author's Note

Just my opinion boys and girls. Feel free to post whatever you think

Reviews

[Pax]

Entertainment value - that is why games, tv and other entertaining vises are a sure hit from the economy. So I would not wonder it will gain more attention.

But as I observed the popular list, I think you forgot to see that most people who reached number one are those who has a solid fan base or solid readers of their RR(read request). And there is also a number of talented writers who turned off their ratings, so definitely they will not reach the top spot.

I for one often times go to the popular reading list. I turned on my rating because in that way I can gain reads for a possible feedback on which I can learned from(so it’s not always for popularity), and sometimes when I turned it off the read is less but I really don’t care when it talks about personal objectives(too emotional & too personal). I also turned off my RR as well as I don’t send one, in that way I can’t be on the top spot… but I did achieved it before, perhaps it was just luck or perhaps I reviewed plenty of users at that time… now I don’t have much time for that, I am only here to express my creativity and emotional pondering – nothing more, nothing less… when you reviewed me it’s great, if not it’s also great… as long as I have this outlet, I’ll never get lost in my emotional pondering… so just write if you must, keep improving yourself…

Popularity gets through your skin, it's normal we are all humans.... it only depends on where you stand in for who you really are... there are more things to life, than focusing on one road.

Likes and dislikes varies on person to person, so we don’t have a valid or stronger point on which is the best piece or not, it may be best for us and for other it isn’t… so perhaps only a balance viewpoint is taken to light…

this is just my thoughts my friend...
a thought-provoking piece you have here...

[shallimarRose]

I agree with here... You have opened up a great debate for discussion here Ric.. xo

[Baby Ricochet]

Good insights. Thank you MR pax

[Will Neill]

Since my time on W.C which to date has been brief, what I have learned is poems rule, if you are a story writer it is more difficult. Also if your work takes more than 5 min to read many get bored and pass it over. Thats ok by me-if they don't read it then its their loss. I enjoy reading others work and reviewing when I can. Some times certain people overdose on the adulation of others, this makes me switch of and go else where. All in all it's not a bad site-but we need to have some honest reviews.
Will

[Baby Ricochet]

The WC favors poetry for sure. Stories need to be short and have to grab the reader straight away. I posted a story (more like a long paragraph) called "1943." It was a squadron of B-17 bombers over occupied Europe getting shoot to pieces by the Germans. It was short, non-stop action, hence entertaining. It was on the top spot for days. The most recent story I wrote, "Candy's Tale" about a guy who picks up a hooker who turns out to be a transsexual and in the end falls for her. That one didn't do so great popularity wise. The people who read all my work for the most part loved it but guys who screw around with hookers and transsexuals, kind of hard characters for mom and the kids to relate to.
So if you're a story writer that's great, if you're a good one, even better. Make lots of friends, review lots of work and you'll get noticed. Keep writing my friend

[Baby Ricochet]

sorry for the typos

[Mark]

My favorite author is Steven King. Not because he writes horror, but because his characters are people I feel for... hate.. .love... kinship... I actually got pissed off at him when he killed a girl I was falling in love with. LOL

James Joyce has his place. Maybe you should try reading "The Dubliners", it's far more understandable and entertaining.

Anyway, I'm with you. If I can't get anything from the work, then I don't care how 'Great" the writer is supposed to be, I'll move on to something else.

[Baby Ricochet]

That's for sure. Thanks for the tip on Dubliners Mark. I'll have to check it out

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Interesting thoughts...I agree in some parts and in others I don't quite. The idea of the "most popular" writing is based upon how many people read and review a given piece...that's it. Now, if we're looking into the philosophy of why people go for certain types of poetry, that is something that could probably span the syllabus of an entire modern writing course at University. People are drawn to what they are drawn to, and they read what they relate to. Take my stuff for instance, you mentioned I write on "women's issues", which is somewhat true only because I am a woman, but I have just as many men who say they can "relate" to my work as I have women. Philosophy wise...maybe they're just being nice, maybe they like my picture, maybe they like the words I choose to use...I have no idea--if I knew what made the perfect poem I would be using that formula constantly ;)

Truthfully, I rarely, if ever, look at the popular writing list. Only time is when I am logging into the site and it is on the splash screen, and sometimes I glance over and see my name and say "wow, people liked that piece...interesting". On a site like this, you can't really equate popularity to writing ability...with this I agree with you 100%. I base my own ability on the journal publications I've had, anthology publications, published collections, getting paid for my work, etc. Here, it is more of a forum for "testing the waters" of certain pieces and sometimes recieving constructive and helpful feedback.

So, this is like any other version of a social media site...sometimes you're popular, sometimes you aren't. In the real world, poetry is judged by those who are willing to fork out money for your work, to publish your collections, etc. No one should worry if they are or aren't on the popular writing list, unless they are just looking to be "popular" and not as interested in the writing.

Good write, my friend...got my thoughts rolling this afternoon :)

[Baby Ricochet]

The "women's issues" crack was tongue and cheek. I read your work and you're a fantastic writer. Good Insights. Thank you Sarah

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I figured it was...I hope I didn't come off as sounding unappreciative of your compliment--it is so damed difficult to show the raising of the eyebrow and the smirk on the face when writing a comment on these sites. The best we can do is throw in a :) or two. I was trying to be funny as well, with the "maybe they just like my picture, maybe they like the words I choose" line...but, alas, my words don't always come out as I intend them to.

Let me say that I always enjoy your stuff...and I was not at all surprised to hear that your Tanka was rated high because I found it completely entertaining. Keep doing what you're doing, because i enjoy you, and I know a lot of others do too! :) *lots of smiling faces here*

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Sarah. I appreciate it

[Chris]

well said man... gotta love it..

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Chris

[Chris]

You really did get it right ya know...

[Pryde Foltz]

Great editorial. You do us all a service. my personal rant-- stories haven't a chance of getting on the homepage. For the record? I find your poetry both brilliant and entertaining.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you pryde

[Wolfwind]

Hmmm... and here I thought it was called the most popular list, because it was in fact entertaining other readers in some fashion in order to garner more views and more reviews. I really don't think it has anything to do with the writer or the content, simply popularity of the moment. I consider it to be more lke a "What's trending now..." Type deal. It doesn't make a or break a writer, here or beyond the WC...

Personally... it's never been much of a concern.

-Wolfwind

[Baby Ricochet]

Good insight. Thank you Wolfwind

[emmajoy]

As my opinion was considered arrogant and arty.farty - I've deleted it. So sorry.

[Baby Ricochet]

You can post anything you want on here Emma. No need to delete anything

[Baby Ricochet]

I'm sorry I never got to read it.

[Marie]

I never look at the W/C list, so I don't know if I've every made it to the top or if I'm even on it. To me, if you're a good writer you get published. If you're a better writer, you get paid for it. And if you're great, you get paid a lot.
The marketplace is what decides.

[Baby Ricochet]

That's for sure

[Tom]

Entertainment value is the key Rico and kudos to you for bringing this topic up in your usual open and no frills, airs & graces manner !

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Tom

[Rita L. Sev]

Such truth in this write. People want to be entertained, and that means different things to different people. Here, as in my real life, I read what I like, and hope to be at least slightly interesting in my own writing. I too have tried to read some of the "classics" - and some were simply not for me. Does that make me an ignoramus? Nope - just a human being with an opinion...

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Rita