BeetleHell

Thanks for the kind words about the blog!  So glad you enjoy it.  :)  

I’ve spent a while trying to look at various stats of popularity myself, because I’ve been curious as both an author and a reader about what a typical fic receives, and what a popular fic receives.  I think the answer here is unfortunately unclear; there is no one-size-fits-all way to measure popularity.  A few observations on my way to trying to answer your question about kudos vs. hits:

TYPICAL NUMBERS OF HITS AND KUDOS ARE SMALL. 

Most fanworks on AO3 receive far fewer hits and kudos than in the examples you gave:

As of Nov 2014, half of AO3 fanworks received 12 kudos or fewer. (90% had ~100 kudos or fewer.)  

As of Nov 2014, half of AO3 fanworks received ~400 hits or fewer. (90% had ~2700 hits or fewer.) 

TYPICAL NUMBERS OF COMMENTS ARE SMALLER.  

You’re right that the number of comments is far smaller – as of Nov 2014, half of AO3 fanworks received one or zero comments.  This is probably partly because of intimidation, as you note, but I’ve also learned that both authors and readers turn out to have complicated feelings about giving and receiving comments vs. kudos.

Ten people I’d like to know better:

Last Song: Zombies Ate My Neighbors, Single File

Currently Watching: Laverne & Shirley, and damnit, I’m finding I really ship Lenny and Laverne.

Currently Reading: I have been such a slacker lately. Sadly, I’m not reading anything. But there are some amazing fics in my ao3 bookmarks I will pick up again when my brain is braining better.

Current Obsession: I’m without a hyperfixation atm and it feels very empty.

Currently Working On: an original novel. My dump file is 47k and I’m slowly but surely marking scenes complete, in addition to predictive text thinking I wanted to write about sadness and diarrhea. (I don’t, but I can’t pretend to be surprised.)

Last Google Search: “did Lenny and Laverne get together” lol. Google says no. 😢 Ah, well. That’s what fanfic is for, isn’t it?

Favorite flower (I forgot this one my bad): I like lilacs a lot.

Last Song: Last Man Standing, from Buddy Guy (whom I'm seeing tonight in concert!)

Currently Watching: Lots of movies, not many series, but Spider Noir on Prime looks excellent (Nic Cage bout to surprise me??), so about to begin that.

Currently Reading: Cold Zero by Brad Thor and Ward Larsen; getting back to me thriller roots

Current Obsession: 1966-67 Green Hornet. *Nine* months deep into this latest round of hyperfixation on the fandom. I'm very cyclical with GH in my life since I was first introduced to it fifteen years ago. When it comes round, it stays around. 😆 Although, since joining Tumblr and discovering my first big fandom love Knight Rider is in a bit of resurgence (!!!), I hear the whispers to venture over and stay awhile. No no, not yet, not yet.

Currently Working On: My Green Hornet 1966-67 fic, Silent Night Stinger, the sequel to one of my early GH fics, Stung Through The Heart. I'm very proud of myself and this fic thus far. This work represents my return to writing after six years of chronic writer's block, and my first attempt at Green Hornet fic since my disastrous In The Eye of the Dragon. Lessons were indeed learned ... Silent Night Stinger, though, currently sits at over 100k through ten chapters of slow build plotting and tension. It's set during Christmas 1966 but it is not your typical holiday episode. Come chapter 11, under construction now, the slow build cuts loose. 😈💚🐝

Last Google Search: Fic research! Regarding the number of major arteries and veins a gunshot wound to the left shoulder is liable to hit, and the type of musculoskeletal damage to be expected. I remembered there being two major arteries but not their names. This left shoulder gunshot wound happens in the 1966 Green Hornet series, (I'm not shooting Britt/GH again, I promise), so it's going to be reference in fic again, but with a smart assed reminder of what Britt escaped, made by Kato, Because of Reasons, in a later chapter.

Favorite flower: Mutable, but because mine bloomed earlier in the summer (like, randomly, after not for the last three years): Amaryllis

Five people I'd like to know better. And anyone else who wants to join in! No pressure tagging: @oldtvandcomics

@thisisntthemain @twowheeledtarantula @okie-dojo

@beetlehell147

Passing it on 😉 @cgcgs43046

Last Song: Thriller, Michael Jackson.

Currently watching: Toy Story.

Currently reading: Red Dwarf: Titan.

Current Obsession: Beetlejuice, Helluva Boss, Hazbin Hotel and Ghostbusters.

Currently working: The next chapter of my fanfic, Loona And The Ghost With The Most.

Last Google Search: Helluva Boss Discord servers.

Day 3: Love confession 🐎💗🐎