Tuesday, 2 November 2010

Why This Story?

The Thirteenth Tree has now had fifty page views over at the other site. That’s a record, and I’m curious to know why. Glenda, which I much prefer, has had a mere six views. What is it that encourages people to read certain stories and not others? I can only assume it’s the title. What else can it be? If anybody wants to offer a different answer, I would be glad to hear it.

5 comments:

Anthropomorphica said...

Title, definitely! The Thirteenth Tree suggested mystery and folklore to me, then there's the sense of the sinister linked with the number 13.

JJ said...

Thanks Mel. It's actually why I wrote it in the first place - the fact that there really was a space in the middle of the twelve trees where a thirteenth should have been.

Della said...

I still have to get there Jeff, maybe by the weekend, but in any case agree with Melanie that the title is the draw. I glance at my bookshelf and see The Thirteenth Tale and Thirteen Treasures, good titles both, in one case better than the story. Just to celebrate the idea further, I was born on the 13th and there was a major blackout in NY on my 13th birthday.. but nothing sinister about it in my case :)

JJ said...

Oddly, Della, I've always avoided 13 out of pure superstition, and yet it's never been unlucky in any way. I gather there is a body of belief which regards it as a lucky number. You're a New Yorker, then?

Della said...

Well, a former New Yorker, since I've lived out of the States now for 17 years. One takes on new feelings of identity after that amount of time.