I read this post right before I went out of town & was without web access for several days, and though I'm about a week late I wanted to say I found your points about recongnition and popularity quite interesting.

Though your list of steps you took to gain recognition focuses on what you did *before* you posted your first story, I would add at least one that I think is important for authors who want to *retain* positive recognition: replying to feedback. I remember which authors are like you, and reply consistently, and believe me, I also remember which authors do not reply (including some who ask for feeback in their headers.) I don't think they are bad people, and I'm usually not personally offended, but I certainly don't go out of my way to rec these authors, in public or privately. I think in the long run responding to feedback generates good will and helps an author maintain a good reputation with readers, even though not responding may not have a big impact on popularity.

And thanks for the link to the essay about high school popularity - I had skimmed it but had forgotten to get back to it.