Recommendations Establishing a goal right from the start

NotaNuffian

This does spark joy.
Joined
Nov 26, 2019
Messages
5,288
Points
233
Had tried to read Bear Wolf Dog's latest work and discovered that I hate the premise as I drop the work barely after 20 chapters.

I missed the olden days where goals are clear, such as to get strong for a fixed reason like changing the world, revenge and more revenge. I could tolerate his fourth work Am I a God? while the work derailed from the heavy stuff and had MC just cruising to godhood in slacker mode with him having no actual goals and just forced to do stuff thanks to the system prompts. Then Calamity of Tomorrow hit and I can't take it anymore.

I found out recently that I can't stand MCs wandering aimlessly, much worse if they happen to be a wimp MC who has to get the fortitude beaten into them. Though maybe I am a closet masochist, but I do enjoy the CBT foreplay if and only if the payoff is nice, something that can make me blow my load to such as MC standing up for himself and BE A MAN *insert mulan song* .

Also, throughout my reading career, I can't stand witty (or trying to be) MCs who make stupid jokes/ insults/ schemes/ etc. Because I can see the authors cringeass nay nay baby attempt falling flat.

Lastly, MC can be strong from the start, but so strong until everything becomes a joke is a bit too much unless the author is planning to Saitama the drama.

So am looking for works in SH with:
1. MC with a clear goal and is working towards it.
2. Try not to be a smartmouth, Jason Asano is a prime example.
3. Overly strong MC is fine, but must show growth in some way because if not, I feel like I am reading a cardboard cutout of a person's journey to I Dun Care Land.

Thanks for reading.
 

ThrillingHuman

always be casual, never be careless
Joined
Feb 13, 2019
Messages
4,738
Points
183
My work, wasn't my life in another world supposed to be easy, is on a long hiatus, with me writing the plan for its currently 4 future volumes, has mc aim to learn as much about magic as humanly possible and transcend his humanity - by any means necessary. I do like to gently put him in mortal and mental harm's way too. Though I don't recommend you read it, I am rewriting it, and the rewrite won't be ready for years, if ever. I just wanted to talk about my story.
Another work - SFIS, has mc wanting to achieve the dao through formations. Same situation as 1st.
My last on this site story is not up to the requirements.
 

Bartun

Friendly Saurian Neighbor
Joined
Dec 9, 2020
Messages
1,179
Points
153
Are you looking strictly for fantasy stories? Or are you willing to try more realistic genres?

If the answer is yes, I would recommend @YS_og Harbinger: Infinity, which is an amazing sci-fi mecha story.


Also, if you wish to try a fantasy story of survival, with a weak, indecisive protagonist, you could give my own story a try.


A warning, however, the chapters are long though, and there isn't much action in the first few.
 

NotaNuffian

This does spark joy.
Joined
Nov 26, 2019
Messages
5,288
Points
233
My work, wasn't my life in another world supposed to be easy, is on a long hiatus, with me writing the plan for its currently 4 future volumes, has mc aim to learn as much about magic as humanly possible and transcend his humanity - by any means necessary. I do like to gently put him in mortal and mental harm's way too. Though I don't recommend you read it, I am rewriting it, and the rewrite won't be ready for years, if ever. I just wanted to talk about my story.
Another work - SFIS, has mc wanting to achieve the dao through formations. Same situation as 1st.
My last on this site story is not up to the requirements.
It is ok. The reason why I posted this is because I am not doing my work and I suddenly find myself hating how my MC will go forward.

I probably need to kill his entire family sooner.
Are you looking strictly for fantasy stories? Or are you willing to try more realistic genres?

If the answer is yes, I would recommend @YS_og Harbinger: Infinity, which is an amazing sci-fi mecha story.


Also, if you wish to try a fantasy story of survival, with a weak, indecisive protagonist, you could give my own story a try.


A warning, however, the chapters are long though, and there isn't much action in the first few.
Am reading your work now and a tad bit surprise you used rape right off the bat.

Also, why does your text has odd gaps and weird spacing? Or is this my medium's issue again?
 
Last edited:

Kitsura

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 27, 2021
Messages
200
Points
83
Had tried to read Bear Wolf Dog's latest work and discovered that I hate the premise as I drop the work barely after 20 chapters.

I missed the olden days where goals are clear, such as to get strong for a fixed reason like changing the world, revenge and more revenge. I could tolerate his fourth work Am I a God? while the work derailed from the heavy stuff and had MC just cruising to godhood in slacker mode with him having no actual goals and just forced to do stuff thanks to the system prompts. Then Calamity of Tomorrow hit and I can't take it anymore.

I found out recently that I can't stand MCs wandering aimlessly, much worse if they happen to be a wimp MC who has to get the fortitude beaten into them. Though maybe I am a closet masochist, but I do enjoy the CBT foreplay if and only if the payoff is nice, something that can make me blow my load to such as MC standing up for himself and BE A MAN *insert mulan song* .

Also, throughout my reading career, I can't stand witty (or trying to be) MCs who make stupid jokes/ insults/ schemes/ etc. Because I can see the authors cringeass nay nay baby attempt falling flat.

Lastly, MC can be strong from the start, but so strong until everything becomes a joke is a bit too much unless the author is planning to Saitama the drama.

So am looking for works in SH with:
1. MC with a clear goal and is working towards it.
2. Try not to be a smartmouth, Jason Asano is a prime example.
3. Overly strong MC is fine, but must show growth in some way because if not, I feel like I am reading a cardboard cutout of a person's journey to I Dun Care Land.

Thanks for reading.
I think you need to understand that a lot of these issues are not related to premise but rather executions. You need to know that for the most part many of these novels on scribblehub are people’s first attempts at writing. Be a little more gentle and understand that there’s a lot of meh stuff floating around and it’s your job as the reader to find the diamonds in the rough
 

Bartun

Friendly Saurian Neighbor
Joined
Dec 9, 2020
Messages
1,179
Points
153
It is ok. The reason why I posted this is because I am not doing my work and I suddenly find myself hating how my MC will go forward.

I probably need to kill his entire family sooner.

Am reading your work now and a tad bit surprise you used rape right off the bat.

Also, why does your text has odd gaps and weird spacing? Or is this my medium's issue again?
Oh, I didn't know you were reading it, I'm flattered really.

Yeah, I know the rape part it's harsh, I don't want to spoil anything but if you keep reading you'll find what happens next is not what it seems. And honestly, it's the first time someone tells me my spacing is odd, perhaps it is and nobody just mentioned it before. I'll look for what proper spacing is to correct it.

And as for the goal, some people might try to keep it vague as to add mystery perhaps? Maybe is not the best way to do it but that would explain why some MCs don't have a clear goal right from the start. In my case, my MC goal suddenly changes from "I want to be a teacher when I grow up" to getting the hell out of there alive when shet hits the fan. She's just an average teenager with no special abilities or powers, so she has to resort to her wits just to survive and find out what's going on, so the "mystery" part is there. I'm working to make it as interesting as possible.

Other MC's should have their goals if not established from the start, to be set after a sudden event that changes the course of the story, for example, if something happens, bad guys showed up and killed your puppy, and the MC doesn't know what's going on, his main goal should be to find it out first, then he can use that information to evaluate his next step, be it protect someone, destroy the mastermind, acquire a powerful artifact to defeat a great evil, and so on. But it doesn't have to be just one goal from start to end, it can also be dynamic.
 

JayDirex

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 5, 2019
Messages
632
Points
133
Had tried to read Bear Wolf Dog's latest work and discovered that I hate the premise as I drop the work barely after 20 chapters.

I missed the olden days where goals are clear, such as to get strong for a fixed reason like changing the world, revenge and more revenge. I could tolerate his fourth work Am I a God? while the work derailed from the heavy stuff and had MC just cruising to godhood in slacker mode with him having no actual goals and just forced to do stuff thanks to the system prompts. Then Calamity of Tomorrow hit and I can't take it anymore.

I found out recently that I can't stand MCs wandering aimlessly, much worse if they happen to be a wimp MC who has to get the fortitude beaten into them. Though maybe I am a closet masochist, but I do enjoy the CBT foreplay if and only if the payoff is nice, something that can make me blow my load to such as MC standing up for himself and BE A MAN *insert mulan song* .

Also, throughout my reading career, I can't stand witty (or trying to be) MCs who make stupid jokes/ insults/ schemes/ etc. Because I can see the authors cringeass nay nay baby attempt falling flat.

Lastly, MC can be strong from the start, but so strong until everything becomes a joke is a bit too much unless the author is planning to Saitama the drama.

So am looking for works in SH with:
1. MC with a clear goal and is working towards it.
2. Try not to be a smartmouth, Jason Asano is a prime example.
3. Overly strong MC is fine, but must show growth in some way because if not, I feel like I am reading a cardboard cutout of a person's journey to I Dun Care Land.

Thanks for reading.
are you sure you're not confusing Goals with Stakes?

Stakes meaning, if I DON'T do this, the whole world will end.

A goal is a vague project one hopes to complete.
 

Representing_Tromba

Sleep deprived mess of an author begging for feedb
Joined
Jan 29, 2020
Messages
5,974
Points
233
I am bad at this as I like the characters being flung into a situation as most of my stories have the word accidentally in the title. However, I try to make a clear goal. It just takes a little bit to build up the plot, characters, and world so that there is proper context without an entire chapter dedicated to lore, history, and character notes set up in a hard to follow style.
 

NotaNuffian

This does spark joy.
Joined
Nov 26, 2019
Messages
5,288
Points
233
I think you need to understand that a lot of these issues are not related to premise but rather executions. You need to know that for the most part many of these novels on scribblehub are people’s first attempts at writing. Be a little more gentle and understand that there’s a lot of meh stuff floating around and it’s your job as the reader to find the diamonds in the rough
And this is why I only visit hot and trending in 9gag.

Also, Bear Wolf Dog is not a novice writer, he is a seasoned CN writer that I had been following since his first book Man on Top of the Food Chain (suckish book too).
My novel covers all those points you are looking for.
Will go see.
Oh, I didn't know you were reading it, I'm flattered really.

Yeah, I know the rape part it's harsh, I don't want to spoil anything but if you keep reading you'll find what happens next is not what it seems. And honestly, it's the first time someone tells me my spacing is odd, perhaps it is and nobody just mentioned it before. I'll look for what proper spacing is to correct it.

And as for the goal, some people might try to keep it vague as to add mystery perhaps? Maybe is not the best way to do it but that would explain why some MCs don't have a clear goal right from the start. In my case, my MC goal suddenly changes from "I want to be a teacher when I grow up" to getting the hell out of there alive when shet hits the fan. She's just an average teenager with no special abilities or powers, so she has to resort to her wits just to survive and find out what's going on, so the "mystery" part is there. I'm working to make it as interesting as possible.

Other MC's should have their goals if not established from the start, to be set after a sudden event that changes the course of the story, for example, if something happens, bad guys showed up and killed your puppy, and the MC doesn't know what's going on, his main goal should be to find it out first, then he can use that information to evaluate his next step, be it protect someone, destroy the mastermind, acquire a powerful artifact to defeat a great evil, and so on. But it doesn't have to be just one goal from start to end, it can also be dynamic.
Well, I understand that. Like suddenly getting a life goal smashed to bits thanks to fault not yours and I tried to write that logic down as well. Omnipresent God of War have this premise as well, first the MC is too weak and could only focus on murdering his way to the top, then he got stronger and slowly he starts to ponder the meaning of life. While murdering his way to the top and goes philosophical on that shit (the cycle of life, man) .
are you sure you're not confusing Goals with Stakes?

Stakes meaning, if I DON'T do this, the whole world will end.

A goal is a vague project one hopes to complete.

Stakes or goals, I do enjoy having a target/ path for the MC to follow.
My novel covers all those points you are looking for.

You mean this? The one with non zero chapters per week?
 
Last edited:

Hathnuz

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
197
Points
83
I don't usually recommend my novel, but after reading your criteria, I think you should check mine out. Please, don't be discouraged by the lack of updates; I'm planning to resume my novel this week.
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/2738/the-magic-lumberjack/
So am looking for works in SH with:
1. MC with a clear goal and is working towards it.
2. Try not to be a smartmouth, Jason Asano is a prime example.
3. Overly strong MC is fine, but must show growth in some way because if not, I feel like I am reading a cardboard cutout of a person's journey to I Dun Care Land.

Thanks for reading.
1. My MC does have clear goals and know what he wants.
2. He's the opposite of that. He's usually callous, mature, and cold, but can be hot-tempered sometimes.
3. After reincarnating, he basically begins with nothing other than his experience and talent and strives to become strong. Granted, he has the best talent but it's only to jumpstart the story and doesn't make him OP quickly. He relies on clever strategies rather than sheer power to overcome his obstacles.
 
Last edited:

NotaNuffian

This does spark joy.
Joined
Nov 26, 2019
Messages
5,288
Points
233
I don't usually recommend my novel, but after reading your criteria, I think you should check mine out. Please, don't be discouraged by the lack of updates; I'm planning to resume my novel this week.

1. My MC does have clear goals and know what he wants.
2. He's the opposite of that. He's usually callous, mature, and cold, but can be hot-tempered sometimes.
3. After reincarnating, he basically begins with nothing other than his experience and talent and strives to become strong. Granted, he has the best talent but it's only to jumpstart the story and doesn't make him OP quickly. He relies on clever strategies rather than sheer power to overcome his obstacles.
Right... you are the lumberjack's author... I can't really remember where your work had gone though cuz it has been a while, I will do a quick reread then.
 

XKARNATION

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2021
Messages
55
Points
58
And this is why I only visit hot and trending in 9gag.

Also, Bear Wolf Dog is not a novice writer, he is a seasoned CN writer that I had been following since his first book Man on Top of the Food Chain (suckish book too).

Will go see.

Well, I understand that. Like suddenly getting a life goal smashed to bits thanks to fault not yours and I tried to write that logic down as well. Omnipresent God of War have this premise as well, first the MC is too weak and could only focus on murdering his way to the top, then he got stronger and slowly he starts to ponder the meaning of life. While murdering his way to the top and goes philosophical on that shit (the cycle of life, man) .


Stakes or goals, I do enjoy having a target/ path for the MC to follow.


You mean this? The one with non zero chapters per week?
Yes Damien Nightshade, my other novels arent that great xD
 

CupcakeNinja

Pervert Supreme
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
3,152
Points
183
⣿⠿⠿⠶⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⣤⣄⢀⡅⢠⣾⣛⡉⠄⠄⠄ ⡋⣡⣴⣶⣶⡀⠄⠄⠙⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣴⣿⣿⣿⢃⣤⣄⣀⣥ ⣇⠻⣿⣿⣿⣧⣀⢀⣠⡌⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠿⠿⣿ ⣿⣷⣤⣤⣤⣬⣙⣛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⡍⠄⠄⢀⣤⣄ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⢇⣿⣿⡷⠶⠶⢿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣽⣿⣿⣿⡇⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣶⣥ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣌⣛⣻⣿⣿⣧⠙⠛⠛⡭⠅⠒⠦⠭⣭⡻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠹⠈⢋⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣵ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠄⣴⣿⣶⣄⠄⣴⣶⠄⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⢻⣿⣿⣿⠄⣿⣿⡀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣛⠛⠁ ⠄⠈⠛⢿⣿⣿⣿⠁⠞⢿⣿⣿⡄⢿⣿⡇⣸⣿⣿⠿⠛⠁⠄⠄ ⠄⠄⠄⠄⠉⠻⣿⣿⣾⣦⡙⠻⣷⣾⣿⠃⠿⠋⠁⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄ ⣶⣶⣮⣥⣒⠲⢮⣝⡿⣿⣿⡆⣿⡿⠃⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠛⢉⢉⠉⠉⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠟⠠⡰⣕⣗⣷⣧⣀⣅⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⣠⣳⣟⣿⣿⣷⣿⡿⣜⠄⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠁⠄⣳⢷⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣝⠖⠄⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⠄⢢⡹⣿⢷⣯⢿⢷⡫⣗⠍⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⡏⢀⢄⠤⣁⠋⠿⣗⣟⡯⡏⢎⠁⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⠄⢔⢕⣯⣿⣿⡲⡤⡄⡤⠄⡀⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠇⠠⡳⣯⣿⣿⣾⢵⣫⢎⢎⠆⢀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠄⢨⣫⣿⣿⡿⣿⣻⢎⡗⡕⡅⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠄⢜⢾⣾⣿⣿⣟⣗⢯⡪⡳⡀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⠄⢸⢽⣿⣷⣿⣻⡮⡧⡳⡱⡁⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡄⢨⣻⣽⣿⣟⣿⣞⣗⡽⡸⡐⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡇⢀⢗⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣞⡵⡣⣊⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⡀⡣⣗⣿⣿⣿⣿⣯⡯⡺⣼⠎⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣧⠐⡵⣻⣟⣯⣿⣷⣟⣝⢞⡿⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⢘⡺⣽⢿⣻⣿⣗⡷⣹⢩⢃⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⠄⠪⣯⣟⣿⢯⣿⣻⣜⢎⢆⠜⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⠄⢣⣻⣽⣿⣿⣟⣾⡮⡺⡸⠸⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡿⠛⠉⠁⠄⢕⡳⣽⡾⣿⢽⣯⡿⣮⢚⣅⠹⣿⣿⣿ ⡿⠋⠄⠄⠄⠄⢀⠒⠝⣞⢿⡿⣿⣽⢿⡽⣧⣳⡅⠌⠻⣿ ⠁⠄⠄⠄⠄⠄⠐⡐⠱⡱⣻⡻⣝⣮⣟⣾⣿⠿⠿⠶⠿⢿
For reasons I cant explain I need to save this here real quicj
 

Nataraja

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2022
Messages
3
Points
3
My fiction should meet your expectations:
 
Top