When did you decide to quit your story, or why do you keep going?

[Eldoria]

If I may offer a little advice, you might want to write your bio in the first person, as it’s hard to believe someone else wrote it for you (that’s what people might think).

I never thought about it. I think it's natural to use a pen name for novels because true authors always want to be known more for their stories than their profile. (maybe? is that just my assumption?)

 

[DaelyxLenAuphydas]

Lacking any response to something you write definitely hurts but its far from the end. I guess I have the benefit of being delusional enough to think my writing is rad as hell, and I love re-reading my own work. So just to have it for myself and my friends is already enough cause as it is. But I also try very hard to stick to a schedule and keep up with what I set for myself, even knowing no-one else cares. I'm very attention starved and I cling to whatever scraps of it I can find, but that's not truly what causes me to write. I want the story to exist, and because of that I want people to read it; but if I had to change the story to get people to read it then that would ruin the point because they wouldn't be reading the story I wanted them to, if you understand what I mean. Theres a mile of grey area between 'writing exclusively for your own benefit' and 'wanting other people to read your stories', and they arent at all mutually exclusive.

I think it also helps that I know that no-one else is going to write the kind of story I want to, simply because my perspectives on life are phenomenally uncommon. I've been disappointed by enough of other peoples stories that I became motivated to write simply because its the only way I can ever have stories that do what I want them to.

 

[Fallen_Pages]

I never thought about it. I think it's natural to use a pen name for novels because true authors always want to be known more for their stories than their profile. (maybe? is that just my assumption?)

Pen name? No, no, your pen name is very good, very Tolkien-like. I love using names like that in my novels as well.

I was talking about your profile description ("Eldoria is a dark fantasy writer who believes that true power lies in love and the courage to live. When not writing gory stories, enjoys cuddling nephews and planting flowers")."

 

[Eldoria]

I want people to read it; but if I had to change the story to get people to read it then that would ruin the point because they wouldn't be reading the story I wanted them to

That's right, stories aren't just about satisfying the market, but also about conveying our ideas to readers. This concerns the writer's integrity, and it can't be compromised unless the writer has sold their integrity.

 

[Fallen_Pages]

Lacking any response to something you write definitely hurts but its far from the end. I guess I have the benefit of being delusional enough to think my writing is rad as hell

I think I have that in my new novel as well, but not in my previous ones, which is why I'm quite satisfied despite getting less reception than before... Still, I want more people to read it though! Hahaha.

 

[Eldoria]

I was talking about your profile description ("Eldoria is a dark fantasy writer who believes that true power lies in love and the courage to live. When not writing gory stories, enjoys cuddling nephews and planting flowers")."

I don't know why my abbreviated profile is problematic. I just shared a little bit about myself in real life, and that I enjoy cuddling my little nephews (I have three) and growing flowers. Is the problem here that the profile is written in the third person (Eldoria) instead of the first person (I)?

 

[Fallen_Pages]

I don't know why my abbreviated profile is problematic. I just shared a little bit about myself in real life, and that I do enjoy cuddling my little nephews (I have three) and growing flowers. Is the problem here that the profile is written in the third person (Eldoria) instead of the first person (I)?

That was what I was referring to! But of course, there are ZERO problems! That's why I said it was just a tiny bit suggestion, but you might have your reasons and I could just be talking nonsense! Just leave it as you like it best, madam! or (mister!)

 

[Eldoria]

Of course, ZERO problems! That's why I said it was just a tiny bit suggestion but you might have your reasons and I could just be talking nonsense! Just leave it as you like it best madam! or (mister!)

Thank you for your suggestion. I've changed the third-person perspective to first-person. I think your opinion makes sense, and I appreciate it.

Best regards.

 

[Fallen_Pages]

Thank you for your suggestion. I've changed the third-person perspective to first-person. I think your opinion makes sense, and I appreciate it.

Best regards.

That was just my personal opinion (and a bit of what I’ve seen). But in the end, you should just do what you like! (If it’s legal, of course, haha)

 

[Leti]

When I wrote myself to a corner and the only option is to abandon the story.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

When another story demands to be told or when a story just ENDS, I move on, at least for a while.

 

[SunNation_Alt]

Even though I barely started posting my writing, I was about to quit this new adventure. But I didn't. It was because my dad was proud of me for starting this pathway and a youtube comment I made a couple months ago.

"Everyone asks me why I listen to this type of music when I'm writing. If someone created a masterpiece, why can't I?"

That and how I was mad about the FNaF movie being too kiddish.

 

[AstreiaNyx]

I think as long as I enjoy my own story I can keep going. Most often I stop because I no longer enjoy it but that’s just one book. I’ve completed one, currently writing another and I’ve restarted the one I dropped with a new plot that excites me more.

 

[KintsugiShimi]

I wrote a trilogy and let it sit for almost a decade, then i dusted it off when i found myself, and am in the process of a complete rewrite. I dropped it because i was depressed, and now I'm finishing it because I have hope.

 

[A_the_king_of_all]

Procrastination

 

[KUWABARA]

I wrote a story called Saga of the Cosmic Heroes here and on RR. I dropped it because I was writing it in first person present tense from the perspective of a young military female officer, as well as a few other povs. My mental health deteriorated rapidly to the point where I just couldn't even think about the horrors of war from her pov, so I came clean and announced I was dropping it for those specific reasons.

It was 3 volumes long, just over 400k words, but I didn't get far into the 3rd volume. I kept dragging things out and adding a shit load of meanginless purple prose monologue before it finally dawned on me I couldn't depict first-hand warfare in 1st person present tense, not with my skills then, and I'm still not confident I could do it now, years later, after reading Frank Herbert's Dune and nearly finished with Iliad. I also did zero planning until it was way too late. There was no real ending to work towards until I came up with an exit strategy for the series(repurposed into Yellow Typhoon's, mainly).

Yellow Typhoon came to be a realized spiritual successor to Saga of the Cosmic Heroes. I've improved a lot with my mental health since by the time I penned it. I'm really happy I managed to tell the story I always wanted to tell. Unfortunately, it bombed harder than pearl harbor here and it only did somewhat barely better on RR. Interestingly, it got a little more views on Spacebattles (500). Currently I'm writing its own full-fledged novella/novel sequel and this time with a few ads (on RR at least) and I'll see how it goes. I'm better prepared now with all the awful experience I learned writing Cosmic Heroes. This time I spent months completing its outline from start to finish so even if it just straight up never gets seen by any eyes at least I'll be content I'm finally finishing a real full length story with a definite ending this time.

 

[Fallen_Pages]

I wrote a story called Saga of the Cosmic Heroes here and on RR. I dropped it because I was writing it in first person present tense from the perspective of a young military female officer, as well as a few other povs. My mental health deteriorated rapidly to the point where I just couldn't even think about the horrors of war from her pov, so I came clean and announced I was dropping it for those specific reasons.

It was 3 volumes long, just over 400k words, but I didn't get far into the 3rd volume. I kept dragging things out and adding a shit load of meanginless purple prose monologue before it finally dawned on me I couldn't depict first-hand warfare in 1st person present tense, not with my skills then, and I'm still not confident I could do it now, years later, after reading Frank Herbert's Dune and nearly finished with Iliad. I also did zero planning until it was way too late. There was no real ending to work towards until I came up with an exit strategy for the series(repurposed into Yellow Typhoon's, mainly).

Yellow Typhoon came to be a realized spiritual successor to Saga of the Cosmic Heroes. I've improved a lot with my mental health since by the time I penned it. I'm really happy I managed to tell the story I always wanted to tell. Unfortunately, it bombed harder than pearl harbor here and it only did somewhat barely better on RR. Interestingly, it got a little more views on Spacebattles (500). Currently I'm writing its own full-fledged novella/novel sequel and this time with a few ads (on RR at least) and I'll see how it goes. I'm better prepared now with all the awful experience I learned writing Cosmic Heroes. This time I spent months completing its outline from start to finish so even if it just straight up never gets seen by any eyes at least I'll be content I'm finally finishing a real full length story with a definite ending this time.

This was very interesting to read! I think releasing the chapters gradually (not all at once), along with a better cover and/or synopsis, might get you more readers! (I’m more of an amateur than you, though, so I’ll leave the real advice to the experts.)

But you posted the first (and only—why? where’s the rest?) seven chapters on the debut day, I presume? That’s not bad. The “bulk release” I was referring to is when authors dump their entire novel at once, missing out on all the potential readers in the following days.

So in your case, it may be more of a cover/synopsis problem (don’t ask me about those coverless books that keep trending from time to time).

Good luck with your sequel!

By the way, the name made me think of the anime Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Also, is your avatar related to Kaiji in some way, or is it just my imagination?

 

[KUWABARA]

But you posted the first (and only—why? where’s the rest?) seven chapters on the debut day, I presume? That’s not bad. The “bulk release” I was referring to is when authors dump their entire novel at once, missing out on all the potential readers in the following days.

No particular reason to the release schedule; it is just a brief short story after all. These 7 chapters are the whole story. It was planned, written, and already finished before it was launched. With the sequel, it'll be 1 chapter once daily until I exhaust the backlog or until ch20, that's the plan that is.

By the way, the name made me think of the anime Legend of the Galactic Heroes. Also, is your avatar related to Kaiji in some way, or is it just my imagination?

Both the story, themes, and the title drew strong inspiration from LotGH. Also yeah it's Ryan Gosling as Kaiji.

 

[ZannaYO]

I have been trying to write something good for a while now, but not being convinced with my first two attempts, I haven’t really gone back to them (despite having whole worlds built that the novels barely scratched the surface of). And it’s not because they weren’t popular (well, they weren’t, but they were growing at a steady pace), but simply because I wasn’t happy with them.

Now it’s the opposite: my new try (Novel) is growing really, really slowly, but it’s my proudest work yet (I spent months building the world) and I have no intention of leaving it hanging. It’s quite interesting.

Of course, these are the ramblings of an amateur who doesn’t compare with other people here who have written thousands upon thousands of chapters. Work doesn’t let me go that far (I’m the boss, so I have the least amount of free time, haha).

What are your experiences? When did you decide to quit, or what gives you the strength to keep going despite bad reception?

Cheers

I've had a (traditional) novel WIP in the works for literal years, but I think because I care about it so much I keep feeling intimidated and creativity just dissipates. I'm writing at least a few hundred words a day atm, and it's because I'm just having fun with it and I don’t overthink it too much or worry about it being "publishing-worthy".

I'm a writer, it's an inescapable part of who I am. So I'll keep writing even if no one reads it, but it's definitely a huge motivator when you know people enjoy your stories.

 

[laccoff_mawning]

Go finish it, give it a bad ending, make it trash, rush it, but finish it.
You remember when you were a reader? The fustration you felt when a writer just got bored with it and just stop.

While it's disappointing when an author stops his work halfway, I think I find it more disappointing if his work drops in quality.

I'd rather read half a story and be left with good memories of it than read an entire story with conflicting feelings at the end of it.