What was it like the first time you shared your novel publicly?

[zeroniimation]

This is my first time posting a thread in this forum, so I’ll keep it brief.

I’ve finally decided to share my writing online [Title; Fractured Tales on scribblehub], and I wanted to ask other active authors here
about their experiences uploading their first work.

1. What was the first novel you ever published online? Is it still ongoing?
2. Did you ever feel nervous or anxious about other people reading your stories?
3. And how do you usually deal with writer’s block?

This might sound a little silly, but I’m genuinely curious about other authors’ thoughts.

 

[WhaleSprite]

Well I posted my first story roughly 2 months ago, "Lucky God System". I'm not sure that I felt nervous. It was more relief that I actually posted something because before I always got stuck in editing hell for my stories. I finally got the motivation to actually post my story without worrying as much about whether it's "perfect".

It's been a fun ride so far, though, I don't have much interaction for my story on this website. I've got more attention on RR. My story is still ongoing, but it's first volume is coming to an end soon. Just got one more arc to finish. Then I'll probably take a break to do some planning for volume two.

And yes, I feel anxious about people reading my story sometimes, but so far my story has been getting pretty good reception.

As for dealing with writer's block, haven't really experienced that yet, cuz my story is mostly planned out and outlined, aside from smaller details.

 

[zeroniimation]

Well I posted my first story roughly 2 months ago, "Lucky God System". I'm not sure that I felt nervous. It was more relief that I actually posted something because before I always got stuck in editing hell for my stories. I finally got the motivation to actually post my story without worrying as much about whether it's "perfect".

It's been a fun ride so far, though, I don't have much interaction for my story on this website. I've got more attention on RR. My story is still ongoing, but it's first volume is coming to an end soon. Just got one more arc to finish. Then I'll probably take a break to do some planning for volume two.

And yes, I feel anxious about people reading my story sometimes, but so far my story has been getting pretty good reception.

As for dealing with writer's block, haven't really experienced that yet, cuz my story is mostly planned out and outlined, aside from smaller details.

Thanks for sharing your experience with me.

I'm quite relieved to know that I'm not the only one who feels anxious about posting my work online.
I’m also curious about how you outline.
Do you map out key scenarios, like what’s going to happen to the protagonist and the outcome? I'm kind of struggling to write the fillers that happen in between. ;-;

Anyways, I wish you the best with your final arc o7.

 

[Eldoria]

What was the first novel you ever published online? Is it still ongoing?

I've only been writing novels for two months. I've published four different novels, and they're still ongoing, with the largest number of chapters in a series reaching 70 chapters (draft and published).

Did you ever feel nervous or anxious about other people reading your stories?

I didn't think anything of it. I even received comments from readers that my grammar was so bad, I had to revise it repeatedly. (Note: English is my third language - when I first released the chapter, I didn't use Grammarly to proofread the chapter.)

And how do you usually deal with writer’s block?

Hmm... everyone has different problems. For me, writing novels is more like a hobby - writing history in the form of fiction. So my motivation is to immortalise experiences and social wounds in the form of fiction. Sometimes bored? It's natural, we need to get some fresh air and see the outside world. But as soon as I have free time again... like most hobbies... I go back to writing... because our works are proof that we once existed in this world.

This might sound a little silly, but I’m genuinely curious about other authors’ thoughts.

Welcome, my friend. We're both amateur writers. I hope you can finish your novel. Best regards.

Spoiler: My Works

Blood Rose Princess Just Wants to Live in Peace with Her Little Daughter

What if the world chose to forget its saviour and its sins, while the saviour chose instead to protect her daughter’s innocence? Seven years ago, the age of tyranny was erased from the memory of mankind. Civilisation crumbled, the tyrants fell into an eternal sleep, and the victims woke...

www.scribblehub.com

 

[Wenlock]

I first posted on Wattpad a long time ago. Back then it wasn't as dead as it is now and a lot of talented writers were posting back then so the reception my YA mystery novel got was pretty good. But I didn't feel like writing any more chapters (school stuff) so it died. But it did encourage me to keep writing later in life.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

First novel published online?
Diamond in the Rough, July 29, 2024. Part of a temporarily suspended ongoing series (that should be five books long but I haven't had time to get back to book two).
Published because I didn't feel nervous about sharing for once (and was hoping to test the waters for a possible income stream as I was out of work at the time and having terrible luck finding anything).
Writer's block? Only have that occasionally, and usually have enough stories going on that when I feel the need to write I can work on one, regardless. My big problem is finding the time to write, with two part time jobs (three if you count the stories being posted to PocketFM - which I won't count as a job until I actually see money, despite them saying contracts are approved) and a family.

 

[l8rose]

This is my first time posting a thread in this forum, so I’ll keep it brief.

I’ve finally decided to share my writing online [Title; Fractured Tales on scribblehub], and I wanted to ask other active authors here
about their experiences uploading their first work.

1. What was the first novel you ever published online? Is it still ongoing?
2. Did you ever feel nervous or anxious about other people reading your stories?
3. And how do you usually deal with writer’s block?

This might sound a little silly, but I’m genuinely curious about other authors’ thoughts.

1. Wasn't a novel but a short story. I put it up waaaaay back before FictionPress on some other writing site that no longer exists. It's no longer ongoing because I really had nothing for it beyond a brief story about a being trapped in a pod, unable to see outside it.
2. Oh hell yes. I still do, and I've been writing for decades now. Sometimes, I can't even write what I want to write because I feel embarrassed writing it.
3. Normally, I switch to something else that I want to write or I start trying to think of future plot points to help me get to my final arc. It helps that I don't usually write linearly so I don't get stuck on something and just start drafting out another part of the story (or a whole other story).

 

[RepresentingWrath]

1. The first novel is on hiatus. I will rewrite and continue it.

2. When I posted my first story I wasn't anxious at all. I was dogshit writer but I was confident that I am better than vast majority. Now I'm slightly better and I became anxious.

3. Discipline.

 

[A_the_king_of_all]

1. So i decided to rewrite it as Foundation Of Talents (1st version is still on webnovels under the same name)

2. I felt kinda Ok as my 1st readers were my dnd players

3. Idk i take a break and just do math with my hyperphansia thinking about the story.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I was severely bullied so I changed what story I was writing.

 

[kosamsel]

This is my first time posting a thread in this forum, so I’ll keep it brief.

I’ve finally decided to share my writing online [Title; Fractured Tales on scribblehub], and I wanted to ask other active authors here
about their experiences uploading their first work.

1. What was the first novel you ever published online? Is it still ongoing?
2. Did you ever feel nervous or anxious about other people reading your stories?
3. And how do you usually deal with writer’s block?

This might sound a little silly, but I’m genuinely curious about other authors’ thoughts.

1. I posted my first novel years and years ago on Wattpad, and I actually ended up meeting a bunch of lovely people that way (including my best friend, actually! We've been friends for around a decade now) even though the novel is long dead!

2. Oh, absolutely LOL. I used to get so nervous about checking comments and reviews I'd just about make myself sick. But it really does get easier the more you post; even if you never stop dreading a potentially negative response, eventually your nervous system realizes it's not actually in danger, lol. But it's natural to feel anxious about your first public stories, and you shouldn't be too hard on yourself if you feel that way :)

3. By stepping back and reading something that invigorates me. One of the most surefire ways for me to kickstart my drive to create is by consuming something (a book, a game, a show, whatever) that excites me.

Congratulations on sharing your work for the first time, and good luck!!! <3

 

[Deleted member 166465]

Lets not talk about that.
That didnt happen.

 

[WhaleSprite]

Thanks for sharing your experience with me.

I'm quite relieved to know that I'm not the only one who feels anxious about posting my work online.
I’m also curious about how you outline.
Do you map out key scenarios, like what’s going to happen to the protagonist and the outcome? I'm kind of struggling to write the fillers that happen in between. ;-;

Anyways, I wish you the best with your final arc o7.

Well I only outline major plot points. The minor ones I leave empty so it gives me room for changes and flexibility if needed.

 

[HisDivineShadow]

It felt like being in a graveyard because it was on Wattpad ?

 

[Kara_dija]

It felt like being in a graveyard because it was on Wattpad ?

Can relate to that FS

 

[HisDivineShadow]

Can relate to that FS

FS?

 

[Kara_dija]

FS?

For sure ?

 

[Alfir]

My first novel was on RR, on a different account, titled Everlasting Mage, written four years ago. My brave ass, of course, got roasted for it, from the grammar and every little thing. There had been really helpful fellows too, and even offering grammar correction of the entire novel; however, I can't keep up, and my immature, ungrateful ass just lost the excitement and never continued the novel after working its book 1. Since then, I took high school journalism more seriously and returned to writing when I reached college, out of sheer desperation and as a way to cope. I didn't like my course, and couldn't get out of it, so I fed off depression and wrote.

 

[Fox-Trot-9]

1. My first posted "novel" was a fanfic crossover I posted in FanFiction.Net back in 2010. It's incomplete and incompetent and deserves to be left behind as a reminder of how far I've come from my fanfic days.

2. Yes, fearing what readers think about what I wrote was a heavy weight for me to bear when I first started, but I eventually got used to it. Better to use that weight to push me to improve.

3. Role playing scenes before writing and discipline.

 

[Hounoku]

I published my first fanfiction in late 2019, right before the pandemic hit. The holiday from school gave me well enough time to focus on it. Looking back, the fandom I chose and the myriads of people that is suddenly chronically online might have helped to encourage me. I'm not from an English-speaking country, but I adore it. So much so I'm better at it then my home tongue. And seeing my past self's writing, both makes me feel rather proud at how far I've come with my proficiency, and how desperately I want to invent a time machine to just choke my young self for her ideas.