The different do's and don'ts when writing stories.

[UppishTheReaper]

I have some advice on how to better retain an audience. So far I have read a multitude of stories on scribblehub and honestly I keep finding novels with really good potential, but they always have seem to have some really big and in your face flaws. So here are a few tips for creating a more entertaining story!

1: No Politics, That means no identity politics, no real world politics like economic politics or social politics. When reading a story the last thing anybody wants to hear about is real world annoying crap that they could hear just by turning on the news. Don't use words like misogynist or misandrist. Don't do things like mocking trump or biden. Keep real world stuff in the real world, people prefer they're escapism and that gives you a wider audience.

2: Do Fix your grammar and spelling before you Publish, I keep finding REALLY good stories however so many of them have horrible grammar and/or spelling. Please make sure to save as draft and check a couple of times whether or not your chapters have any spelling or grammar errors. If you cannot find any then ask somebody on the site to help you check it.

3: You can always go back and change things, If you think that your story is not going the way that you want it to then you can always go back and change it using the scribblehub editor. I do this frequently whenever I notice a problem with one of my novels. So far I have even changed the title of one of my novels twice and now I love the sound of my stories title! As well as where the story is going so far! so remember to go back and edit sometimes if you notice something is off.

Welp, that is the best advice I can give at the moment. Hope you guys get something out of this advice and hopefully it will lead to you guys making even better stories in the future!

Edit for advice 2: while I still suggest not putting in real world politics into your stories, stories based off of in world politics should be fine. In world being politics entirely based off the fictional world within your story because at some points that might be a part of good world building. But still regardless, I suggest entirely keeping real world politics out.

 

[CupcakeNinja]

I have some advice on how to better retain an audience. So far I have read a multitude of stories on scribblehub and honestly I keep finding novels with really good potential, but they always have seem to have some really big and in your face flaws. So here are a few tips for creating a more entertaining story!

1: No Politics, That means no identity politics, no real world politics like economic politics or social politics. When reading a story the last thing anybody wants to hear about is real world annoying crap that they could hear just by turning on the news. Don't use words like misogynist or misandrist. Don't do things like mocking trump or biden. Keep real world stuff in the real world, people prefer they're escapism and that gives you a wider audience.

2: Do Fix your grammar and spelling before you Publish, I keep finding REALLY good stories however so many of them have horrible grammar and/or spelling. Please make sure to save as draft and check a couple of times whether or not your chapters have any spelling or grammar errors. If you cannot find any then ask somebody on the site to help you check it.

3: You can always go back and change things, If you think that your story is not going the way that you want it to then you can always go back and change it using the scribblehub editor. I do this frequently whenever I notice a problem with one of my novels. So far I have even changed the title of one of my novels twice and now I love the sound of my stories title! As well as where the story is going so far! so remember to go back and edit sometimes if you notice something is off.

Welp, that is the best advice I can give at the moment. Hope you guys get something out of this advice and hopefully it will lead to you guys making even better stories in the future!

All I gotta do is not smoke weed while writing and I'm good. My writing gets crazy otherwise. I can write loops around God himself (and that's me being humble, mind you) but I can't do that while I'm wondering how It would feel to get a blowjob from a rainbow. Because those are the things I question when I'm high as balls.

 

[minacia]

1: No Politics, That means no identity politics, no real world politics like economic politics or social politics. When reading a story the last thing anybody wants to hear about is real world annoying crap that they could hear just by turning on the news. Don't use words like misogynist or misandrist. Don't do things like mocking trump or biden. Keep real world stuff in the real world, people prefer they're escapism and that gives you a wider audience.

Hmm, I think this only applies to escapism-type novels though.

At least, that's my opinion.

 

[Zavha0mnic]

I am trying. No politics here, big question though. What if the reader wants like a character that messes up politics? Not real world but in world politics?

 

[Zavha0mnic]

I am trying. No politics here, big question though. What if the reader wants like a character that messes up politics? Not real world but in world politics?

Also, what if I want to write in-world politics getting messed up?

 

[Milk.Milkan]

Watz grammuh?

 

[Discount_Blade]

Also, what if I want to write in-world politics getting messed up?

If its politics in your created world, and not the real world, than I'm pretty sure no one cares.

 

[TLCsDestiny]

I try not to outsmart myself lol, which means I haven't too much politics...At least I don't think I do...
As for grammar: I can say, with a lot of confidence, that I have gotten a lot better!!

 

[CrusadeAgainstFurries]

...but I can't do that while I'm wondering how It would feel to get a blowjob from a rainbow.

 

[Daitengu]

I'm in the "please stop dumping all your world info on me for 3/4th of a chapter, every chapter" camp. I don't care about most of it. I don't care how your alchemy, formations, magic, etc work. They are close enough to all the other magic or cultivation systems that it doesn't matter. Just because you name shit differently doesn't make it original.

IF YOU WRITE IN FIRST PERSON PERSPECTIVE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T SWITCH TO OTHER CHARACTERS. IT MISSES THE WHOLE POINT OF FIRST PERSON.

PS, no one thinks in info dumps so don't do that shit in first person either.

 

[UYScuti]

1. I suppose if you’re talking about our politics, then the majority of people probably don’t want to hear about it unless it’s a parody. But other world politics would be crucial to world building. Looking at modern political structures/leaders may make it more realistic and relatable.

2. I’m all for fixing grammar as much as possible. Some grammar checkers would help. But a lot of people writing here are not native English speakers, so unless it’s unbearable, most people probably gloss over it. As for asking people to help review, yeah, that’s probably not happening. Authors are busy writing and editing their own stuff. That’s like hiring an editor but not paying them.

3. I wouldn’t do this unless you plan on making a massive note detailing the changes you made to your readers. Use the editor to make grammar fixes or tighten your story by getting rid of fluff. Once you go back and add or remove plot points, you’re going to lose the readers you have for sure.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Well shit. Because my work is full of racism and politics and social hierarchy and how the poor and weak are getting stomped on. And how most if not all of humanity is shit and those who are good dies first.

It is a bad move for me to let my inner edgelord coupled with today's news to start writing. At least I think it will be will received in RRL... once I can even get it finished. I am still continuing on my bad porn works and oneshots instead of looking at this one work.

 

[NotYourTypicalMan]

IF YOU WRITE IN FIRST PERSON PERSPECTIVE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T SWITCH TO OTHER CHARACTERS. IT MISSES THE WHOLE POINT OF FIRST PERSON.

Every writer have their own writing style as every audiences have their own fetishes and dick preferences.

You're dumbfuck if you force over your preferences because you dont like how the novel being written.

And for fuck sake, if you really think switching POV is ruining it, tell that to every person that bought IRL novel that actually 'SPENDS' their money over a bunch of paper that fucking use Multiple First person POV.

For god's sake you get a 'FREE FUCKING READ', man. Even when taking a piss need to pay for the toll.

Just brush it off if it doesn't click with you, you prick little shit.

 

[Daitengu]

Every writer have their own writing style as every audiences have their own fetishes and dick preferences.

You're dumbo if you force over your preferences because you dont like how the novel being written.

And for fuck sake, if you really think switching POV is ruining it, tell that to every person that bought IRL novel that actually 'SPENDS' their money over a bunch of paper that fucking use Multiple First person POV.

For god's sake you get a 'FREE FUCKING READ', man. Even when taking a piss need to pay for the toll.

Just brush it off if it doesn't click with you, you prick little shit.

Nah mate, you don't get it. 3rd person is for switching characters, and first person is for first person stories. Moby Dick was first person with one person view to great effect. Dune was 3rd person with character switching to great effect.

The whole point of first person is to get into the mind of a character, if you're switching characters every few chapters it really destroys immersion as many things the 'MC' shouldn't know is known by the reader dulling the impact and suddenness of events. Or the other perspectives end up just feeling like filler and didn't matter a single bit.

Like Legend of Randidly Ghosthound, all the chapters with other characters just don't matter, and feels like a failing of the author to characterize side characters from Randidly's point of view. You get like 3 to 7 chapters of a side character, then you don't hear about them again for 200-500 chapters. All the side character chapters are just filler.

*looks at bookshelves of books*
Also, how do you know I don't just leave writings that wants to mash third and first person together? Cause I do. When the narrator and thought is the MC, but the perspective is told in 3rd person, suddenly changes to another character. I'm often confused at what I'm reading. Doesn't help that webnovels often fail of punctuation and grammar. I often see 1st person writers having to add in breakers and who's perspective it is at the break just to make it make sense. The ones that don't do that? utterly confusing.

Yes, every writer has their own writing style. Just like everyone that can manually write has their own way of writing letters. Doesn't mean everyone's calligraphy is fucking Leonardo De Vinci. Sometimes that shit is chicken scratch.

 

[Moonpearl]

Hmm, I think this only applies to escapism-type novels though.

At least, that's my opinion.

I think it only applies to a very particular type of escapism novel, even then.

Power fantasies or escapism novels aimed at people who aren't men, white, straight or cis will probably handle "politics" as the default without chasing away any of the readers they want.

 

[Deleted member 25480]

Well, my stories are full of racism and some sentence that might offend some people. If they were offend at my sentences. I just suggest them to read another stories or create their own stories. Rather than the readers dictate on what should I write. Fck em. It depends on the people really.

 

[Redtal]

I think it only applies to a very particular type of escapism novel, even then.

Power fantasies or escapism novels aimed at people who aren't men, white, straight or cis will probably handle "politics" as the default without chasing away any of the readers they want.

Even then, it is very easy to overdo, and put people off of the story.

 

[OneRanter]

IF YOU WRITE IN FIRST PERSON PERSPECTIVE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T SWITCH TO OTHER CHARACTERS. IT MISSES THE WHOLE POINT OF FIRST PERSON.

That is more of a style question. And you have to remember that most writers here, This Ranter included, are amateurs writing for free and without much help. That the changes in perspective end up in a mess or become an annoyance is just lack of practice, but it does not mean you can't get it right with enough experience.

There are successful printed books with multiple editions in multiple languages that use a first person narrator and change the perspective from time to time.

For example, you can look at The Amulet of Samarkand, which not only changes from a first person narrator to a third person one, following another character, but also includes footnotes from the "narrator" as a way to enrich the narration.

In This Ranter's opinion, if there is a place to make experiments and fail spectacularly, this is it.

 

[Zero300]

Don't name meaningless characters.

 

[Wohendum-Bluu]

I think it only applies to a very particular type of escapism novel, even then.

Power fantasies or escapism novels aimed at people who aren't men, white, straight or cis will probably handle "politics" as the default without chasing away any of the readers they want.

Personally, I say just leave it out. If you must have politics then make them relevant to the world they are in. The fictional one, not ours. If people can't do that and upset others, then they deserve the negative attention this will create for them. Race, gender, and sexual preference are completely irrelevant to that.