RoyalRoad vs Scribble Hub

Overlord_Venus · Mar 27, 2020

well, honestly speaking, none of the two platforms are good for my book since it caters to a niche audience. SH is good for rookie authors but like others mentioned above, it would be difficult for you to gain any monetary value out of it. On the other hand, you have a high chance of gaining some monetary advance for your book in RR but the community there is quite harsh. Moreover, unless it's litrpg, it would take you many months if not years for your book to gain a sizeable audience. It's the same for Webnovel where I migrated from. Readers there read pretty much everything but when it comes to support, just forget about it, they might even choose to read from pirated sites for the most part. You also would be needed to post every day just to gain a small audience if your book is not romance and doesn't have any golden words in its title.

AliceShiki · Mar 27, 2020

Nerodith said:
You definitely should try RRL ! Haters will be inevitable, but like I said before, the community isn't stupid there. People know how to make the difference between a work that gets bad ratings because it's lacking and a work that gets bad ratings just because "reasons". Most people don't pay attention to ratings. They pay attention to reviews. And yes, clearly, you won't get the same audience on RRL than on SH, but you don't lose anything at trying to widen your audience by posting on as many platform as you can. Moreover, the rare readers you gain on RRL when your story doesn't fit the RRL niche will tend to be more active and loyal than your average reader

Ah, I never cared for ratings, I just heard stories of people that got flung waves of insults just because they were writing gay romance... I don't mind harsh constructive critiscism, but I have always been bad with open hostility.

And it doesn't help that the adms don't make it easier on the author by not giving the proper genre for them to label their novels as, so... Yanno... >.>

I mean, geez, someone once linked me a thread in their forums suggesting yaoi/yuri genres and it was rejected because yaoi/yuri are, according to the adms of RR, too often associated with pornographic stuff.

If that's the problem, why not add Lesbian/Gay Romance genres!? *flips table*

So... When I hear that the community is hostile against those genres, and when I see that the adms either don't help, or actively make the situation worse... I tend to have a very bad impression of the site... >.>

That said, I do have the dream of making a living from writing, so... I'll post it anywhere that I may get patreons~ *whistles*

Nanakawaichan · Mar 27, 2020

Nerodith said:
A little bit out of topic, but I do believe if your readers get confused, then it mean the explanations were meant to be included in the story. Glossary should be used for recaps, abstracts, non-crucial details. As a reader, I wouldn't want to have to refer myself to a glossary to understand a story. But if the story is engaging, then having a glossary is a pro, as I would naturally want to know more about the characters or the world. But it absolutely shouldn't be necessary. Anything necessary for the comprehension of a story has to be included in the story, not as a bonus. The trick is just to avoid info dumps.

I have included it in the story from the beginning and they complained because I had too many explanations that interupting the plot. Well, I will try to cut it as short as possible...

Nerodith · Mar 28, 2020

Nanakawaichan said:
I have included it in the story from the beginning and they complained because I had too many explanations that interupting the plot. Well, I will try to cut it as short as possible...

Yeah, that's an info dump.

The issue isn't necessary the length of your explanations, but the way they are included. Here's an interesting thread on How avoid info dumps if it can help.

Nanakawaichan · Mar 28, 2020

Nerodith said:
Yeah, that's an info dump. The issue isn't necessary the length of your explanations, but the way they are included. Here's an interesting thread on How avoid info dumps if it can help.

Thank you for your advice ?

SGreyholt · 2026-04-22T22:34:28+0100

DarkWe said:
The title pretty much explains it.

As an author, which of the above do you prefer? Scribble Hub or RoyalRoad?

Personally, I prefer Scribble Hub. Don't get me wrong, RoyalRoad is a great platform for writers - if you ever get noticed in the first place.
On RR, your chapter will get buried in mere seconds. On Scribble, however, you'll at least have some time on the front page (latest updates section).
You also have a fair chance of getting into trending on Scribble, and I do think Scribble's trending system is better since RR uses the number of ratings given within a certain interval (usually 1-3months). Of course, everything can be improved upon!

I also think that Scribble is better for writers with English as their 2nd language (like myself). On RR, readers will point out grammar mistakes - which is great and all but most of the other readers will just drop your story or complain about it in the comments. (For example "Low IQ Author, doesn't know how to write" VS "You can improve this by editing! Keep on going!"). These are of course extreme examples...

Anyway, give your opinion down below, I'm curious!

I personally don't like RoyalRoad because it is inundated with AI slop. Just like actual AI slop. Also, the points you raised about your story being buried in seconds is completely true, another reason I'm unhappy with RoyalRoad. I just published the first part of chapter one on ScribbleHub however, and I already have twelve views! I have a good feeling about this.
Ah, if only I had swapped over to SH sooner. Well, glad to be here, and good to meet you all.

Worthy39 · 2026-04-22T23:53:28+0100

I get like, seven times as many readers on RR, but I like the SH community more. I also appreciate that RR has a publishing option in the site, even if the odds of you getting accepted are slim. But overall, I'd say I like SH more than RR. There's more smut here.

TinaMigarlo · 2026-04-23T00:12:06+0100

gaylolis said:
i never post on RR anymore, it's suffice to say where's better for me.

what really ticks me off was their increase of 'censorship' towards stories with sexual content. when they bring that sjw bullshit right there, i just yeet over.

also seconded that RR isn't really for new authors. i find their readerbase too toxic for my liking, so i'd rather frequent SH where it's more casual and fun.

most of all, when they start policing lewd content, it's far more irritating. i still can't forgive them when they started to remove 'futanari' stories just because one of the admins didn't like them.

but my last straw broke when they also banned the lolis, even though they're over 18 and thinking of them as child pornography regardless. it's so dumb and stupid, that i end up getting kicked out of their discord since the admins couldn't stand me posting about lolis.

it's a FRIGGIN CARTOON, for goodness sake. and their age is listed over 18. it's fictional character, why don't you blokes mind your own business instead trying to kinkshame everyone just because it sound morally just to you?

but i guess it's mostly my fault, since i mingle around with the wrong community.

overall I prefer Ao3 over SH and RR since I could just write whatever I want (including all the lewd things that might be banned elsewhere).

Does AO3 have any monetization, particularly for S-M-U-T?
Asking for a friend, lol.

i have some stuff I *know* better than to even try to run it past SH censors, lol.

JessicaDrew · 2026-04-23T01:11:51+0100

I never got my story onto RR, after disagreeing with their moderator on "sexual content". There's nudity and dressing in my story, but its rarely sexualised or eroticised as written. It's up to the reader to bring that to it themselves (which they will as a TG/TF fan).

But nudity is a step too far apparently. Heaven forbid my words conjure a mental image of a naked body in someone's mind.

gaylolis · 2026-04-23T01:18:23+0100

TinaMigarlo said:
Does AO3 have any monetization, particularly for S-M-U-T?
Asking for a friend, lol.

i have some stuff I *know* better than to even try to run it past SH censors, lol.

i've heard people posting their commissioned smut writings in ao3 from the mild one to the extreme stuff but yeah the site itself didnt seem to have build in monetization. might be a decent place to pull in patrons or people who donate to the ko-fi..

Jun_Sakazuki · 2026-04-23T01:53:00+0100

Why this ancient thread suddenly active?

It's good thing... Now, I can stalk these OG authors

TinaMigarlo · 2026-04-23T02:39:59+0100

JessicaDrew said:
I never got my story onto RR, after disagreeing with their moderator on "sexual content". There's nudity and dressing in my story, but its rarely sexualised or eroticised as written. It's up to the reader to bring that to it themselves (which they will as a TG/TF fan).

But nudity is a step too far apparently. Heaven forbid my words conjure a mental image of a naked body in someone's mind.

yeah, no.
I'm talking sexualized, eroticised, anything-ized.
LMAO... but I hear you.
god save us from the puritans.
my theory? dirty seems to be a market, so that's that.
I try multiple genres.

RoyalRoad vs Scribble Hub

Overlord_Venus

Active member

AliceShiki

Magical Girl of Love and Justice

Nanakawaichan

Well-known member

Nerodith

Well-known member

Nanakawaichan

Well-known member

SGreyholt

Active member

Worthy39

The protagonist's third cousin, twice removed

TinaMigarlo

Apparently my pronouns are now: "it". Thanks, guys

JessicaDrew

New member

gaylolis

.

Jun_Sakazuki

Emotionally Unstable Scribbler

TinaMigarlo

Apparently my pronouns are now: "it". Thanks, guys