As a reader, what are your favorite blend of tags that make you GO FOR THE BOOK!?

[MsChange]

C’mon guys, give me and other fellow author’s a nice cheat code haha! Though of course, as authors we should always stay true to ourselves and choose the tags that truly fit our books.
READERS, show us your taste in tags ?
AUTHORS, if you see tags that align with your books, go ahead and suggest ?

 

[Fox-Trot-9]

Following, b/c I wanna know.

 

[MsChange]

Following, b/c I wanna know.

It’s nice to have you here!

 

[MasterY001]

Following, b/c I wanna know.

That makes two of us

 

[DeirdreH]

There's almost nothing I find interesting about this site anymore.

The original series I liked in the past either finished or are on permanent hiatus or the author has disappeared.

My reading list now is translated Chinese cultivation novels that I find on Novel Updates that the translator is hosting here for some reason.

The reason I've migrated to that genera for entertainment is that Eastern authors are generally willing to include theme and worldviews that Western authors will not.

 

[MsChange]

There's almost nothing I find interesting about this site anymore.

The original series I liked in the past either finished or are on permanent hiatus or the author has disappeared.

My reading list now is translated Chinese cultivation novels that I find on Novel Updates that the translator is hosting here for some reason.

The reason I've migrated to that genera for entertainment is that Eastern authors are generally willing to include theme and worldviews that Western authors will not.

Well that’s quite the interesting way to put it. Can you maybe drop the link? We might learn a thing or two ?

 

[MasterY001]

There's almost nothing I find interesting about this site anymore.

The original series I liked in the past either finished or are on permanent hiatus or the author has disappeared.

My reading list now is translated Chinese cultivation novels that I find on Novel Updates that the translator is hosting here for some reason.

The reason I've migrated to that genera for entertainment is that Eastern authors are generally willing to include theme and worldviews that Western authors will not.

Western author, here, and I feel you. The sad truth is that sites like this one aren't designed to propagate "theme and worldviews." It's just the nature of mass media, but there are hidden gems if you care enough to look.

However, as I've said in the past, I can read wuxia about as well as I can eat poison ivy. If there is a deeper meaning, then a predictable narrative structure and fantastical plot devices aren't intriguing ways of conveying it. So, you can imagine my suspicion at your claim.

 

[Eldoria]

I'm actually here to write something. As for what tags I like, it's subjective and based on personal preference, where I like themes about family relationships between mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, and siblings. Tags: single parent, siblings, younger sisters, parent complex, sister complex, heartwarming, loli, family love, sibling love. Unfortunately, these themes are quite rare now (especially those that truly raise the theme of family as a story premise, not just a gimmick), because of my disappointment, I decided to write about the theme as my own novel. If there are other authors who revive the theme of family, I will be happy and will read it.

 

[MsChange]

I'm actually here to write something. As for what tags I like, it's subjective and based on personal preference, where I like themes about family relationships between mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, and siblings. Tags: single parent, siblings, younger sisters, parent complex, sister complex, heartwarming, loli, family love, sibling love. Unfortunately, these themes are quite rare now (especially those that truly raise the theme of family as a story premise, not just a gimmick), because of my disappointment, I decided to write about the theme as my own novel. If there are other authors who revive the theme of family, I will be happy and will read it.

Y’know what‘s ironic? My book includes family issues. Some bonds with family members/friends are strengthened, others broken. Now that you pointed this out, I think I’ll emphasize the beautiful bonds more.

 

[Eldoria]

Y’know what‘s ironic? My book includes family issues. Some bonds with family members/friends are strengthened, others broken. Now that you pointed this out, I think I’ll emphasize the beautiful bonds more.

Absolutely. I'm so sad. The sacred bond of parent-child, brother-sister, is being torn apart by a sordid story (you know what I mean). If we search the family tags for beautiful stories, we find morally flawed ones instead. It truly saddens me. If the sacred bond of family is broken, what else can we believe in as "humans"?

 

[MsChange]

Absolutely. I'm so sad. The sacred bond of parent-child, brother-sister, is being torn apart by a sordid story (you know what I mean). If we search the family tags for beautiful stories, we find morally flawed ones instead. It truly saddens me. If the sacred bond of family is broken, what else can we believe in as "humans"?

I’m glad you’re trying to make a change in that field! Readers you better stay tuned for a story with a good family bond here ;)

 

[CharlesEBrown]

There are a few tags I'll generally avoid, like Sports or Smut, but nothing that is a guaranteed draw.
I'm more likely to look at an interesting title, then look for tags I have no interest in and move on, or read the synopsis if there are none (and then flag either as "Probably won't read but curious" "Maybe Will Read" or, far less often, "Reading").

 

[DeirdreH]

However, as I've said in the past, I can read wuxia about as well as I can eat poison ivy. If there is a deeper meaning, then a predictable narrative structure and fantastical plot devices aren't intriguing ways of conveying it. So, you can imagine my suspicion at your claim.

It's the difference between being, for example, 99% likely that I will ignore or drop vs being 95% likely I will ignore or drop.

In both cases the good stories are a rounding error compared to the total quantity, however is in this example one side five times more likely than the other to produce something worthwhile.

I can read wuxia about as well as I can eat poison ivy.

For me literary poison ivy is the everything encompassed by the superhero genra, I reject its inventors, their goals in founding it, and the embedded values it propagates. I don't care how skillfully a particular story has been written. If it exist in that orbit I'm not even reading the synopsis.

 

[Supperset]

Reader: Sci-fi/Fantasy, Action, Adventure.

Reader: Urban, Slice of Life

Reader: Sci-fi/Fantasy, Kingdom Building, Lit.RPG

Reader: Action, Adventure, Horror

Reader: Sci-fi/Fantasy/Urban, Horror Mystery

 

[CharlesEBrown]

For me literary poison ivy is the everything encompassed by the superhero genra, I reject its inventors, their goals in founding it, and the embedded values it propagates. I don't care how skillfully a particular story has been written. If it exist in that orbit I'm not even reading the synopsis.

Superheroes are a modern mythology (well, modern soap opera with colorful costumes and special effects since the late 80s but...) - circus performers following a grand tradition dating back to Gilgamesh and Beowulf, and at one time delivering a moral message (that Optimism, Patriotism and/or Justice will, ultimately carry they day), filtered through the prism of Pulp heroes (who often wore masks because they were murderous Good Guys - like The Shadow, The Spider, even The Lone Ranger or the Green Hornet, and especially Domino Lady, who makes The Punisher look like a saint).
But this means you can avoid 2/3 of my material (only Between Worlds and Digital Cowboy are NOT in that orbit).

 

[Plantorsomething]

C’mon guys, give me and other fellow author’s a nice cheat code haha! Though of course, as authors we should always stay true to ourselves and choose the tags that truly fit our books.
READERS, show us your taste in tags ?
AUTHORS, if you see tags that align with your books, go ahead and suggest ?

Multiple personalities, time travel, weak protagonist, childhood trauma, meta, caring protagonist, secretive protagonist, girl’s love, maybe?

 

[Arkus86]

There are tags that make me interested in a book, and tags that reliably turn me away, but there is no combination that is guaranteed to draw me in. It's the combination of cover and title that make me click on it, as well as tags and synopsis that might convince me to give it a try.
Fantasy and sci-fi are genres I'm most interested in, preferably without isekai and litrpg. Harem and BL tags I outright avoid.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Slice of life, fantasy, witches ?‍

 

[Hoshino]

Its subjective and depends on my mood. Most of the time, I will read depressing, traumatizing things but some times I would read heartwarming things (once in a while.)

Tags: Brother/sister complex, familal love, harem, yandere, dark, tragedy.

 

[Kenjona]

Like Arkus86 said above "There are tags that make me interested in a book, and tags that reliably turn me away, but there is no combination that is guaranteed to draw me in. It's the combination of cover and title that make me click on it, as well as tags and synopsis that might convince me to give it a try."
For me I will mostly avoid BL/GL and Gender Bender. But have read several stories with those tags just because it looked interesting at the time. Incest is one I avoid like the plague.

I keep trying harem but generally get disappointed. I prefer plot over smut; but sometimes a little smut goes a long way.