How do people find new stories?

[RileyMarino]

My story is being read, which is nice.

Thing is, I have absolutely no idea how people are finding it. As a (relatively) new story (at 30ch and 60k words and less than a month old), it's wayyyyyyy down the rankings on almost every measure one might use to find something to read:

- popularity/readers/chapters/words/favorites - can't compete with things that have millions of views and have been around for years
- chapter update - I update 8 times a week according to SH (not technically accurate, but hey) and there are still dozens of stories that hit 30/week
- last updated - granted, this tips it up on to the top page (if readers search like this) for a couple of hours, until other stories knock it down

I know we're all in the same boat. Not claiming anything special here.

Just genuinely curious - how do people find stories like mine that aren't yet established?

 

[RedMuffin]

Just genuinely curious - how do people find stories like mine that aren't yet established?

By chance.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

There's no chance or luck involved. If you have the makings of a popular story, it will get popular. I can do it even if I make an alt account.

By the way, your story has decent growth. Keep up the good work!

 

[Paul__Michaels]

Depends what tags you have on your story

 

[theInmara]

There are a couple of different ways this works out if you aren't also actively promoting your story on other social media sites and platforms (most of our readers come from a discord server we're participating in, for instance).

Anyway, on Scribble Hub, people do search for stories by genre. And within those searches it's possible to filter for things like "Date Added" and "Last Update".

Avid readers of a given genre will sometimes use those filters to find new stuff to read.

The main page also has a Latest Updates listing right below the Trending and Latest Series listings.

If you happen to post your story or your latest chapter during a time that the site isn't being updated frequently, your story will be listed there for longer, and have an increased chance of getting the attention of new readers.

From there, those readers might recommend your story to other people and grow your readership that way.

The amount of readers (and views) you get from that is pretty low.

It really helps to promote your story elsewhere and bring people in.

You can do some of that here on the Scribble Hub Forums by participating in the right threads. But it seems like the best bet is to pay attention to other authors who are writing stories kind of like yours who are doing well, and find out which ones have fan discord servers. Then, IF those servers have channels for sharing your own story updates, start posting links there.

This is a bit of work, and you have to lurk a little to learn the ropes on each server first, but it's really a great way to find your audience. It gives the hosting author a more active server, which is nice for them, actually. It keeps people engaged between their stories' updates. And, also, you might find recommendations for series for you to read, too! And possibly make some author friends to trade proofreading and editing.

 

[Paul__Michaels]

Most reader will go to a tag the like and choose the most recent update. That's how they know that a story is still alive.

 

[RileyMarino]

There are a couple of different ways this works out if you aren't also actively promoting your story on other social media sites and platforms (most of our readers come from a discord server we're participating in, for instance).

Thanks for your reply. Are there Discord servers you recommend for SH authors/readers?

 

[SirDogeTheFirst]

This is my experience as a small writer: My first work was getting 200 to 350 views per chapter. At some point, I reached the top 25 in engineering and two other genres I don't remember, and suddenly that 200 became 1k because people looking for that tag saw my story before many others, I had a good cover made by a kind stranger, and my story was getting recommended next to bigger stories (mainly runesmith, like holy shit, I got so many views from runesmith if writer of that story reads this, thank you. Like a good chunk of my views were from your readers.) Also, I am not a good writer by any means, and suck at both titles, and synopsis, so I assume someone better probably push these much higher.
For the release: Have a strong title, first chapter, and a synopsis that tells people what exactly they will get from your story. Tags are also very important, smut stories gather lots of views fast, but have a cap, litrpg + dark fantasy + harem is the holy trinity. Your cover is also crucial. Boba is great, epic scenery is nice, and cool guys are also good, but that's not everything, because there are many trending stories with no covers.

 

[John_Owl]

tags tags tags. and just for good measure: TAGS. That's seriously the most common way most people find new stories, outside of the front page, which is mostly luck that it ends up there.

That said, I'd recommend building a following and waiting. Patience is king. Add links to it in your forum signature (you can go one step above and beyond and actually include your covers, like I have VV down there).

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I turn over rocks. Usually ones I find in peoples' signature lines.

 

[3guanoff]

If I am desperate, I use the search and filter by genre and minimum chapters/words.
Otherwise, it's word of mouth. Mates both on and off the line tell me what they are reading and I give it a shot.

 

[theInmara]

Thanks for your reply. Are there Discord servers you recommend for SH authors/readers?

Not really, unfortunately.

We don't know that many. We're just on one that is related to a very specific set of stories that one author is writing. It's really a fan server for her specifically, and since she writes trans girl transformation wish fulfillment, it fit for us.

 

[22_Ti]

Thanks for your reply. Are there Discord servers you recommend for SH authors/readers?

There is actually a Discord for SH: https://discord.gg/e3myr5xR