How much does launch matter? And does irregular posting hurt discoverability

[Jaymi]

I'm writing a story which i want to start posting here on scribblehub. It's mainly just for fun. but I'd love to get at least some readers.
I don't really have any backlog, I plan to just post chapters as I finish them (roughly one every 2–3 days, sometimes longer if I get stuck editing). But I’ve noticed a lot of stories launch with 5–10 chapters right away. Is that necessary?

If I were to launch with just 1 chapter and then continue updating every few days as chapters are finished, would that significantly hurt discoverability compared to launching with multiple chapters at once?
I’m trying to understand how much consistency and initial chapter count matter compared to just focusing on writing at my own pace and letting it grow naturally.
And if i do get a bad launch, can it still get more readers later on in the story?

I know the obvious answer is “build a backlog,” but I kind of like being as far into the story as the readers are, lol. (and im super impatient)
Sorry if this has been asked before >.>

 

[Envylope]

Launch does not matter much, but irregular posting can and will hurt discoverability. In my new story on my alt, I launched with 10 readers, but after 8 days, I have 100.

 

[Paul__Michaels]

There are a lot of factors. And it also depends on what site you're posting on. SH is better if you can post daily. That way if you have a popular tag readers will see the most recent upload for set tag.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Generally it's best to be able to post two to five chapters in the first twenty four hours of going live, and then maintain a steady schedule you can live with after that.

 

[Jaymi]

Launch does not matter much, but irregular posting can and will hurt discoverability. In my new story on my alt, I launched with 10 readers, but after 8 days, I have 100.

if you don't mind me asking; do you post daily?

 

[Rachel_Leia_Cole]

What format is the story? A serialized web novel, or a completed fiction novel? It seems for web novels, the key is to be visible, which means uploading chapters regularly and often. That’s the opposite of me lol. I wrote a regular novel, it’s 26 chapters long. So I can’t do the mass upload and continuous uploads. So format matters a lot in this context.

 

[Jaymi]

What format is the story? A serialized web novel, or a completed fiction novel? It seems for web novels, the key is to be visible, which means uploading chapters regularly and often. That’s the opposite of me lol. I wrote a regular novel, it’s 26 chapters long. So I can’t do the mass upload and continuous uploads. So format matters a lot in this context.

It's a serialized web novel, scope is also quite big so it could go for at least 300 chapters id say

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

These days hardly at all. These days every new release or chapter update gets immediately hopelessly swarmed, so the exposure gain from releases is negligible, at best.

 

[Envylope]

if you don't mind me asking; do you post daily?

I have posted daily for 7 of those days, yes. I am posting daily until I reach a sufficient chapter amount, and then I will start to drip the posts more slowly.

 

[xizl]

Mine got a decent amount of attention when I was releasing at least once a day. I tried to do 2 on Sundays, it seemed to peak then

 

[Fairemont]

I just released a story about an hour ago and I have a whopping four views... so...

*Shrug*

 

[xizl]

I just released a story about an hour ago and I have a whopping four views... so...

*Shrug*

that's' how it goes! You'll get more as time goes

 

[Fairemont]

that's' how it goes! You'll get more as time goes

It put me 2/3rds of the way down page 2 on new releases. LOL

I won't be getting many early views.

 

[Jaymi]

These days hardly at all. These days every new release or chapter update gets immediately hopelessly swarmed, so the exposure gain from releases is negligible, at best.

Motivating !

I just released a story about an hour ago and I have a whopping four views... so...

*Shrug*

hey that's 4 more than if you didn't release ! ;')

 

[autumnsugar]

I'm writing a story which i want to start posting here on scribblehub. It's mainly just for fun. but I'd love to get at least some readers.
I don't really have any backlog, I plan to just post chapters as I finish them (roughly one every 2–3 days, sometimes longer if I get stuck editing). But I’ve noticed a lot of stories launch with 5–10 chapters right away. Is that necessary?

If I were to launch with just 1 chapter and then continue updating every few days as chapters are finished, would that significantly hurt discoverability compared to launching with multiple chapters at once?
I’m trying to understand how much consistency and initial chapter count matter compared to just focusing on writing at my own pace and letting it grow naturally.
And if i do get a bad launch, can it still get more readers later on in the story?

I know the obvious answer is “build a backlog,” but I kind of like being as far into the story as the readers are, lol. (and im super impatient)
Sorry if this has been asked before >.>

I started out by posting 1 chapter and have been posting every couple days as well for the last month and have gotten up to 31 readers, so it should probably be fine

 

[TinaMigarlo]

I’ve noticed a lot of stories launch with 5–10 chapters right away. Is that necessary?

the wisdom here, is that if someone notices the *new* series pop up, and even remotely likes it? It gives them several chapters to get into it.

after that, backlog is a great thing. Because your update chapter cruises by and gets noticed. More possible clicks. If its a big work with a lot of chapters, you can do one a day for a week or two, then fall back to what you think you need. But when you run out of chapters? No more visibility. By then, you either made it to where you're noticed which generates more views, or... you kind of stall.

I've "dumped" a whole book before (on another site) because I didn't understand the whole WN experience. I got initial views, then into the abyss. When I updated a chapter at a time with a slow controlled release (I learned my lesson) I got some views and a few readers. A lot of readers won't even consider something if its not either completed or has at least 100k words in the bag. On account of too many authors abandon works.

And I'm not to be considered even remotely an expert at the release scheduling. I just now know its the only way to garner views.

the writing group I came from, those guys had launch down to a freaking science. Good cover, story on "meta" (popular tropes and tags, IE to market) and they have their backlog and releasing down to a science as well. They recommend RR advertisements as well, claiming that's the only chance to "really" make it big if the story and cover can even perform. once under reader's eyes. (Isekai, OP MC, harem all recommended) as well as they claim "aura farming" is the best way to go.

Me? I'm no authority and I can just parrot the party line, having seen authors that knew what they were doing with WNs. It doesn't hurt to wait until you have that huge backlog built up. But going intermittent can hurt.

Your mileage may vary. Product sold by weight not volume. Some settling of contentgs may have occurred during shipping and handling. User experience may differ markedly from advertisement claims. Please allow six to eight weeks for processing and shipping.

Godspeed and god bless, I wish you ever good fortune in your endeavor.

 

[xizl]

the wisdom here, is that if someone notices the *new* series pop up, and even remotely likes it? It gives them several chapters to get into it.

after that, backlog is a great thing. Because your update chapter cruises by and gets noticed. More possible clicks. If its a big work with a lot of chapters, you can do one a day for a week or two, then fall back to what you think you need. But when you run out of chapters? No more visibility. By then, you either made it to where you're noticed which generates more views, or... you kind of stall.

I've "dumped" a whole book before (on another site) because I didn't understand the whole WN experience. I got initial views, then into the abyss. When I updated a chapter at a time with a slow controlled release (I learned my lesson) I got some views and a few readers. A lot of readers won't even consider something if its not either completed or has at least 100k words in the bag. On account of too many authors abandon works.

And I'm not to be considered even remotely an expert at the release scheduling. I just now know its the only way to garner views.

the writing group I came from, those guys had launch down to a freaking science. Good cover, story on "meta" (popular tropes and tags, IE to market) and they have their backlog and releasing down to a science as well. They recommend RR advertisements as well, claiming that's the only chance to "really" make it big if the story and cover can even perform. once under reader's eyes. (Isekai, OP MC, harem all recommended) as well as they claim "aura farming" is the best way to go.

Me? I'm no authority and I can just parrot the party line, having seen authors that knew what they were doing with WNs. It doesn't hurt to wait until you have that huge backlog built up. But going intermittent can hurt.

Your mileage may vary. Product sold by weight not volume. Some settling of contentgs may have occurred during shipping and handling. User experience may differ markedly from advertisement claims. Please allow six to eight weeks for processing and shipping.

Godspeed and god bless, I wish you ever good fortune in your endeavor.

Yeah, Scribblehub is better for chapters every day. Spread it out, time on the front page is key. You can time it for busy hours but you'll get pushed off quick.

I've had my series as the top 1 a few times, mostly by consistent updates, one early morning and one around work-ending hours. That push on both busy reading times helps a lot.

You likely won't see a lot of mileage until your story hits whatever chapter threshold bingers enjoy hopping in on. Be patient. Be consistent.

Most importantly, have fun, and don't burn out. Writing 2 chapters a day is a good way to have an unfinished story.

 

[JayDirex]

I'm writing a story which i want to start posting here on scribblehub. It's mainly just for fun. but I'd love to get at least some readers.
I don't really have any backlog, I plan to just post chapters as I finish them (roughly one every 2–3 days, sometimes longer if I get stuck editing). But I’ve noticed a lot of stories launch with 5–10 chapters right away. Is that necessary?

If I were to launch with just 1 chapter and then continue updating every few days as chapters are finished, would that significantly hurt discoverability compared to launching with multiple chapters at once?
I’m trying to understand how much consistency and initial chapter count matter compared to just focusing on writing at my own pace and letting it grow naturally.
And if i do get a bad launch, can it still get more readers later on in the story?

I know the obvious answer is “build a backlog,” but I kind of like being as far into the story as the readers are, lol. (and im super impatient)
Sorry if this has been asked before >.>

All of this nonsense only matters to those of us who don't write to the genre of this website. if your story fits what readers want up here, you can write your story with crayon on colored construction paper, then email it to readers every now and again. Those readers will absolute 5 star it and write a whole review off of just three chapters.

But if you aren't writing to the audience then it really depends on what your story is about. doesn't matter how good it is, nobody will read it if it ain't close to the website genre.

But do the tricks, they're fun and keep you on schedule.

 

[rainchip]

If you're like me you probably won't get anything done writing in the dark. I'm about to be done with my first novel and I would have never made it this far by just keeping it to myself until it was ready to post.

For most new stories updating 2X a week is a sweet spot, but really just gradually building up those chapters does the same thing, just starts off slower. Eventually, you'll have enough chapters that there's a steady stream of readers coming in, readers halfway through, and a handful that are caught up.

Gotta find your audience first, their interest will make other people curious, etc. Most people just don't want to feel like they're getting invested in nothing. Granted anything can happen, but you get what I mean.

 

[Anonjohn20]

I’ve noticed a lot of stories launch with 5–10 chapters right away. Is that necessary?

No.

does irregular posting hurt discoverability

Yes.

And if i do get a bad launch, can it still get more readers later on in the story?

That depends on how often you post. EDIT: Also, put as many tags as you can (that are relevant to the story; don't deceive people).