New writer, how does anyone get readers here?

[ZaynOrik]

So I posted my story, its game of thrones with fantastical elements of lord of the rings. I think it’s quite good, and would love to have a few readers to check it out… how do I go about that?

 

[Dec]

how do I go about that

You post chapters. And then post more chapters.
Readers come when they see that the story is alive and there is something to read. Plus, they need to like the story itself.
So, just write and try to post somewhat regularly.

 

[Eldoria]

I've answered this question many times. To get new readers:

1. Show a visually appealing cover - anime/light novel style is recommended with 1 waifutable character.
2. Create a synopsis that answers the moral premise of your story briefly, clearly and captivatingly.
3. Narrate a prologue that has a strong hook.
4. Update regularly 1-4 times a week. Don't update too many chapters and think that the more updates, the more readers.
5. Use tags that suit the content of your story.
6. Be patient! According to a mini survey I've done, a new novel is considered worth reading if it has at least 20 chapters.

 

[Snake99]

write things that are fun, cool and sexy

 

[Tsuru]

1) Smut
2) Smut
3) Smut


Joke aside
1) 50+ chapters is a threshold.
If less, 99% of readers will think : i will wait, i bet its another newbie author that will give up and axe its series
(for info, there is an author that kept axing its series bc no readers and created (stupidly) 5+ series of barely 15chapters) (sorry if said-author read my post as using you as a negative example)

2) Fantasy
SH is more of a xianxia/fantasy place

3) Yuri / Gender / NSFW are a huge buff

4) Quality

5) Learn from others

6) Have a attractive cover

7) Have a attractive summary / title.
Most readers are fishes and you must bait with that. That is why jp use the very-long-titles meta. Its joked about, but there is reason of why everyone does it. Oh and poetic and mysterious summaries are crap now, unless luck. Or anti-routine like "I am cautious so i wont write a summary"




tldr : Writing is like drawing.
Ask yourself why you follow this artist on danbooru/pixiv or whatever you go to.
Simple : they draw a lot, draw well, theme you like it, character you like it, its nsfw, its funny, its original, they are punctual etc etc
So yes, writing is like drawing

 

[Pausting]

Hey! I'm also a new writer ? I'm working on a story about a psychologist and coming-of-age themes.

So far, I’ve had over 100 views, but not many steady readers yet—just three, actually.

What's a bit confusing is that each chapter shows over 15 views, but it's hard to tell whether those are from returning readers or just people clicking in and out. The numbers don’t quite add up, so I’m not sure how to interpret them.

I originally posted this story in my native language on a different platform, but the competition there is really high—there are so many writers in that language, and my story didn’t get noticed at all.

So even though I don’t have many readers yet, getting this kind of engagement in English already feels like a small success for me.

If you don’t mind me asking—how was it for you ？

 

[JayMark]

Have you made your sacrifice to Moloch for the month?

 

[Enkiari]

Narrate a prologue that has a strong hook.

Okay, I agree with the rest, but this one is not a must.
There is nothing wrong with jumping right into the story. It is no secret there are readers who straight up skip prologues. It isn't harder to put the hook into the first chapter/synopsis than writing a prologue.

For many, story starts at chapter 1. If you insist they have to learn about things that wont be revelant for a long time (general hints and worldbuilding) or you want to set up MCs situation (in case of Isekai where you linger on the old world) or if you want to do an expose on the current situation, ask yourself why?
Why can't MC interact with the current world and discover everything together with a reader?

In conclusion, nothing wrong with prologues, but they sure as hell aren't a must.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

What's a bit confusing is that each chapter shows over 15 views, but it's hard to tell whether those are from returning readers or just people clicking in and out. The numbers don’t quite add up, so I’m not sure how to interpret them.

I asked the same thing. If you click in and out of your works to 'check' on them, it can be counted as a view as well. There is an algorithm of sorts, like 30 second of viewing a page to get the view, or something like that.

for the OP;

Just write. Viewers will slowly come, as long as what you write is interesting to them anyways.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Carefully.

Also, you need to give my story a 1-star rating to get on trending.

 

[flopforeverr]

ngl having the same problem with my novel

https://www.scribblehub.com/series/1867815/visions-of-the-unseen/

 

[rainchip]

If by readers you mean views, that will come with time. Consistent updates at the same time each week, along with an attractive cover and synopsis can do wonders.

If you mean the actual Readers stat tracked on the site, that’s a bit trickier. Honestly feels like luck. I’ve got about 5k views and I’m just hitting my first month with my original work. Retention is solid, but I’ve only managed to pick up 7 Readers so far, and two of those are just friends showing support. So realistically, it’s more like 5. I’m hoping that once I break the 20-chapter mark that number will start to grow.

 

[Eldoria]

Okay, I agree with the rest, but this one is not a must.
There is nothing wrong with jumping right into the story. It is no secret there are readers who straight up skip prologues. It isn't harder to put the hook into the first chapter/synopsis than writing a prologue.

For many, story starts at chapter 1. If you insist they have to learn about things that wont be revelant for a long time (general hints and worldbuilding) or you want to set up MCs situation (in case of Isekai where you linger on the old world) or if you want to do an expose on the current situation, ask yourself why?
Why can't MC interact with the current world and discover everything together with a reader?

In conclusion, nothing wrong with prologues, but they sure as hell aren't a must.

I don't understand why people differentiate between prologue and chapter 1? For me, prologue is chapter 1. Prologue is not just a promotional tool, but in my view, prologue is a moral premise that represents an arc. If a novel (series) is divided into several arcs, then each arc has its own moral premise explained in the prologue. So what's the difference with the synopsis? The synopsis becomes the moral premise for the entire series. While the prologue only represents the moral premise of the arc. This is my view and I don't know other people's views.

 

[LuoirM]

(for info, there is an author that kept axing its series bc no readers and created (stupidly) 5+ series of barely 15chapters) (sorry if said-author read my post as using you as a negative example)

Ouch, hey :<

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

I don't understand why people differentiate between prologue and chapter 1? For me, prologue is chapter 1. Prologue is not just a promotional tool, but in my view, prologue is a moral premise that represents an arc. If a novel (series) is divided into several arcs, then each arc has its own moral premise explained in the prologue. So what's the difference with the synopsis? The synopsis becomes the moral premise for the entire series. While the prologue only represents the moral premise of the arc. This is my view and I don't know other people's views.

100%

 

[DireBadger]

I agree. There's nothing wrong with a prologue... unless your prologue sucks, and unfortunately, a lot of them do.

Sometimes it's absolutely necessary. Sometimes it absolutely sucks. Read it to your spouse/brother/friend/parent, or whatever. If they say it's skippable, skip it.

 

[Placeholder]

Consider dreadful stick figure ads?

And tasteless smut, to taste.

 

[Tsuru]

I don't understand why people differentiate between prologue and chapter 1? For me, prologue is chapter 1. Prologue is not just a promotional tool, but in my view, prologue is a moral premise that represents an arc. If a novel (series) is divided into several arcs, then each arc has its own moral premise explained in the prologue. So what's the difference with the synopsis? The synopsis becomes the moral premise for the entire series. While the prologue only represents the moral premise of the arc. This is my view and I don't know other people's views.

Hm.....i guess you didnt see a good enough prologue. Or a prologue that isnt obvious enough to scream in the face of readers "I AM A PROLOGUE TO INTRODUCE DETAILS BEFORE THE MAIN STORY START ! AND IM TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN THE MAIN STORY !".
(btw not criticizing you nor mocking, just caps for importance and how obvious it should be. Also now i think about it, its true that nowadays i didnt see a lot of prologues like that)


Basically imagine this. Its a story about a policeman or killer. (dont criticize i will totally invent/plagiarize this on the spot and i sucks)

Prologue or ch0 if you prefer, you get the pov of a man running away, sweating, saying : if i cant escape i will die ! he will kill me !
his leg is pierced by multiple thrown daggers
he sees a shadow approach
eyes dilate seeing it
dies before he can says anything
the mysterious man say : target eliminated.
and goes away.
While the dead man eyes reflect the face of its killer, a person with a mole under its eyes.


Ch1
Police department.
Hello chief ! said a bunch of people as XXXXX walked through the corridors of the police station.
Handsome as ever chief! said a woman seeing XXXXX pass by, while smiling at him. Looking at its charming face. Beautiful eyes and one mole under one of them.
XXXX smiling sunnily replies : You too #####. Still as beautiful as ever.
and continue walking to his office.

 

[LuoirM]

From what I've seen in Chinese cheap CEO romance manhua, they use chapter 0 (Prologue) to narrate what happens in chapter 7-8 where the FMC abuse happen, then only start chronically at chapter 1, the real chapter

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

From what I've seen in Chinese cheap CEO romance manhua, they use chapter 0 (Prologue) to narrate what happens in chapter 7-8 where the FMC abuse happen, then only start chronically at chapter 1, the real chapter

and this is why I avoid the majority of Chinese wuxia or whatever crap...I think I have read ONE novel out of China that I would consider enjoyable so far, and it wasn't from SH. Maybe it is a translation error, but the majority of what I have read...I think it is one the same level my 13 year old son is capable of writing.

That one I read however, I REALLY enjoyed, and wish I could recall the name off hand to share, but it was a year and about 40 novels ago...oh well