Editing Revising Chapter 1 while webnovel is live?

[Feudyn]

Hi,

So something that has been on my mind for a while now ever since I have worked out my rhythm and started getting some traction on the web-novel.

As the title suggests, I am thinking of revising chapter 1 into a way that may be "easier" to read and in a way that can take the reader into the hook much quicker in order for them to want to read more. I tend to overexplain in my writing so I know that that is a major weakness of mine and I have been thinking if this is possibly the reason as to why many readers might not stay to read more chapters.

I do understand that that is how reading and web-novel works; people skim, flick through, and/or just read the first chapter etc. before deciding if they want to continue it or not, but is this something that I can improve on if I revise chapter 1 albeit the web-novel is still ongoing?

Curious as well to see if any other writers have faced something like this before, and if so, did editing your first chapter (or maybe even a major chapter that is not chapter 1) improve the quality in your book? I would love to hear your input on this if this is something that you have faced and/or overcame.

 

[Eldoria]

Many writers rewrite early chapters as their narrative skills improve. Some see rewriting as a way to gauge their early and current writing skills. Others rewrite early chapters to refine their narrative.

Does rewriting guarantee readership? Well, that's debatable. But generally, rewriting new chapters can increase the writer's satisfaction and provide a better reading experience for new readers.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

If it's a minor revision to correct errors, don't worry about it.
If it's a substantial revision that does not effect the overall story, then attach an Author's Note (in My Stubs, I have two versions of the opening chapter of one story, with reasons why they are different as an example).
The only time to worry and use more than just an Author's Note is if you make a significant change to the actual story. Then... well, there are no hard-and-fast rules.

 

[Bimbanana]

I did the same thing also on the start. I write too many stuff. Only the patience readers stay.
After several times of rewrites on dozens of chapters, the key is simple.
If the author feel more confident with the rewrites they want to do: Then do it.

What you need to ask the most if you should do rewrite or not, is the data.
If your 1st chapter got 100 views, and second chapters only around 50 views: still healthy
If your 1st chapter got 100 views, and second chapters only around 20 views: rewrite it is

This can also apply at other milestones. But its perfectly normal to see it keep declining.
Readers will read other stuffs while waiting your new chapters piling up again.

 

[Zagaroth]

My early chapters are heavily rewritten from before. How an event players out in chapter 4 has been redone to better fit the characters, which ties to a change in a different event in chapter 6, which then has ripple effects that die down as the details get less important.

On the opposite side, for chapter 7, I completely change out the character that arrives, and this has ongoing repercussions throughout the rest of the story.

When I implemented these changes, I also added author notes at the beginning and at the current chapter, to keep everyone up to date on canonical changes. There were also terminology changes. Some of the chapters in between my edited chapters and the chapters where I started using the new terminology still need updating.

The big thing is that I was clear and open in my communication with my readers, so they knew what was going on.

 

[Feudyn]

Does rewriting guarantee readership? Well, that's debatable. But generally, rewriting new chapters can increase the writer's satisfaction and provide a better reading experience for new readers.

When you mention "rewriting new chapters can increase the writer's satisfaction and provide a better reading experience for new readers", do you mean this literally, and that only if I rewrite new chapters will it be a better experience for new readers? (apologies if I am being very pedantic and taking it too literally with what you are saying).

If it's a minor revision to correct errors, don't worry about it.
If it's a substantial revision that does not effect the overall story, then attach an Author's Note (in My Stubs, I have two versions of the opening chapter of one story, with reasons why they are different as an example).
The only time to worry and use more than just an Author's Note is if you make a significant change to the actual story. Then... well, there are no hard-and-fast rules.

I have actually done this before. It is making me wonder and worry if doing it more than once can be a negative thing to do to my readers. Although, if I do revise chapter 1, I don't think I will make another author's note for it this time round.

I did the same thing also on the start. I write too many stuff. Only the patience readers stay.
After several times of rewrites on dozens of chapters, the key is simple.
If the author feel more confident with the rewrites they want to do: Then do it.

What you need to ask the most if you should do rewrite or not, is the data.
If your 1st chapter got 100 views, and second chapters only around 50 views: still healthy
If your 1st chapter got 100 views, and second chapters only around 20 views: rewrite it is

This can also apply at other milestones. But its perfectly normal to see it keep declining.
Readers will read other stuffs while waiting your new chapters piling up again.

Thank you for your input on this. I completely understand how normal it is for readership to decline the further I get into chapters. It is because of my last few chapters where I have seen an increase in new readers (which is awesome, btw), but it is making me wonder if I can convert more readers in the list where I see:
<reader's username> 1/47
<reader's username> 1/47
<reader's username> 1/47
<reader's username> 1/47

Again, not so much a big deal at this point, but I do would like to see more readers get further into the chapter just by hooking them on by the first chapter. If that makes sense?

My early chapters are heavily rewritten from before. How an event players out in chapter 4 has been redone to better fit the characters, which ties to a change in a different event in chapter 6, which then has ripple effects that die down as the details get less important.

On the opposite side, for chapter 7, I completely change out the character that arrives, and this has ongoing repercussions throughout the rest of the story.

When I implemented these changes, I also added author notes at the beginning and at the current chapter, to keep everyone up to date on canonical changes. There were also terminology changes. Some of the chapters in between my edited chapters and the chapters where I started using the new terminology still need updating.

The big thing is that I was clear and open in my communication with my readers, so they knew what was going on.

oh my, please don't remind me lol
That's one of my biggest worry if I do ever revise a chapter. I literally have to go back to my notes for that chapter to make sure that I don't make a change that can have a major ripple effect onto the next ones and the ones after that :o