When did you notice the success of your novel?

[InBetweenRealms]

As a writer, when do you typically begin to notice the success of your novel? Is it a matter of time, specific actions you take, or simply remaining patient and consistent?

 

[expentio]

I guess I went lucky. I went into publishing without any expectations and suddenly was on trending two days later and stayed there for weeks. This led to a solid reader base I'm still benefiting from. When I got some hundred readers in the first weeks, that was enough to call it a thorough success for me.

 

[KingofPizza]

I'll let you know when it happens. Should be any day now!

 

[Seaspecter]

It really depends on what you consider success. As someone who's doing this as a hobby, it was when I had readers in my comments debating on what they thought was going to happen next.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I'll let you know when it happens. Should be any day now!

Ditto

 

[Leti]

That's the best part, you don't.

 

[AmeronWerschrux]

I'm not sure if I can call my novel successful, since I typically attract a silent fanbase XD though I can see them comment and craft theories, so maybe I'm already on the road to success

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

As a writer, when do you typically begin to notice the success of your novel? Is it a matter of time, specific actions you take, or simply remaining patient and consistent?

View attachment 33779

What kind of success? Depends on the author, really. One may say it"s the moment when everyone is talking about it, and is popular enough to be monetized. But there are others who would be happy and content just to write a complete work, and attract serious readers, which are few nowadays.

 

[Macha]

One may say it"s the moment when everyone is talking about it, and is popular enough to be monetized.

Or pirated, stolen, translated without permission.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Or pirated, stolen, translated without permission.

Yes, piracy is one way to get compliments and popularity.

 

[MarekSusicky]

Is it a matter of time, specific actions you take

For me success is when reader comments at all. Even first, or small tftc is welcome.

What I consider big success was when I got PM saying they didn't like an action that supporting character took, and wrote an essay why is that person bad and why I should make sure the main character should never ever interact with them again when they find out.

Writing a character that got that big reaction is... Success!

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Ah, you know, I think the most successful story I ever wrote was for our college's literary magazine back in 1988. About four paragraphs long, took about 15 minutes to write, and one of my friends was in an English class that discussed it for about three times longer than it took me to write and submit.

 

[KersenBloemNL]

Success?

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

When the readers start making r34 of it.

 

[Kalliel]

Or pirated, stolen, translated without permission.

I didn't know so many sites pirated my stories prior to this, so thanks.

 

[fcures]

Thats the funny part, i didnt

 

[JayMark]

Everything I write is a massive success in my head. I'm a gazoraquintillionaire from all the money and influence I've aquired in my head.

 

[PBJ_Time]

I wouldn't call gaining 48 readers on the first month publishing a "success," but I finally got my first non-swap review last night. And my views are still surprisingly high for the reader base I have.

 

[NightSwallow]

I wouldn't call gaining 48 readers on the first month publishing a "success," but I finally got my first non-swap review last night. And my views are still surprisingly high for the reader base I have.

Ah, honored to be your first, if you mean mine Now I'll be wondering if I wasn't too harsh!

I didn't know so many sites pirated my stories prior to this, so thanks.

How did you found out?

 

[PBJ_Time]

Ah, honored to be your first, if you mean mine Now I'll be wondering if I wasn't too harsh!

Oh, don't worry. It wasn't, but I did get one reader to drop my story thereafter, lol. I just hope that bit of bad luck won't happen again.