For me, Harem is one of my favourite genres. Harem can be done wrong or it can be done right. To make the MC and the girls have personality is the most important thing possible! In JP anime (monster Masamune) it is legit fucked up with the point of being unwatchable with my preference. It has a story, but it never shows why the girls love him so much. There is only one explanation: He is a girl magnet. WTF?

I hate JP harems because they never truly try to make you understand what good and what bad qualities a person has. The writer will be lazy and say something like: He is a good person, high morals and quite intelligent. But the question is, the people those protagonists flirt with are all high ranking members of society! They have everything. Why did the fall for this stupid piece of crap protagonist?

The way to do a harem is to build foundations for the Female harem members. I think My Wife is a Beautiful Ceo does that quite well. They should all have at least an actual reason to find the protagonist interesting instead of: Yeh, he is a good persona and has nice looks.

Harems can be fudged over too easily like this. I won't say that the book I have written has done what I said. It is harder to put the knowledge into context.

So, if you want a harem. You will be fucked in every way possible... I have nearly never seen a harem story that stays well until the end. The Divine Throne of Primordial blood had a harem but the poor guy had to abandon it because his main Female Lead nearly went crazy because of it.

The conclusion is: If you want to be fucked, then go with a harem. If you want a story that will not have a stupid plot and be a bit serious, then go without a harem.

    So to sum up what everyone is saying. Harems are hard to make since there will be too many characters, and if it's a pseudo harem, some readers will feel bad for the other girls like in Nisekoi, if it's a non harem less comedic happenings but feels more real. Finally master grandpa rabbinks doesn't like tragedy.

    I was clear about my choice, and I told the same to all the readers who asked me. Basically, if you promise something and stick to it, it should be fine. I promised no harem, and I'm gonna stick to it. But I took my readers advice when they said there can be a 'candidate', and who he settles with is different. Anyway, just prepare the readers beforehand.

    Water0202020 This Rabbink can handle tragedy as long as it isn't someone very important.

    For example: The Twins in the Harry Potter or Some strange unknown uncle or even the 'unfair' grandmaster. GOT is a bit too tragic. No worries, the MC is Tyrion Lannister for me. LoTR... Welp! That is just a knight in the party.

    Naruto is fine. Who is Neji?
    One Piece is a bit worse, but who is the MC's brother? He barely appeared and died when he appeared.
    Bleach... That is secondary character. Even this Rabbink forget that.
    Dragon Ball... Gwahahaha too many people die. Luckily we have Dragon Ball.

    Welp... All good story ended with death. Somebody must die.

      lynerparel Write what you want to~
      Remember why u start to write the story and continue to keep in mind. Actually, do what you think is acceptable for u cause what’s important is that u have fun. What’s the point of doing something that make u suffer instead of making u happy?

      Anyways, don’t do things for anyone but yourself. You’re the one driving the story so the passengers can either shut up and let you do your thing or gtfo and shut up
      -

          lynerparel also, if you’re thinking of adding harem, try to make it a unique situation or sth so that it’s not your typical harem situation~
          That way, many readers won’t be disappointed (if you’re troubled about that).
          To tell the truth, I’m not really a fan of harem novels myself but as a reader, I’ll be happy if the author have fun in doing what he’s doing.

            GreasyBeer same here bro. And not to mention the pain of having those multiple girls leave u (not that I ever experienced it but a simulation in my brain made me shudder at it) because you can’t choose. People don’t understand the pain of having a harem till they have one of their own XD

                Troll_Fox I would rather get one girl in real life. We know that there will be no harem in our real life ;) Getting multiple gfs would be saying that you have a problem with reliability. If you want a gf, don't do something like be half-assed with them. I've also experienced such simulations in dreams. Scary...

                    No harem - It is sloppy. A determined MC in the middle of a journey that has his own problems to deal with doesn't have time for romance, fifty or so girls to take care of and the problems that they bring with them.

                    Don't make a harem, or else I'll drop your novel!

                    Or make a harem, but it has to be good and can't be more than 2-3 girls. The MC can't be a stale piece of bread and you have to give equal Waifu time. If these requirements are not meant, I will come for you...in the comment section

                      Misguided_Rooster Will try my very best to achieve making a good novel. :) I do think I'm kinda improving as I write... Well that's what I think. :p

                          lynerparel

                          I actually have somewhat the same issue with my novel where readers shout "there should be a harem tag" or "please no harem"

                          Though I really don't think about it much as I on;y read the comments to see what they think about the novel. Since we authors don't have control over our own tags or even remove the incorrect ones, i can't really do anything about what tags have been put there.

                          To me, when i deem a novel i read a harem novel, it means that the MC has trouble choosing between the various choices or straight out chooses more than one. (that's my own judgement of considering one a harem novel anyway) Since mine does not have that problem... (at least I haven't really decided yet?) Even if there are a generous amount of female characters, the MC's focus is completely on something else.

                          I don't know if this is going to be helpful to you or not but what I do is just write what I already planned while ironing out how to get there. Remember your original thoughts on what is about to happen and do not allow the comments to sway your own opinion because no matter what, some people will not like what you decide. Don't let the comments influence what you write ESPECIALLY the main choices/parts. I'm not saying don't listen to the comments but compromising with "what they are asking for" is a good way for one to lose the intended way.

                          Take note that most of the people reading your novel may not even be actively commenting. or if they do comment, it's the usual xp sect. Always remember that you have more readers in the dark than those actually trying to impact the way you tell your story. If your getting swayed by the comments, you can always stop reading for a few chapters and just come back at it afterwards. complete the thoughts you have on your mind goes because you are first and foremost the creator of the fiction they are enjoying. the fact that they are following your novel means that they like the content you started in the first place.

                          Just my two cents. hope it helps

                            lynerparel

                            My 2 cents.

                            Criticism and opinions can be placed into two categories and then dealt with by you.

                            Whenever a reader, (which includes other authors, critics etc), gives you feedback on an aspect you need to look at the root of the issue.

                            "The main character should have done this not that...." e.g. gone to paris, not stay behind in workshop training.
                            NEVER do what readers tell you to do, but ALWAYS look for the cause of the critic to learn from your "beta readers"

                            This way you can learn if something is boring, out of character, not enough depth of character, etc and you can make a decision if you want to change. But at least you got the message.
                            Collating feedback
                            If one reader tells you a joke isnt funny and four say it is. Then its funny. And vice versa
                            substitute joke/funny with - understandable, interesting, etc

                            Ok what does this all have to do with harems?

                            1) You cannot please everyone all the time. Don't even try.
                            2) What are the personality and motives of your characters? It should not be you or the readers deciding if there is a harem, it should be the characters. And in that if they did; it would not look like an anime harem, maybe more like a love triangle.
                            3) Listen to the readers intent, never let them bully you.

                                Web Novel Novel Ask