My novel is literally killing me right now. I started creating it and published it on a whim out of boredom and because I was rather proud for a first try. I wanted to know if it was good in the eyes of others too and gets opinions.

And like a miracle, 2 days later, WB announced contest #31: Path to idoldom which was right my novel's topic, so I decided to participate.

As I wanted, readers were interested and propelled me to 321th place (for now) in the original novels. I'm glad to see my first novel ever doing so well so quickly, but I've come to stress.

I've never published anything before, and I'm afraid I'll get tired of writing and abandon those readers who encourage me so well.

However, I already have enough ideas in mind for at least 5 volumes and even made an Outline Plot. I already have 18 chapters written (not all of them are published) I even know the messages I want to convey in my novel and really want to share it.

But I've come to stress so much that my stomach is tied up in knots and I haven't been able to sleep well for 2 days.

Should I just give up my novel since I'm not sure if I'll be able to complete it? Because I saw how readers are demanding here, but I don't see myself succeeding in publishing every day and I'm afraid to disappoint them.

I want many people to enjoy my story because I love it, I'm proud of it, I know messages I want to convey, etc. but at the same time I don't want to fall into the trap of "More chapters now plzzz." Because of that, I even deleted a chapter I had already published.

After all, I didn't start writing in order to get a contract, but just to share my overflowing imagination. I want many to read it; be on the home page (featured?) so many discover it; but not have any commitment to readers (in a way). Selfish, isn't it?

Please, help me. Are there other authors who have gone through the same dilemma as me or something similar?

Nb: Sorry if my English isn't perfect. (French) I hope you still understood?

@Bibliophile_Anna
@Reinesse

    Don't give up! Your original goal is to share your overflowing imagination, so you should just enjoy the process of writing and posting. I am sure you'll be very happy when you receive feedback/comments in return. Don't stress yourself too much on it. I think it'd be great if you could set a schedule (e.g. update every week on Monday), in this way readers will know they are receiving just how many chapters each week and on which day. You as an author will also be able to plan your writing schedule. As for 'More chapter now plzzz' messages, maybe you can consider them as readers showing you that they really like your story. So don't stress yourself -
    Hope my reply help :D

      KimSasha just go ahead and post. i mean i stayed up late for the whole week because i had tons of requirements from school even though it's sembreak. if you can't think of anything for your story, then stop for a while and edit the editable ones then rest and have some fun, then go back at it again. I was a bit proud when I posted for the first time too, because I have been sort of praised for my mastery of english grammar although I'm only (the exact age to accept the terms and conditions) and wasn't a native english speaker, though I'm aware of my lack of CQ (everything i create is legit predictable and cliche). So cheer up, you're at least better than me. Though i have the most power stones rn, three accounts there was from one person which is a friend of mine then the others are from our webnovel campus gc. i don't even know if they're legit praising me or just don't want to say something negative because i'm their junior.

      P.S. I'm not even finished with my requirements yet. I'm just procrastinating because I don't want to do it but the deadline is like Monday and it's Saturday rn.

          KimSasha my suggestion would be like this ; if you already have the complete version in your head, and you like, and you want other to read it, and you want to finish it, then you could try to write them all the entire of the story (in word or any other office related app) and after you finish writing the complete version, you could just divide them all into chapters with each chapter content to your liking, and schedule the release of each chapter. That way you dont have a burden of a dateline. The drawback would be the readers must have patients to wait until you complete it all. Do not write to appease your reader (especially if you did not write for money) but write only to your heart content. You just want to have fun, not make yourself more stressful.

            You should take it slow, not too slow as to be labeled a procrastinator, but not too fast that you're getting stressed and stuff.

            Do what you feel like doing. 1 chapter a week? Sure, go ahead. 14 chapters a week? If you think you can, then go ahead.

            If you are feeling stressed and you want a break from all of this, stop and take a break. Unless you are contracted, you have no obligation to update your novel.

            I get stressed out all of the time, you know what I do? I just hop on youtube, play games(Got boring for me, but it's a great stress reliever....for me at least), or I just read.
            - If you are dealing with depression/stress of any kind, seek real help -

            And yes, you are selfish, but so am I...we all have selfish moments and anyone who says they don't is a liar.

            Do what you want to do, when you want to do it and how you want to do it. Unless your novel is actually good, you better be pumping them chapters out otherwise I'll leave extremely negative comments...

            First thing first: I've read through your story, but I haven't the time to type up things yet. You've not been forgotten.

            But I do recommend you find someone (who is more fluent in English) to help you with your sentence constructions. For the most part, it is fine, but once in a while, there are these awkward sentence constructions.

              KimSasha Once you pass the 10 mark and get a fanbase you've made it through the hard part. All that's left is to realize the vision you have in your head. When I wrote my first novel I dropped it, I have had 6 attempts and dropped all of them after 2-3 chapters. Only recently was I so focused on a scene I wanted create that I wrote a hundred chapters, 1 chapter a day for 3 months and made my vision real. After that I couldn't write for a long time, and only recently did I get that passion back again. I am going to ride this wave until it ends and hope that it doesn't, you'll regret surrendering to your fears no doubt about that.

                  Thank you for your nice comments and advices. After reading them and talking to different people, I came to introspected about what I wanted and how I got to this point. I hadn't seriously thought about a schedule for the release of my outings in my rush. Probably a shortcoming of the competitions for new authors. We are plunged directly into the water without any reference points and if everything goes too well, we start to think to much and lose our heads.

                  Since we have never had any "fans"; if I can call them like that or people enjoying our work, as soon as we see someone supporting us, we want to do everything to keep them and satisfy them, going up to forgetting why we started: The pleasure of unleashing our imagination with our stories and making our readers dream.

                  When I spoke with another author, I realized that if a work was good, it would necessarily be well received and followed even if the author only posted one chapter per week. So I should go at my own pace and present my story so that I can be satisfied with it. After all, I also write it for my own personal pleasure.

                  I'll not delete this topic so that if people find themselves sitting in my situation, I can refer them here.

                  Thank you again.

                  -KimSasha

                  Reinesse Thank you. Btw, can I have your discord so I can add you to my friends? Only if you want though ;)
                  Good luck with your requirements. I have a big project to end for my class for next week too and procrastinating too. Great minds think alike I guess 😂

                      KimSasha i'll create an account first 😂😂 why do they even give requirements at vacations, it's so funny that i want to crush every single requirements

                          KimSasha please, don't stop! I think we've been experiencing the same Reinesse right? As new writers, we tend to be overwhelmed by the expectations thrown at us by the readers or even our own expectations to ourselves.

                          I was thinking the same way that you did, like Reinesse, too. Probably. Though, unlike you, I didn't have as much readers. Thus, made me uneasy and sad. Considering the fact that we wrote those entries for passion, still there was a part of me, wanting people to at least give my entry a try. (As I know, my entry wasn't as good as others.) I was actually on the verge of dropping my story. I was a bit anxious. Really.

                          As I've said earlier, please do not stop. You are talented and you have the skills in writing a nice plot and definitely a worthy one. I am looking forward to the time you will complete your novel.

                          As for me, I still have to improve a LOT.

                          Let's do our best! ❤

                                  KimSasha can i have yours? i'm really new to discord and i have no idea how to add friends or something.

                                      Ierrech Hii!! Nice to see you here! I hope everything is going well for you. Congrats on winning the contest!! You deserve it :D

                                          KimSasha I had just downloaded discord and I have no idea how it works. 😢 but I got the same username. bibliophile_anna#6218

                                              Reinesse Things will eventually be okay. You have the skills and the talent. Don't let other people bring you down. ☺ I still haven't checked your updated chapters. Let me read them and I'll tell you how great your work is. 😊 add me on discord. Just got mine now. I think it's easier to talk there 😊

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