Short answer, “yes it’s common”

Long answer, “it is definitely common, but I feel that if you become famous to a certain point, maybe use those stones for someone else’s benefit... maybe...”

Just a little bit of advice for new authors just like me...hehehe. Focus on building a good plot, make sure you creates likeable main characters, try to edit much of your mistakes and typo's as early as you can, try to make your story develop a good foundation first, make your words easy to understand for your readers and above all....Give all your best to your story. Focus on that major task first....and the rest will follow. Getting obsessive with word count, views and collection can hamper yourself from enjoying making your story. If you produce a good and addicting story, people will love it and let them speak for your story. Let the people decide...

When you already do your best, just wait... It's up to the world if your story is good or not. No amount of self voting can make a good and addicting story, so instead of getting obsessive in making your story popular, try to get obsessive in making your story worth reading, after all you want to produce something good for everyone to read...not produce a trash, am I right? In short, I want to ask this to all new authors...What is important to you? A popular and trash story or a very good story that is worth anybody's time and attention? Your answer, whatever it is, will be the defining turning point of your life as a writer.

A good and addicting story will live forever in the memories of the reader. And one more thing, not everyone can become a true author or writer, many aspiring author just don't have that "magic" a certain quality that most famous successful and brilliant story teller have.

So new author...what do you think we have to do? Let's produce a good story first, no matter how long it takes and enjoy making them in the process. Take care all and good luck!

I'm with the "be your own story's biggest fan" crowd, but I just want to say, when I published my first chapter, the struggle of whether I should vote for myself or not was REAL. I entered both my stories to writing prompts contests, so that's one reason every power stone would have counted, no matter who it was from. Now, I don't even care what others might think, I'm something like a mother giving my babies some love, not a writer tooting my own horn. A truly confident or proud person would not vote for themselves (though some still might), so in my opinion, it's not arrogance causing many writers to give power stones to their own stories. For someone like me, yes, there's pride, but it's mostly insecurity. Best practice: don't judge others by your own personal yardstick. Happy holidays!

I gave myself one stone. I think it's best if the author doesn't vote on his//her novel since you'll be wanting to measure how ur novel is doing with the ranking status.

    Comments from Lizabelle88 and WinterBud really put me into a shame. Because I'm also one of the insecurity writer who put my vote for my own story. During my lunch which just ended now, I've been thinking, should I stick with my original plan writing or try to follows trends of popular story in the ranking. So both comments caught me surperise. After read this comments, I think I better write the stories by addressing both issues at the same time. .
    And yes, I decide to read all you guys works and use my power stone there, tonight. No more guilty feelings and help others newbies too.

    THANK YOU FOR THE SOUND ADVICES :D

    Alliosis That's true too. I should have clarified, my first story doesn't even break past the 600+ ranking. I guess if any of my stories become one of the big players, that's when I'll stop self-voting. Right now, I really don't think it matters all that much in the end. Whether I do it or not, the result is almost the same. Wow, I'm beginning to realize it's actually a pointless exercise in the grand scheme of things haha, but it makes me feel a little better, so...

    No it's not unethical. To be honest power rank does not necessarily represent the best works. If you look at some of the top works they are just the same rehashed stuff.

    Why is it not unethical?
    If you are not your biggest fan and critic what's the point really. Since I've started writing my novel it's been the only thing I read.

    Anyways just enjoy your work and that's all that matter and vote for yourself if you think your work is worth it

    Also here is my book.Yeah I'm promoting off you https://dynamic.webnovel.com/book/12010226506751305

    Every young author has this problem. But at first, I used to vote for other 'new' and 'infant' instead of mine in the hopes that those authors would take pity on me and vote me with some of theirs. It was an innovative way of getting at least collections but I don't know whether or not they really did it... I was thinking of doing it again but in mobile sitea, its hard to find new novels without knowing thier names.

    isekai4ever
    Most of us just vote for our own novel. Sometimes we'll throw power stones somewhere else if we get popular and find other works we enjoy. I regularly rank in the top 40 to 60 and always vote for myself. Check the voters on top novels and many times the author will be in the top three, lol. So yeah, it's probably shameless but most authors on this site are exactly that.

      AardwarkThe2nd
      No problem. I need such criticism to get better or else later there is going to be a lot of hate reviews when it gets famous(if it gets famous that is)
      I appreciate ur hard work. Thank you

        Ugh now I read about this and think that I shouldnt vote myself :D
        And hello everyone,I'm new here and I start to write my own story today to improve my writing skill.I'll try to read each of stories you guys share here,so please give my work a try.my grammar is a mess and I hope you guys dont mind this nub.
        https://dynamic.webnovel.com/book/12567631706937605

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