MOCHIIICHII The start will be the story. Pump out a quality product someone else is likely to read and that is the first start at nabbing a reader. Sure, you can write solely for yourself. From my experience, it's just yourself reading it in the end.

There's also:

  • Commitment (like daily updating sort of thing). Return readers will want to see this,
  • quality content. Not just the grammar, but how the story itself unfolds,
  • networking with readers and writers like you're doing now,
  • observing how things work. Not just on this site, but other similar sites and around the book markets like Amazon. What are other writers doing to gain reads that might be something that could work for you? Example that some writers are testing for readership is #writerslift on twitter, that's a craze of when you get x number of followers, peeps can post a silly comment on your tweet to celebrate with you and so forth.

To be honest. The first focus should be writing a top notch story and finishing it. Put it out there and see what bites. If it doesn't bite. Revise your blurb, cover and metadata (like the tags and categories). Until you're satisfied it's attracting some interest, and the right sort of interest. If you're writing a CEO romance, you don't want to categorize it as a horror story. Unless it's a ghost CEO thing I guess. :rolling_eyes:

Swap reviews tend to work for some.

Shameless plugs. Although, there are a lot of them running here.

There's also the #original novel discussion channel on the discord webnovel server that you can plug your story to. Just don't spam the channel heinously. Actually, don't spam.

The rest is trial, error and observation.

Good luck! :smile_cat:

    Actually, shameless plugs will turn people off more than draw them to your story. So try not to overdo shameless promotions and self-advertisements because there is nothing less appealing than an author who obnoxiously spams his story in multiple threads and Discord channels. It makes you seem...desperate, and is more likely to invite troll reviews instead of actual readers.

      Tomoyuki yep. There's a fine balance to take. I'm not a fan of spam. Since I somehow tend to be a magnet for it. 😅

          Veronica8 Ouch. You need a spam filter! I'm not saying you shouldn't self-promote or advertise at all, but maybe one or two threads where relevant? But looking for three or more threads to post your story link will clog up the forums and make it look bad.

            7 days later

            28 days since I started writing.
            I got 100,000 views and 505 collections as of now.
            The ratio is 1:198
            Just 10 days ago my numbers were.
            13000 views and 77 collections
            The ratio was 1:168

            My novel is currently ranked 6th in the new original power rankings.

            Can someone tell me if I am doing good or not and can I expect to get contracted someday with these numbers?

              MisterImmortal that's good. I got contracted without those numbers. To be honest my book hasn't even reached 100 collections. But those <100 are people willing to take a chance on my book. So that makes me happy. WN looks for potential. You can also apply.

                  Days since I started my novel: 104 Days
                  39 Ch
                  680K Views
                  3,100 Collections
                  [219 : 1]

                    2 months later

                    I'm really new here but if that doesn't matter then my ratio is 103:1

                    I think it's a fine start personally.

                      Hmmm 40300/106 = 380:1

                      Duno how that sounds but for a beginner duno.

                        Wow, didn’t think I’d see this thread back up again! Flashback to early WN forum days on here lol~

                        Ratios, hmm.... nah, I just had a fourth month hiatus, so it’s not gonna be pretty 😂

                          I'd like to join here just because I hit my first 1000 collections and I feel like celebrating 😍😍

                          Thank you to all my readers of "Trust in Love." It has been an amazing 1st month ❤️

                          154,900/1,087 = 142.50

                          More power to all writers 🤗🤗🤗

                          Web Novel Novel Ask