I only just recently noticed a tag called 'hidden gem', which made me think, how exactly does one consider something to be a hidden gem?
So...
What kind of moments did all of you stumble onto that made you think that a novel should be tagged as a 'hidden gem'?
kazesenken hidden gem = underrated to me.
so basically, a novel that's not top 50, but deserves to be top 50 based on quality. it might not be that popular b/c it's not everyone's cup of tea to read, or maybe the update speed isn't that fast, but the quality is just that good.
and I feel like on the topic of when an author should tag a novel hidden gem-- if you have enough readers that tell you your novel is a hidden gem in recent reviews, then you deserve the tag. b/c readers are really what decide if something is a hidden gem or not.
but also, there are plenty of super popular novels that I don't think deserve to be tagged with this considering how many readers they have. b/c it's not really "hidden" then, yknow?
I might also be removing the hidden gem tag from my novel soon too if I reach top 50, or at least in that range.
whenever I found the novel that I thought it was a hidden gem, it was when I was browsing on the forum and found the perfect novel, tbh. I read through it and it was goooooddddd & deserved so many more readers than it had at the moment. :pensive:
yaoyueyi yeah, I did see a lot of 'hidden gem' tags that made me wonder.
Which was why I was curious what people's personal thoughts were as to moments that made them think, "ahh, this is one."
Wait that's actually a tag? I never even noticed that was a thing.
I love hidden gems because how else do you find the non mainstream good stuff, especially originals. WN focuses promotions on their contracted works obviously (business is business).
However from my experience, however, most of the top 'Hidden Gems' tag are already mainstream stuff. They're too well known and people have seen them front page multiple times. It's pretty counterproductive and buries the actual hidden gems.
CCmei
As a first time writer, I'm actually curious as to what concepts drive people to think it's worthy of the tag.
I look at my novel and see the good reviews, wondering what else can be done to get up to that level. I honestly can't tell what to do as I usually just get comments of excitement or support, but not really any strong criticism. I refuse to contract because I rather keep it free to read, but at the same time, the lack of exposure makes it hard for my writing to grow.
Maybe I just want someone to roast my story, so that I can see its faults. Prove my doubts right or wrong, because the last thing I need are half-baked reviews that rate the story after just a few chapters.
kazesenken helpful tip, you don't have to make it locked even if you contract :pensive: I plan to lock in the future, but from my experience, no one will force or rush you to lock it. so basically, that's the tip to getting exposure-- selling your novel rights to get more readers. lol.
yaoyueyi
I'm still a bit skeptical about the whole contract thing. I want it to remain free, since I don't care about making a cent on it. Purely just want the feedback, like what Clowniac is doing with the new one. Though i don't think I have the patience to get it published...
Lurk
Did I hear roast? I volunteer to roast if you don't mind the words of another half baked writer.
CCmei
Have at it! I'm sure there's plenty of content to poke fun of.
CCmei
Here's the link if you really want to roast it.
https://www.webnovel.com/book/14734744205449505
I just noticed how appropriate it would be for you to do so, seeing as your novels have the 'hidden gem' tag on it.
Exposure yo~ (enough of my reviewers called it that so I plucked up the courage to tag them)
Working my way through- hope you don't mind random comments every other chapter. Your novel is an anime-inspired parody so I totes get the poking fun is on purpose. But if you truly want/don't mind roast I shall Roast it like a Costco Rotisserie Chicken.
Feel free to poke fun/cook at any of mine back (oh damn you found my novels)
kazesenken I refuse to contract because I rather keep it free to read, but at the same time, the lack of exposure makes it hard for my writing to grow.
My book's contracted. I've mentioned elsewhere here that I plan to keep my book for free. WN doesn't dictate that I have to lock my chapters for income. If I want to lock, that's another layer of sign-up to be completed.
Of course, keeping my story for free means I don't earn an income that mgs would give. Rather, I receive gift donations when they aren't from free coins. So, its still a labor of love for me with the difference being that I'm now writing my story for Webnovel as a freelancer, for a gratis commission.
CCmei
I love comments. That's how I know where there's weird places.
I don't even take my own novel seriously, so do your worst. As long as it makes sense, I'll have a good laugh at my own shortcomings. One bit of a slight warning. Some of my readers felt like I surprised gut punched them as the chapters progress.
I'll try to take a look at some of yours if I get the chance. I'm usually so busy with work/family or my own writing that I barely have time to read more than 2 chapter/day.
Veronica8
Contracting it bars you from putting it on other sites though, right?
At this point, it's on like 15 different sites (mostly pirated), so it would be a pain to chase them all down.
I'm Spirit
If only I have time to read...
Spirit sad
kazesenken yep. They own the story rights but give the original writer the freedom to finish the initial manuscript to outline. It has to be finished and exclusive to WN.
For your intentions, best not to contract.
Wait! 15 mostly pirate sites?! 
Veronica8
I have it on 3 webnovel sites (here, RoyalRoad, Honeyfeed) and 1 WN translation site (who offered an editor to slowly clean up my story because they liked it)
But yeah, one of my friends threw the title into a search and came up with 10+ other sites that had it. I was like wtf, and started putting a disclaimer at the end of my chapters to identify the sites I post on.
kazesenken damn. That's going to be a tricky take down. Wow.
Since you're on RR and others, best not to sign so you can retain rights to your story.
Veronica8
I already sent a decline and my contract is now in the state of "signing interruption", whatever that means.
No pressure- honest I'm even worse. We all have lives, no matter what the readers may think. Lol. Dude I'm so contradicting of a writer- I want readers but at the same time I don't want anyone to know I published them/am the author. (the shaaaaaame of being known).
Warning though my two most popular novels are VASTLY different genres/styles. I'm pretty sure I traumatized a good # of readers who came from the fluffy Slice of Life fantasy novel and tried to read the Horror/Psychological one)
Ah the pirate sites are interesting. A little side but interesting
WN does absolutely nothing to prevent these mass copy and paste. My little nobody story is in Wuxiaworld, Lovenovels-romanticnovels and all these generics copy paste pirate sites. To be honest, if someone is on those shadier sites, they know what they're reading is bootlegged/unofficial. The most I've done if filed DMCA complaints with google but it's not like the site will take them down. As long as no one directly profits from my reposted works thats the best I can mentally settle with .
