AI380 Well, writing for popularity is not wrong, but it is not very right either. I agree with the others. But I think you should make the story to be as versatile as you can because a versatile story can make a lot of ideas and plot in the long run. A lack of plot and a lack of motivation are a recipe for disaster.

If you get stuck, there is a shortcut and I don't recommend it, but hey, anything will work at that point. It is called Chandler's law. Or you can browse tv tropes for an idea.

That's all I can say. Just keep writing author

      MaxwellKHA lack of plot is never a problem for me, I still have a whole list of the draft of ideas that not yet written into the chapters.

      My problem here is lack of motivation. I'm not even motivated enough to turn those ideas into stories.

          AI380 yeah... sigh! motivation is pretty pretty hard to conjure. it's also one of my problems in writing. hahaha! coz i love to read more than writing. unless you're starving or living on the streets and wanted to be an author and make it your lucrative job then perhaps you'll create chapters like a madman. but that isn't entirely true also coz there's many rich authors out there who still writes like a madman. hahaha! i guess people are just wired differently. but most importantly, you need to be passionate for your work. i get that your concern is you have done lots of chapters already and yet so little views. hmmmm... i would assume that you're a girl judging by your pix and writes romance. i can't tell much on how to make an epic romance story since i write xianxia but you need to read more romance novels for that and even more time practicing your craft. how to make your characters alive, plot good conflicts and even better cure for said conflicts. let your female lead suffer and let the male lead be there like a knight on a unicorn. most female readers always eat that like pancakes. it's their fantasy or dream or wish for them to happen irl life. to read about a perfect male that's only available in books and nowhere else's. hahaha! so cheers and don't stop writing. =)

              AI380 However, after writing for so many years, I can hardly see any 'light' in my writing life. At first, I thought probably it's because I have not enough numbers of chapters to get people's attention, so I continue writing more. But then again, I was once again disappointed.

              You're on an artist writer's path. Everyone will experience a different writing destiny. It all depends on what you need to experience for growth.

              I had 7 years of my only readers being spambots until I decided to switch it up. Those spambot readers taught me some valuable lessons for my writing journey too.

              So, right now. I see a writer who is about to realize a breakthrough with their stories. You've recognized something isn't working as intended. Your feelings of disappointment is reaffirming this.

              I'm not going to be the one to say, "be patient". Rather I'm going to probably say something challenging.

              Switch it up. Be proactive. Instead of waiting for something to happen. Make it happen. How you do that is up to you. Some things that might help is being active in forums, observing this site, other sites, the industry and keep developing your skills.

              You can only get more masterful if you keep at it and not give in to doubt. Recognize that doubt is your cue on when something needs to be revised/changed/ditched/explored differently... Switch it up. Look for opportunities. Keep at it. One day you'll achieve your glory.

              :grin:

                  Veronica8 I had 7 years of my only readers being spambots until I decided to switch it up. Those spambot readers taught me some valuable lessons for my writing journey too.

                  This is awfully similar to what I have experienced in the past.

                  Now I see I'm not the only one that faces this kind of issues, this actually makes me feel better.

                  Thanks for all the encouragement, I'll continue to improve myself and find my own right path.

                      I believe that though having readers motivates you further and makes you all happy that someone else also gets it. The ideas and feelings that you are trying to convey via your story and all.
                      It is best that you limit your motivation to yourself.
                      As long as you have expectations it might hurt if they aren't achieved.
                      So at least I believe, though it may sound extremely naive as i just started, That as long as you love your story and your characters and are curious enough to find out their fates and lead them to an ending they deserve you will be able to storm through all storms.
                      NO matter who is by your side or not.
                      The characters you create will always be yours and yours alone.

                      AI380

                      I have checked your novel. A better cover would do a big difference. In the first chapters, i have seen many issues of verb tense consistencies. You either stick writing narrative with preterit or present, but not both at the same time in the same paragraph. It feels really weird and i think you lost quite a few readers because of this.

                      Some examples in first page of chapter 1:

                      First paragraph:
                      "The final day of summer break, at a random beach in Japan. A seventeen years old young man was walking along the beach. Looking to his face, he is a really good looking person with a 'rich boy look'. The boy's name is Seito Kenji, let's just call him Seito."

                      "was walking" should be followed by "he was", "the boy's name was"

                      If you choose to use present tense, then you have to use "is walking" instead.

                      Second paragraph:

                      "Seito stopped, he looked at the sea and most importantly the bikini girls, and his friends who were playing in the water. Then another girl with a T-Shirt and short pants walks toward him. Seito looks at the girl and he spoke"

                      Same issue. 1st paragraph ends with present tense, but you use preterit in this paragraph and once again ends with present tense.

                      If you keeps "stopped,looked at, were playing", then "walks toward" and "looks at" must become "walked toward" and "looked at".

                      I'm not an english native but it feels weird to read even for me because verb tense consistency exists in almost every language (if not all of them).

                      About the novel itself, you missed the visibility period brought by the 1st month in new ranking. So if i was you, i would first fix these issues then republish your novel again by deleting this one and creating another with almost the same name.

                          Arkinslize About the novel itself, you missed the visibility period brought by the 1st month in new ranking. So if i was you, i would first fix these issues then republish your novel again by deleting this one and creating another with almost the same name.

                          Well, it will be the same as wanting someone to change their own name that was given to them since they are a child.

                          I will certainly fix those said issues, but I'm not going to republish it with another name, it is the identity of the book.

                          Although I don't like some of your points but I still thank you for your advice.

                              AI380 use grammarly. This at least will help with any misspelling and past and present tense problem. It's not entirely 100% correct. But, it at least help. Better than nothing.

                                  Carciphones_02 I used Grammarly, but those verbs mistakes still exist as he/she said. And I can't afford to get an editor.

                                  I'm so fed up with people trying to dig out all the grammatical errors I made, without even reading the contents, even used Grammarly, and somewhat proofreading before publishing it, they can still find the mistake.

                                      Pleasedeteme I realized that the first time I posted in the April thread, but still want to give it a try, who knows miracle might happen, but in fact, it doesn't.

                                      Maybe I will search for threads where people ask for recommendations to promote my story there. But most of them are just asking without actually looking at the replies.

                                          Pleasedeteme Don't worry, I read the rules, it's not wrong if someone is asking for recommendations and your novel fits the category.

                                              Pleasedeteme I have done that quite a lot last month, and it would indeed boost up the views a lot. But since we all know that the views and reviews are from the fellow writers here, so I would only do it again when I have no choice.

                                                Pleasedeteme sounds like a nice plan however I'm not the kind who just wants to use a word document for writing checking really, I would rather keep typing on Inkstone than let's say MS Word or Libreoffice Word but as long as people can get the story is my point, I will also allow people to give feedback on how to improve writing if there is any sides that they and if my novel ever gets attention

                                                    @AI380 btw i have added your book to my library so when I have time I can check it out! :D

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