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squirenonny · 6 years

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How you even get people interested your fics, asking for a friend thanks

Aw, man, isn’t that a question for the ages?

So I’m gonna preface this by saying that there’s no magic quick-fix to attract more readers (however much we all wish there were.) Writing for the big ships or posting a fic featuring a popular trope/AU when it’s popular is going to get you more readers than writing niche fics, but chasing trends isn’t going to make you happy and it might even hurt the quality of your work. When you post and whether there was some big fandom or IRL event that drew attention away from the newly published pages (or flooded them, burying your fic under ten pages of Klance week ficlets or whatever) can also play a big role.

Secondly, and I know you’re probably not going to like hearing this, try not to worry too much about numbers like hits/kudos/bookmarks/reviews. They don’t mean as much as you think, and they aren’t a reflection on your skill as a writer or the value of your story. The best thing to do is to find some other way to measure success–maybe it’s how many words you’ve written, maybe it’s whether you stick to a consistent update schedule. Maybe it’s reaching that scene you’ve been dying to write for forever. But make sure it’s something that’s in your control, because depending on the faceless masses for validation sucks, and you deserve better.

Okay, on to some advice for attracting readers.

1. Rework your summary. Confession time: I hate writing summaries. Hate it. I’m already not good with short form and trying to sum up a story in a hundred words or less is even worse. But it’s one of the most important skills for a writer to learn, since it’s your one shot to get people interested enough to click that link. If you’re stuck, here are some suggestions, with examples of how I’ve used them for my own stories.

Pick a (short!) excerpt from your piece. Maybe a brief exchange of dialogue, maybe the opening line, maybe something else. It should be something that doesn’t require context to understand and that makes people want to find out what happens next (or what led up to this moment.) Example:

This psychic—Lance the Lucid, according to the posters, and Keith wasn’t even going to comment on that—was a charlatan, plain and simple, and Keith kind of wanted to punch him. Sure, Lance knew how to put on a show, but Keith doubted there was anything more to the act than charm and dramatic flair.

Pidge sighed, catching Keith’s eyes. “At this point, they’re pretty much our only hope.”

If you’re writing an AU, especially a canon divergence AU, put the focus on what you’re changing. Example:

Shiro used to dream of Earth. That was before the Arena, before Haggar, before he joined the Galra army. At least he has an ally, a Galra officer named Keith. Together they plan to bring down Zarkon’s empire from the inside.

Matt never thought he’d see his family again. Then he crash-lands on Earth and Pidge rescues him from Garrison custody. But his homecoming is short-lived. Now the Holt siblings, along with Lance and Hunk, must find the Voltron lions and free the universe from Galra control.

Or: Galra!Keith, double agent!Shiro, red paladin!Matt, black paladin!Allura, full series AU.

If you’re writing something tropey, or a twist on a cliche, maybe highlight that. Example:

[following a short description of plot] Canonverse Soulmate AU with romantic and platonic soulmates (and some gray areas in between)

Sometimes the simplest thing to do, especially for shorter stories, is to do a one-two punch in your summary. The set-up and the punchline. The scenario and the twist. The status quo and the catastrophe. Think “Long ago, the four nations lived in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.” Or better yet, the next part of that intro–defining the Avatar and then hitting us with “and then he vanished for a hundred years whoops.” Whatever you do, keep it short. Example:

When Keith was seven years old, he spent a year in La Quinta with a boy named Lance, the best friend he ever had. Ten years later, Lance and Keith reunite at the Garrison–only Keith doesn’t remember who Lance is.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that shorter is (usually) better, but you want to include enough to hook readers’ attention. It’s hard, I know, but keep working at it and it’ll get easier. Seriously–write five completely different summaries for your fic, all under 100 words. Give yourself a 5 or 10 minute limit for each so you don’t agonize too much. Set them aside for a while, then come back and see what works. Or write a list of all the things you’re most excited about in a given piece, cut out any major spoilers, and try to work one or two of the others into your summary.

2. Be strategic about your tags. If you’re posting on AO3, use tags people are going to search. Angst, hurt/comfort, fluff, any tropes that feature prominently, any relationships (especially gen ones) that are a major focus. Be wary of overtagging–Shatt shippers, for example, know all too well how common it is to search for Shatt and turn up only Klance fics with a passing mention of Shiro and Matt going on a date. But plenty of people search for specific tags in trying to find new stories. Use that.

Similarly, if you post on Tumblr, use your tags efficiently. The first five tags on a post are the ones that the post will show up in (i.e. if you have a tag tracker or go to tumblr.com/tagged/____) Tumblr’s search looks at the first twenty tags, I believe. So use your first five tags for either the most popular or the most niche aspects of your fic. (i.e. tagging it “klance” will have a larger potential audience, though it’ll get buried pretty quickly; tagging “matt holt” or “shatt” gives you a much smaller potential audience, but one that’s more starved for content so will probably click your link at a higher rate.) Prioritize, and leave your organization tags/tag commentary for after.

3. Your first chapter should pack a punch. This one may be a little harder to put into practice if you have an existing fic you’re trying to drum up interest in, but it’s worth keeping in mind. If your summary and tags get people through the door, your first chapter (in a multichapter fic)/your first few paragraphs (for any fic) is where people decide whether or not this is worth reading. Goals to strive for:

Your first line, or at most your first paragraph, should hook reader’s interest. It should ask an implicit question–what’s happening? How did we get here?

(the equivalent of) Your first page (a couple hundred words, tops) should establish the situation and forward momentum. Diving straight into action with no context can be confusing, but lingering too long on exposition can make people tune out before they get to the good part. I’ve heard it said that the first 250 words should establish three things: character, context, and motive. Who are we focused on, what’s happening right now, and why does it matter? There are exceptions to every rule, of course, but make sure you know why you’re deviating if you decide to do so.

Your first chapter (assuming you have more than one) should leave people wanting more. Don’t leave them in the middle of the set-up, or they may not be motivated to continue. But don’t give them everything they need to see where this is going, or they won’t bother waiting to find out.

**Update: There’s now a follow-up post talking a little bit more about how to start a story, with examples!**

4. Persistence is key. Out of all the advice I can give you, this one’s going to be the hardest to follow, I’m sure. It can feel like you’re throwing words at a void and getting nothing back. Sometimes you have a real slow start. Sometimes you’re writing self-induldgent rarepare stuff, and it seems like you and two other people are the only ones who ship it–and those other two never comment.

The thing is, writing fic (especially as a newcomer or writing niche fic) is like playing Marco Polo at a death metal concert. Not only are you shouting into a sea of noise, but you’re also trying to find the relative handful of people who are going to answer. But here’s the thing: if you yell “Marco” once and get no response, then go home, you’ll never find those other people. If you keep yelling–maybe stay in one spot and yell over and over, maybe wander around calling out every so often–you’ll find someone, and then you’ll find someone else, and then maybe someone else will start shouting with you and find three more people. It starts slow, but it builds momentum.

In terms of fic, though, what does that mean? It means keep writing. Maybe keep hammering away at this one fic–excellent if it’s something you’re excited about, something you need to write no matter what. You keep putting it out there and you’ll start to beat back the wave of random chance that conspires to bury your fic because of weird posting times or an onslaught from a fandom event.

Maybe write a bunch of shorter fics, participate in bangs and exchanges and other events. You might hook readers with your Klance soulmate AU that you did for a secret santa, then tempt them into trying your other stuff (true story.) You might make friends by chatting in a big bang’s discord, and they can help you write more attention-grabbing summaries, or can signal boost on Tumblr. (Or just be that one person who stans your writing and keeps you motivated through low hit counts on AO3.) Or you might just hit a whole bunch of people’s rarepair/nich buttons and start building a following that way.

Or maybe it means going a little more off the rails. Try a different fandom. Write original fiction. Write an 80k Marauders-at-Hogwarts fic for yourself, edit it, and only then start posting a chapter a week so you can grow your reader base without the low number of comments chipping away at your motivation because joke’s on you, hit counter. I already have the next chapter done. And the one after that, and all of them, so they’re still coming even if no one’s reading. ha-ha! (Also a true story.)

Look, the point is, building a reader base is hard, and it’s frustrating, and a lot if it is based on luck and fandom trends, and you’re always going to want to get caught up in the numbers. Even once you have readers, you might get frustrated because the tropey shipfic with a shoddy plot that you BS’d your way through has ten times as much love as the lovingly crafted, well-plotted AU that you’ve poured literally thousands of hours into. Because writers are all starved for feedback, and with the exception of people lucky enough (or unlucky enough) to hit a fandom sweet spot and get shot straight into the realms of That One Fic Everyone Knows About–with the exception of those freak accidents of fate, the people who have sizable followings are almost always people who just plain love to write and do it regardless of what anyone else says or does.

So don’t write for the readers. Write for yourself first, and love what you write. Write stories that need to be told. Stories you can’t bear not to tell–because when you care that much about a story, it shows, and when the right people find your story, they’re going to love that you love it. Trust me. The right people are out there. You just have to keep shouting until you find them.

#anon #answers #writing #advice #writing advice #long post

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htbthomas · 7 years

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Dear Yuletide Author 2017

Hi! So you got assigned to me, awesome! I’m htbthomas on AO3 as well as here and everywhere. I’ve been doing Yuletide since 2007, and I love it. It’s fun to try new things and read things I’d never think to read. My previous letters are here on LJ, and here on Tumblr. Feel free to see how I’ve changed (or not, most likely, heh.)

GENERAL LIKES AND DISLIKES:

I have a few bulletproof story kinks. Use them if you like!

Secret Identity - I love characters with secrets. Ones they’re keeping from their friends, from their family, from their coworkers, from the world-at-large. I like it when one or two inner circle people know, but not everyone they know.

Powers - I especially like when it’s a power that the character is hiding. If they’re using it for heroism, even better. I love discovering new powers, using powers to help or get ahead in a sneaky way.

Reveals - despite everything I just said, my favorite thing ever is someone finding out the secret. I always want the love interest to find out, or the enemy, or the neighbor, or the random acquaintance or stranger. Okay, pretty much anyone. I still don’t want EVERYONE to know, but I ache for the stories of when the select few learn the truth like burning.

Humor - I like everything mixed with humor. Even the darkest fandoms need a little, sometimes a lot. Make me laugh and I’ll pick out all my favorite moments.

Canon-Typical - Unless I say otherwise, I like the humor, violence, sexual content and language of the source material to stay similar in fic.

Other things I like: crossovers/fusions are fun, tropey relationship fics rock, first times and family/group bonding are my jam.

For general dislikes, I don’t have many. The longer I spend in fandom, the more I can just go with the flow. That said, please no mundane AUs, like high school or coffee shop. I like the canon secrets/powers to stay in any AUs.

REQUESTS:

The Good Place (TV) - Eleanor Shellstrop, Chidi Anagonye

So Season 1 was just a roller coaster of fun and twists and I’m so pumped as we head into season 2! By the end I was in love with the whole five-some of Chidi/Eleanor/Tahani/Jason/Janet and I can’t wait to see what they do when they’re in the know.

I’m still shipping Chidi/Eleanor like crazy, though. Maybe more now.

Elements I like about the source:

The high-concept nature of the show

The possibility of in-canon and fanfiction AUs of all the ways Michael could have attempted to twist them (I do not consider these mundane AUs)

The humor and heart of the five as they interact

The behind-the-scenes fun we’re already seeing of the non-human denizens of The Good Place

Prompts: (edited after 2.03)

Tell me more about all the ways Chidi and Eleanor found each other as they went through all of Michael’s failed attempts.

How did that first time come about in the Medium Place? Was it different every time or were there things in common?

Now that Eleanor knows she's developed feelings for Chidi in the past - does she actively work toward that, or does she try to ignore it? (Edit post 2.07:) After Eleanor shows Chidi the tape, she clearly has some feelings developing. Does she go for straight denial but fails miserably? Does Chidi start to develop feelings after he thinks Eleanor has no interest? Some other scenario? Some one-sided pining or unrecognized mutual pining would be awesome.

Ships:

Eleanor/Chidi

Tahani & Eleanor (and Eleanor’s flirtatiousness with Tahani)

Jason/Janet

The five-some

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV 2017) - Miriam “Midge” Maisel

I was blown away by this pilot. There’s so much to explore about Midge and her life and the stand-up comedy life she’s about to experience. I want so much more of it. (Edit 10/10) The trailer is out! The rest of the season will be available Nov. 29. However! I’m fine with fics based on the pilot or the full season, either way. ♥ (Edit 12/2) I have watched it! Oh wow, the last ten minutes gave me goosebumps. I can’t wait for more! My edits post-season are in italics.

Elements I like about the source:

Midge and her perfectionism. It was played as tragic in the face of the dissolution of her marriage, but I look forward to seeing how it helps her as she goes forward. This certainly bears out, especially after the times she “quit” because she bombed. But I love (with Susie’s influence) that she keeps trying again.

Her father, Abe. They seem to have a close relationship, but not without its expectations and conflicts. He’s such a stern man, but Midge seems to be the one person that can break through it. That conversation in his displaced study is a highlight.

Susie. Who is this woman with her lonely apartment and the hints of her failed dreams? She’s fucking amazing. Such a fighter, doesn’t give a shit about what other people think -- except Midge. Their rise and fall and rise as friends and partners is already epic.

Imogene. Is she the fair-weather best friend, or more? Yes! I was hoping Imogene was ride-or-die, and it’s wonderful to see. I want more of her!

Susie’s take down of Joel was the most delicious thing, and his heartbroken “She’s good!” as he shambles down the street at the end gives me life. The reveal scenes with Joel had me clutching my pillow in glee.

Prompts:

I’d love to see more funny Midge in the past and how it helps her in the future

Abe and Midge growing up

More about Susie’s past as she helps Midge

Imogene ends up seeing Midge perform, by accident.

More reveals of her second career to other people. How do her parents react? The girls at work? Does Joel tell anyone or is he too mortified? Does the bootleg recording make its way into someone else’s hands?

More scenes with Lenny Bruce. He was an unexpected highlight.

Ships:

Midge/stand-up

Midge &/ Susie (okay yes, the finale really got me interested in some shippy Midge/Susie)

Midge & Imogene

Powerless (TV 2017) - Emily Locke, Beatriz da Costa | Green Fury, Teddy

Oh, my poor canceled show. I saw the original pilot at Comic Con 2016 (it was funnier, aaaggggghhhhh) but I stuck by the show in its new format. I thought the cast was really starting to click! I have seen the 3 unaired episodes, but if you haven’t, you don’t need to reference them. On the other hand, use them if you like!

Elements I like about the source:

The conceit of regular people in a superpowered world. People who can still make a difference.

Emily’s ambition and sweetness, Jackie’s acerbic wit with a hidden heart, Ron’s excitement about things, Wendy’s weirdness, Teddy’s everything.

I really enjoyed Green Fury’s few appearances and wanted more!

I can see the three requested characters in any combination, shippy or friendship. Don’t put them in a triangle, though, please.

Prompts:

Emily or Teddy (or both) get to help Green Fury save the day!

Emily or Teddy run across Beatriz in her secret identity. What is that? (Could be the comics version, but I’m fine with anything).

Teddy starts seeing Emily in a new light after she helps Green Fury with stopping a crime.

Ships:

Emily/&Teddy

Emily/&Green Fury

Teddy/&Green Fury

Emily/Teddy/Green Fury

If any of the prompts I’ve given don’t resonate with you, feel free to go in another direction. The tags below link to any posts I’ve made/reblogged on these three fandoms, which might give you more insight into my likes in each! I will also update this post throughout the writing period if new developments in canon affect my requests.

And thank you so much for writing for me. I love Yuletide, and I’m usually waiting impatiently for the archive to open with my yuletide slack group, so I’ll probably read and review right away. :) If you have any questions, you can ask @blithers. She knows my tastes and can keep a secret.

#the good place nbc #powerless tv #the marvelous mrs. maisel amazon #yuletide 2017 #yuletide #dear yuletide author

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