|
The Life and Mind of DamnBlackHeart
This is to help me stay actively writing. So expect to see rants, tips on writing, thoughts on subjects, me complaining of boredom, reviews, anime, movies, video games, conventions, tv shows and whatever life throws at me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ways To Get More Readers And Reviewers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
When people get into fanfiction, especially writing their own, they come to a point where they wonder how come they aren't getting as much readers and reviewers. Over the years I've learned a few things and that's sometimes certain categories are popular. So it helps to write where the category has a reasonable amount of attention and fandom love for. But doing so defeats the purpose of writing fanfiction because you want to and love to write whatever it is you're interested in. And I'm not going to list ways that have you follow the crowd in order to get "popular".
From what I know, there's no complete and sure way to make yourself become well know. But there are a few things that can help aid it, especially when it comes to your stories.
Summary:
Maybe the reason you're lacking readers and reviewers is because your summary is insufficient? People like to read stories that have good summaries. After all, a summary is the very first impression people get of your story. Make sure that your summary is spelled correctly, punctuation is right and that your grammar is good too. If you feel uncomfortable about your summary, ask others what they think of it. Whatever you do, don't write the summary as this or with this, 'My summary stinks but read my story anyway' or 'It's all in the title' or 'Summary sucks, it's better then it sounds'. It bothers people and it makes them think that if you can't write a decent summary then they assume that your storytelling isn't that great either.
Reviews:
It helps to review other people's fictions, especially those in the same category as your story. In doing so, make sure you don't just write 'great story! Update soon!', leave a well-balanced, constructive reviews that people will remember if and when they see it. When you do that you'll be establishing a connection with the writer, the more you do that a friendship will grow out of it because they'll start to recognize you as more then just a reviewer. Sometimes they in return, check out your own stories when you ask them for their opinion on it. Sometimes you don't need to ask and they will read it themselves because they honestly want to and they leave reviews because you do so on their's.
When it comes to the reviews on your stories, make sure that you reply and thank them for their advice and/or opinion. Also, just like when you review other people's stories, take a look at some of your reviewer's stories and review them in return. If you like what you read, add them to your 'favorite authors' list. It's always important to build a connection with fellow readers and writers by being interactive with them.
If that all fails get your friends to read and review your story. Sometimes it helps to get your buddies to check it out and see how it is. If they give you any advice, please take it into consideration because it might just be the thing that can improve your story and draw in other readers.
Advertise:
Don't be afraid to spread the word about your story. Go on the forums and talk. It gives you a chance to advertise your story. Do so by asking people to read it and have them tell you their opinion on it by reviewing. Have them tell you if it's good and if not, what you can do to improve it and so on. Or submit your story to the communities in your category. What about mentioning it on your blog? Your journal? Twitter? Facebook? Maybe when you're on other forums, for example; on GaiaOnline put a link to your stories in your signature. That way it's right there for people to click on and see. If that doesn't work what about checking out threads/topics that are specifically meant for people to advertise?
The Do Not's:
Don't beg for reviews. It puts people off. As well as demanding for reviews and that you'll only update with a new chapter if you get them. Doing that greatly angers readers/reviewers when they see that.
Don't be discourage about the lack of readers or reviews. Just keep writing. You should write for yourself because it's what you love to do, not because you want the attention or praise/love of others.
Don't have random Japanese words or phrases in your story. It's only excusable if you have a character that's a foreigner and does not know any or hardly any English. If not, it's greatly recommended that if you write in English because it's immature to have random Japanese appearing, especially for replacing words. For example: "Baka! Neko,I was talking to you and since you weren't listening, you're not kawaii to me anymore. That's what you get baka neko. I'm the sugoi one now!"
Don't have a giant block of text. Uses the space key and always indent the dialogue when you have new speaker. Nobody likes to read giant blocks of text so be sure to split up your paragraphs up into manage bits. That way it's easier for the readers' eyes to read it.
Don't bash characters, unless it's suppose to be a parody.
The Content of the Story:
It sometime depends on your story too. I found that if your story is unique it would get a lot of attention because readers what to see something new and interesting. Stereotypical plots, ideas, for example; high school AU stories. Or even cliche plot, where one of the main characters falls in love with your own character and the whole story revolves around that is boring and predictable. Go for something completely out there, that other people will be interested in and haven't seen much or rarely seen.
Make sure you check your grammar, punctuation and spelling. People don't like to read or review stories if they contain so many mistakes. So it helps to get yourself a beta-reader to make sure it's written well (as well as to make sure you got characterization right, since people don't like OOCness unless it's for the sake of parody).
Check for things that might triggers people's pet peeves, such as those who leave author's note in the middle of their story interrupting the flow of the chapter. Author's notes that are longer than the chapter itself. Or have those long unnecessary conversation with their muses that may or may not take up most of the chapter. That's distracting, annoying and takes away from your story.
Also, it helps to go over your first chapter because if the summary attracts the readers to your story, then the first chapter is what seals the deal and has readers sticking to it instead of turning back. There are plenty of stories that have great summaries but the first chapter, especially the first few paragraphs is weak then it's an disappointment to the readers.
For example: The best stories are those that start with action and not telling (show not tell). No one likes to read a story that has an OC (Original Character) telling them that they have long beautiful blonde hair with side bangs, fabulous blue orbs for eyes with a decent size body, so decent that they got big breasts and a nice butt, etc. It goes on to what they are wearing, how their life is like at home and at school and so on.
That is honesty boring and could be done a lot better when one does it by showing, by action.
For example: The morning fog had lifted, giving way to a clear day. Nearly all the people of the land of fire, and thousands of visitors were surging into Ninala Park for the Hohana Festival. Stands were crowded, booths nearly swallowed up and the sound of laughter and happiness filled the air. This was the day of the greatest celebration in history and everyone participate in it, whether or not they like crowds or not. It was their way to honor life and their God, who gave created them.
Kaia was no different, she too participate in the festival even though she despise crowds and obnoxious visitors. But she was a Ancient Guard and it was her duty to patrol and keep the peace. Kaia's formal robe of gray silk billowed in the wind as she walked through the festival to find a quite spot to observe. Even her braided thick blue hair hung over one shoulder, undisturbed in her harsh movement.
I'll end the example there but basically you shouldn't have a rush first chapter, that jumps right into telling people what's going on or about the main character. It's better to build it up, let the reader get an idea of what the setting is like and how is and what the character is like and what they normally do before introducing other characters.
This helps greatly for those that don't know anything about your fandom and are interested in reading your fanfiction. I've come across a lot of readers that are new to the fandom and sometimes get lost when writers don't have a decent introduction of who is who, what they are like and such.
Also keep in mind that not every detail needs to reveal in the first chapter either. If you didn't mention the character's eye color be subtle about it in the next chapter or two by having a character say they should get that blue shirt because it matches their eyes. Or maybe a character that is meeting your OC for the first time points out that their eyes remind them of the ocean or something. Maybe you didn't subtly hint that the character is anti-social so make sure that their are situation that hint at it.
 DamnBlackHeart · Sun May 01, 2011 @ 10:42pm · 0 Comments |
|
|
|
|
|
