Bite-Size: A Creator Discussion and Advice Thread

[saintc]

Preferred Name: Saint.
Pronouns: She/Her.
Genres you create: Romance/Hist Fic/Urban and Low Fantasy.
Where you plan to take your writing journey: Online Serialisation
Link to Tapas Account: https://tapas.io/saintc

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Hello! I'm interested in getting to know writers on Tapas more!

[Niharika]

Just thought I'd use quotes too, just cuz.

Preferred Name: Aru/Arushi
Pronouns: She/Her
Genres you create: Fantasy, Scifi (and trying my hand at romance)
Where you plan to take your writing journey: I'm a hobbyist writer. I want to finish a book, and gain a following on Tapas.
Link to Tapas Account: https://tapas.io/arushi

[KRWright]

Welcome @Arushi and @saintc ! What are the current projects you're working on?

[saintc]

I'm working on my Urban Fantasy novel. Was stuck for over two weeks, then decided to stream myself writing and somehow wrote three chapters in two hours. Lol. I'm not going to question it, I'm just happy.

[Niharika]

There's four at the moment. I get distracted easily, so I jump between stories. I sort of update them on a rotation. Two are fantasy, one is scifi, and one is a superhero story. Should I link them? I didn't because that would make this a long post.

[KRWright]

Should I link them?

For the purposes of this thread, we're keeping self-promo only to the intro posts (otherwise it clogs up the whole board). But you can edit them into your intro or drop the names if you like!

[LostSpirit]

Preferred Name: Silver/LostSpirit
Pronouns: He/Him
Genre: Fantasy (High/Grimdark) (For now)
Where you plan to take your writing journey: As might be the case for many of you, I've been dreaming and narrating stories since I was 10. I've been writing since I was 15. Never once did I think of letting it remain as a hobby. So, maybe, perhaps one day, have kids describe the Curse of Immortals in the same breath as the Lord of the Rings.

Link to Tapas Account: https://tapas.io/nishantm9594
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Much love!

[saintc]

Welcome to the thread!

[LostSpirit]

Thank you, Happy to be here. Just the effort that went into its creation made me want to be a part of it!

[saintc]

Ah, I'm excited too! Not a lot of the threads on here are built to last to the last post. How's writing been going for you? Any shot term goals you're planning to hit?

[KRWright]

Never once did I think of letting it remain as a hobby. So, maybe, perhaps one day, have kids describe the Curse of Immortals in the same breath as the Lord of the Rings.

THE DREAM! So you're aiming for that Big 5 publishing goal then? Hopefully we'll be doing some stuff around traditional publishing here on this thread eventually. Thanks for joining and I can't wait to get to know you better!

(Also, grimdark... tell me more... I'm a horror/dark fantasy writer myself so I'm always fascinated by people who go darker than me!)

[LostSpirit]

@saintc: Yes. Short term, I want to see where Tapas takes me. A while ago, I was introduced to this comic - The Beginning After The End by a friend. A couple of months ago. I didn't fully get to it, but I did read a couple of chapters, and felt good about it. Imagine my surprise coming here to find that it was a Tapas Original. So, that's when I decided to give this community and forum a shot.

@KRWilliams No, well, that's a very confusing subject. I'm not very sure about a Big 5 publishing goal. I used to think it. CoI first started as a seed in 2014-2015, it was called Tempestatem then, and I remember getting a callback from Harper Collins India on it. I was a bad, bad author in comparison to who I am now, at least that's what I think anyway. It never worked out, but that moment encouraged me quite a bit. I've rewrote it repeatedly since, and I've been getting darker and darker and darker with the theme. Hence, my mention of the whole grimdark genre. I'm still trying to tread lightly there, to ensure that I don't make it too violent.

But backtracking to the big 5 thing. I just feel unsure about even dreaming it now. I think the future is going to be a lot different than the present we're used to, publishing industry-wise anyway.

[Niharika]

I agree on the future being different from how the publishing industry works now. People are getting onto the ebook, online serialization bandwagon. It's certainly more interactive than traditional books, which I think, appeals to our generation. Traditional books have their own charm, but this is new and exciting. I love reading comments on chapters as I'm reading. It feels like an online book club, a collective experience we're all enjoying.

[saintc]

I completely agree.

I love serialization, and I'm just getting started on the earning from it part---I know this is what I want to do eventually. Or maybe do a sort of "hybrid" publishing thing a few years from now.

[LostSpirit]

It's a personal preference thing. I still love the smell of new pages and a fresh book. I think the eBook experience takes away from that despite its many advantages. For example, I've been reading a lot on mobile these days - anything from articles, to even stories. And I used to love being a newspaper guy. But some things are just hard-wired into your genetics. Growing up holding books, going to libraries, making sure that the books you buy never get even a single crinkle on the spine, man, I really love doing all of that.

But the world is changing, and as authors, we must change with it.

[KRWright]

I think the future is going to be a lot different than the present we're used to, publishing industry-wise anyway.

That's definitely true. These days, Harlequin are partnering with Tapas to put their own online, rather than the other way around! There's some interesting dynamics afoot. And also, that's amazing about HarperCollins getting back to you though! I've only ever had polite rejections!

It feels like an online book club, a collective experience

This is my fave thing about writing online as well as reading online.

[LostSpirit]

Funny story there. I only sent two sample chapters, with a summary of the plot. Three months later, they get back and ask for my full manuscript. I give it to them. One month later, I panic, I freak, and I eventually send them an email asking them to stop my evaluation.

Weirdly enough, I don't regret my decision. Best case scenarios:

• I get published, and I lose the rights to my book. It wouldn't have evolved to become the Curse of Immortals that I'm putting up on Tapas today.

• I don't get published, and knowing me, I lose faith on the Tempestatem, and again, we don't get CoI.

So, in a way, I never did find out if I made it or not. I try not to think about it.

[Blozzy]

Preferred Name: Blossie
Pronouns: She
Genres you create: Romance mostly, fantasy (romance)
Where you plan to take your writing journey: I run the account for Blozzie and Hajime, I'm a hobbyist writer and i want to gain a following on tapas and maybe at the online serialization
LInk to Tapas Account: here you go https://tapas.io/bgatotuomah

I hope i could to know more people, be friends and follow each other

[saintc]

Hello, welcome to the thread! What are you currently working on?

[KRWright]

One month later, I panic, I freak, and I eventually send them an email asking them to stop my evaluation.

I've seen a lot of authors do this, especially with their first books or 'book baby's. One of the things I'm a big advocate of is having more than one project you're working on. That way, you can tinker forever over your darling, but there'll always be something out there in the trenches - either earning you money or earning you clout. It gives you a bit more freedom to be precious over the one book you care deeply about (and over time, you start to see where your book starts to fit into the wider picture better - especially the more novels you successfully market and sell!).