Hello, everyone! This is GiveMeThatBread. I am a Premium author who began in Community. I grew there for years before being offered the switch.
Some creators have messaged me asking about the process of how to get there.
Some tips that might help:
-Know the platform's audience. We are entitled to write what we are passionate about! But also realize that the premise might not "fit" the general demand. The popular tropes on Tapas, Wattpad, Radish, Webtoon, Webnovel, etc., are different. I know of novels that did massively amazing on Radish but didn't perform as well on Tapas. I'm not saying to write a genre you don't like for the sake of trying to get reads, because it'll show in the way you're telling the story. But, also be mindful that a premise so niche/unusual might be difficult to gain traction compared to the classic werewolf romance (and even then, vampires and werewolves have been so overdone, you need a very unique story to stand out nowadays).
-Your cover. I know not everyone has the budget for this and AI is rampant. I even stopped using Fiverr because many artists use AI even when not advertised as such (but you can still find gems there for a good price. My cover that won a Tapas writing contest was only 45$ with commercial rights). We all say, "Don't judge a book by its cover."
We do, though. That's the first thing people see. What's going to make a reader click on a cover made on Paint compared to commissioned artwork or even a decent Canva cover? What would make YOU want to read something if you're browsing at the bookstore?
I give my cover SO MUCH credit for getting noticed. I consider artwork an investment. If you can make a little profit from your writing, like Patreon and stuff where you receive form 1099 (USA taxes), you can write off the amount you spent on your taxes, since it was contributing towards your business.
-Your synopsis. This is the second thing readers see. A general rule of thumb is 500 characters and one paragraph. Don't reveal the story so easily. End the synopsis with a question for them to wonder.
-Edit, edit, edit. I personally did not have a beta reader, but I know some who do. Write early in the week and visit the chapter again later with fresh eyes. Read it out loud, input it in a voice program to listen to it, etc. I like to write on my computer and read the drafts on my phone in dark mode (then edit the mistakes on my Mac). I like to see my chapters in different formats/fonts/modes.
-Be mindful of switching from past to present tense, or vice versa (I do this sometimes by accident and I can usually catch it during the editing phase). I have seen a lot of novels asking for advice on how to gain readers. When I check out their first chapter, it's usually switching and that can turn off readers. Choose one and stick to it. If you are switching POVs, add *** in between chapters and character names in italics to signify it has changed (do not switch suddenly in the middle of the chapter without warning).
-Social media. I admit I didn't do much of this. I have almost 1k ig followers but I never had a post go viral enough that it gained a swarm of new readers. At the time when starting, I had even fewer followers. 300 maybe. You can definitely try to make tiktok, ig, youtube reels to see what happens. I suggest seeing what big authors are doing to get 50k views on one video (it's usually a video of their cover and a funny blurb).
-I did not participate in read 4 read and like 4 like. This DOES mess with your algorithm, and you also do not want dead subs/readers who never visit your work again after mass liking. What you want to aim for is genuine activity by readers who may become a loyal following. I understand doing this to get to those Tapas goals, but don't keep relying on this method throughout your entire author career. There are only so many people in the Forums willing to do this. After 500 people, what are you going to do?
-Be active in the Community. Forums. Discord. Joining groups with other Tapas creators. Get those creators who you can trust for support.
-Attitude. Do not call staff names. Do not be disrespectful. They are people. They do care. If you are calling them clowns and such, they see this. If something happens that didn't go your way, don't be wreaking havoc. A positive attitude goes a long way. If you have a complaint or dislike something, keep it private, open a ticket, or at least keep it respectful.
-luck
I said it. Sometimes it just takes luck.
