Experience with Royal Road?

[therealbereth]

Hey folks, it's me again emerging from hiatus for yet another question.

Basically, the thread title already says it all: how many of you have experience with publishing on Royal Road, and was/is it any good?

I'm considering branching out, since Tapas' most read content seems to divert quite a bite from what I like to do. xD I do write queer characters, and proudly so (/waves ace flag), but the readership's apparent focus on boy's love is... not where I see myself, a male love interest for the male protagonist notwithstanding. So I wonder if the apparent focus on fantasy (judging by highest rated) on Royal Road would do me any good.

In any case, I've learned that it's always good to have your content on more than one platform, but after not having the best experience on Wattpad... uh, I thought I'd ask you folks before I stress myself out again.

[ISNEKO]

My experience is kinda lukewarm, I guess.

I chose a story I thought looked good for the type of popular books there, uploaded, got some subs, but there's nothing extraordinary from my time.

Although, if you look at their forums, there's apparently a lot of complaints about the star rating system and the lack of accountability for readers destroying the perceived quality of a book, and writers feel it's unfair. I dunno. I have like 15 or so episodes up and 40-something subs I think with 4.5 star rating. But I let that book die a lot for like, months at a time.

So... so far so good, I suppose.

[joannekwan]

Eh, it's ok. I've got some views but can't quite break 30 subs. But mind you, I'm only uploading whole chapters there as I complete them here on Tapas.

I have way more engagement and subs here on Tapas so RR is only a mirror.

[CodeMonkeyArts]

I'm looking to branch my story out to Royal Road as well and update it about the same time (or a little after but the same day) I upload a new episode here. So shrugs we'll see how it goes.

[therealbereth]

That does sound more so-so. I expected at least one of you swooping in here with excitement about the site.

What's your experience with user reviews? @ISNEKO, you mentioned that authors there find it unfair that some readers just rate whatever; but did you get any advanced reviews from readers yet? I imagine them having great value, since a "comment" section like that on Tapas doesn't really encourage people to leave longer reviews. On the other hand, I am a bit uneasy about people slamming my work for all the wrong reasons (like them not liking openly queer characters/representation and all ).

[WriterLinXiaolong]

If you're writing litrpg, you'll have easier traction. Other genre, you'll have to do heavy promotion as usual

[therealbereth]

I honestly had to google litrpg lol

I wonder why that's so popular over at RR, but I guess it's a similar dynamic like here with BL and Chinese fiction. Kinda makes sense, considering that you don't find these on the usual market so much.

But maybe someone has another suggestion for a site with a heavy focus on (high and/or dark) fantasy?

[ISNEKO]

No reviews on my own stuff so far. Only start ratings, which can be nice one day then poor the next when someone drops by and slams a 1 star down.

Even the comments I have don't mean anything. They are comments politely thanking me for updating, which is neat, but they aren't feedback.