How much time have you spent planning your series?

[Fuzed]

I see. That sounds really interesting. I've actually seen your novel on the forums quite a lot. Is that how you've managed to amass such a high subscriber count?

[artemficta]

Oh my gosh, it'd really date myself to say when the first first version of my story I started working on was XD I had a previous version of Ring Spell called Zenchav that I started around 6 years ago I think, which I was working on for a few years before starting it as well, but I don't remember how many. The current version, Ring Spell, I started working on about two years ago under the name Blue Stitches, but then I heavily edited the script last year and started drawing it this year.

The original story was actually a collection of several stories/comics to make one really large story world XD But then I realized after many years of minimal readership (and a lot of drawing) that nobody is going to read all of the comics, so I made the newer version a much more condensed version all tied together in just one story.

[Aykay]

My novel was on the front page at one point. Not a staff pick or anything but that provided a boon in subs. Sadly I have no clue about the active readership though.

I've also gotten a good number of subs from the forums.

I think the way you present you novel helps too.

[Fuzed]

And how the final decision affect your readership? Do you feel like you've done the right thing?

[Fuzed]

What do you think about the way my novel is presented? Any thing you would change?

And how did you get on the front page? Just luck or was it influenced by anything specific?

[artemficta]

I feel like I did story wise because there were a lot of story points in the old version I no longer felt comfortable with, and I really didn't like how it jumped around in time and focus so much. In the current version the focus is much tighter, as is the story, and I feel a lot better promoting it because of things like that. The art in the other version was also so time consuming that it really made me hate drawing and felt like torture, which is why I switched to something a bit less painful to produce. Ah, and this one also has a completed script unlike the other version, which is one less thing to worry about for me, which is nice.

Readership wise I haven't had much luck gaining readers with the newer version either, so in that regard it's a coin toss really.

[Fuzed]

Yeah, that's true. It's all about luck. You just wish that the algorithms play your tune essentially. Well, I certainly wish you good luck!

[Aykay]

Guess that was kinda of a vague statement. Let's if I can elaborate. As you mentioned you've seen my novel a lot of the forums. I try to post on a the promotion thread that fit. Honestly the more interactive ones have yield better results from being able just to talk to other people.

People actually taking the time to check out my work etc. As for you presentation my preference, your preference, and your readers preference might be three different things. I think you're doing fine. I'm still relatively new as a creator here so I can offer very little advice.

If you look at my episode release date you'll see that you released far more episodes than me in a shorter span of time. As long as you have a buffer that's good for people who immediately want to sink into your work.

Also on was on the front page based on an event like how there's community picks.

[Fuzed]

I am a very new creator here, it's my second week actually. I did a mass release of Prologue + 8 chapters. Because I felt like it would be easier to get into the series that way. And on Chapter 8 there is a pretty big cliffhanger so I went with that. I have a buffer of 7 episodes, always ready on my Patreon.

How do the community picks work?

[Aykay]

In May people nominated and I believe voted on works. And now they're working through promoting them featuring them on the community picks, on the front page.

Random sidenote believe it or not Action is a new genre for novels that appeared during the second weak of this month. I know that it wasn't there in June. If you check any other genre there's a bit more novels. I think it makes it easier for a novel to stand out. Since if someone is looking solely for action. And you have a good start you're in a prime position to hook people in.

[Fuzed]

I see. Well, we'll see how it goes. Hopefully one day I'll make it as well

As for the Action genre, I actually wanted to publish on Tapas a little sooner but I was always hesitant due to the lack of an Action genre tag. I waited for my series to get edited before publishing and it just so happened that they added an Action genre tag shortly before I decided to publish. So that was a really nice coincidence.

[WolfUnderTheMoon89]

I managed to keep it pretty clean, for now, wonder how long it will last

[Fuzed]

There's always just this one day where you don't feel like putting that new chapter into the First Draft folder. And then the day turns into a week and then you forget you even had that habit in the first place. That's how I do it... not very proud of that but what can I do?

[WolfUnderTheMoon89]

I just have my whole story in one document, being the first full draft.
I guess I have a weird way of working

So...
I write a new chapter
I reread
Let my friend read and point out flaws and problems
I edit
ANother friend goes over it
I edit again
Then I go and upload online.

But all in one document.

[Aykay]

Yeah I just checked we both joined in April.

My second novel was orginally fantasy but it also fits in action so I moved it there. That way my novels could be in two different genres.

I was gonna explain how that story came to be but didnt want my initial post to be super long.

Anyway as a fellow April, Tapas member I wish you luck in all your future endeavors here.

[nathanKmcwilliams]

Somewhere between decades and none at all

One one hand Dragon Sparking (my comic) has had probably separate 10 iterations from 2007 to 2017 when I officially started it up. I did spend a good amount of time planning how the world works for the last 3 iterations and have stuck with that.

On the other hand...when I get a new idea for a story arc or even a series (I have two more brewing as I type) . I just do it. No planning necessary. Just go go go. XD

[Fuzed]

Mine is pretty similar.

I write a chapter
Send it to my beta-readers.
I let them have a look and point out any mistakes or things they think don't sit well.
After that I go over it on my own, try to edit what I can, make sure the content sits well
Then I send it to my editor
When she sends it back I review the edits, add or delete anything that I don't like and send it to the editor once more for final proofreading and formatting
And only then do I publish.

I actually have some edited chapters stockpiled as well as a few unedited ones. All on my Patreon.

It's a lengthy process which results in a ton of documents, especially since we're sending it around with my editor. But everything works fine in the end.

[Fuzed]

How long have you been writing for? And have you posted anywhere prior to posting here? (Pardon me if you've already answered this, but my memory is crap and with so many different people telling their stories, I forget)

I actually have the whole thing, about the origins of my story as a free post on my Patreon.

Fuzed is creating a webnovel | Patreon

If you would ever be interested, just take a look on there. No obligations, of course.

I wish you the best of luck as well. I will sub to your series and if I ever find some free time I'll definitely give it a read!

[WolfUnderTheMoon89]

oh cool, you have a patreon?

ah, my editors al work in my google doc, with limited rights? And we use codes on who's busy with what and that works pretty well!

How is patreon working for you? do you have more content there?

[Fuzed]

That's a lot of time spent on one comic. You must have everything figured out to the tiniest of details by now. Are you still enjoying working on it?

I personally can't imagine myself working on something for so long, but on the other hand, I've already planned at least 3-4 books so I feel like I will be working on this project for at least 4 years.