Is this site what I'm looking for?

[Kirvee]

Hello, I made an account specifically so I could ask this question, I hope that's okay.

I have a novel that I've been developing since I was 15. Developing, but actually writing it has always been a slow-going process. I wrote a prologue and first chapter back when I was still in high school (and they're, of course, atrocious looking now, we don't speak of them). A few years ago when I took Creative Writing in college I had enough drive and impetus from the feedback setting there to rewrite what I wrote in high school and complete another chapter.

I can't take Creative Writing classes indefinitely though, and the pandemic makes trying to be in a physical writing circle impossible (and there aren't many around me anyway). I've wanted to share the new and improved versions of those chapters I wrote somewhere online, but preferably somewhere I can both get passive income on it (even if only pennies) as well as--and most importantly imo--feedback. I post side stories that I wrote in those same Creative Writing classes using characters from the novel for free on my AO3 account and while some of them have gotten a lot of views, comments and active feedback are hard to come by there. I'm looking for basically an online version of the feedback roundtable setting my classes had as that really allowed me to finally feel an urge to write what's been in my head for years.

But I'm very unfamiliar with web novel platforms. I only know one of my favorite series (Captive Prince) started as one and I have a friend whose been using a different site to publish their series on--however their evaluation of that site wasn't too favorable so I'm trying to find a different one to try out.

I've read almost all the guides and FAQs Tapas has up for writers. I believe my novel fits within their content guidelines and in theory this sounds like a good site. I like the layout more than I did on the other site I looked at. But I would like to hear thoughts and opinions from the community here on whether or not this site is what I'm looking for (honest thoughts and opinions please).

I'm also a little hesitant because I'd ideally like to put up the chapters I wrote, get feedback on them from ppl who AREN'T my classmates or friends, and then not be pressured by the platform to continuously produce just to keep a space. I really value being able to create at my leisure, but also it's feedback that really drives me. As far as I've found in Tapas' help articles, they don't seem to pressure creators to create until their series is done? Like I haven't found any wording like I did on the other site that suggests, like, if you don't update within x amount of time then your story is removed from the site. Stuff like that. Does Tapas do that and I just haven't found the relevant article?

TL;DR, is feedback really as common to get on this platform as the guides lead me to believe and do you, personally, feel that being here as a non-premium writer is worth it?

[toohalloo]

I think feedback is fairly easy to come by but you have to ask for it usually, here on the forums. You get as much as you put in - the more often you're updating or posting about your work, the more feedback you might be able to get. Otherwise, I've had a good experience uploading written work here. Very low-stakes if you want it to be. And I continue to get engagement despite my written piece being complete, LOL. I do feel it was worth putting here, even if only to reach a larger audience.

That said I'm primarily a visual artist and only write to supplement that - anyone else have insight for OP?

[MeltingCORE]

Heya! Tapas will not delete your story as far as I'm aware. I've found dead stories from years ago. And some creators tend to go months without updates and do just fine. So, take your time and go at the pace you need! Like what was said above, feedback is easier to get when your active here on the forums and interact with your peers. People are generally really sweet in my experience! (Even when critiquing.)

Welcome to Tapas!

[Kirvee]

I do love talking about my novel/characters a lot tbh, so that may not be a problem XD. When I was in high school I used to be on a writing forum where I basically did that a lot (sadly I'm pretty sure that forum died).

[amortelito]

I think Tapas is a really good platform to get your creative work out there! Many of us are not professionals, we are mostly people who are passionate about our stories. So, there is no minimum of work required, you upload what you have and they don't delete you for inactivity.

You set your own schedule of uploads there are no requirements nor pressure. If you want to do this as a hobby and update whenever you can it's fine. If you want to make this a career it is a helpful site too (as long as you put the work promoting and creating a fanbase, etc. The community is very supportive when you ask for feedback.

I'm gonna be super honest too, it is extremely hard to make some money. I know of extremely talented writers that can't get the traction they need to unlock the Tapas ink benefits or find it hard to get any comments. Similarly to AO3, you work is "there" you have to make an extra effort to get visibility. The platform is saturated, and sometimes the growth is very slow. Also, there is no reason why you can't publish in multiple sites. I have seen creators try luck in different platforms and stick to what works better.

[Kirvee]

Aaah that's a relief TT TT. The other site I looked at had like a weird application process just to let your series be hosted there, but they gave really strict dates that basically said you had to be constantly creating or else they wouldn't host it and like, that's way too much pressure for me. It's hard enough for me to write fanfic under pressure for zines and events lol.

I was also wondering about titles and cover images. Since my novel has been a WIP for over a decade, it's been know by its working title for basically its entire life. Whenever I talk about it I always call it by its working title, but said title may not be what it's called by the time it's all said and done. Similarly.....I don't have a fancy cover for it because it's never been completed ever dfvhjfbdf. I have some commissioned art of my characters or gift art from friends, but nothing that passes as a cover. And from what I understand from the FAQs, you're not allowed to post something without a cover of some kind.

Are titles and covers able to be changed later? =O

[Kirvee]

Even without ink benefits though, there's passive ad revenue, right? That's considered the basic form of payment, if I understood the help articles correctly?

Though I don't mind if it doesn't make much, even pennies are fine. I just would rather put the actual novel content (as opposed to the side stories and warm-up drabbles) somewhere that could earn even a tiny bit of passive income. Cuz otherwise I'd put it on AO3 with the side stories, but AO3 is a free platform.

[noenoh]

Im no writer but Tapas has been my first option all the time (Ive been here for 4 years or more??? till I joined the forums too), as a reader and as a creator. The team is nice and ready to hear you. As other has mentioned, I dont think you have to worry and publish on your own pace

[amortelito]

"ink" is what we call our "money". Yes you can have some revenue for ads You have to have 250 subs to be elegible to get ink donated by readers and you need at least $25 to transfer that money to your bank account. Sometimes for the Inksgiving you can ask nicely to the Tapas team to unlock that function even when you haven't reached the minimum of subs.

(I edited to give you the exact numbers)

[Kirvee]

Aaaah I see. Thank you for the exact numbers!

I think I saw the $25 number in the articles, but does that accumulate at all? Like, you don't make it in a month, but over time you build up that amount. Does that happen here? Or is any money generated below that threshold simply taken?

[amortelito]

Regular users who are not super popular barely accumulate some cents from the ads. What helped me a lot was to get the ink unlocked because all your friends and readers can donate to you specifically (an Tapas takes a percentage). The revenue stays there untouched until you accumulate the $25 and then you transfer it. If not, the revenue is just there.

This is from my dashboard. As you can see the ads money is...not good... I earned $2.7 because I got some ink.

In two years I have been here I haven't transferred my earnings, so I hope this screenshot helps. This is all I have made on Tapas these years.

Of course, this only me, you could be more successful or get no traction at all. It depends on you. But I hope this information helps you to decide.

[Kirvee]

Aaah I see.....250 is a tall tower to climb though ;;;;. But this does help thank you!

If these are 2 years worth of earnings, then it does accumulate over time? =O

[amortelito]

It does!! The community is very supportive and generous, from time to time I get ink even when there are no special events. Making friends and staying active is very good, of course, not only for the revenue, its because we have each other's backs! At times is very discouraging seeing that you are not growing but the support is there and at the end of the day we are doing what we love regardless of the payoff.

If you are working on your novel anyway I don't think you have anything to lose if you publish here.

[Kirvee]

https://tapas.io/episode/2073610

I put it up \o/. Thank you!

[amortelito]

Welcome!!

[Ninjaniksel]

You can change covers at any time! Just go with something you like now and you can just evolve it with your series if you prefer. I'm no artist and just do whatever since I just write novels and no one ever commented on my cover saying it put them off to reading it.

I would recommend just asking for feedback on the forum here, but also offering to give some feedback in return sometimes. The forum has an amazing community of creators and it wouldn't be a community if everyone just asked for stuff for themselves.

I hope you'll like Tapas and hope we see you around!

[mrtoontastic]

For me personally... its kind of a weird place of "yes?" and "No" at the same time. On one hand, its great because if someone's gonna read my stupid ideas, its gonna be someone other than me. But at the same time, its weird since my work is something, even compared to other works akin to my personal tastes, doesn't really fit the mold y'know? I often feel like even with my serious stories, it looks like someone's stupid kid fantasies compared to this BIG JUNK FOOD/ARTSY works with eye-bleeding colors that just droowwwns me out. Part of me feels (and is already somewhat doing so) like this place is more of a stepping stone for something better (like publishing my works as a physical book), while another part enjoys the comfort here even if there's other web-hosting comic/novel sites that could air towards my tastes. It's a question I can never seem to find the right answer to.

But hey, if someone's reading, it's a start to something greater, right?

[kitkatxk]

Ad revenue is peanuts and it depends on how many supporters you can get. I have a couple but the support is low. I have been on the site two years but took a long hiatus. Since coming back I have been updating daily and none of my fans have really returned and support is gone. So if it's something you don't think you can update all the time readers are fickle and will abandon you for something shiny and new. There is too much on the platform. Some might not even be fickle but just might not remember the title of that book they really liked and it got so far shoved down in their reading library they can't find it. That can especially happen if they subscribe to lots or you have changed the title or artwork while they were away.

So be prepared because it is really up and down. But you can always count on that your ad revenue will get you less than pennies period. And supporters you need some really good active ones to make anything. My support has been sitting at this kinda range for a year.

I could just be terribly sheet too. So there is always that.

[kitkatxk]

They absolutely have so much to lose. If you put it on one of these sites you will never ever be able to publish this story as anything other than a throw away story or a self published. Traditional publishers will never take a work that has been previously published on one of these platforms unless it has garnered a huge following and fandom or millions and millions of views.

So if you are okay with this work being public but not for sale in any way as a physical book unless you decide to self publish it then do be aware of that downside.

I also want to say not many free readers transition to paying customers. So for example I have 100K views and 1.7K subscribers and yet when I finished my novel completely and said people could buy the ebook or physical copy to have on their shelves for a limited time. And with bonus never seen before chapters. I had 30 click overs that resulted in sales. I had over 1K people click the link for the book but only 30 sales in the end. And if you think it was expensive. It wasn't it was 21.99 for the physical copy to end up on your shelf. And the ebook was 2.99 for the ability to read the extra 7k of words.

Keep your expectations realistic is all I am saying.

[Kirvee]

Traditionals are weak and won't survive the winter anyway is my opinion of them, but I've always wondered, would they wring their hands and whine about not being first if it was even just "only a small portion of this has ever been posted online" or "if you offer this author a book deal they'll gladly delete it off the places they posted it"? Cuz honestly that part has always frustrated me about traditional publishing.

So I'm not allowed to share what I have with anyone to get any feedback because the moment I do it's considered "published" even if I later delete it??? Wack.