#TrueLoveOnTapas Novelists, How are we feeling about this contest? Promote your work here, too

[skidiggy]

Hoo boy, very happy to have gotten the minimum number of episodes in on time. My web novel is a slow burn, so I wasn't sure if anyone would want to stick with it for the big payoffs, but it definitely qualifies as a romance, once we get there. The gushy good stuff is still a ways off, so I'll keep plugging away at it and get a good buffer going (hopefully) soon.

Huge shout-out to all the other authors out there who submitted. You guys are awesome and your work is inspirational. Thank you for putting your stories out there for us to share.

Read Apparent Secrets | Tapas Web Novels

[Leyelle]

I was feeling pretty lost in the beginning because I didn't find out about the competition until almost December but with a lot of hard work and my brother's help, I managed to meet the chapter quota and we're finally gaining some traction...making people cry...it's cool. hopefully gonna finish in the top fifty at the very least but I have my fingers crossed, grinding so, so hard. Making fun new ways for folks, especially ones who started late like me, to promote. We're not gonna flop from lack of trying that's all I'm saying. Anyway, here's the story.

(artwork kinda courtesy of my little sis, i was just making a paint splotch for the cover but she noticed that it looked like a heart, so here we have it.)

Read Damsel in the Red Dress | Tapas Web Novels

[infjdany]

so !!

this idea is one i started two years ago (tomorrow, actually!) and it initially started as an hour-long pilot i wrote for a class back in march 2022. the plan was to hold off for a bit until i made considerable progress on my main comic and then make it a comic too! but back in july i started taking the pilot and forming it into a novel that i planned to start releasing in february, but with the contest opening up, i took the chance and now we're done with part 1!! it was a bit stressful trying to do 30 chapters not because of the word count (i almost kept running out of room actually!) but because it was the matter of coming up with new things beyond what i had written previously. that, ind it's my first novel!! i know comics much better, but this was such a great exercise in what i can do so i feel quite accomplished ^^ and im really proud of the story/characters this far !!

the hardest part was promotion and getting out of my own head. "oh well this story has ten times the views i do" okay and? keep going anyway!! that's what i had to keep reminding myself because the support i got was still incredible and again its a story i love !!

Read in(tan)gible (sin)s | Tapas Web Novels

[ChipChop]

@skidiggy, me too, it was a very proud moment to have all 30 chapters out! And a buffer is a good idea, having one made me feel more relaxed and gave me more to time to actually go over my chapters with a pair of fresh eyes, got a couple headaches typing at night

@Leyelle, Believe me I was feeling lost writing my story too, finishing that chapter quota felt very unlikely for a while, especially with a lot of entries having started all the way back in October, made me feel like it was a losing battle from the start but I'm proud to know that we have finished!

@infjdany Oh I feel you on that! Wordcount isn't generally a problem for me either, its coming up with stuff that's the hard part! I too had a lot of ideas in the beginning, but continuing in a way that's new but still maintains integrity to the story was a learning curve for me! And same, in the beginning I fell very easily into comparing my story, only made me feel bad about it! Yup, gotta remind ourselves that sometimes self-love is the best love to have, especially when sharing our art with the world!

As a side note to everyone who's replied so far, I will say it's been nice to hear from you all, talking to you all has made my day!

[irr11tauthor]

VERY up and down. It's been a roller coaster lol
I came up with the idea the same day I started writing and posting which is not my usual MO so it's been a ride.
I don't think I'll be one of the top 15, but maybe I can squeak in one of those top 50 contracts, ya know??

Read Love, Blood, and Other Ways to Sell Your Soul | Tapas Web Novels

[ChipChop]

Yeah it's been a ride alright , I started organized enough with like a pretty good buffer of chapters, but then I started losing that buffer as my productivity rate went down haha oops, but I've seen your story and I think you are in the top 50 so you have a good chance! as far as I've heard the top 50 are the ones in the running for the top 15, but how that will play out in judging I have no clue

[irr11tauthor]

Yeah I've seen a lot of debate. I'm neither counting myself out, nor holding my breath. Come what may!

[ratscout]

My thoughts: Well, what can you expect? It's an online writing contest LOL. I think those who already had big audiences will take home the prizes. However, I mostly just entered to get exposure and look at the other entries which has been fun! I also enjoy how well put together this contest is compared to previous writing contests Tapas has thrown. They've done great, visible advertising for it! Not a first time Tapas novelist, but I do think this contest is a great opportunity to show your stuff! My goal was to not get last and I think I achieved that goal, LOL.

I think @ralyash has a great chance of winning! The story can be appealing to a younger audience and an older one and it's well written to boot! @AnnonRaye's story is impressive, too! The structure is really interesting and I like the premise.

Here is my humble little story.

Read Transcending Vows | Tapas Web Novels

Man, I just barely made the 30 chapters! What a crunch!

[ChipChop]

So true! My thoughts exactly, I saw an add for it online looking for a webcomic and I thought hmm, yeah why not? I definitely think those already with a good following have a pretty good advantage, but looking at the submissions today, I have noticed some will not be meeting the 30 chapter requirement.

And fr @ralyash I definitely think she has a good chance of winning, as for the rest of us, I think it comes down to the judges to call, going down the list of entries below a certain sub count is confusing, it's hard knowing what the judges are looking for storywise. I think @AnnonRaye is unique with her writing style and mythology, which I like my writing is a bit unique too (Victorian era lol) since I wanted to go for something more immersive for the reader!

[Leyelle]

Seriously nervous now that we're in "the eleventh hour" as they always say in anime. Who here is pretty confident they'll at least place within the top fifty?

[ralyash]

@ratscout, @ChipChop, Awww you guys thank you for your votes of confidenceeee T-T. You're gonna make me crryyyy

Edit: @pixxiepinks, not you too!

[pixxiepinks]

I have a lot of thoughts about this contest.

It's been a real eye-opener for me (mostly in a professional way, having a real chance at starting to make money from my work). It has been one wild ride, and the long road to chapter 30 was an uphill battle I will never take for granted (it's hard getting 60,000 words of a new unplotted novel done in under 2 months).

But this contest has been an amazing experience and I would do it all over again if I had to. For I have learned so much and have made some amazing friends, and no matter if I win or lose I've won in a more important way, with all of these amazing people I've been able to meet and befriend.

Here’s to all the great memories we’ve made in these wacky months, the amazing stories we've made, and all the friends we’ve gained along the way!

(and @ralyash you are definitely going to win! I love Summoned!)

If you were curious this is my novel ->

Read Iron Blood Bride :: Index 1 - Character List, Factions, and Maps. | Tapas...

[ChipChop]

True! I've definitely thought about the possibility of making real money from writing, the contest makes the prospect seem tangible And either way, I too think it's been a great opportunity, for me it made me realize I actually like writing! And I love that you follow your story up with a bestiary, I love when authors do this (ie they add a compendium, a map, facts and tidbits about their world) it adds great depth to the world you base your story in!

[Memyselfnchester]

Hi everyone! Let’s see, I feel … exhausted. My self-doubt tells me my chances aren’t great but I’m still here and doing it!! I’m just happy that I got my 30 chapters in before the deadline!!

Thank you all so much for the support. And good luck to you all!! 🖤🤍🤍

Read Love in the Midst of Asexuality | Tapas Web Novels

[AnnonRaye]

@ratscout and @ChipChop, you're both too kind
I really enjoyed yours and so many others' novels these past couple months. It's been an amazing experience with everyone thus far. I'm so glad we all decided to give the contest a try!

[Innocynce]

Love the contest! But ironically have nothing to post: YET!
I wish I had more time for the contest and hope it goes on long enough for me to have s proper entry ready....

[Leyelle]

Does anybody know whether views/subscribers gained after the upload deadline closed (December 31st) still count?

[GunmetalSkies]

I feel like I haven't had a chance to breathe in the last few weeks, but it's been a lot of fun! I wanted to do something brand new for this contest, so it has been a lot trying to come up with a new world and framework all while lining up the stories for my MCs and driving the plot forward. It's definitely more of a slow-burn sort of story, so I'm not sure how that will go over, but I think the romance is there There's definitely still a lot more story to tell, but I got it to the place I wanted for this particular contest. And I definitely got myself something of a soft spot for Fia and Eli as I started weaving their stories together. It was a fun challenge, though, as I usually like to take the time to plot out and world-build but had to do all of that kinda on the fly with the deadline. Mostly, though, I am happy I was able to get this first part out and into the world before I start writing the story itself and to see what I am capable of, as it's been a good while since I've written actual stories instead of comics.

Good luck to everyone, though, and congratulations on finishing!

Read Dance of Blood and Faith | Tapas Web Novels

[ChipChop]

@Memyselfnchester, same here! i was super tired after writing for the last 2 months, had to really buckle down these last few weeks glad we both finished!

@Innocynce, yes! Loved the contest, it was fun, it just ended last night tho

@Leyelle, I think it depends on how much of a stickler the judges are, I know some people are also wondering if edits to their stories done after the upload deadline will still be considered so it's kinda hard to tell.

@GunmetalSkies, It was definitely a fun challenge, working within the time limits of the deadline did have a lot of my work being written on the fly as well, would have appreciated more time to perfect it but I'm pretty content with where my characters ended up too!

[GunmetalSkies]

That's great! I also would have loved for some more time to actually sit and edit my chapters, but all things considered, I really am happy with the effort and just getting them written and posted in time.