Hey everyone, I'm new here. <3
And thanks for this thread, @Maps, I could already check out your novel.
I've been writing for about 10 years now, but most of it was fanfiction-related stuff and RPG writing in a German fan forum for the The Legend of Zelda series. In December 2018, I rediscovered Wattpad and have been uploading my English WIP there first weekly, now monthly because depression and pregnancy don't exactly allow for too much pressure right now lol
I'm not satisfied with Wattpad, however. Like......... at all. The way HQ treat their users, ignoring our concerns about broken ranking systems (or at least not really telling us how they're trying to fix it), and all that has been going on since before I joined? It's... not a good look. Especially when I keep seeing my own stories in the recommendations. Good stuff.
So I thought I'd spread my wings a bit, and since I'd only heard positive things about tapas, here I am now.
I'm already loving so far how much more accepting the community as a whole seems when it comes to BL stories and lgbtqia+ characters in general. On Wattpad, if people offer critiques, they're sometimes as bold as saying that they won't even look at lgbt fiction. And then you have a LOT of people who seem to somehow... hate diversity? Really weird overall. And since it's nearly impossible to gain traction there right now with broken rankings, I'll just throw my updates there once a month (when I get to it lol) and throw my stuff here with a weekly schedule to see what happens.
The text will be edited more, too, so you get a reading experience perfectly fit for shorter chapters, with more poignant word choice and all than on Wattpad right now. I just started uploading yesterday, too, and the next update is this Friday 5-6pm ET. :3
It's called Mirai's Tears: City Asunder, which is the first book in a fantasy series I'm planning. It has heavy lgbt representation, but not really lgbt "themes". The people just... are. Because the world it's set in doesn't care about who loves whom and how someone presents their gender. It does have a m/m romance down the road, though. But mostly, the theme is family and how much it can make or break you (and everything you value), depending on whether said family is chosen or not. I think we all can relate to that somehow.
It's a chapter that's yet to be uploaded on here, sadly, so sorry about that. xD But I really like the next one I'll be throwing on here on Friday, as well, since it introduces the second protagonist. He seems like the typical "bad boy" at first, but I quickly subvert that trope because I hate it with a burning passion. xD He's a total nerd with a bit too much emotional baggage that he doesn't want anyone else to feel, so he kinda... shuts people out.
And it reads so. Good. I mean, I only read the first episode because I'm browsing right now, but I really, really dig your way with blood and atmosphere. I'm pretty sure it will inspire me for my own darker story that I'm working on at the side. (Folks. Got read that if you're 18+. Now.)
Can you or anyone tell us a bit more about that site? I just googled it and it seemed... okay, I guess? Reader interaction seems to be more frequent there, but is there a way to monetize your work with a big following, for example? How is the tagging system?
(On a sidenote: @Rei19 I love your icon. Remember when we all used to stay awake for fictional boys' calls and chats? Aaah good times. xD)
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oh my god I'm such a talker