Hiya! It’s Elim!
It has been 5 weeks! Oh? Wait... It appears today is… Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! I hope that those lucky fellows have a blessed day with their partners. For the rest of us… there will come a day when love blossoms! So don’t be down if you haven’t found somebody yet! Damn, I really wish we got a little further in the novel. I would have done a special love chapter!!
Anyways, since it has been five weeks I will no longer be uploading every single day. It is unfortunate, but we all have our commitments and circumstances. >_< My semester is coming up, so I need to prepare for that. I’m really a slow writer, believe it or not! It is because I try to make every chapter at least have a certain level of quality that I must find accepting. All of the chapters so far have been stocked from months ago.
As for how the novel’s going, to say the truth, I have been quite stressed about it. I have spent more than six months to a year into the making of the story and only have a small number of readers. It really puts me down that I put so much effort into something to only get so much. It extended to the point that I even had thoughts of quitting until I had reached a particular arc (that won't EVER happen dw).
I’m quite prideful in this, but I’m not trying to be arrogant, nor am I saying my work is something like a masterpiece (noway). The early chapters were slow, and prologue and chapter 1 especially are particularly lacking to draw in newcomers. I regret not putting in more effort into that. There are also several mistakes I made during the early phase which was my best chance to make my novel boom. The two biggest ones are probably:
- The cover was different from the current one. I didn’t think it was bad but it really did not do justice in attracting viewers. Once I switched to this, it fared much better. I wonder if this cover is good? It’s official art. I know the text is just simple typography, but the girl in the cover is beautiful isn’t she?
- Very long description and disclaimers in the frontpage. I felt it was necessary as I have a lot of stylistic choices, but really… nobody is going to read that. It’s just unattractive.
But this was all in the past, I can only learn my lesson from this and move on.
What now?
For starters, I want to engage with you guys more. If I have to put it bluntly… I want comments xD. Sounds stupid doesn’t it? No, really I’m serious. It was only within the late 4th week I actually got my first comment in Royal Road. In Scribble Hub, my first comment was, essentially, somebody trying to interrogate me, so he can decide whether to read my novel or not… since then, I’ve only had 1 other comment (also in the late 4th week) which I don’t actually even know what it means. Thank you to those who have commented.
So please!! I want to hear your thoughts. You can comment on anything! It can be a simple thank you. Things you enjoyed or disliked about a particular chapter. Or questions you wish to ask me! If you wish, you can always send me a pm! I really don’t know anything of how the novel is faring for you guys.
I’m a small author. So these things mean a whole lot! You have no idea! I really thank the one person who actually gave me a constructive review on Royal Road. I got a review before a comment. That’s crazy! It was thanks to him/her(?) that I actually changed from using ‘ ‘ to this “ “. So please let me hear your voices more often! I’m hoping to get more reviews in the future :)
Readers/Favourites/Ratings
For those readers that have yet to become readers, please do as it indicates to me that you are probably reading my novel! You can favourite a chapter if you enjoy it enough (thank you to that 1 guy/girl who continues to favourite every chapter xD), and rating the novel will help my exposure! Rate it as you fit! Recommend it to others if you like! If I ever manage to get on trending, I would be so so happy. There will definitely be a reward if it does happen.
For now, I will be releasing a chapter some time every Monday, Wednesday and Friday… Or am I? If this page obtains at least seven comments from different users + 5 more ratings within a week and a half, Sunday will be added to the list! So it will be four chapters per week instead! You will be competing with readers from Royal Road. Are you going to let them have a higher release schedule?
Information about the novel
We are very close to finishing the first book! Just five more chapters until the start of the second book. For those readers who may be a little disappointed in terms of the seriousness of the novel, fret not. The second book contains one of the most deadly serious arcs of the Odyssey (occurring right after the Knights of Majesty tournament *Spoiler* that tournament is nowhere near long as the Pre-Soldier Exam). If you make it that far, I hope it will be a pleasant experience for you, I’m very excited to write about it. In fact, it's one of my biggest motivations besides you guys to write. The Pre-Soldier Exam is an utter joke in tone compared to that arc.
I would also like to point out the amount of references in the story. Perhaps for many of you my constant insertion of them stops your immersion in the story. But I won’t be stopping them. This is because I want references to be part of the world of my novel. At one point, you will see them at the current rate so much that you’ve gotten used to it. So instead, it actually immerses you into the story as one of the specialities of the novel. I don’t know if this will work, but I really hope it will!
Naturally I understand constraint and won’t use them when it is definitely not appropriate.
Closing Statement
I wholeheartedly thank everyone who has been supporting my novel so far! I’m sorry for sounding so desperate! But I want this novel to grow! I want it to be read by much more and hope they have a great experience reading this novel. Even if it may seem like shits and gigs… it really isn’t. No. That’s just part of the odyssey. I had planned popularity polls by the end of the first book, character illustrations, discord server, and other engaging stuff. But, that will be left aside for now. I really hope these things will happen in the future though. I can at least guarantee some artwork! Afterall.. *Ahem*
Sincerely,
Elim
I just lurk and batch read and thus I never comment either. Even looking at the big stories around here, you probably aint gonna find that many comments compared to Royal Road.
I recommend making a discord server and getting people on it, its probably the best and most personal form of being in touch.
And dunno, i like the story, so if it helps, have this comment ;)
Funnily so far, I get more views on RR but I have less comments. >_>
Regarding a discord server, I'd love to but I think I would like to have the number grow a bit before doing so.
I'm glad you like the story! I hope the cut in chapter release won't ruin your batch reading! Yes your comment helps a lot! Only 2 more comments left! and 4 more ratings!
but the girl in the cover is beautiful isn’t she?
That's how you got me
And there will be more in the future. At least one more guaranteed!
I think people are conflicted in whether to read this because there are too many pre soldier exam chapters. Ahem. 30+ chapters.
Well, it was like that for me.
Hmm maybe? Tbh I don't need to title them like that, but I did so anyways. Thank you for your input, I will avoid mentioning the event for the upcoming tournament. Admittedly though, the fight between the Monster was dragged on for quite long.
I hope picking my story up was enjoyable for you.
Enjoyable read thank you.
No problemo! Hope the future chapters are much more enjoyable for you and the rest from here on out!!
So I've got well over 100 entries on my reading list, but this is one of less than a dozen that I've been actively paying much attention to for the last few weeks. Keep up the good work
That's great to hear!! but I won't be uploading everyday anymore. Hopefully having 3 or maybe 4 chapters per week will be able to keep you invested with the story! Thank you!
I usually batch read, so commenting isn't something on my mind. However, I love stuff that has constant updates so I'll comment more often if that keeps the the boat sailing smooth.
I will continue to have constant updates! But it will be drastically reduced to 3-4 chapters per week. I hope this will stockpile enough for your future batch read!! Thank you for reading so far!
Well same as ShadowFink i usually never comment cuz english is not my native language,tbh this is the first time i write a comment .Well i mainly want to tell u that i love your story and i hope to be able to see the end of it. Now about the references my mainly problem is the type of references not the amount cuz sometimes idk what i'm reading but even so the majority of them made me grin so i'm ok with them.
I hope that my english is not to bad and gl with your semester!
Hello Phipe! I'm glad that you love my story ! The majority of them made you grin? That's fantastic! I hope a few of them at least made you have a chuckle !
Your English is good enough to be understood. It's enough to show me your appreciation of my novel. Thank you!
will be needing that luck for the semester!
Hey!
I don't usually comment, and thats soley based on the fact I only made this account 10minutes ago just to comment, but I do love series so far, and very interested to see how it turns out, I'm a lurker :D
You made an account just for that? Mr/Miss lurker! Thank you so much . That really really helps my confidence. I will do my best to fulfil your expectations!