Hello everyone! I am new to this community and I actually discovered it completely by chance. I came across a story titled:” The Grave Keeper” on Wattpad only to find the author had posted it onto RoyalRoad too and I am glad I found this community. I highly reccomend this story

I love fiction and more so when the gender roles are a bit reversed and flipped. On Grave Keeper, the main male character is basically a special guy, he has unique powers and hides himself from other supernatural beings like werewolves etc only then to come across them and with them, the main female character who is a female alpha of a pack. I love their relationship even though it doesn’t go too far in terms of romance. But the female character is stronger and protective towards the guy.

I hope you guys can help me. I know this community is mainly about showcasing work but I would appreciate it if anyone could help me!

Thank you everyone!

After 11 days and 14 chapters these are my stats,

Woot! I made it past the sensors and went ahead and started sharing chapters. I've posted 5 so far and will post a few more now. My story is a contemporary magical realism romance set in the Pacific Northwest. It's about coming into your own creative process, facing down narcissism and dealing with grief while finding true love.

If you're curious you can read it here: Wait for Me - a cozy magical realism slow burn romance | Royal Road

A very big thank you to u/Red_Banded u/mystineneptune and u/Exotic-Quarter-8765 for letting me know there's a small but ardent cozy + romantic community here! If this is you too will you say hello? Will you let me know about your story? I enjoy fantasy and romantasy if it's not too heavy on warfare and gore. As I shared earlier, I'm a big fan of Ursula K. Le Guin, Robin McKinley, Lois McMaster Bujold, Heather Fawcett, Olivia Atwater and many more. Yes, I'm happy to share recommendations too.

At this point in my story's journey, my big goal is to see if I can connect with my ideal readers. Who are you? Most likely a creative and/or artist who has struggled to find your way. You love the Howl's Moving Castle book more than the movie but enjoy the movie too. You love cozy fantasy, horses (even if you never owned one or rode/ride), gardening, cooking, and the pleasures of a beautiful setting.

I want to publish the full novel next summer, but for now, as I go through the process of sending it off to the developmental editor and proofreader in sections (that works best for my budget and editing process) I really want to see if I've created a world people enjoy visiting. Or if I'm crazy.

But I'm feeling pretty good right now because people have already read all five chapters. I love that you can see that in the dashboard of your story here.

Getting likes and comments will be the next hurdle, but first I'm going to go post more chapters.

Exotic-Quarter-8765

I don't know if this was addressed before, I combed through the sub but I didn't find anything. I'm 16 by the way. I got into writing in 2019/2020 but never posted anything publicly. I don't plan or writing anything 18+ because I'm simply not interested.

On that note, a part of me is also a bit nervous about posting because I've seen a few brutal 0.5 star reviews and I'm afraid I'll get discouraged. I know I should accept getting my novel criticised, but sometimes those reviews are full of genuine hatred. Especially since some elements I want to write about aren't necessarily mainstream on RR.

The story I'm planning to write is fantasy, but not litRPG, and romance isn't a sub-plot. I also like writing slow burn romance where a genuine connection is built over a long(er) period of time. However, I read somewhere here that if the story isn't getting to the 'exciting' part within the first three chapters, many readers tend to drop it. And although I totally understand, if I want my characters to form a genuine connection, rushing it a chapter or two to not lose viewers doesn't sound right either.

I've also come to notice that the majority of users are male, and most popular novels feauture a male MC. Will people dislike it more if I write a female MC? Just to preface, I know I write as a hobby, but doesn't every author dream of making it to the rising stars page? haha

Sorry for the long post, it's my first time posting on reddit, and I guess I sorta wanted to discuss this with someone. I know there'll be someone out there who'll like my story with all it's flaws, but I don't just want one person to like it; I want a lot of people to like it.

Am I aiming too high? haha

My Wattpad views in 1 year versus Royal Road in just 1 week. I'm glad I made the change to join this site.

Hey everyone,

it has been a little while since I did a thing here, so I thought I'd put out a note to come to check out my story.

In the one corner, we have our teenage dragons with attitude, and a few friends they found along the way, in a pitched battle to save the world. They're up against an army of dark-hearted soldiers and megalomaniacs who are playing for keeps and want to rule the mage world, and beyond with an army of dragons and change their world permanently.

The odds are just about even. Volume II, Act 3 HAS COMMENCED! There will be battles! Triumphs and great losses! And secrets revealed that will cut to the core of how they all met!

Go check out The Legend of the Luminaires!

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/76641/the-legend-of-the-luminaires-coming-of-agefantasy

Drenar found a dragon hiding in his soul, and nothing has been the same ever since.

Life got complicated once he started shedding feathers and growing scales, two facts that have made high school life somehow even more difficult. His best friend transforming and performing her bizarre–and sometimes painful–experiments on him in the name of dragon science haven't helped matters, either.

And worse still, a new force bent on world domination has appeared, wielding the powers of many other new dragons. He decides that's not gonna end well for anyone, and bands together with his friends to put a stop to that. 

Chemistry class now seems trivial to saving the world as a dragon…but then again, the words he’s always needed to see to the task have been there for a long time.

"Be a light to guide the way. Carry a beacon to a better tomorrow."

--Magius Swiftscale

I just got two manuscript requests from literary agents for a novel I published last year on RR. I wanted to share how I wrote the query in case anybody here was thinking of traditional publishing.

Some bad info out there is telling RR authors to lie because agents & publishers don't want "used goods" - but that's not necessarily true! In general, you shouldn't lie to potential business partners. Plus, if you can demonstrate that your story got some traction on RR, and your plot sounds interesting, it counts as a good thing with people whose job it is to SELL books.

Here's how I worked my disclosure into my query. Info redacted because this isn't self-promo:

Dear [AGENT],

I have a lush, high stakes adult romantasy with crossover appeal to pitch you starring an aspiring assassin who falls in love with a prince while plotting his father's regicide. [TITLE] is The Favourite set in a fantasy world full of intricate detail and despicable court intrigue among the young and beautiful.

[PLOT DESCRIPTION]

Complete at 72k words, [TITLE] is a standalone story with series potential perfect for fans of [COMPS]. An earlier version of this story appeared on Royal Road’s Rising Stars- Romance list; this revised, expanded version adds 45% more content and changes the ending to a HFN consistent with romance genre expectations.

[BIO]

Thank you for your consideration, [Me]

The "45% more" is all stuff my RR readers suggested. And I actually DID measure the word count change between versions to make sure I was being honest/accurate.

Traditional publishing isn't the only route to author-hood - but if you ever do want to try it, don't think of your Royal Road history as holding you back! It's all part of the stuff authors do to get better at their craft and grow their audience.

All in all not the worst for a non-LitRPG high fantasy story that I barely marketed! The lack of engagement is mildly disheartening but I'm still very early on in my novel with only 5 chapters posted (+1 for world lore/glossary). Overall, still feel good about everything and the views on each chapter feel relatively appropriate.

Gonna do a big marketing push once I've posted around 10 or 11 chaps and I'll see you all then! Thanks for reading!

Obligatory Shameless Link: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/85415/wanderlust-the-death-of-harmony

​

https://preview.redd.it/wlqt4s4pohxc1.jpg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=53a7ae894d4793fab86418d1588b74446553ead7

Identify is an apocalyptic lite-litrpg about a character creating a system from scratch after magic is reintroduced to Earth. It's a slow burn, so if that's not your thing it might not be for you, but the characters are starting to really delve into the creation of the spells that let them see stats in the chapters that are coming out now!

Here's the link if you want to check it out: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/76526/identify

I am preparing to launch my first RR story and was curious what advice you all have (either as a fellow author or as a reader). Are there any major DOs or DONTs that may not be immediately obvious? What is something you wish you'd known back before you launched or something you wish more authors did early on?

Hey, Y'all!

I've been getting mixed feedback on my new novel's current book blurb (synopsis) length, and I was hoping to pick the RR community's brains; how do we determine if your book blurb is too short or too long?

How much info do RR readers really need?

Is 'What to Expect' really required?

For reference, I added my book's blurb here, but not the link since it's not the point of my post. The book is called The Loom of Ill Fates, and you can check it out on Royal Road if you like.

Description: EDITED thanks to feedback from u/Grimnoc!

'An ill-fated prince marked for death and a trickster imprisoned by the gods...together, they might gain the strength to change destiny.' 

In a land where sorcery is the dominant force, a prince cursed with a body lacking talent for even basic spells is scorned by nobles and commoners alike. Fortunately for Bram of House Attilan, as a child of the Sovereign who rules the Atlan Imperium, even an ‘Ill-Fated Prince’ is given a chance to prove his worth…and Bram knows exactly what he needs.

Inside him exists a ‘self-improvement system’ called the Loom. Though he can’t use it himself because his body lacks magic, Bram, the newly appointed governor of Lotharin, one of the twelve kingdoms of the imperium, devises a plot to gift the Loom to others and develop the talents his kingdom needs.

Such an undertaking will require the aid of a master trickster—one powerful enough to help Bram kidnap humans from a world called Earth to enlist their expertise in performing the greatest trick ever sold; hoodwinking other Earthers into believing they’re playing a videogame while they work to solve the many troubles plaguing Bram’s kingdom to make it great again.

Release Schedule: Mondays to Fridays. I'm still experimenting on time. This week is 1 PM UTC+8.

What to Expect:

• Light LitRPG elements.

• Progression fantasy. No instant overpowered MCs with murderhobo tendencies. Bram has to work hard to grow.

- It's Game of Thrones meets Ready Player One and the Office!

• Clever schemes, fast-paced action, and in-depth character development.

• Elaborate world-building elements with a sprawling world thoroughly mapped out.

• A tale that seamlessly jumps between high fantasy adventures, game development hijinks, and kingdom-building shenanigans.

10+ advanced chapters are out right now on Patreon!

[Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] - I have a 10-chapter backlog but I'm writing new chapters at the same rate as posting my backlogs. 

Torchworld.

It's a little novella I originally wrote as a reward for people who signed up to my newsletter. Since I've given up on the newsletter idea, there's no reason not to just put this online.

Marek is a hardened, wandering warrior on a planet slowly being cooked to death by its red giant star. The wastes are his element; dominated by bandits, deadly tribes, the murderous heat, and stranger things. He heads out once again, to test himself, to live, or perhaps to die, in the deserts of the torch world.

The story is called Flux it’s the first ever thing I had ever written here’s the synopsis/blurb:

“In a city where heroes and villains blur the lines, Bishop finds himself at the center of a storm of betrayal and devastation. As CASM’s sinister agenda unravels, Bishop and his team are thrust into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, where every move could be their last. With the truth exposed and alliances tested, they must race against time to dismantle the corrupt Super organization, CASM, before it strikes back. As they navigate treacherous waters and confront their darkest fears, Bishop and his comrades stand united against the forces of evil, determined to bring justice to Nova City.”

[When one thing dies, another will inevitably rise from its corpse.

The fox eats the rabbit, and when he dies, bugs will come to take core of it, reducing him to nutritious soil. This soil will be among the many things that flow into the growth of a nearby tree.

Most things gather around similar objects. Rocks will clump together in space, creating a gigantic ball. More balls of similar nature will follow, often following the central ball.

Those two rules are so fundamental, they flow into our everyday decision making.

But what happens when a world dies?

When it's gods and demons are destroyed, all matter scattered into the rift beyond?

When the ancient world of Ysat Naf inevitably met it's end, that question was answered.

The realms collapsed, matter turned to energy, catapulting the magic withing through space and time.

For millenia it spun, concentrating and traveling in dimensions unknown to even the greatest of gods.

Six seperate gems remained, most of their magic depleted to not shatter.

They were connected by pure magic, the threads between them thrumming as Ysat Naf attempted to reform itself.

To everyone on earth, it was a beautiful night.

Six shooting stars flew across the planet, each searching for the ultimate way of growth.

Marcus van Mayne was sick, the last member of his family, and a dissapointment to a long line of ancestors.

They dated back to the holy roman empire, a strong bloodline that somehow avoided inbreeding for many generations.

But it would end with him. His parents had desperately tried to get two children, but within all their lives, he was the only one to ever survive his birth, and even that was a case of pure luck.

He was incapable of creating offspring, and after he realized that there was no way to save his family name, he got into a car crash that resulted in a contaminated blood donation.

Ever since that day, his body kept failing him, his daily training and his families wealth the only reasons he was still alive at this point.

He had nothing to hope for, winning the lottery in an attempt to get rid of his money, throwing it at any problems he encountered.

At first he build an orphanage, throwing millions of dollars at it to make the children inaide have the chances he would want for his own.

He funded a hospice that gave its inhabitants the best death bed he could fund, requiring of them only to give their body to the hospital in exchange, something many people did.

He build a Hospital focussed almost entirely on blood transfusion and organ replacement, utilizing the offerings from the hospice to help the sick.

He even had a building in between the three made for meditation and prayers, aswell as a nearby school and college that focussed on teaching the children everything a doctor would need to know.

As the last of his projects on the complex was finished, he sighed to himself, smiling as he felt himself drift away as his organs failed one by one, the oldest of the first children he had taken into the orphanage nowold enough to be doctors themselves, some of them dedicated to saving him, though most had already accepted his death that evening.

He overlooked the city sized area, his lives work finished as he was rolled towards the most selfish thing he ever did.

In the center of the complex, he had build a crypta. His families history engraved into the stone to never be forgotten, and a nearby graveyard was made to fit the gothic look he imagined for his final resting place.

The entire world expected him to die that day, all machines taken from him as he decided to face death directly.

And so he did, though the cold embrace was a lot more painful than he initially expected, a black marble shooting into his abdomen, while his heart stopped beating.

The long beep of the machines told everyone that he was dead, the orb in his chest opposing that statement fiercely.

For an hour, he laid in absolute silence, a strange power thrumming inside him as his life left him.]

Is that something you would be interested in reading? I had the Idea just now and think I might write a book based on it.

This is by far the most successful ad I made for A Chronicle of Lies. 3% CTR for a week. Then it hovered just below 3 for an incredible long time.

RoyalRoad has a surplus of tags. Which is awesome fun when you wish to find exactly the right fun. But it's no fun when the tag you want doesn't exist. Alt History is one of them.

There is the 'Historical' genre, but that is so vague as to be meaningless. Any and all fantasy stories set in a specific era of civilization (AKA --- medieval, medieval, medieval --- AKA almost all of them) can be called 'Historical'.

I'm instead looking for stories that borrow/steal/rip off actual historical details. It's my experience that stories that do this tend to use it as an excuse to more deeply explore the implications of their world's 'special sauce'. That is - we know the facts of our world, now here's what it is with this twist. 'Course, that's not always true. But it is with the good ones. Do you know of any good ones?

The progression part feels just extremely bad, due to it happening very rarely but also extremely fast and with a huge impact on the secondary characters and mc (alex and claygon, respectfully, mainly) capabilities.

For the mc, the examples are quite obvious: claygon starts being not-enough-strong, something originating from the ravener should kill him, but it doesn't and he gets upgraded; this happened first against the petrifier and then in the first battle with the church and the bomb explosion.

For Alex, i mainly have 3 times that it happened in my mind:

1. he decided to get buff and copy cultivation, so in three days he gets strong enough to carry a horse or something like that, with "a perfect physique" and whatnot;

2. one day he just decides to try and cast a 4th tier spell with the space-power help. He does it pretty much first try, and so gets also tier 5 and 6 within the next day. After months of no progress, or something like that;

3. he unlocks the mark, so in the next day (again) just breezes through rank 7, 8 and 9, the peak of known magic, powerful enough to level cities etc. While also training and becoming an extremely capable swordsman by adding the power of cooking to normal sworsmanship (or however this should be written, english isn't my first language haha).

The same goes for the girlfriend, just unlocking a new power after x inspiration, but that I can accept because of the context that it happens in (cultivation + magic sword)

Thoughts on this? Am i the only one that feels that this metod of progression is quite... bad?

Happy Sunday!

I'm planning on releasing my book, "Wait for Me," starting mid-June as a serial on Ream Stories, but I'm toying with the idea of starting to share it here first. Thoughts?

All of the serial platforms I've looked into so far are pretty heavily focused on fantasy, fantasy romance, or very high-octane romance. I'm a fantasy reader myself, but more of the Ursula LeGuin, Diana Wynne Jones, Robin McKinley kind. So yes, I like a lot of cozy.

My story's sexy, but it's a slow-burn, slice-of-life romance that pays homage to the book "Howl's Moving Castle," rather than the movie (though I do mention the movie). My love interest, and aspects of the story, are very inspired by Howl's.

I'd love to start getting early feedback here, but I'm wondering if there's even anyone here who finds this sort of story appealing?

So, I am wondering if that is allowed. Would i be able to set the prolouge in a first person style but the rest of the story in third person omnipotent? Or would that confuse the hell out of everyone

I've posted roughly 36 chapters by now and although my viewership is quite consistent with the first three chapters having the biggest amount (of course) but after the first drop the views stay consistent until it reaches chapter 34. There the views dropped to less than half but the following two chapters have doubled the amount again.

Now I know the number of views isn't consistent with the actual number of people reading your story but I find the amount dropped and later grew again quite big.

Are people skipping the chapter? I don't have any comments on that chapter so I don't have any feedback from the readers. What do you do in a situation like this? Do you still rewrite the chapter without knowing what is offputting or do you let it be and pray someone writes a comment explaining what is bothering them?

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/85389/hexe

This is the cover and I also made a map:

https://preview.redd.it/hslv8y7xw2xc1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=a5c4d91ed98684531d522184e965f5836228d872

I don't know if I should say anything else...

Here is the link: Hexe | Royal Road

If you're looking for a Fantasy/Adventure story feel free to take a look at my original web novel. I'm currently posting daily since it keeps me motivated.

I'm a fairly new writer so I'd appreciate any critique good or bad!

The story is about a young boy who finds himself on the path of death. It revolves around his experiences with death and how death can affect the people and civilizations around him.

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/84996/seeds-of-the-world-tree

Today marks exactly one year since I began writing my current project. It's somewhat overwhelming to realize that, in only a year:

- I've got nearly three hundred followers, and coming up on 40,000 views on Royal Road, and now have only the last three chapters of Book 1 to post here;
- I've drafted over 260,000 words, including two complete books and the first nine chapters of a third.
-I'm going to be releasing on Amazon in June

All of that from a little germ of an idea a year ago.  Just Crazy.  And I have to say, the community here, in my experience, has been overwhelmingly positive and encouraging.  Thank you all!

Hey Guys, Im a new author and would like to know your process of writing a chapter.

I wrote my first 3 chapter with a lose story but got stuck at 4th chapter now I need to make those 3 chapters solid. but I'm finding it difficult to make it better.

Any advices would be appreciated :)

Hi all! I finished writing Book 1 of “Not An Isekai Story” right now. Will be posting Book 2 soon!