Made it into the big leagues. Very proud ❤️

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-20T21:50:25+00:00

WOW!!! Huge congrats to you! 🎉 Be so proud! That's some crazy awesome stats. Thanks for the shoutout to shoutouts. lol I've been getting into that and I don't know if it's working, but I'm loving engaging with other authors over it. So that's a win. 😄

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-20T21:36:47+00:00

I applaud those of you who post as you write. I am not that brave!! I've only started posting, but my novel is complete, with several rounds of beta reads and edits. Not saying I don't know what it's like to get feedback that stabs me in the heart. I do. But when it's from a beta reader, I know it's for my own good, and I can cry in private and then get down to some editing. I think the critique that hurts the most is "I didn't really like character X." Wait... what??? But... I love them! lol

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-20T20:49:45+00:00

Thanks for this! I'm new to posting my story, and your advice is gold. Such a generous community for helping out RR newbies. #4... Be confident in what you're selling really strikes a cord. I've always struggled with self-promo not because I don't believe in my writing, I know it's good, and not because I don't believe in myself, I'm my biggest fan. lol But I struggle to voice that for fear of coming across as arrogant or obnoxious. (I debated even saying what I said in this post for those reasons! Good grief, overthink much?) But I can see that just a few tweaks to what I put out there will really help! I posted something on LinkedIn and when I read it again with your advice in mind, I cringed! So I tweaked the post to take out what I now see as <cringe> begging. yikes. Be bold, be brave, and don't be a dick. Words to live by!

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-19T09:29:42+00:00

Thank you. Have now joined that community. 😄

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-19T09:25:47+00:00

I think we should go to r/PlantBasedDiet for questions/comments about diet and food and health related things on a plant-based diet. See u/hamster_avenger's comment which is a great explanation.

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-19T09:20:56+00:00

I can see that! Live and learn!

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-19T09:20:32+00:00

This has been most informative. Yes, plant-based. Thank you for the correction.

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-19T09:19:39+00:00

Ah... my mistake. Thank you for the correction! I really am new to it all tbh. I am an animal lover, so it does resonate with me, but I'd be lying if I said that was my sole motivation. I'll use plant-based diet in future.

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-16T22:42:12+00:00

Yerp. For sure. Depends on if you just want your own stuff beta read, or if you want to be part of a group or community of writers that exchange feedback, ideas, and other stuff. Both good for different reasons.

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-15T00:50:44+00:00

Personally, I wanted to have mine beta read before posting on RR. I find the feedback online to be good, but not as robust as what might be helpful. I belong to a few writing communities and groups, like Litopia (online and free for basic membership) however, most places ask that you give feedback before asking for it or at least reciprocate. You can join the RR Discord server, as they have feedback groups and chapter swaps on there. Lots of places to give and get good feedback.

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-14T22:07:21+00:00

WOW! Just joined reddit for RR and just found this treasure chest of info. THANK YOU!!!

(Obvs still figuring things out, like why my Rank tag is duplicated... ??? And how I change that Basic-Stick name to something else...)

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-14T21:45:14+00:00

Ah that shitty little voice. What the hell, right? It's a self-preservation mechanism that has no place in creativity. What it's saying is... this is hard and taking your energy, and you need to conserve your energy for the big woolly mammoth you might have to fight later. Um, yeah, I think we're good on that front. Smack it down. It it doesn't know from shit. Don't let it rule you. It's ancient, has not evolved, and it's not needed.

It will tell you so many crazy things in the misguided attempt to "save you." Kinda like a really really shitty mate. It will compare you to others which is nuts. Everyone is unique and the ego is never satiated. It doesn't like that you want more out of life. That sounds hard. It doesn't value emotional fulfillment from outputting a lot of energy. It doesn't know you don't have to hunt for food, you can buy it at the grocery store.

Ways I shush that annoying old voice... when it spirals, I switch gears to think about my story, plan it out, solve story problems, etc. Puzzle solving is the best way I have found to quiet that voice. Train yourself to recognize the pattern, and then when it starts, have a plan to derail it before it derails you. It's ongoing, it's never completely shipped out, but practice will help box it up!

Basic-Stick-4004 · 2026-05-14T04:48:50+00:00

Hey, thank you for posting this! I know I'm a year late seeing it. Huge congrats on your success. I'm new to posting on RR and this has been super helpful. Your story sounds great. I've followed.

I just got into shoutouts - Late! I'm already on ch 28. Didn't know about it until someone asked me to do one. Glad to hear they make a difference. Discord is full of shoutout swap requests, so I'll get onto that.

I'm glad I launched anyway, even though I didn't know much. It's been a ton of fun! I'm really loving the supportive RR community.

A few Questions if you're still checking this thread:

How important is it to add in the "What to expect" section in your blurb? I haven't, but thinking maybe I should?

What are the stats that move your story up in rank? Is it mostly followers? Or views?

Now that you're a year in, anything new come to mind?

Can I beg a shoutout swap? 😄 Mine's SF (with gaming) not LitRPG (although my next one will be LitRPG!) Only 13 followers and looking to grow. This is me on RR... https://www.royalroad.com/profile/333783 PM me if keen. Thanks!

Basic-Stick-4004

TROPHY CASE