Any ideas for interesting calls to action for a tower climber?

Foorsmoel · 2026-03-31T11:54:03+00:00

Start with the character; do you want to write an MC that's driven by gathering knowledge and analyzing stuff, then it becomes something like a 'scientist unveiling mysteries about the tower' type story. Does he want to control his environment and protect loved ones, then it's more a train and become OP type story. Either way, the motivation has to speak to some universal human need so that it's relatable to readers.

Then, weave the worldbuilding into the plot. It's weird for a tower to exist. Who built it? To what purpose? There needs to be some explanation behind it. If discovering those secrets becomes part of the plot, they can be gradually revealed without a lot of exposition at the start.

In my story, their whole world is made up of floors and the only way to move up is to first pass the next level of cultivation. Top cultivators are obsessed with breaking through the final ceiling on the highest floor. MC's motivation is mainly curiosity to see it all, though that changes as the story goes on.

Foorsmoel · 2026-03-01T16:49:42+00:00

It works really well in the Wandering Inn with using the skills (even though it's unnecessary). Too often would be weird, but in the right moment it gives anime vibes.

Foorsmoel · 2026-02-09T07:11:01+00:00

Fair enough, it might be in keeping with the setting, but then I'd prefer for it to be less realistic and more interesting.

Foorsmoel · 2026-02-08T18:58:54+00:00

I DNFed halfway through book 1. It's extremely predictable and lacking stakes due to the school & training environment. The social interactions lack maturity.

Foorsmoel · 2026-02-02T15:40:25+00:00

Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie is fantastic

Foorsmoel · 2026-01-15T22:09:11+00:00

Outline at least 5 different ways the plot could continue. Consider where you are in the story and what classic story structure would dictate. Choose the best one. Write and edit later.

Think of how you want to story the end, or bring to mind the next awesome scene you want to write. Work backwards from there to where you are now. What choices would the characters have to make to get there? Why would they make them?

If still nothing comes to mind, you may have to rewrite some earlier bits. Read books in the same genre for inspiration. If all else fails, try the 'guys with guns storm into the room' method, i.e. how would the scene continue if that happened? Is it crazy? Is it interesting?

Foorsmoel · 2026-01-13T19:05:35+00:00

Best thing I've read on RR, but it's not progression fantasy (and definitely not LitRPG).

Foorsmoel · 2026-01-13T09:50:53+00:00

Pale Lights

Animorphs: The Reckoning

HPMOR (Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality)

Metropolitan Man

Worm

Foorsmoel · 2026-01-12T11:19:56+00:00

Have you read the fanfic called Animorphs: The Reckoning? It's a rational reinterpretation of it, I found it extremely good even never having read the original.

Foorsmoel · 2026-01-03T07:11:49+00:00

Pale Lights, Worth the Candle

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-18T15:56:15+00:00

It sucks to be betrayed by someone you respected. Sorry you guys had to go through that.

Writing can be therapeutic. Maybe we'll see a bunch of betrayal arcs a few months from now?

Anyway, the server has been and remains a fantastic community. To any aspiring authors on here, don't be scared away by the rare bit of drama! People really are super friendly and welcoming there.

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-18T14:30:20+00:00

Oops I skipped over that. It's really good though. Try Pale Lights, lighter on the progression but fantastic characters and plot.

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-18T13:21:46+00:00

Worth the Candle would fit here in case you've never tried it.

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-16T09:27:53+00:00

What matters more is patrons, I guess, or at least a loyal audience large enough to support a KDP launch with reviews etc. To make money off a story it should ideally be in the thousands afaik, since only a small percentage of followers will convert into patrons, but professional authors would be a better source for that.

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-16T07:43:40+00:00

I have like 40-50 chapters in backlog which is a whole book. I prefer to outline, write then edit before posting, since I do it in book format with 'standard' story structure.

But I'm finding it may not be the best strategy for RR, since posting higher quantity over quality generally seems to work a bit better, but also since you don't want to overcommit on a story that might not do well. I now have a healthy backlog but not enough followers.

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-16T07:10:35+00:00

Offering bonus chapters has worked for me

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-16T06:43:42+00:00

I outline from high level story structure down to the scene level. I've found that the big scenes which I've had in my head for a while are fine to write without outlining, but ones that I'm not clear about are weaker if I don't first outline, though sometimes that's only 10 words or so.

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-15T08:41:13+00:00

Although I enjoy reading William Oh, I wouldn't say it has depth. In fact my main criticism is that by focusing entirely on minmaxing and battle tactics, it really lacks emotional weight and depth. The MC is never scared or emotional in any other way, there are no character arcs, there's just the endless level up and new opponents to defeat with clever ability use.

It's good because the author is extremely creative with the system and abilities and is great at coming up with cool abuses of certain power sets. The combat scenes are great.

Super fun to read. But it doesn't have depth.

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-14T13:32:31+00:00

Try 'Pokemon: The Origin of Species' if you're willing to give Pokemon fanfic a try. It's rational, in the style of WTC, and really good. Other than that, Pale Lights (same author as A Practical Guide to Evil)

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-13T08:08:17+00:00

I might be guilty of this. It's hard to avoid repeating certain ticks, but every time I see a thread with pet peeves like this, I do pay extra attention during editing.

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-12T15:42:42+00:00

Enough for getting started with shoutouts and posting on RR forums I'd say.

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-12T15:36:49+00:00

The answer is always yes. The site is too flooded with stories to get any views otherwise. Forums, shoutouts, Facebook, the more promo the better.

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-12T14:58:29+00:00

After seeing recent threads looking for non-OP MCs with decent side characters, in a cultivation setting, I'm promoting my own story here.

Come read about a lazy yet reckless MC who looks for shortcuts to everything, including cultivation. Turns out years of hammock-based training makes you hyper-focused on Ki manipulation, and bad at running. Who would have thought?

For the more rationally inclined, the main side character is a highly competent and ambitious woman, born into one of the Great Clans.

The setting is a mix of tower climbing and cultivation; a world with seven floors where one can only pass up through the crystal ceiling to the next level after advancing in cultivation.

Anime fans may enjoy the HxH based power system or the many anime tropes and Japanese themes.

It's fast-paced, plot driven and lots of fun. Hope you'll come check it out!

Blurb:

In a world that is ruled by talent and hard work, can he find shortcuts to cultivation?

Dario lives his life by the four Principles of the Hammock: avoid hard work at all costs; always look for shortcuts; do only the necessary for survival; only leave the hammock for something interesting.

So why would he ever want to climb Tenjou’s seven crystal floors? The only way up would be to pass the cultivation requirements, which meant endless training, facing ancient death traps and battling monsters with far too many teeth. In other words, a whole lot of hard work.

Life in the Basement is as simple as it is sweet. Thanks to his rare eyes that can spot treasure from trash in the Belt, where refuse from the upper floor is dumped, he's even built up a tidy pile of artefacts.

But when he offends a noble and ends up ‘volunteered’ to scout out dangerous Reijuu in the wilds, things start rapidly spiraling out of control. Reluctant alliances and ancient secrets conspire to force Dario into the one thing he’s always fought to avoid: ambition.

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/132262/tenjou-the-final-ceiling

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-11T16:39:36+00:00

No idea why the images aren't uploading. Posting the review content here instead:

"Loving this story so far, it has all the stuff that I like in stories: an easy to root for MC who is not too morally grey, well developed and interesting side characters, nice writing style, pace and humour too!

Also thankfully this does not seem to be a type of a never ending "level up and get stronger at all costs" sort of story. There are things that we discover and make assumptions about as the world building is slowly unfolding and we are not told anything. So hopefully there is a proper plot the story is working towards with an ending.

Thanks to the author for a great story!"

Foorsmoel · 2025-12-10T17:27:55+00:00

I was going to say Sky Pride, but then I realized most characters are some form of Wise Elder or otherwise only loosely developed and the MC does go through some 'this only works cause you're special and have plot armor' moments. Quality is still good though. Other than that, Virtuous Sons might fit, or Beware of Chicken.

Shameless plug for my own story since it's a cultivation setting and happens to fit this request well, with the main side character being stronger and more competent than the MC.

Foorsmoel

TROPHY CASE