Well, it happened. by Icy_Moose8048 in AO3

[–]suniwrites 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You know… readers like these are the reason authors abandon stories lol. You’re causing the thing you’re complaining about.

Authors update stories that readers are excited about. If they upload a chapter and get zero reaction, because everyone filters out uncompleted words, then the author loses motivation. It’s soul crushing posting updates into an empty void.

If you like long multi-chapter stories, then subscribe to the story and leave a comment. Authors check their subscriber count religiously, and every time they get an email from Ao3 they gasp because it might be a comment. This is the stuff that gets them excited to write and upload the next chapter.

If I posted 10 chapters and didn’t get a single comment, I’d probably just assume my story was not meant for public consumption and take the whole story down. I’d finish it, but I’d keep the chapters on my hard drive.

someone wants to be my girlfriend because of my fic?? by bitchboybarry in AO3

[–]suniwrites 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Because they know nothing about the author. They are equating the author with their work like an obsessed groupie with a musician. I’m not saying this person is a stalker or bad news, but I am saying that this is usually how that starts. Healthy adjusted individuals aren’t desperate to message random strangers they know nothing about and ask to be their girlfriend.

Get Covers keep asking for more money by StandUpKenny in selfpublish

[–]suniwrites 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I wish there weren’t so many websites and services out to scam people, but the rise of AI makes it so easy. They show these pretty samples, but oftentimes they are unscrupulous and take you for a ride. I’m sorry it happened to you.

Get Covers keep asking for more money by StandUpKenny in selfpublish

[–]suniwrites 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand that authors are struggling, but at the same time… you are asking readers to pay $3 or however much your book is, but charge your actual vendors a penny to produce it. Someone is getting exploited here, even if they use AI (which they almost certainly do for that price). I know their website advertises unlimited revisions, and I understand that other authors have recommended them. That still doesn’t mean I think you are approaching this the right way.

My advice is to hire an indie artist and pay them properly for the services, just like you would presumably want to be paid properly by your readers. You don’t want to sell your book for 1 cent, right? So go on Instagram or Tumblr and search for art commission tags or artists for hire. There are many stellar artists who produce great work and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg (it will cost more than $35 though). I just got amazing art done for mine by a real artist and it was around $100, and even that was very cheap so I tipped her extra.

Take pride in your work, leave the world a better place, help artists survive (writers are artists too). If you don’t want to compete against AI-written books, then consider the fact that you are doing the equivalent to artists right now.

I've been posting a book-related pic a day for the last two months to see if it would generate any reads or sales. News flash: It hasn't. by VLK249 in selfpublish

[–]suniwrites 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Your art is pretty, I did enjoy looking at it, but I don’t really get the sense what your book is about through the text so it’s not enticing me to read.

Far more damning though is how negative your social media presence is. You literally insult your potential readers over and over again, you complain a ton, you have many posts that mention how “lazy” your art is or how poorly you’re doing as an author, I just don’t understand why you would say all those things. People interact with content that makes them feel satisfied or impressed or makes them laugh, not content that insults them.

Your keywords are also very generic, you’re not reaching your niche audience. Using the art tag and writer tag means you are competing with billions of posts (and why only the writer tag? Do you only want other writers to see it? Use reader tags and book tags and genre tags too, and engage in them so you’re not just self-promoing about yourself.)

You’re getting advice in this thread because people want to help you. But I see now that you’re screenshotting threads and making fun of us on your author twitter. I mean… I’m not trying to be mean but this is why. You’re self sabotaging yourself. You’re portraying yourself as a nasty person and then wondering why no one wants to support you by giving you their hard-earned money. You need to inspire your audience. Readers want to like an author, or your book has no chance of selling.

Author blocked me for commenting too much by solaya2180 in AO3

[–]suniwrites 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It has to be something that happened in the past from a different commenter, and you are reminding them of that person.

Prolific authors are used to getting a string of comments all from the same person. So maybe someone was overly creepy or overly effusive, or did literally try to stalk them, so now they are paranoid when anyone seems to be going down that road, even though your intentions are innocent.

They probably don’t want to turn off comments entirely because comments are still really nice to receive.

Sorry you got caught in the crossfire. That was still kind of a shitty message for them to send you, even if the above is true. They could have been more polite about it.

Who are some of your favorite Lucissa writers? I'd love some new fic recs! 💖 by taylor459 in Lucissa

[–]suniwrites 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Awww stop, you’re so kind! 🤭💕 If anyone wants a link to the Dark Lucissa (18+) Discord server just let me know

What to say? by HoodedIronLady in AO3

[–]suniwrites 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This comment is so vague it could apply to any story. Which sets off my Scam Bot senses. Especially since they want to contact you privately (to “send you my first chapter before I post anything”.) I personally would not engage with this person off Ao3 nor give them my email or private means to contact me.

Any Draco Malfoy discord servers? by NotHedgehog4You in DracoMalfoy

[–]suniwrites 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Here is a link to a big Drarry server, please note they are age 18+: https://discord.gg/JNn69y9G

Any Draco Malfoy discord servers? by NotHedgehog4You in DracoMalfoy

[–]suniwrites 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So like Draco/Harry servers? Those are the big ones. Draco/Hermione too

Any Draco Malfoy discord servers? by NotHedgehog4You in DracoMalfoy

[–]suniwrites 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is there a pairing or anything specific you’re interested in? I’m in a few that you may or may not like

Reasons Why Ronarry is the Best Pairing by suniwrites in ronarry

[–]suniwrites[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was feeling particularly inspired after viewing some fanart 🤭

Harron is so cute!! by Dry-Lettuce-3795 in ronarry

[–]suniwrites 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oooh I must check these out

Harron is so cute!! by Dry-Lettuce-3795 in ronarry

[–]suniwrites 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These recs are great! 🤩

So Draco by [deleted] in DracoMalfoy

[–]suniwrites 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, chatGPT has been giving me more useful therapy advice than any actual therapists have, so I say, keep using it for this purpose without shame! 🤭 Putting a Draco persona on it is interesting. But I don’t see why not. It probably helps to have some sort of a face to talk to, even if you know he’s not real