Corty
A Blue Gremlin
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2022
- Messages
- 3,681
- Points
- 183
The old F.A.Q. is outdated. Still, you can check that too. Also, do you have a question that is not here? If you tag me, I will add it with any answer provided. Plus, don't forget to check out my other tutorial for the site and a collection of almost a hundred threads of writing tips from SH users, all right HERE!
Last update: 2025 March 03
- Do I need a cover for my story?
- No. But it is preferable. An eye-catching cover draws more clicks to your story than none or a badly cropped one.
- You can go and ask in the Artist-Request section for willing individuals. You can also register a free account on Canva or Adobe and use their web-based tools to create a free cover.
- And yes, you can use AI art.
- You can go and ask in the Artist-Request section for willing individuals. You can also register a free account on Canva or Adobe and use their web-based tools to create a free cover.
- No. But it is preferable. An eye-catching cover draws more clicks to your story than none or a badly cropped one.
- Long or short title?
- It depends on the person; there are no actual answers to this question. Everyone likes something different, and the trends change frequently. Just make it catchy, something you would also click to read.
- Synopsis... How? What? Who?
- A synopsis is just as important as a cover. It is the same as the snippets on a hardcover's back. It tells the reader what to expect, and it is one of the make-or-break points to catch a reader. Make it good; make it interesting. You can also add your notes at the end; just make sure you use some kind of separator or indicator. It helps weed out complainers.
- Tags? What are those?
- It helps your discoverability. Add as much as possible so people can find your book much more easily.
- When should I post the chapters? What time is the best time?
- There is no best time per se. My advice is simple: Pick a US-based time, e.g., 5 pm. Use a world clock, check your time zone with your chosen spot, and start scheduling chapters like that.
- Don't forget: your profile's time zone is the default. If 5 pm. US is 3 am. for you, then you must set the chapter to publish at 3 am!
- There is no best time per se. My advice is simple: Pick a US-based time, e.g., 5 pm. Use a world clock, check your time zone with your chosen spot, and start scheduling chapters like that.
- How long should my chapter be?
- Minimum of 1,000 words is a universal advice. Anything below that is too short. People tend to say that it also depends on how frequently you post. If you are below 3 chapters a week, they tend to say 3,000 words would be better. Honestly? There is no bad or good answer to this; write as many as you feel comfortable with, but aim to be above 1,000 words at minimum.
- My personal preference is 2,000 words per chapter. After years of writing, I found it to be the sweet spot.
- Minimum of 1,000 words is a universal advice. Anything below that is too short. People tend to say that it also depends on how frequently you post. If you are below 3 chapters a week, they tend to say 3,000 words would be better. Honestly? There is no bad or good answer to this; write as many as you feel comfortable with, but aim to be above 1,000 words at minimum.
- What genre gets the most clicks?
- Site dependent. On SH, I'd say fantasy gets the most clicks. Horror, on the other hand, gets the least. (In my experience.)
- There is no gaming the system; you can write in the most popular genre to raise the chances of drawing in clicks, but that still requires a good story.
- Site dependent. On SH, I'd say fantasy gets the most clicks. Horror, on the other hand, gets the least. (In my experience.)
- Can I use AI assistance?
- You can, but it depends on what you mean by that. AI-written novels are not something anyone wants to read, really. As for using AI to help correct your grammar? I think most people won't have issues with that. Not everyone is a native English speaker, after all.
- Just don't let AI rewrite everything because AI and most grammar-checking tools tend to oversimplify, killing your own style and making every text read the same. The two most suggested grammar tools I saw here are ProWritingAid & Grammarly. I also use the latter, but the premium version.
- You can, but it depends on what you mean by that. AI-written novels are not something anyone wants to read, really. As for using AI to help correct your grammar? I think most people won't have issues with that. Not everyone is a native English speaker, after all.
- What POV should I use? Third person? First person?
- Whatever you feel is easier to write. In the third person, you have the benefit of detailing the world and being the narrator, which is also maybe why it is considered a bit harder. You need to find a balance between character dialogue and exposition in a way that doesn't deter the readers. In the first person, you have the benefit of writing out the MC's thoughts and showing emotions and feelings much more easily.
- There is no better variant. Both have pros and cons. Choose whichever is easier for you to pull off. Just don't jump between multiple character POVs without warning or indications, it ruins the reading experience.
- Whatever you feel is easier to write. In the third person, you have the benefit of detailing the world and being the narrator, which is also maybe why it is considered a bit harder. You need to find a balance between character dialogue and exposition in a way that doesn't deter the readers. In the first person, you have the benefit of writing out the MC's thoughts and showing emotions and feelings much more easily.
- Translations?
- Yes, with a caveat. SH allows you to host your translation here, but it must be clear it is a translation. Then, it will be hidden from view and can only be accessed by you, yourself, linking them to your readers. It won't show up on the front page, nor can it be indexed via the search bar.
- Don't be sneaky about it. Me and many others if we see a translation, we immediately report it. It is against the rules to not disclose it.
- Yes, with a caveat. SH allows you to host your translation here, but it must be clear it is a translation. Then, it will be hidden from view and can only be accessed by you, yourself, linking them to your readers. It won't show up on the front page, nor can it be indexed via the search bar.
- Fanfics or originals?
- Preference. Many start out with fanfics because it is easier, you don't need to create a new world.
- I prefer originals, but I also wrote fanfics myself, so... whichever rustles your imagination, I guess.
- Preference. Many start out with fanfics because it is easier, you don't need to create a new world.
- Smut? Is it really the cheat code for all my problems?
- No.
- Read more HERE
- No.
- My book is not appearing! Whyyyyy?!?!!?4?!
- Submissions need to be reviewed first. This can take up to 48 hours.
- If your submission is not approved after 72 hours, you can ask for help in the Bug Reports section.
- Post your thread with your novel, its title and preferably with a link to it.
- If your submission is not approved after 72 hours, you can ask for help in the Bug Reports section.
- Submissions need to be reviewed first. This can take up to 48 hours.
- How can I get to trending?
- The algorithm that calculates is unknown to us, and that is by design to reduce the chance of others gaming the system. I have my theories, as many others, but that is speculation. We don't know. That's it.
- My best advice is to keep posting consistently.
- The algorithm that calculates is unknown to us, and that is by design to reduce the chance of others gaming the system. I have my theories, as many others, but that is speculation. We don't know. That's it.
- How many chapters should I start with?
- My personal advice is to at least give 5 chapters for a start. Many users won't begin reading anything that hasn't got any good binge material anyway. I usually saw my stories starting to pick up speed after I passed over 50 or 60 chapters.
- Can I moderate my stories?
- Yes, you can. You have the privilege, as the author, to pin, spoiler, or delete comments under your stories. Not the reviews, though.
- If you feel that a review is more of an attack, then you can report it, and it will be manually reviewed.
- CRITICISM IS NOT AN ATTACK. Keep that in mind. Different opinions aren't either.
- If you feel that a review is more of an attack, then you can report it, and it will be manually reviewed.
- Yes, you can. You have the privilege, as the author, to pin, spoiler, or delete comments under your stories. Not the reviews, though.
- I got a 1-star rating out of the blue...
- It happens to everyone. You will get used to it. You can vent here if you want, but it is part of the game.
- For me, the clean 5-star stories are usually the telling sign that they are yet to be noticed by readers.
- It happens to everyone. You will get used to it. You can vent here if you want, but it is part of the game.
- How do I get people to comment?
- Tricky. Most readers are silent, which makes up 95%+ of the readers. My best advice is for you to leave author notes at the end of the chapters, trying to initiate discussion or just meme around a little.
- Don't expect comments right away; only if you have at least 200+ readers. That is big enough to start fishing for comments.
- Tricky. Most readers are silent, which makes up 95%+ of the readers. My best advice is for you to leave author notes at the end of the chapters, trying to initiate discussion or just meme around a little.
- Is there an app for SH?
- No official ones exist as of yet.
- Can I monetize my story? How?
- You can add links to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and Subscribe Star on your profile. As for how to start monetizing... Tricky.
- My personal advice is to wait at least until you have a minimum of 100 profile followers and at least 1,000 readers. You need a base from which to start building. Then, create a Patreon, which is the most used platform, and start offering advanced chapters. It is up to you how to price it, but be reasonable. Lastly, you can begin advertising your patreon in the author notes at the end of chapters and cliffhangers.
- You can add links to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and Subscribe Star on your profile. As for how to start monetizing... Tricky.
- My first chapter has the most views, and after it, the count drops off sharply. What am I doing wrong?
- It is a perfectly normal phenomenon. Most viewers check out the first, maybe the second, chapter before deciding to stick around. So, the introduction always gets the most clicks, many times twice as much as the second chapter, which also gets twice as much as the third, and so on and so on. You are only doing something wrong if there is not a gradual stabilization, meaning your later chapters hover around the same views +/- 10%.
- How do I block a user who disabled their profile?
- On the main site, click on your account, go to Account Settings, and then click on the last tab, Users Blocked. On the bottom you need to type in the username manually and click "block user." That is all.
- What are your credentials for your answers to have any merit?
- I am from Alpha Centauri; that's all you should know.
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