Making your Story Popular

Someone on fanfic.net recently mentioned one of these points in their review of my fanfic (Path of Blades). They talked about the summary of my fanfic and the fact that it wasn't an eyecatching summary, making it more likely for people to pass it off as nothing. While I'm not too fussed by having loads of people read my story, I certainly agree that a short summary can be helpful to attract readers and let them know that you at least have a plan for a storyline and what to expect.

 

I agree with everything atop Although I can't give much tips though (pfft, I like suck at this writing thing :/) I'm always trying to improve my summaries and I proofread everything every single day. I'm not one for promoting my stories or anything but in a way, that'll probably get people to view them more often :/

As a reader of said fanfics, I look for original ideas that are written well, but I also like cliches I like a variety of writing styles - bubbly, sombre, prose; something that flows really well. Sometimes I do overlook spelling mistakes since some people have betas but readers would most likely prefer good grammar. Stories with plot twists are also memorable, and a piece that target's a reader's emotion. THEM FEELS BRO.

I dunno lol. (Cherrim is not a good advice giver, being an amateur herself x'D)

 

Well, i don't get reviews too often, but by looking at number viewing my stories on fanfiction.net, i get a decent number of readers. I Stink at summaries, but a couple things really encourage readers/reviewers.
1. Saying in summary you accept OC's. My first reviewer reviewed asking for an OC.
2. Reviews, if people see reviews, then they check them. If they're positive, it increases chances of reading.
3. Once you have some readers of one story (lets say because of OC's), who enjoy it, they are likely to read your other work if you mention it in an author's note on the more popular story.
4. As mentioned, review other's stories. All my reviewing readers but 1 or two, read mine Because i reviewed theirs, or the author of one they read advertised mine, Because we like each others work.
Wow, that was more than i thought i had. Hope they made sense.

 

i am not a popular writer. So I really cannot share experience with everyone about writing a popular story. But what draws me is the summery. I have read some stories with premises that had the potential to be amazing, but are very poorly written and/or the characters are OOC.

The most popular story I ever written was called "The Many Deaths of Various FMA Characters." The premise was simple: The reader would request for a character to be killed a certain way and I'd oblige, no character was safe.
I'd admit that it wasn't my best work and I deleted it, but stories that take requests like that are very popular.

 

I can most certainly relate to these issues. I am trying desperately to gain more reviews as a writer, but I do not seem to be having much luck with it. However I have noticed from the few people who do review my story (Thank you by the way) that while your plot and summary make a key difference in the success of your story, you need to put time and effort into the realness and relatability of your characters. If your characters seem to be too unrealistic and "perfect" or remain static through the story then people will start to lose interest.

Here are my tips to keep a character dynamic. I will also give examples from my book. Pokémon: the Untold Story of Arc.
1. Give them fears and reasons why they fear it. (My character Arc is terrified of Lavender Town. reason unknown for now.)

2. Make them lose every once in a while, even if they are the hero of the story. (Arc has had several crushing defeats and upsets as a trainer)

3 Give them the chance to learn. they cant know everything. (Learning a new battle technique to face a gym battle.)

4. Surprise your readers with a hidden fact about them. (One of my Characters was secretly a contest coordinator.)

5. Develop bonds and relationships between characters and bbetween characters and readers (I've had several "threatening" reviews about how my character better not release his Butterfree.)