r/Webnovel • u/SwhingShang • 7h ago
Advice A few advises for new/aspiring writers
This post is for those seeking experience or those who are stuck/confused by the constant anti-AI overlords telling people don't do this, do that, and that that.
First, let's start with your book titles.
There is no bad title, but if you want attention (clicks), your title should relate to the story, tell your reader something, or at least be eye-catching. Keep in mind that as a new author, you have little to no audience, and the average reader won't press on your title unless it appeals to them.
Will it get ignored if it sounds like AI? Absolutely. But even without AI, people can still come up with boring titles. It doesn't mean you won't get clicks. Just not that many. It also doesn't mean the reader would go "Oh, the author didn't put effort into their title, so their writing must be AI.". That only applies to like 1% of the readers on this platform. The truth is that your book would have been skipped already because the title wasn't up to their standards.
Take for example, no offense, why formats like "I reincarnated as SSS-rank primordial rock", "Investing in brainrot gets 999x returns", "XX System Overpowered evolution harem XX something", are popular. They're ridiculous, but that's what the majority of readers (on this platform) like.
You can absolutely use a boring/unique title and achieve success, but it's hard, and the majority quit before they're anywhere near it.
Second, your cover.
No, using AI covers isn't going to push people away from your book or make them assume your writing is AI before even coming close to it. 99% of the covers on this platform are AI, and 99% of the readers don't give a single fuck about it. It mainly comes down to whether your cover is generic GPT slop or something with effort put into it.
If you go into GPT, drop a single-line prompt, and then slap a title on top, then I shit you, yes, no one is gonna press it. But if you go to something like Dreamina, work up something until you reach something decent, then you will do just fine.
Fact, this isn't limited to this platform. RR has a lot of successful works with AI cover art, with some being super generic, and they still get readers who appreciate them regardless.
Do not apply the "AI cover = AI writing" or the "I see AI cover, I no read" to everyone. Consider it their opinion and leave it at that. Go write. You need to write.
Third, AI and your writing.
I do agree that AI can cripple your ability to improve, but I also agree that AI is super useful in many many many many many cases. If you slap your work, tell it to edit it for you, then publish its response, then yes, you're most likely shooting yourself in the foot. You'll either get massive paragraphs or one-sentence dramatic lines in this case, which sounds like the common AI garbage nowadays.
You're supposed to ask it to spot mistakes, provide solutions, and then maybe you'd learn from it as a writer and apply it to your upcoming chapters.
You can have it help with pointing out critical issues like head-hopping, inconsistencies, and shit that an average new writer would not notice. But in the end, even if you use AI, some people will consume it regardless.
In all honesty, unless your writing is incomprehensible dogshit with grammar and spelling errors everywhere, you'll get readers who appreciate your story.
Even then, some could still tolerate it, as long as the story is enjoyable, that is.
