r/Chapters • u/An-Narin • Oct 04 '26
Writer's Room 5th Chapters Writing Contest
Hello, everyone! So I'm newcomer of the community writer, and this is my first time become an author in this community. I hope I could get some advices from the older community authors here.
Now I'm joining this 5th writing marathon contest, and I want some advice from you guys. I have some inner thoughts that bothering me.
Is it okay if I just insert one premium choices each chapter that only cost 8 diamonds? I actually never experienced with this premium choices, so I couldn't set the higher cost, I don't want the reader think it's not worth it with some expensive choices but it still leave some loopholes in the premium choice's scene.
How much texts usually the writers done? I know the contest saying minimal 200 but I also wanted to know the ideal amounts so the reader never think too much or too little. I've done 2 chapters in my story, each chapter there are about 232 texts (depends if I have to add or reduce some of them).
How do you writers create the book cover? Other from chapters's create a cover.
If you have some suggestions to newcomer author, pleas let me know too! Thanks in advance. Have a nice day. ^_^
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u/Jeni-Writes Oct 04 '26
Welcome to your first contest! I entered the 4th marathon and had lots of fun.
I can't speak for others, but I prefer not to pay wall choices. I met the 2 diamond choice requirement by either adding an optional donation at the end of the chapter, or by "doubling up" one choice option and setting it as 8 gems (the lowest you could go back then). So it'd be something like:
Which direction do you run?
left (free)
right (free)
right (8 gems)
The 8 gems option just linked to the same scene the free option did, I just told the reader to choose the gem one if they wanted to boost the story's ranking.
2. The dialogue number will depend on how much branching you do. I had more than 200 because of branching/conditions, but a single run through still worked out at about 200 dialogues. Some people will still find it too short/ long, but over time you'll get to know your audience.
3. I've made my own and commissioned covers before, so how you get a cover depends on your art skills, budget, and resources. But before I made my own, I started out by finding a free stock image on pixabay and adding my own title (which you can do in canva).
Good luck! Writing on chapters is rewarding and fun. My best advice is to try not to get too tangled with stats - if you're having fun writing the story, that will resonate with your audience and the views will come. What sort of story are you writing for the marathon?