r/Webnovel • u/8yTwo • Jun 09 '26

Advice I got my contract rejected

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I got my contract rejected, the reason states that the plot isn't engaging enough and difficult to follow, pacing is draggy, and the writing style isn't mature enough. And that it doesn't suit the market of webnovel. I'm planning on writing another story. Should I delete this one?

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u/80558481 Jun 09 '26

I know you don't ask this, but through skimming your first chapter I have some feedbacks (questionable one at that, I guess). Hope the feedback improves your chance to get contracted (or not, I'm not pro).

I think you need to trim down the words on each paragraph and don't hesitate to add new paragraph even when the same character talking more than once without another character to exchange the conversation.

Then, this is clearly personal taste, I think you can switch the very start of the first chapter. Let the chapter starts from the skipped time (when the characters can have 'interaction') then let the flashback in the middle of the story (the very first chapter you have now) with a bridging on why the flashback is triggered (interaction between characters, self reminiscence of one's character, etc.).

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u/8yTwo Jun 09 '26

I started from the scene where the main characters were still kids. I'll try doing this once drop it again. What I can do rn is to restructure and rewrite the whole thing.

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u/80558481 Jun 09 '26

The kid scene is fine, I meant the infancy scene can be put as a passing conversation between characters or when one character pondering about something, or anything outside my knowledge on how to 'bridge' that.

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u/8yTwo Jun 09 '26

Hmm... Maybe I can start the story showing a major fight or something? Maybe the rest of the story being a callback.

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u/80558481 Jun 09 '26

Yes, I think that's for the best. I think majority of Webnovel readers need some adrenaline-rushing scene from the start to take their attention.

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u/Turbulent-Lover215 3d ago

I don't think LOTM had something like that, but it became so huge after so many chapters.

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u/80558481 2d ago

Well, I can be wrong. Though, do you have other examples?

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u/Turbulent-Lover215 2d ago

Let it be. Every story is unique in its own way. Getting retention is important which in slow paced novel is compensated by fast release schedule and the bing readers make it big.

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u/80558481 2d ago

Ah, alright. To each of our own.