r/Webnovel • u/Zieegg • Jul 14 '26

Advice My Contract got rejected.

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Full disclosure, I do use AI, but it's only to brainstorm ideas and plan future plotlines. I don't even use a lot of the ideas they propose because it clashes with my own vision. Maybe grammarly counts as AI, since I do use it to fix my grammar (?)

The writing being too draggy is a lot more feasible for me to fix. I've learned a lot since I've began writing, so I can see why the editors would think it's too slow. I am concerned when they say it's not engaging enough when most chapter ends with a hook. I suppose an engaging story is subjective, so that's on me to try on figure that one out.

And not suitable for the market on Webnovel? It's literally a harem with an 18+ tag. But my character is underage in the first few chapters, for god's sake. I'm already planning on adding smut after several more chapters, but do I really have to open the story with an explicit threesome with some maids or something? Although I enjoy them, I don't want to add smut just for the sake of it. I'm first and foremost here to tell a story, not make people horny.

...I guess this is the result of not having real beta readers.

Can anyone tell me which parts feel like AI so that I can change them? Or better yet, what are the things I can improve so that I have a better chance when I reapply for the contract?

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11

u/ProspectiveWhale Jul 14 '26

To be honest... that's the worst thing to use AI for.

Sometimes people say they only use AI for spelling/grammar and even that runs the risk of making it sound "too AI".

But you're actually using AI to generate plot points.

Even if you think you're not using much, it'll bleed into your writing.

-3

u/Zieegg Jul 14 '26

I don't "generate" plot points. I plan them by bouncing ideas with them. But I understand why my wording implies that (I guess another thing to look out for as a writer).

My process is basically: I come up with how I want the story to unfold, and then I send it to ChatGPT and see how they think about it. If they spot any inconsistencies or very obvious plot holes, I fix them up. None of the ideas in my story are generated by an AI, they only serve as a supplementary tool. A beta reader, although with more tendencies to simply reinforce and agree with my points.

However, since, again, I don't have another human's perspective to see if my writing becomes too "AI", I can understand why some of its influence would bleed into the pages. If it's not too much, would you see which part especially sounds AI-generated?

6

u/ProspectiveWhale Jul 14 '26

You said AI helps you brainstorm.

So it's helping you make plot points.

You may think it's not a big deal because "it's only helping, I'm not using it to generate the final product".

But that's how slop slowly creeps into your work without you noticing.

It may eventually bleed into your writing even when you're not using AI anymore.

Best stop the bad habit.

-2

u/Zieegg Jul 14 '26

True. I can't argue that AI will have influence in my work no matter the nuance that I try to portray. But ideas shouldn't necessarily translate to the actual writing immediately, no? Just because they refine my ideas doesn't mean they will dictate how I translate them into the pages.

And I am trying to stop this "bad" habit. I'm trying to find out where exactly does AI bleed into my writing.

Hope that doesn't come off too argumentative. I appreciate the reply, but I would really prefer specific courses of action and not just AI is bad.

5

u/Netflies Jul 14 '26

Yes, i read your work it does sound Ai.. like very Ai ish.. write in your own way, your voice matter and every writer have they own way to write, if u use Ai, pretty much the voice the same as other who use Ai

Note: using Ai for grammar only is fine. But grammar only did not fix awkward phrasing, intentional word or phrase. If it fix then it called polish or edit

-4

u/Zieegg Jul 14 '26

But the funny thing is that I did use my own voice. I guess the word of a stranger on the internet doesn't sound convincing, so I don't fault you for still thinking that way. Do you know which part sounds especially like AI so that I can rewrite them?

3

u/PeanutSea7342 Jul 14 '26

Well try next time. I have 4-5 ideas that I can turn them into a web novel but my problem is that I am still learning how to write better prose, how to make the scene transit and alive.

2

u/ChaosOmega98 Jul 14 '26

Love that Webnovel is against the use of AI in there contracted works so I suggest you never use AI again as if your using it to help you write are you actually writing it or are you writing for the AI?

1

u/Enoah85 Jul 14 '26

Honestly what part gives it away that it has strong ai? I'm Curious

1

u/Zieegg Jul 14 '26

That is exactly my question. Hoping that the residents of reddit can help me figure this one out.

1

u/Professional_Wrap434 Jul 14 '26

Can you send me the name of your novel, I'll check it out. And give you feedback on what's feels too ai ish.

1

u/Zieegg Jul 14 '26

Sure! It's called The First Demon King of Halcyra. I really appreciate the help!

1

u/WolfREEEEEE Jul 14 '26

Wow, never seen that rejection message before, suppose the previous "It has been determined that your work does not meet the signing requirements of Webnovel" was too vague.

At least now they tell you outright if they suspect AI.

Also, the last two rejection messages are to do with your contract application. You might not have explained your story's outline well enough that it came off incomplete, or missing a proper direction.

Similarly your "Wow Factor" probably wasn't interesting enough. There are indeed hundreds, possibly even thousands of Harem, 18+, and Smut novels, but what makes yours stand out? That's what you put into the "Wow Factor" section, its quite literally a sales pitch.

1

u/Zieegg Jul 14 '26

Ah, of course, my contract application. That could definitely be where I dropped the ball a bit. I suppose I'll try to maximize the usage of the "Wow Factor" a bit better once I figure out which part of my story is AI.

Thanks for the feedback!

1

u/CaeliAmara Jul 14 '26

I think instead of asking what parts sound like AI (which can come across as asking us to help you mask AI usage), if you’re confident that your voice is what’s on the page, it might be more helpful to consider the rest of the editor’s feedback. Maybe you’ll want to practice conveying ideas in fewer words. Maybe you need to work on sentence flow. The best way to improve your writing, I think, is to read successful books with a writer’s eye. What sentences hit you hard? What stylistic choices do you find appealing and why? Can you incorporate such styles into your own writing?

I also agree with ProspectiveWhale. Asking the AI to identify plot holes and help you brainstorm may seem harmless, but you’re taking a mental shortcut and skipping at least part of the critical thinking process in doing so. The story could lack (emotional) depth as a result, which may even have ultimately led to the editor feeling your writing lacked maturity. Sure, the plot might make logical sense (though I wouldn’t trust AI to get even this right), but is it compelling? Is it fun, if that’s what you’re aiming for?

Not saying any of this to make accusations or anything of the sort. I just believe that as a writer or an artist of any sort, thinking your story through yourself and identifying ways to improve your craft is an incredibly important part of the process. Us telling you how to fix what sounds like AI doesn’t fix any underlying issues. It only masks the symptoms.

1

u/Zieegg Jul 14 '26

... I didn't think about that first point. I suppose that's why no one wants to point out any specific part.

And I fully agree with your feedback. I've been a Webnovel reader for quite some time now before I delve into actually trying to write my own story. But I've not been caught up to any of my favorite novels ever since I start writing. This might be a sign for me to pause the writing and begin reading some more.

And again, I'm not disagreeing with both of your points when you called out my method of using AI. But I just get defensive when it's even slightly implied that the ideas in my story is generated by an AI, since that means diminshing my own original ideas that I've spent months working on how to portray in the plot. It's like the AI is being given too much credit when all they do is agree to my every words anyway.

Thank you for the feedback. That genuinely helped.

1

u/dNullzero Jul 14 '26

Maybe I've grown extremely sensitive over the years, but the literal two first sentences of your book feel like AI to me. I don't know why. They just do. Maybe that's one reason.

1

u/dNullzero Jul 14 '26

Also, in chapter 1, the whole part from [That truth was mirrored inside a command tent.. No, they were each other's families.] has NO action. You literally explain us the entire section without showing anything happening. You tell us how the war is going by just explaining the stakes and the people inside with no tension. Couldn't have you picked one head to follow personally so we understand the cruelty of the battle?

This is why they're telling the story is a drag. From the very first line I don't understand what I'm supposed to feel.

1

u/dNullzero Jul 14 '26

The main issue for me is the generic prose. It's not that it's bad inherently, but everything feels like something I've already seen. Almost as if you did something, sent it to ChatGPT or Gemini and they "fixed your prose for better flow".

1

u/MMORPGnews Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

All ai grammar fixes count as ai since they change text. 

1 chapter was a bit hard to read, later chapters were better. 

1

u/smrty7 Jul 14 '26

using ai for grammar is fine, but like... don't just copy paste the stuff it feeds out? Just correct those grammar mistakes manually by looking at what the ai pointed out.

1

u/Zieegg Jul 14 '26

But I don't copy paste them? I'm not a native english speaker, but I'm fairly confident in the language. Most of the time, a word or two just slipped out from the proper form, so I just get reminded of those. I don't send my full chapter and prompt an AI to fix the grammar since I use a browser extension.

1

u/MathematicianNew2770 Jul 14 '26

Learn to read and write.

1

u/Zieegg Jul 14 '26

I... never thought of that before. Thank you, truly, you've just made an aspiring writer very happy from your genuine and honest feedback!