Dear Regular Readers,

I know you’re out there. I see you in my stats. Not many of you comment, but that’s okay. People don’t like to comment – this is hardly news. Simply knowing you that enjoy my stuff enough to come back week after week keeps me writing. I really do treasure you all. 😀

But I’d like more readers (what writer wouldn’t). So, I want you all to do me a favour if you can. Help me find new readers, please. I advertise, and it helps but ads cost moolah. I can only afford so many. Word of mouth from people who like your stuff is even better.

There are multiple ways that you can do help with my new reader drive.

1. Do you have a blog or other web site? Mention/Link The Dragon Wars Saga on there, or drop me a comment or email and let me guest blog. An added benefit of this is that I’ll link to the post bringing you more traffic as well.
2. Do you have friends (both online and offline) who share your taste in fiction? Share this with them like you would a book. You’ll have someone to gossip with about the latest developments.
3. Vote on Top Web Fiction. You don’t have to register just click through and fill in the captcha to prove you’re human. And don’t forget if you vote you can ask any character a question. (For now, anyway, I’m going to be polling on potential other incentives soon).
4. Root out the tropes and post them at TV Tropes! But beware that site is addictive!
5. Write a review explaining why you like The Dragon Wars Saga on one of the Web Fiction Directories below:

• The Web Fiction Guide
• Muse’s Success

Yes, I know this one is a hard one for people, since these sites require registration and that’s a bit of a chore, but if you can manage it I’d be really grateful. Honest reviews are a great source of new traffic. Think of it like reviewing a book on Goodreads (if you’re on Goodreads).

Again, I really do treasure you all and if you can’t help spread the word, that’s okay, but I hope that you will. After all, we all like to share things we enjoy, don’t we?

Thanks for reading!
Becka

I’ve been through the user list and deleted the spam accounts. There were hundreds! It’s possible that I’ve deleted some legit users by mistake. If so, please accept my apologies and recreate your account. all the comments are still in place, so they haven’t been lost. 🙂

Becka

I’m trying to get nested comments to work with my theme, but it really doesn’t like it.

It’s a mess and I’m trying to work out how to fix it, but themes so called simple css framework is so unlike anything in the tutorials I find that I’m almost in tears.

*UPDATE* Comments fixed thanks to @Inventrix. Now, I’m playing around with my theme. Things may look a little odd till it’s sorted.

Hello Readers,

I don’t often address you directly unless it’s to inform you of news pertaining to the site (like the layout tweak earlier this week).

Perhaps I should. If you want more non-story communication please comment and tell me.

Anyway to the point of  this non-fiction interlude.

You’ve probably noticed the support section at the top of the sidebar and end of the story (when you click next after the current installment). Today I want to talk to you about just one of the things in the list:

Voting for Dragon Wars at Top Web Fiction

Most of the options for helping me spread the word (the review sites) require registration and I know this is off-putting to some people. Top Web Fiction requires no  registration. You just click the link, prove you’re human via a captcha and your vote is registered. Votes expire daily so you can vote every time you visit.

Why should you vote? Well, if you enjoy a book you recommend it to friends who share  your tastes don’t you? It’s similar thing. Voting is one way of spreading the word, and it’s free and easy.

And currently I’m trying out an incentive.

If you vote you’ll be redirected to a page where, twice a week, you can ask a question in comments. (Details are on the page in question – but obviously nothing spoilery). If I get a response I’ll start updating with answers a couple of  times a week.

Anyway here’s the voting link:

Vote For Dragon Wars at TWF!

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What else can you do to help spread the word?

Well, check out the top right corner for a list of suggestions. But if you don’t want to register at the directory sites to leave a review then the most obvious one is to  link to the story from your blog or website. Links are the glue of the Internet.

Thanks in advance for your support,

Becka

If the site looks a little weird at the moment, don’t worry. I’m tweaking the css and it may look a little out a line for a few minutes.

I’ve opened a topic in the forums where readers can discuss any wild speculation and theories they have about what’s going on.

Dragon Wars has received its first review on the Web Fiction Guide. While it’s not a full review (WFG editors are unpaid and overworked – they can’t read more than the first part while vetting) it’s fair, and it raised some points which other readers have raised on Twitter and similar.

Most importantly that the quads’ age isn’t obvious.

Anyway I’ve made a couple of edits to chapter 1 part 1 which should address this. Have a look and tell me what you think.

You’ve probably already seen it but the site now has a glorious header graphic courtesy of @irkdesu one of the authors of The Peacock King.

Isn’t it beautiful. 🙂

Yes, and we’re off. The first part of chapter one of Dragon Wars – Land of Myth has been posted! There’s no turning back now.

I will now retire to the corner and chew my finger nails.

I’m currently in the process of getting this website set-up to my satisfaction, and building up a buffer on the stories I intend to post.

Expect the first postings sometime in January 2010.