I've been wondering to why some bl novels are famous like TGCF, MDZS (mostly by the same author) or Priest's novels that been adapted to TV series and some just buried in the dark even tho the plot lines and everything are good or on pair with the ones I've mentioned? Like those are fairly similar to each other other but receive relatively less popularity? So, i came into a conclusion and in a form of question like this; what made a novel popular?
Same thing that makes everything else popular, word of mouth. Though if people recommend it, it is most likely good. This doesn't mean that lesser ones are not just as good or better, they are just lesser known.
I want to know as well... But one reason I can think of is the existence of an extensive fandom for the series. When the contents are not limited to only the original series, then people would linger, and attracting more people to come. The popularity snowballs.
Yeah, and not all series will have that opportunities. But what creates that opportunity in the first place? Idk And probably because MXTX's works particularly give the readers a kind of feeling like "I want to see more of them!!" that not every story can do. So like-minded fans gather and starts attracting more attention
Btw I also have read a few MDZS fanfictions but never read the book itself. I just want to join in the fun, being in a fandom is fun
In my experience word of mouth does it. People create fandoms, recommend it and post about it. This makes people interested and read it, then the cycle continues growing the fanbase and popularity. An example of the is BTS. I don't particularly like them, nor is there anything unique about them. However they managed to amass a following. I'm not saying they are bad, their music is good but there is a lot of kpop that is just as good or better. That's why are lot of famous people say luck has a big part to play. So these series are good and were lucky enough to gain attention.
Social media. As for authors like MXTX and Priest, their novels got popular adaptations (the Guardian live action was HUGE, and so was the Founder of Diabolism donghua). Why do you think Japanese publishers of light novels bankroll their anime adaptations? They are adverts for the source material!
I mean, MXTX & Priest's works lend fame to their other works. So that might be part of it? Like MXTX has 3 good novels and they all help each other gain more fame and can all be marketed together!
1. easy to read, + what people were looking for, hits people's spots A devoted lover, strong MC, beautiful settings, reincarnations, etc etc. Not a difficult subject or really heavy so people can read them and feel good everyday. It's way easier for me to read MXTX's novels than Priests, beside that Priests's works are more poetic and complicated, MXTX has familiar tropes I've seen somewhere else. You think like this, Boba is really popular, it's a very simple recipe, everyone knows what it tastes like and easy to carry around. Popular novels are like this. One novel has overwhelming and consistent positive reviews, the other has conflicting reviews highlighting different negative points or difficult subjects, which will you read? people would easily choose to buy a boba than sit in a stall waiting for sago shaved ice with black tapai and tropical fruits they don't usually eat. 2. Familiarity/presence These authors have at least one really popular breakout novel, their other novels are not lower in quality, their updates are consistent and bulky, their novels are stimulate artists -> social media presence -> more people exposed to it -> more people read it -> fanbase grows The more these authors write, the bigger the fanbase grows. 3. Something special Familiar, but needs that special OOOMPH to push it to be extraordinary otherwise, there's no reason to favor it over all the other novels For example, MXTX again because i'm familiar with her works, Scum villain has: Spoiler: novel detail MC who is not a holy mother who senselessly pamper villain then turn back to the audience being like, whaT??? why did he changE????! when!?!? Why is he so enamored with me now?????! ML POV is not clearly leaked to readers, leaving us to read his actions other characters are not instantly/automatically gay just because of the genre. you can ship them, but they are not canonly gay. hidden and unusual backstories for the villains (which I heard was plagiarised, too bad.) The original author also transmigrated, and for no narrative purpose, he's just there, hanging. This special something, it's different enough to make people talk about it, but not so drastic that people are turned off. A little spice makes something genius. Too much spice and it's insane.
oh i heard! and yes i've also read Scum villain and i didn't that plagiarize part as you know, every single one of those theme with villain become the main character actually got similar plot with the tragedy and all back stories. And because it's so similar to other system novels and stuff that i've been wondering why only this one got famous and not the other even when the content was almost similar to each other.