How To Make A Viral Book (Feat. 2ToRamble) | Fantasy Fangirls Podcast

[@2ToRamble]

What a fun time - thanks for having us!!

[@fantasyfangirls]

It was such a blast! Thank you for joining us!

[@supermayo8a]

This is awesome!

[@dylanbeazer2506]

Coming here from 2toRamble to make sure the Way of Kings crossover happens. Lexi is going to love the lore!

[@ohrnhuh]

Coming from a long time fan of 2toramble i feel like all of you don't get the recognition you guys deserve. Fantasy fangirls included. Both of your set ups, the camera, lights, and quality of videos and unqiue personalitys are amazing

[@fieryblaze22]

This is the best collab ever

[@SavinFallout]

If y'all end up doing a video on Mistborn, Stormlight or Warbreaker I'm locked in. I recently was forced into starting Fourth Wing so far so good

[@orcishdad8075]

Been watching these handsome young men for a while now and got introduced to you guys today! Love your content!

[@Art-Of-Ghost]

Coming from 2toRamble this feels so stuctured. It is like you followed some notes!

[@fantasyfangirls]

So glad you're here! Austin and Richard are the best :)

[@paolaf2612]

it's so refreshing to have guests and hear other themes apart from the deep dives🙌🏽 this was such a fun episode to listen! going to the 2toramble podcast to defend fourth wing with you girls hahahah💗

[@yenyhenriquez54]

I loved this episode. Guys were super respectful and so were you guys ! Super fun time 🤗 and thank you for not spoiling books for us!

[@N.A.Summur]

I think the "artificial division" would be one of the 3 ingredients. People love being able to make a choice that places them in a place that seems personal to them. Houses, Courts, Knights Radiant. So many examples.

[@stephenlogsdon8266]

My three things: 1. The heroic moment(s) that put characters in positions of endorphin kicking emotion (love, outrage, and “holy shit that didn’t just happen” did it? Damn!). 2. New and interesting twists to tropes (since it is rare for someone to invent a new and cool trope). 3. Lovable and hatable complex characters that you can live vicariously through (I think the morally grey character is pretty good, these days those characters are become more and more, not black, but … its hard to explain … really, almost totally and irredeemably flawed but they want to be good). 4. World building that enthralls, that invites the reader into it with that feeling of comfort, that feeling of place. 5. Great prose that doesn’t leave the reader stumbling over strange words or names, that flows and encourages emotion and that sense of place. 6. Tension, but the right kind (cannot stand a character doing stupid shit, unless the payoff is great). 7. Opaque foreshadowing, those Easter eggs you speak about and the theories they inspire. 8. Less-is-more, in playing with the anticipation of something great about to happen, and then not quite delivering, playing with the audience. 9. Cliff hangers, which I hate if you’ve done all the above great (since I’ll read your damned story already, I don’t what to sit and wait for chapters for you to return!), but I do use them in my writing. 10. The payoff is great. At the end of the book, and all throughout the book as a whole. 11. A mystery worth solving, bringing justice to a wrong. 12. Stakes that matter. I guess that was more than 3.

[@marliscan]

❤ I loved this so much, what a fantastic show. Now im gonna go look those guys up. This was fun!!!

[@ethantanzillo6846]

I'm actually the opposite! I came from their video, I am gonna go watch fantasy fangirls! This was an awesome collab (so was the one on 2toramble's podcast!)!

[@aldan7812]

How did i not know about this channel - subbed. Great chat!

[@Nikki-bo8to]

This was such a good discussion!! I’m not even the most diehard fantasy person but I love these guys!!

[@ChaseHopkins.]

Words of Radiance is not only my favorite fantasy book but my favorite book in general.

[@RaiBowyn]

That was amazing, informative and a delight to watch! Oh my goodness you are all criminally underrated and how does this not have waaay more views? I learnt a whole lot and you guys came up with some incredible and genius qualities. Keep being awesome!!

[@johnny073189]

Please collab more often! This group is great!

[@suvideiann9227]

What a great episode, came here straight after watching the 2ToRamble episode! 😊🫶🏻

[@fantasyfangirls]

We're so glad you're here! :)

[@ZkL92]

ah yes the mcdonalds cheeseburger of books

[@pvxxlife06]

(Not finished yet so you may cover this too). I think the fear of being spoiled is what bumps a book up my TBR. If a book is getting so popular that I am afraid of accidentally stumbling across details while scrolling the interwebs, I will absolutely read that booo immediately.

[@8Makes1]

I think another thing that makes a book viral is how the publishers market the book. I work at a book store and had a customer come to my register with Fourth Wing about a month before it blew up on Tik Tok. I had no idea what it was about but I saw the sprayed edges and the dragons on the cover and said "I must have one!!!". So I bought it. And then read it...and then immediately reread it. I never would have given it a second glance if it weren't for the cover and sprayed edges. (Though I have gripes about publishers now doing sprayed edges for all new releases, but that's an irritant for another day.)

[@stephenlogsdon8266]

I came to you because of 2ToRamble, not that I’m overall fan of them, but because I’m curious about what makes a book viral. Specifically Fourth Wing. I’m an author (aspiring) with 4 books written, that 4th being epic fantasy, that’s just been edited and is headed for proofing, and I’m really interested as to why Fourth Wing is what it is. With over 230,000 reviews, it is insane. I purchased the e-book, and expensive purchase for an ebook at 14.99 (I noticed the audio of it is separate into 2 parts - and its not because its long), because I’m intensely interested in how it was done. And while I think you hit on it, because of some formula being the reason, a formula I still don’t quite understand, I have a question: Did Violets handicap play a part? The reason why I ask, is because the rest of her books didn’t do so well. After listening to you, I may have to be satisfied with what I get, since ultimately I wrote a book I would love to read. It’s what they suggest new writer do, yes … mimic other writers, but write what you love. To be honest, I don’t think I’d ever be able to write to demand because my heart wouldn’t be in it. That amazing thing that happens when the characters become alive for me, as I write them through a keyboard, may or may not happen. I’m also hoping my cover, which I think will be pretty great, will help out. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

[@author.gggodchild]

Looks like y’all had a good time!

[@MrBigmorg3000]

I feel like TikTok is a huge part of what makes a book viral. The only reason I grabbed Fourth Wing was because it kept getting pushed on TikTok. Then I got FOMO because I didn’t want to be the only one who didn’t read it lol

[@Floytie]

Viral books change culture. Writing is an ART and is supposed to help people relate to their realities differently. Although Fourth Wing has its cringe moments (for me), I appreciate how it's written to help people get into the fantasy genre, and it does this well. Fourth Wing could be written entirely differently with the same story, like a Brandon Sanderson version, but it wouldn't serve the same purpose. Seeing how fantasy has been such a "boys club" for years, honestly, due to misogyny in books and their communities, having books like Fourth Wing and ACOTAR that aren't perfect but are accessible helps change the culture around reading. Twilight received similar hate, but look at all of us grown-ups now, using our critical thinking skills to analyze a book! Every piece of art has the potential to impact the world because it touches the hearts of people who consume it in ways positive and negative. That's why knowledge is power! (Can you tell I was a teacher? haha)

[@kimilynP]

This is a great breakdown! Art matters even if i don't relate to or understand it personally.

[@chokog2446]

I have read ACOTAR and it was a let down for me. Haven't gotten to this book yet. However, I am a very, very long time SFF reader and I absolutely enjoyed your podcast! Thank you 👍😊

[@matildebranco4622]

This was so fun!!!🎉

[@silverx_1848]

I was going to say what's wrong with Titanic 😭. Glad Austin backtracked on that

[@A-Bit-Manic]

Question… what would make you pick up a fantasy or sci-fi book by a black author? Or what about the book cover with a black person on the cover, what are your first thoughts about the cover or if you decide to read the summary?

[@davidevensende]

Fun cross over

[@kashishmehta9787]

Can someone tell me which series to start by Brandon Sanderson. He has like... 367 books.

[@LofiLazy-k2m]

He has a video on his channel answering this question.

[@paziis]

The Final Empire for sure!

[@blairbabylon8504]

Haters who are hate-hate-hatin’: “Dank Edgelords”

[@sheldonjessup]

New york best seller, is a "turn off" for me as i havent agreed with the hype of their ratings, i feel they are just pushing the books they will make money on.

[@marliscan]

@@sheldonjessup Yes!!! Most of the time i dislike those books, i think to myself how is this a best seller when ive read Indie books that can blow it away. We must be missing something, haha. I usually stay away from N.Y.T Bestsellers. Happy Reading

[@Nerdygoddess]

Viral book that isn't timeless: Pride and Prejudice. It was only by learning regency period slang, that I learned the Bennett's neighbors wanted Lydia to become a prostitute so they would have something to gossip about. Originally, I thought they wanted her to go on vacation "on the town" to get away from the gossip and come back when the drama died down. Nope.

[@noorraghdan3045]

All the nerdy girls dream

[@aldan7812]

I disagree STRONGLY with Richard (but ur awesome man) I do 100% not have to wat to live in the world for it to go viral. Who wants to live in Abercrombies worlds?!?!?!?! Noone with sense lol. But, those books, are life.

[@kimilynP]

Agree. I mean Hunger Games anyone??