How do you handle updating tags?

[KrakenRiderEmma]

Let's say you're writing a long series and you tag it with what you're thinking about writing, or have already drafted/finished, for a whole bunch of chapters. So far, so good.

When you keep going -- maybe in a "volume 2" or just a continuation of the same story into new territory, there are bound to be some new themes cropping up.

How do you tag these, especially if you've put in a lot of tags at the beginning? For instance, if your protagonist starts off in one or two relationships... but by Chapter 75 ends up with five or six... where/when is it appropriate to tag "Harem" if at all?

 

[Corty]

I never modify them. Everything is there from the start.

 

[KrakenRiderEmma]

Have you ever run into a problem where a reader complains about the "new themes" like, "hey this story wasn't tagged with [thing that started to appear in a later chapter] !" ...or do people reading long enough not care / you can handle that with chapter notes

 

[placeintime]

When you're talking about longer series and adding tags in; I think it's fine to add them in as you go on(Deleting them is the same too) because you're thinking up new ideas and etc, so there's bound to be new tags. The thing you have to keep in mind is that you have to have like core tags, basically things that will always be there in the story no matter what.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I don't modify personally but that's up to the author.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

carefully

 

[beast_regards]

Based on complaints, I suppose.

 

[TheEldritchGod]

I tell them to stop. I don't like change.

 

[Sola-sama]

There was once where my reader demanded to add gender bender and its corresponding tags. I simply added them because imho, that's normal. I can't think of every single tag at the beginning of the series. During my writing, the scope of the story might change depending on the whims of my imagiation.

 

[Empyrea]

I do polls on my newest chapters for stuff like that. Tags are for your readers when all is said and done, so ask them. If enough of them respond positively to the change in tags, then change it.

 

[georgelee5786]

Add them if I have to

 

[Rhaps]

Since I am like two people sharing a body, I add tags to fit what me and my other half is writing

 

[TheEldritchGod]

Since I am like two people sharing a body, I add tags to fit what me and my other half is writing

Yeah. I know that feeling. Don't you hate it when the other half of you leaves elaborate death traps behind so when you take over you have to try and navigate a maze of death just to get coffee?

Damn I hate that.

Don't worry. I always get back at myself.

 

[TrashyCat]

Eh, I don't think it's all that bad to add tags as you go on. Especially if it's a very long story, since you can't really plan the entire hundred/s chapters worth of content when you've just started.

Then again, I'd get mad if a new novel that I noted had a tag that I liked, then when I checked back on it a month later, I found that the tag was gone and the author no longer intends to implement it.

Case and point, in my personal opinion, just start with the tags that you know you will implement, before adding ones that are or will absolutely be implemented as the story goes on, even if the tags are just few at first.

Not sure if my opinion is relevant since it's from a reader's perspective.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

Not tagging something and then pulling the rug under the reader is a scummy thing to do, all things considered.

 

[EliseValkyria]

Have the tags been updated here?

 

[beast_regards]

Have the tags been updated here?

Did you ever heard of the tragedy of Updated Tags? It's not a story Jedi would tell you.

 

[KrakenRiderEmma]

Not tagging something and then pulling the rug under the reader is a scummy thing to do, all things considered.

Kind of agree, that's why the question is about "what if a new theme emerges while writing" -- like, something that wasn't planned from the beginning, as a long series evolves. Do you get rid of old tags to make room, maybe just the ones that have already come into play and are less important after the arc or volume where they were a big deal? Or warn the reader in some other way so there's no rug pull, etc.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

Kind of agree, that's why the question is about "what if a new theme emerges while writing" -- like, something that wasn't planned from the beginning, as a long series evolves. Do you get rid of old tags to make room, maybe just the ones that have already come into play and are less important after the arc or volume where they were a big deal? Or warn the reader in some other way so there's no rug pull, etc.

If there are genres or tags that may cause controversy (bl, gl, harem, gender bender, trans characters etc.) - always tag.
Add the rest to summary.
Oh and another thing - if you promise something beforehand - do not break that promise. Farming readers with lies is the scummiest thing to do