How to Deal with Abandoned Novels: Finding Completed Alternatives

You found the perfect story. You binged 200 chapters. Then... nothing. The author stopped updating. The story is abandoned.

Here's how to deal with it and find alternatives.

The Reality of Web Fiction

Most web novels get abandoned. Estimates suggest 60-70% of stories on platforms like Royal Road never reach completion. Authors lose interest, life gets in the way, or they move on to new projects.

This is the reality. But you can work with it.

How to Tell If a Story Is Actually Abandoned

Check the Last Update Date

Less than 1 month: Probably just a break. Authors take breaks.

1-3 months: Possibly on hiatus. Check the author's profile or comments for updates.

3-6 months: Likely abandoned, but check for announcements.

6+ months: Probably abandoned. Unless there's a clear announcement of return, assume it's done.

Check for Announcements

Authors often post updates about hiatuses or abandonment:

• Author's profile: Check their profile page for announcements.
• Story comments: Look at recent comments for author updates.
• Author's other stories: If they're updating other stories, they might return.
• Social media: Some authors post updates on Discord, Reddit, or Twitter.

Check the Story Status

Most platforms have status indicators:

• Ongoing: Still updating (check the date).
• Hiatus: Temporarily paused.
• Completed: Actually finished.
• Dropped: Explicitly abandoned.

What to Do When Your Story Is Abandoned

Step 1: Accept It

The story is probably not coming back. Accept it and move on. Don't hold out hope forever.

Step 2: Find Similar Stories

Use what you loved about the abandoned story to find alternatives:

• Same genre: If it was LitRPG, find other LitRPG stories.
• Same tropes: If it had specific tropes you loved, search for those.
• Same author: Check if the author has other stories (completed ones).

Step 3: Look for Completed Alternatives

Focus on completed stories to avoid the same problem:

• Filter by "Completed" status: Only show finished stories.
• Check our completed web novels guide: Best Completed Web Novels 2026
• Ask for recommendations: Reddit, Discord, and reading communities can help.

Finding Completed Alternatives

Use "What to Read After X" Guides

If your abandoned story was similar to a popular series, check our guides:

• What to Read After Mother of Learning
• What to Read After He Who Fights With Monsters
• What to Read After Dungeon Crawler Carl
• What to Read After The Wandering Inn
• What to Read After Defiance of the Fall

Filter by Completed Status

On Royal Road and other platforms:

1. Use Advanced Search: Filter by "Completed" status.
2. Set minimum page count: Ensure substantial content.
3. Sort by "Best Rated": Find quality completed stories.

Check Author's Other Stories

If you liked the author's style:

1. Visit their author page: See what else they've written.
2. Check completion status: Look for completed stories.
3. Read their other work: You might find something you like even more.

Strategies to Avoid Abandonment

Strategy 1: Read Completed Stories Only

Pros: No risk of abandonment, complete story arcs, satisfying endings.

Cons: Miss out on ongoing stories, can't participate in community discussions.

Best for: Readers who hate being left hanging.

Strategy 2: Read Long-Running Stories

Pros: Stories that reach 500+ pages are less likely to be abandoned.

Cons: Still possible, but less likely.

Best for: Readers who want ongoing stories but lower risk.

Strategy 3: Read Stories with Regular Updates

Pros: Authors who update consistently are more likely to continue.

Cons: Still possible to abandon, but less likely.

Best for: Readers who want ongoing stories with active authors.

Strategy 4: Read Multiple Stories

Pros: If one gets abandoned, you have others to fall back on.

Cons: More to keep track of.

Best for: Readers who want variety and don't mind managing multiple stories.

How to Support Authors (So They Don't Abandon)

Authors abandon stories for many reasons, but support can help:

• Rate and review: Show appreciation for their work.
• Comment regularly: Engagement keeps authors motivated.
• Support on Patreon: Financial support helps authors continue.
• Share the story: Help grow their audience.

What to Do If an Author Returns

Sometimes authors come back after long breaks:

1. Check if the story is still good: Re-read recent chapters to refresh.
2. Show support: Welcome them back, show you're still interested.
3. Be patient: They might need time to get back into the rhythm.

Finding Stories Similar to Abandoned Ones

Identify What You Loved

Break down what made the abandoned story special:

• Genre: LitRPG, Progression Fantasy, Cultivation, etc.
• Tropes: Time loop, system apocalypse, magic academy, etc.
• Tone: Humor, dark, slice-of-life, etc.
• Elements: Base-building, found family, solo journey, etc.

Search for Those Elements

Use tags and filters to find similar stories:

• Genre tags: Filter by the same genre.
• Trope tags: Look for stories with similar tropes.
• Tone indicators: Read synopses for tone clues.

Ask for Recommendations

Communities can help:

• Reddit: r/ProgressionFantasy, r/litrpg, r/noveltranslations
• Discord: Author and community servers
• Reading Lists: User-curated lists often have similar stories

The Emotional Impact

Abandonment hurts. You invested time and emotion. Here's how to cope:

1. Acknowledge the loss: It's okay to be disappointed.
2. Focus on what you enjoyed: Remember the good parts.
3. Find alternatives: Don't let one abandoned story stop you from reading.
4. Support authors: Help prevent future abandonments.

Create Your Own Story

Can't find exactly what you want? narrator can generate stories with specific elements:

• "Completed LitRPG with the same elements as [abandoned story]"
• "Progression fantasy with [specific tropes] that's actually finished"
• "Story similar to [abandoned story] but completed"

You can get the exact combination of elements you're craving, and you can read it all the way through.

Browse our collection: Completed Web Novels | LitRPG | Progression Fantasy

The Bottom Line

Abandonment is part of web fiction. Most stories never finish. But you can work with it:

• Read completed stories: Lower risk of abandonment.
• Read long-running stories: Less likely to be abandoned.
• Read multiple stories: Diversify your risk.
• Support authors: Help them continue.

The key is finding what works for you. If you hate abandonment, stick to completed stories. If you want ongoing stories, accept the risk and diversify.

Your next great read is out there. Don't let one abandoned story stop you from finding it.