33 Sorry, Gotta Stop For An Author Announcement

Thanks for reading everyone, but I have to put Marco and Reina's adventures on pause for a sad announcement.

If you've been following other original novels, you probably know that something's been brewing lately. To give you the full story, last year Webnovel hosted a contest called "Beyond the Language." The promise was that the winners would receive a Webnovel contract, the first for any English original novel. I quickly wrote the first draft of this story you've been reading and submitted it.

Fast-forward to the end of 2017, New Year's Eve to be exact. I was sent an e-mail, much to my joy, saying that I was on the "winner's shortlist" for the Beyond The Language contest. Talk about a great way to ring in 2018. Or so I thought.

I learned mid-January that Webnovel wanted some changes to my story. And by that, I mean their "experts" advised I scrap my original idea and turn Marco into an OP hero that dazzled everyone with some new secret technique every other chapter. I asked if I could keep my story as it was, and was basically told "we don't feel confident in giving a contract or prize to your current story." So I made changes. Changes I wasn't happy with, but I made them.

More weeks passed, until it was suddenly April. I got a message April 7th telling me two very surprising things. First, I was to publish my story for the Original Novels' launch on the April 10th.

"What about the contract?" I asked.

"The contract is not ready," was the response I got. "There is no need to sign a contract before upload. I think it's a great opportunity to expose your work since on the early stage there are not many novels."

Oh yeah, that's right. The second surprise I got was the reveal that everyone could publish a novel. So not only is there a lack of contract, but us "contest winners" weren't even the first original novels. We shared that honor with a bunch of fanfics and every variation of a title using the world "System."

You're smart people, so you can quickly piece together that April was two months ago. Two months and still no mention of contract or even a post announcing the status of the Beyond the Language contest. My inquiries to Webnovel staff were met with no answer. Not as in they were vague. I mean I was literally ignored.

So imagine my surprise (seems to be a running theme with Webnovel) when I read Insane Mooncake's latest chapter of Memory Seal announcing his hiatus, and Bai Siwa's frank rant to his readers. There are contracts being put out!? Nice of Webnovel to let me know.

And that is why I must join what is sure to be a growing number of writers leaving Webnovel. It just makes no sense to keep contributing content to a platform that's actively snubbing you. Especially when I have rent and car payments to make, and this pesky need to constantly ingest food.

Yes, it is unfortunately about the money. I cherish every comment and review I get (even the negative ones), but the bills need to get paid. And Webnovel clearly isn't going to be helping in that department.

So I deeply apologize, but I have to leave Marco and Reina, and you, hanging just as their adventures were getting started. Who knows? Maybe I'll return to them one day on another platform. It would be nice to polish the story instead of having to put something out in a rush to keep up a consistent release. For now, I think I'll retreat back into my writer's hole (read: bedroom), start brainstorming my next project, and play some much-needed Monster Hunter.

For the last time, thanks from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, and giving stones. Hopefully I see you on the next one.

-Blame_Your_Fate