Author Updates

Well, first things first, hello everyone, this is your author GoldenStache speaking.

I hope that you enjoyed and will continue to enjoy reading my novel, but unfortunately, I have some bad news for the very few of you who read daily, which probably doesn't even amount to more than four.

I will have to slow down on the updates.

My motivation for writing this novel is diminishing day by day, which made writing and editing chapters feel like a chore.

In turn, this affected my ability to write the best novel I could, something that I obviously don't want.

At first, I thought that it was due to how no one was actually reading it, but I realized that it was more about the fact that I was juggling too much at once, and writing this novel turned from a hobby to a second job that I always had on my mind.

I want to write something I enjoy, where things are planned and executed to the best of my ability, not slop where every chapter is padded out to oblivion.

Everything I added or wrote has a reason behind it, for example, some might complain about Emir's 'guilt'/'nightmares' being unrealistic or the reason why he feels a certain way, especially in the notorious 26th chapter and the five after it.

But all I can say to that is read the novel, actually read it, it's all been hinted at, and/or the reason for it happening was mentioned and it's also clarified in its entirety at the end of the first volume and the start of the second. 

I won't say that my execution is perfect, obviously, it isn't, and it can never be, but I tried to write my best.

I can only hope that it shows.

And I will continue to improve and will keep your constructive criticism in mind, so keep them coming.

So just give it a chance, yeah?

Now onto other things, I'll try to update two to five chapters a week (Or maybe more if I have extra free time), so expect that much.

And I'm also nearing the end of writing volume 2, so finally, the academy arc will begin to be further planned out, which is what ultimately made me decide to do this.

Thanks for reading so far, and cheers everyone.

Mic drop...

No? Dead joke? Alright.

:(

***

{2}

Ahem Ahem!

It's me again, and sorry about the metaphorical microphone; I had to show off a bit.

Obligatory Spoiler Warning.

Anyways listen up!

From now on, this auxiliary chapter will be named 'Author Updates,' as I'll be adding to it every time I have something I want to inform you lot.

And this particular update would be regarding the novel's current state.

Let's see… If I were to describe this novel's stats, I could only call it an absolute flop.

The numbers are barely there; they aren't even comparable to the weakest authors on the platform.

It's a dead novel through and through, buried in the Earth's inner core, 2900 kilometers deep underground.

It's kinda making me feel like I've written the worst piece of entertainment on the entire internet.

Though, if that's true, then that's an achievement in and of itself.

Well, I might be exaggerating a bit, but yeah… it's bad.

So, why am I saying this?

Is it me justifying dropping this novel?

Nope. 

I won't be doing that.

I'm just here to brag.

Yes, I'm bragging about how bad my novel is doing, that's all.

—

Now on to more serious matters.

Volume two, 'Children of Corrupted Feathers,' is finally over and I'd say it followed volume 1, 'Awoken From Lies,' quite nicely.

Many mysteries were solved during that time; some were hinted at, and others were created.

To give a few examples, Chapter 9 (Mystery), Chapter 51 (Hint)… etc, lead up to Chapters 192 and 203 (Answers).

This was an easy one to figure out, and hopefully, some of you did before the revelation.

Chapter 3 ('God's Ticking') Chapter 4 (A Subtle 'Clock'), Chapter 159 (A hint), and Chapter 183 (A full-on slap in the face) 

For the one that might've picked up on it, you would wonder why Emir hadn't done so already.

But let me tell you, Emir is smarter than most of you (At least I hope he is), so don't think that he'd fumble so easily.

Remember, the MC isn't the only smart one in the story; actually, he's kinda dumb in comparison to the old fogies.

So let me cook. ;)

Lastly came THE 'Question' from a 'God...'

Some hints were subtly shown.

And the 'Answer' would be in volume 3, the start of the Academy arc, so get hyped for that.

Okay, now that I'm done saying that, here comes the main point.

Most of these mysteries I built up take time to craft, so my update stability is slower than what my negative number of readers would like.

I feel bad for those invested, but there's not much I can do about it.

Anyways this update is for you—yes, you, the reader who, for some reason, paid to read my work.

So the slow updates, yeah?…

Expect that shit to slow down even further!

Heh. 

But seriously, I need to write and plan a lot more to reach my goal for the third volume, 'Heads Bathe in the Rising Dusk.'

Because it's going to be a long one.

That is all.

Mic dr— 

Or not, I'm not done yet...

—

Now this part of the update is for the kiddies that haven't read a chapter of my novel yet.

I beg you, read the goddamn synopsis and warning!

This novel won't be for most; it's a slow burner; it's heavy, more so with dialogue; emotions hold meaning; they last; it's not a drama, but there's a lot of emotion involved; most characters are relatively smart; and it's not just caricatures acting out a play.

My novel was built upon a bedrock called 'realism.'

I wanted things to be feasible, and for that to happen, everyone had to have a brain inside their noggin.

Even the common passerby, whom Emir wouldn't glance twice at.

I know quite unusual for WN.

So you won't see random hooligans that Emir would need to face-slap, nor will you see something exciting in every chapter.

I mean, look, it isn't like I couldn't write it as such, but I simply don't want to.

This novel is a way for me to throw out ideas or things that interest me.

So I won't add things that might do well commercially and end up hating them later.

Also, as you can see, many concepts were taken from novels that I loved that were either completed or discontinued.

I wanted to read more of those types, but I didn't find any.

So I was like… Why not write one myself?

Anyways, back to what I was saying.

It's not like I'm saying there won't be any clichés in my story; I know for a fact that it's an impossible feat.

But I'm telling you to expect very little of them.

'Cause I know that, though most clown on clichés, authors use them for a reason.

They are popular and people enjoy them.

After all, a fantasy novel is used to escape the real world, not to read about another one.

And mine could never be under the banner of a normal fantasy.

Thoughhhhh, volume three would start with a much 'brighter' tone.

Emir's character had been fully established and formed by then, so expect a lot of borderline-insane banter.

Also, the main cast's past, connection to Emir, etc. will all be explored further. 

But even though the tone changed leading up to that volume, you should never forget that Emir's capacity for evil is great.

His actions in the Academy won't be typical.

As he would, for the lack of a better word, groom some students, allowing them to join the family.

Only under his complete control, of course. 

— 

Hah… alright, I'm done with my rant. 

Now that your expectations are managed, go ahead and read. I do hope you enjoy it.

Peace out, and do check this space in the future; I might update it again during volume three. 

But I ain't sure that I will, 'cause who knows…

I'm sure the author doesn't.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

PS: Damn, I ranted a lot… My bad peeps.

***

{3}

I am disappointed.

Disappointed at both WN and the level of 'success' I achieved.

It isn't Webnovel itself that I'm disappointed with but their readers, or more specifically, the majority that picked up my book from their dusty library, finally checking it out and not keeping it as window dressing. 

I have seen/read many things and face-palmed many times, but sometimes there comes a comment so bad, so utterly retarded, that it ruins my mood for writing, killing it where it once stood.

It happened frequently for a while after I got my first three castles, which I gained more or less no readers from; honestly, I overestimated their benefit by a lot and got hyped only to be let down a million times over, but yeah, since then dumb comments have been more rampant.

I get that not everyone is privileged like us; not everyone is normal, able to be born with a functioning brain, but still, that doesn't mean you should show it off for the public to die cringing at. Keep it private. (If you're younger than a fetus, then don't take it to heart; you'll grow up, and eventually, if not consumed by brain rot, you'll become the one cringing at your past actions.)

Though to be honest, it's my fault as well. I should've studied the market before creating my 'product,' but I guess it's too late.

Now with that out of the way, some might notice that I reached chapter 300. Yeah, I never thought that I would get here either; it was the reason why I wrote up this update besides wanting to rant again.

A million views and 300 chapters in, and I've only got 40 paying readers to my name.

40.

F. O. U. R. T. Y. 

The sink is knocking; let it in. 

Though inflated like hell, a million views is a lot, and out of that, I only got 40 paying readers.

It's 0.0040 percent.

Damn.

Writing this down makes it even worse but I digress.

It's sad. My urge to just drop this novel quadrupled since I last wrote an update here, and it's continuously growing.

I regret signing a contract with WN. I love what I created too much to drop it, but if I publish chapters for only the ghosts to read, then what's the purpose?

I don't know.

All I know is that I regret signing the contract.

Seriously, I give up.

I'm trying to write something here, something more than a jumble of safe clichés for a quick buck, but all the support I'm getting is verbal.

I don't need pity; I know how privileged this all sounds. Especially compared to what's happening in the world right now, with all the genocide (pray for my brothers and sisters in Palastine, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Africa in general, and many other parts of the world), corruption, war, starvation, and America going OOORRRAAAAAAAHHHHH on others like usual while devouring itself from the inside out at the same time, but yeah, I'm just letting it all out.

Anyways, I'll say this again: don't expect me to drop, I will continue, though don't expect me to be consistent anymore. I might update much in a week and might only update a single chapter in the next.

After this month is over I'll stop the daily updates and only update when I find myself in the right mindset. I'll still write, it's my hobby after all, but the chapters that I write won't be uploaded as quickly as they are now.

I'll be stacking basically.

—

I didn't know where to add this, so I decided to write it here at the end. 

Volume 3 is going to be a lot longer than expected. At least a hundred chapters more than my previous estimate. Who knew that the Academy arc was going to expand the story so much eh? Also, it's going incredibly well so far, I've even introduced the 'Chess Club' that I teased since chapter one, it's shaping to be my best volume yet by a long shot.

Yeah…

That's it.

No quippy end for you.

P.S. You, the one reading this, must be hella bored to reach this far down, 'cause I know for certain you didn't read my novel, so go now, shoo.

P.S. P.S. Womp womp and skill issue have already been mentioned by me here, so any more will be considered against the rules.

***

{4}

Fuck it.

March is finally over and I've published fat chapters twice a day every day with nothing to show for it.

I'm all out of juice and I've got big things to focus on right now, sooooooo...

I hereby announce this novel's short hiatus.

Yes, I'll be taking a break from this disappointment.

See you guys whenever.

***

{5}

I'm back. Did you guys miss me?

Yeah no, no you didn't; there isn't anyone caught up for that question to even be considered.

Anyways I'll be publishing chapters again and the timing will be as I previously stated.

That's all. Thank you for reading.