RhaegarRRL
patreon
Big update / Changes
🕑 Added 2019-06-09 15:57:26 +0000 UTCHello everybody.
This is going to be a bit of a longer update so there's going to be a TLDR at the bottom. I generally don't want to bring up any personal stuff but this one is pretty related to writing.
For various reasons all but one unrelated to this hobby, I have quit my job. The success I've had with Azarinth Healer on Royalroad and later Patreon has made me seriously consider the possibility of becoming a full time writer.
So yea, I'm gonna give it a shot. Have been for the past week already and it went well so far. I'm going to give it a couple months to see if I can keep up the productivity, to see if its financially viable and to see if I don't burn out.
To get the practical side out of the way before I go into more personal stuff, following the current plans and changes.
- No more ETAs. I plan to post chapters a couple times a week but don't want to specify and promise things that I then might have to take back. The weekly goals so far have been manageable so I doubt there will be big problems with that.
- I'm going to increase advance chapters on Patreon to 10 for 2$ and 20 for 5$. The reason is very simple. It's easier for me to count to 10/20 than it is to 8 and 16. You may question my intelligence.
- There's gonna be a public chapter on Patreon every other week or so. I feel like some people might be willing to spend a fiver if they're already on the site compared to the additional step it would require otherwise.
- I'll add stuff to the 10$ tier like side stories / Q&As and possibly other things if anything comes to mind. Suggestions are welcome as always.
- I might start working on other projects than Azarinth Healer to clear my mind and see if I can actually produce something people like outside of this one lucky shot. I will be mainly focusing on Azarinth Healer of course, until it's ended properly. There's plenty more I want to do with that world and Ilea though so don't take this the wrong way.
I think that's it regarding the actual changes. Most of it won't affect you as a reader and hopefully the only visible change will be more chapters to check out.
What I finally managed to do the past week was change the present tense issues on the first 36 chapters. With the help of RoyalRoad user lomie0 I could update the formatting on those early chapters as well as correct a ton of mistakes and awkward phrases. I wanted to specifically thank him here for the time invested into this work. Go give him some reputation if you find a comment of his. I hate editing but those early chapters were so riddled with my inexperience and grammar mistakes that they direly needed it.
Now comes the personal part where I thank you and ramble on about how I feel about this endeavor.
I remember writing a similar paragraph a while ago when I passed Don't Fear the Reaper on the ratings list and my feelings really haven't changed much since then. I still don't think Azarinth Healer is up to the standard many other novels on RoyalRoad or published fiction hold up to but I do believe I've improved considerably since starting this as a hobby. Now I guess through the magic of Patreon I can call myself a paid writer, still a long way from professional I think but it's something.
I started writing because I loved the feeling of reading, forgetting about this boring and often disappointing reality's worries and falling into something new and exciting. Without actually having to leave my bed and comforts. I think a lot of people like what I write because I feel like this while writing, like I'm exploring a new exciting world through the eyes of a character I created. Since starting I have come to worry about plot lines, characterization, world building as well as style.
I learn more and more how much I failed and still fail at many of those things but what reading some horribly structured fiction, riddled with mistakes and weebed characters has taught me is that much of that doesn't matter a whole lot when the magic is there. I've read thousands of pages barely passing as English and I've loved it. I hope I can continue to improve on many aspects to bring an overall more enjoyable story to you guys and girls (as well as attack helicopters) out there.
I'm here and I read your comments, willing to listen and learn. The nature of writing a web novel has been such an amazing help with getting better I wouldn't miss any of the criticism and hate I sometimes get. Most of the feedback is positive though, which of course is a part of the reason I continue to do this. To correct that a little, most of you simply read. I was a lurker myself for years before even making an account. Coincidentally it was to write a PM to the author of Don't Fear the Reaper, to thank them for the amazing world they had shared with me.
Now I'm on the other side, getting reviews and comments on what I write. It's a humbling and positively weird experience but I definitely want to encourage you to share your thoughts with me, to tell me what you disliked or what you would've done differently. I'm a single mind and as I think not a massively spectacular one at that. I have learned in life that everyone starts at some point and while some are privileged, more talented or in my case lucky, you can achieve... let's say reasonable goals if you're open and ready to learn.
My goal is to become an adequate writer. To create and share worlds and characters that are fun and exciting to get to know. So watch and help me grow.
I thank every single one of you for this opportunity. You don't know me but you are a part of the reason I am here, making this ridiculous hobby into an actual job. Thank you for the financial support, commenting, sharing and for criticizing but most of all thank you, for reading.
TLDR: Quit job to become one of those authors you see in the first arc of a movie before they find a magic pill to make them smart or something. I'll try not to become an alcoholic. Thanks for reading my shit.
Comments
Nicholas Paterson
I'm going to miss the chapter dump every week, I like waiting for a few chapters to build up before reading, and the way you released them was convenient for me. Oh well, hope the full-time thing works out for you
G. Harthane
Thank you so much :). Makes me happy that I can provide something entertaining to read!
G. Harthane
I'm very aware of that but I know that it's worse when ETAs aren't kept. I need some time to write buffer and see how well I can keep it up before committing to short term ETAs. Thanks!
G. Harthane
Thanks for the praise and the suggestions. Kyrian is definitely on my mind but I'd rather wait with that one for a while :). Alice as well.
Knightfire
This is one of my favorite series. I do think the writing has improved. What makes it special is your ability to bring a character to life in a way the reader wants to follow. Just a suggestion but if you want to try new things maybe some side stories about Kyrian or even the dawntree brat.
Chymor
And one more thing, I really suggest publishing a ETA, even if you don't commit to any specific amount of chapters. From a reader point of view it's really nice to know when next chapters will arrive, and it helps build anticipation.
Chymor
Congratulations on this big step. To be honest, when I joined I only intended to pledge for a month or two, but you keep giving me reasons to stick around. :) I look forward to seeing how you and your stories will develop.
Azarinth Healer is easily my favorite novel out of everything I've read. It just hits every note I've wanted from a novel. Now that you may be releasing chapters more often it's very exciting. Thank you for all the effort you've put into this.
G. Harthane
Thank you :). It is when you can manage with other responsibilities I think and I'm very thankful that I can use this opportunity.
G. Harthane
Thank you, I really appreciate the support :)
G. Harthane
Thanks for the wishes :). Just set aside some reading time on the weekend or something! And you can comment on the most recent chapter :).
G. Harthane
I definitely will inform if there won't be chapters, if I'm sick or on vacation or something. Thanks for the praise as well :)!
I was surprise that there are new chapters. I up my monthly from 7 to 10 dollars. Keep up the good work. Doing what you love is always the right decision. Thank you very much for this wonderful story..
Benjamin
As a reader I couldn't be happier. Your story was stuck for a little while but it's progressing , and I'm happy to keep supporting the journey. I'll always prefer quality over rushing.
You're awsome well worth the monthly 5$ i pay to support you keep up the good work!
BookDragonling
That's awesome! Love to see new writers being born. Good luck
Baba Vader
Thanks for the chapters! Congratulations on making the jump to a full time writer! I love the idea of more frequent chapters, though a fixed schedule really had something for me to look forward to. Maybe I´ll just read all the weeks chapters on fridays. Also, if there are no more ETAs, where should I comment "Thanks for the chapters!" then? :P Good luck with everything you do and to every new story you write for us and yourself!
Tommy Littlefield
Congrats and good luck my dude and honestly you need to give yourself more credit your story started pretty good and your skills have only gotten better you are making great story
Exsanguinator
Congratulations and good luck!
Magnus Benzein
Good luck and don't feel to bothered about giving an eta. Even if I personally wouldn't mind a warning if there would be significantly more than a week between releases. Also, don't sell yourself short regarding RoyalRoad! While there are a few stories that could be considered better written than yours, theres actually very few of those that have a similar wordcount. While quality does matter, quantity is a quality of it's own.
G. Harthane
Thanks. Yea that was the main reason this writing hobby was a part of quitting, I'd look back and might regret it if I didn't try. I won't! Have plenty of things to keep me busy and I might finally get to actually read some stuff again now.
G. Harthane
Appreciate that. We'll see what the future holds I guess :).
G. Harthane
I really appreciate it actually :)!
ja nein
Congratulations ! Sometimes its a hard decision to take the jump, but you might never know what you miss out on if you dont take some risks. Wish you the best luck and remember to keep your hobbys alive as well unless you might get an authors block from focusing too much on this story :)
Ato
I wish you the best of luck, I am fairly confident that Azarinth Healer wasn't just a lucky one shot though
TheTiredOne
Old 7$ tiers must be an eyesore, huh? Heh.
Neal OHara
Congratulations!
Congratulations, good luck and fingers crossed, that it work out! :)
G. Harthane
Hopefully, yes.
G. Harthane
Thank you :).
G. Harthane
Both certainly planned for. Thanks for the feedback :).
Jonathan
Congratulations, good luck ... and, I think I saw more frequent updates? WOOHOO!
Corwin Amber
Good luck :)
Mi
Go for it mate ! Hope everything goes on to work fine for you ! Wish I was good enough to do it myself but I'll live the dream through people like you !
Han Pol
Good news you write good stuff and don' worry to much over the lack of many plot devices the magic was there. I think the revenge ark was the weakest so far. (even if it was nesscassary to show more of the world and weakest doesn't mean bad.) This current ark already feels better again. On another note I understand the need to be free of scheduled updates or ETA's. But from a business side it will help you if you update in a regular interval. And maybe have some chapters in a buffer so that you aren't forced to write if you don't have the head for it.
Harb
Great news!
G. Harthane
Thank you, I'll try my best :)!
Nodlehs
Good luck! I've certainly enjoyed your work so far and it would be neat to see what other ideas you've got rattling around in your noggin :)
