Writing Update (Patreon)

This is going to be an update on the writing side of things. Partially generic updates, partially some abstract conclusions I've reached after spending some time with New Game Minus and Street Cultivation.

Reflections

One conclusion is that I'm done chasing readers. I know that I can get a large number of readers and sales by doing certain things, but it's not worth it. Thanks to the support of all of you and my success with various projects, I don't have to. I want to start putting my effort into the core projects I most want to do. They won't be as successful, but TLS started really slow too; I'll just keep working until I find the right audience as I have with TLS.

What does this mean in practical terms? Most notably, I'm dropping the old 100k words of the erotica serial. I don't like throwing out old work, but I'd need to write 50k more to finish the story and I'm just not motivated to invest that time. Maybe I'd get some new TLS fans, but I'm not sure it'd be worth it regardless of the money.

In an odder place is the 30k novella I wrote a few months back. There are some ideas in that one that I actually like, but I think it runs into some of the same problems as the erotica serial. I don't know what to do with that - it's a zombie story with more action than sex, and nobody has sex with any zombies. Self-contained but obviously part of a theoretical series. I guess I could upload it for those who are into that?

Future Work

I'm getting more attention from other authors and publishing houses than I expected and I'm currently negotiating a couple offers. Potentially getting a (non-traditional) publisher would be a real test of the above principles. It would probably increase readership and decrease the amount of marketing I need to do, but the question is if I would need to give up creative control.

I still have the three standalone fantasy novels I mentioned last time. I think it would be good to publish them before II start anything major, since the current environment doesn't favor standalones, but I'm not sure how exactly that will happen. Those who want to will most likely get a chance to read the other two, but editing them is a tertiary priority.

Beyond that, my focus will be on series. I've actually had two publishers approach me about a Street Cultivation series, but I'm uncertain how I feel about that. Once the novel I pledged is finished, I doubt I will post any more on RoyalRoad, but there are other ideas I had for the world and characters. This wouldn't be a long series, but could potentially be a fun little side project.

Eventually I will definitely publish The Brightest Shadow and write all its sequels. As mentioned, this is a story I care about deeply. As such, there's part of me that doesn't want to try to launch it until I have the foundation to establish a large readership. The image for this post is some concept art and worldbuilding I was doing for fun last week. I have more, but I'm sitting on it.

In between, I might publish another series of shorter fantasy novels, a revision of an old project I once shelved but still think has potential. The concept... imagine Narnia, if the Pevensie children remained haunted by their old lives, but when they returned they found their memories of Narnia were wrong. Except that it's not just that, it's about all portal fantasy, including a deconstruction of the isekai genre in a different way than NGM. Unlike TBS, where I want to try to add something new to epic fantasy, this one is more "fun with tropes". As such it might be a good interim project, though I'll only invest time in it if I feel I want to commit to it after thinking on it for longer.

Anyway

I'm thinking about all this, but I'm actually not writing or editing anything right now. Currently my only focus is TLS, with secondary work organizing resources for OEA and DStP. But eventually, you will see at least some of these novels from me. 

Feedback of any kind is welcome, as usual. There aren't many questions in this post, but I always appreciate commentary. In any case, that's the current situation.