Comments Are Off Again
Added 2024-06-17 02:37:15 +0000 UTCOkay. I blame myself for most of this. I knew it was a mistake, but I relented on turning the comments back on because I felt bad about it, and I know a lot of people see that as part of the whole Patreon experience. But the truth is, I turned them back on way before I ready. I knew this sect war arc wasn't going to be popular with at least part of the readership because they want Sen to be humane, or, at the very least, discriminating in his murderous actions. That isn't the world he lives in. It never was. Him thinking it could be was, at best, a fantasy he got to indulge in for a while.
So, not shockingly, the negativity has been piling up. At this point, I'm having to force myself to write these chapters. I've literally been fantasizing about killing Sen at the end of this book so I can stop writing about him and stop living in a constant negative feedback loop. Given that I used to wake up excited to write these books, that's the most telling picture I can paint for you about my current mental state with regards to this series.
So, rather than plot Sen's death and end the series early, I'm turning off the comments on every new chapter of everything indefinitely. Minimally, the comments won't be back on for any Unintended Cultivator chapters until Volume 10. Maybe, Volume 11. Comments will remain off for the rest of Isekai Terry TOD book 1 and quite possibly through book 2. If I post chapters of some backburner projects, such as Forde Voss, I might leave the comments section on for those.
This will remain in place until I'm back to feeling excited about writing these books again.
Comments
Y'all always gotta ruin good things for us man. I will not tolerate hate against anyone who isnt Li Yi Nuo!
DeathTick
2024-07-02 14:50:17 +0000 UTCSorry to hear that you get so much hate on these chapters. You are writing something that has to be difficult even without the hate. It cant be easy on you writing your character, who at every chance he has is a hero, killing people like this. But war isnt easy. It isnt honorable. It isnt kind. I feel like so many stories give the impression that war is only waged for the "right" reasons. And that the "good" side wont do anything questionable or morally wrong. While I might HOPE your MC has a chance to show mercy. I understand he doesnt have the time to check and make sure every person he runs across is someone he WANTS dead. Sen does the best he can. Thats all any of us can do. And anyone being dicks about it in comments should just fuck off.
Jeremy Patrick
2024-06-27 02:42:05 +0000 UTCIt's your story. Only yours. I would be glad the way you want to finish it. Know why? Because i love the way you develop charachters. They're not black or white. Each one act accordingly the world YOU have created. If someone want a fairy tale, then the problem is not your story. It seems like nowdays all have to be filtered through a "correction" standard. Morality take the lead of reality. We sometimes forget that the world is not always the way we want to be. You take that into account and made your characters way more real. Be proud of your work. And enjoy it until it ends. If you are not having fun end it. I know it goes against my desires but in the end only matters the way and not the destiny. A big hug from Spain!
Santiago Gil de Loño
2024-06-18 13:21:12 +0000 UTCYayay good for you king! Reclaim your passion!
Steph
2024-06-18 07:45:04 +0000 UTCI am enjoying the story, that’s why I’m here. I will admit that I mostly treat the comments as a way to discuss/argue with other readers and not as a means of author feedback, and it is an oversight on my part to ignore how positive/affirming that is for an author to read. Frustrations are just somewhat more naturally motivating to talk about. The story is the story, I have no desire to change or influence it, I’m just happy to read and talk about it.
Draega
2024-06-17 18:51:19 +0000 UTCF*ck people who are hating on you. Don’t get me wrong—Sen disgusts me atm, but I also get why he’s doing what he’s doing. I don’t like it, but it makes complete sense. Most people who have a kid can empathize a little bit—if it is your kid or someone else’s, you will choose yours. If you have a conscience, you will disgust yourself, but you would fo it. At least, I would. So, I understand, even if it turns my stomach. Even if I didn’t understand, I didn’t sign up to read about some one-dimensional sinless hero—I signed up for a good story. That doesn’t mean I have to like the characters all the time. Even if this weren’t the case though, we *still* don’t get to complain. (I study philosophy, and this will probably show here, but bear with me). This is your story, and it is yours to tell. Once we get it, it is ours to read and understand as we wish and have whatever opinions we will. That does *not* entitle us readers to be hateful, or to have *any* say whatsoever in what you write, or to be hateful *because* we don’t get any say in what you write. This is all to say, by all means, turn off the comments and keep them off as long as you need. No one has any right to hate on you and have you listen to it. I hope you will soon be back to waking up in the morning excited to write, but that doesn’t change the bottom line: F*ck people who are hating on you. You just do you and some of us will be here to lap it right up.
Asad haider
2024-06-17 17:52:36 +0000 UTCSen going full Judgment’s Gale as a consequence for others idiotic choices is entirely in character. He acknowledged that this is a crappy situation for both him and the people that might not deserve full Judement’s Gale but their sect started it and he’s ending it in the best way he can
Callie
2024-06-17 17:44:19 +0000 UTCI get it, and although I like to comment sometimes and see what other people think, I'd rather have a good story. This arc seems entirely in character for Sen and doesn't feel like a tonal shift at all. I mean, last book he was executing people by torture using gunpowder in a very public way. And he wasn't happy about it. Sen is driven to do what he believes is necessary, and is frequently not happy about those choices, but part of why I love this story is that he *thinks* about it, accepts the consequences, and acts. So many authors would wimp out and make every opponent a "monster" type villain while having perfectly moral "good guys." I love that you aren't afraid to delve into the things which make conflicts difficult, when the MC and the beautiful foreign princess don't get together or reach an understanding because the genuinely have different values, etc. It makes the whole world feel a lot more alive to me. Thanks for writing and hopefully my last comment until you feel comfortable opening them up again is one filled with positivity. Negative comments can sometimes overshadow the fact that people with negative feelings are more likely to write their complaints while those with positive ones are more likely to read and move on. Do whatever you have to do to keep up the quality, even if it's taking a break, and I'll be here for it. After 9 excellent books you've earned my trust for sure. Thanks!
HunterIV4
2024-06-17 17:05:48 +0000 UTCWhat's weird to me is that little of this is new. In just the last book he wiped out most of a noble house and essentially took the children hostage and made sure they could never gain power. In book 1 or 2 he outright maimed a guy for trying to steal a beast core from him without hesitation. He killed a bunch of people involved in a sect war he had nothing to do with. And he's been killing every bandit he runs across from book 1 to now even if those bandits aren't murderers themselves (or at least Sen doesn't check). The dark themes and hard choices have permeated the story from book 1 all the way to now. Personally, I love this. Most such stories are too afraid to really examine these circumstances. Sen may not always make the right choices, sure, but he thinks deeply about them. He lives in a harsh world, and had a harsh upbringing, and I think a lot of people tend to forget that Sen grew up living on the streets where those in positions of power could easily end his life or at least leave him to die. And his mentors, the people he cares about the most and thinks of as family, are all people that routinely did what Sen is doing right now. I think people thinking this is a "good will" story were reading what they wanted to read, and not the story that Eric was writing. This isn't a criticism of you, but a more general criticism towards people who expect a type of story this clearly isn't.
HunterIV4
2024-06-17 16:59:22 +0000 UTCNo worries, it's easy to forget that you're much more in Sen's head than us. Totally understand it can be bummer. That's probably one of the drawbacks of web novels and having constant feedback. Sometimes you just have to go through it. Good luck, your writing is awesome and take care of yourself, as always.
CentaureHeart
2024-06-17 15:45:29 +0000 UTCTotally agree, I like the arch. The fact it makes me feel sadness watching as he goes thru it is not a bad thing and it’s awesome writing that can provoke emotions consistent with what the character is experiencing. Keep up the great work and I hope you find your passion.
IndyBart
2024-06-17 15:11:17 +0000 UTCEveryone? I think it's only few people. The rest seems to be enjoying this
Mortamir
2024-06-17 15:00:20 +0000 UTCSen's such an awesome character, and he's acting very true to himself. He's clearly very conflicted about doing what needs to be done, but there's very clearly no other way about it. I really like this arch. I binged the whole series and just caught up a few days ago. I'm super excited whenever I see a chapter dropping. I hope you find that excitement again yourself too!
Niklas Høj
2024-06-17 07:28:36 +0000 UTCAgree with a lot of the comments here. This is your story and you foreshadowed him having to do terrible things from the beginning. The problem you suffer from currently is you sucked a lot of readers in with a good will story while Sen was developing as a kid and now it has morphed more adult. …. Zogarth made a chapter post recently at the end of the nevermore arc where he basically told everyone who didn’t like his story to fuck off and that it was his story and he will write what he wants… you should go read that maybe you’ll get a laugh Personally I’ve always thought and used Patreon comments for questioning and guessing at what’s coming next. I think there’s something to be said for grammar corrections and light positive criticism with offers or suggestions of something different but mostly it should just be fandom
gray matter
2024-06-17 07:04:09 +0000 UTCYou should definitely take care of yourself. I think comments are neat for readers and fans to talk to each other or maybe ask clarifying questions, but they are not a good vehicle for feedback, especially when we never see the whole scope of an arc from a single chapter. It's a very modern phenomenon to get this kind of reader reaction mid-story. Usually editors would see a work in whole, or at least many chapters at once. Close friends and family might give feedback, but that's a limited selected group. Even books published chapter by chapter in the olden times would not get responses until the next issue was published. Having immediate response does have an effect on the author and when the chapters are difficult, it's better to get through them and then look over them again as a whole, instead of having distractions from your vision.
Newbie_101
2024-06-17 06:40:22 +0000 UTCI don't comment usually and this would be my first time but I felt really compelled to show my support. Sen is by far one of the most compelling characters I've read not only in the genre but books in general. His introspection and the reality being forced upon him helps me really relate to him and connect with the story on more than a superficial level. I would be heartbroken if the passion and heart that just exudes from both Sen and the story itself were to suffer as a result of readers that can't accept that not every story has to go exactly how they want it to. This is your story. While I'm of the belief that I too wish Sen could find some miracle to defy fate and reality in my more emotional and childish spaces, I am also thoroughly impressed with your writing style and characters and trust your abilities and creativity. Please keep up the great work the writing community would be worse off if you would be influenced by the insecurities of a vocal number of people throwing tantrums anytime you write something not exactly what they hoped for but objectively made the story better.
LooneyDweeb
2024-06-17 04:43:59 +0000 UTCSad to hear it's been getting you down. Hopefully the quiet helps you out.
BelligerentGnu
2024-06-17 04:15:39 +0000 UTCI think you’re taking a reasonable stance on this. I hope you can find your passion again.
Kedrick Hebert
2024-06-17 04:06:14 +0000 UTCDo the things that keep you sane and (hopefully) happy. I’m happy to read wherever the story takes us - I just don’t comment much ;-;
Paperfox
2024-06-17 04:01:39 +0000 UTCSooo.. Let me tell you the same thing I tell every other one of the authors I follow when they run into this issue: It's ok. You can't make everyone happy and to be honest, you really shouldn't try. These are YOUR stories and 99% of us want you to write them for YOU and give us the privilege of following along with you. I had this conversation with Valerios (Road to Mastery) recently. In his last book he did something REALLY controversial and it honestly made most of his readers uncomfortable. To the point I almost dropped the series. I chose to trust him though, went back through the book and found all the inconsistencies and issues that I could and then I kept reading after letting him know so he could adjust things as he needed/ wanted to. All this to say: I trusted him and did my best to help him through the rough and dark part of the story, I trust you and will do my best to help you too. That said: I love this story 100%, I love the depth and thought behind it and I have 0 issues with this sect war. You said it before in a comment somewhere: These peeps get OLD and the only way to keep living is to accept that they aren't really mortal any more and shit needs to be done. Keep at it, ignore the haters and please for the love of all things good and holy keep providing me entertainment and joy. Love you Eric <3
CipherFTW
2024-06-17 04:00:44 +0000 UTCROFL🤣🤣🤣. "I knew this sect war arc wasn't going to be popular with at least part of the readership because they want Sen to be humane, or, at the very least, discriminating in his murderous actions. " This is the part I found most funny. Then, I found this next part also very funny: "I've literally been fantasizing about killing Sen at the end of this book so I can stop writing about him and stop living in a constant negative feedback loop. " I find it funny because it sounds like the tail wagging the dog, although it makes me feel bad that it's so hard for you to write this. I got that feeling when I was reading the last few chapters. Please hang in there. This part will soon be over, and you can return to the Sen we all want to see. Be strong. None of us likes what's happening to him (not even him, himself - yes, he lives in that alternate world), but we'll all get through it together. Hang in there. Remember - most people aren't saying things you yourself don't already know or feel. It's just the "reality" of the story. It may be the author that inscribes the story, but the story exist and is alive and demands to be its true self despite the wishes of the writer. That's how all true stories that present themselves to writers are. Hang in there, please. Don't listen to the naysayers. Be the voice of the story as you have always been.
Joe
2024-06-17 03:33:27 +0000 UTCUnderstandable, but disappointing nonetheless - you're exactly right that commenting is part of the Patreon experience.
Guessed
2024-06-17 03:29:02 +0000 UTCHonestly if you didn’t have Sen killing the Sect it wouldn’t be the same Sen that left the mountain the same Sen that rescued little Ai because now he’s a father he not a cultivator if he let this go not only is he essentially leaving his adoptive daughter to die he’s changing who he is I’m sorry that everyone made you feel this way but you are right this arc needs to happen You’re an amazing writer I hope you keep that in mind 😁😁
Robert Dunaway
2024-06-17 03:04:52 +0000 UTCGood. Full support.
Veronica
2024-06-17 03:00:26 +0000 UTCOr maybe the people bitching should just unsubscribe? It doesn't sound like he hated writing the story until everyone got negative about the MC making decisions that aren't black and white.
Austin
2024-06-17 02:58:57 +0000 UTCI for one have enjoyed every chapter. Sen doesn't make the easy choices he makes the hard ones. If some readers want it to be all sunshine and rainbows where the good guy only has to kill the really bad guys and there are no shades of gray in the main character's moral code they need to go back to reading children's books. Sometimes people are going to die because they live in the wrong area or in this case associated with the wrong sect. Such is war. War is hell, awful, and cruel. Thank you for not romanticizing it.
Thaco4
2024-06-17 02:52:28 +0000 UTCDo you WANT to write the story you are writing? If you genuinely don't like having to write this sect war the way you are writing it, you could always just... not. If you are committed to the direction you've chosen, maybe take a hiatus? Write something lighter for a bit. Though I do think most people would be mollified by Sen going out of his way for some minor act of mercy. Hell, you've already set that up with that cultivator he found in the woods. I think finding out she is alive would be enough for most. But really, maybe you should just take a break from Sen's story to clear your head a bit.
ScarletIce
2024-06-17 02:51:05 +0000 UTCHope you feel better about things soon, I wish you the best and thanks so much for everything you've created, just doing this now since I won't be able to later. Sorry people are being difficult and I hope they regret pushing you to this.
Codered999
2024-06-17 02:41:50 +0000 UTCTotally in agreement and support of you in this.
Kevin Squalls
2024-06-17 02:41:43 +0000 UTCYou do you Eric! I hope that the people realise that this is your world and characters and stop with the negativity and if they wants things differently I think they should try writing books themselves. I love the series and have been following it since the beginning. I appreciate the work you put into these books and hope your mental state improves and you find that excitement for your amazing work! Much love❤️ keep up the great work!💯
Sid
2024-06-17 02:41:38 +0000 UTCIgnore them people. This arc was always going to be coming, especially since he set up his own static base of power/people. He was always gonna have to make an example and it was always going to be a collateral damage filled endeavor with plenty of people dying who might not really deserve it but are inevitable if he is to leave a relatively safe place to live for his daughter after his inevitable ascension. Anyone who didn't see this coming and brace themselves for it is...eh.
Bunny Waffles
2024-06-17 02:41:28 +0000 UTC
