Big Author Update

Howdy folks,

So, this is the big author update I promised. A matching update will strike RR today, which is a little against how I like to do things, but as the message is the same, I see it as worth it.

I know some can't be bothered, so I put a tl'dr at the bottom.

So, how's the story so far? I'm hoping you're enjoying it to the utmost. Between both RR and Patreon, I've seen some comments circling a few ideas and plot elements within the story, and for the most part I agree with you. That's why I try to warn everyone at the start that this is a rough draft. Pacing issues. Side, side characters disappearing (though that's a little normal). Ability integrations not getting a closer look. I know I bounce back and forth between Guild Master and Guildmaster...honestly, it's bad. But I'm trying!

I see the comments and for the most part, agree. But that's what the editing and publishing stages are for.  By the time my stories hit here, they've gone through the following process:

1. Planning (loose)

2. Drafting

3. Second look edits

4. Beta-reader edits

So you all see it on the 4th pass. Then, when I'm preparing for publishing, my beta readers and I go through the comments and pick out anything that we agree with, then it hits the Patreon edits (5th pass) RR edits (6th pass), a secondary look by myself which is #7, then edit 8 with the beta reader, edit 9 for copyeditor, and finally edit 10 with the typesetter. And voila! You have a well-edited book. It takes a very, very long time to get a book ready for publishing.

To the point that sometimes I want to tear my hair out. Wait, I'm already balding...tear my tee- never mind. 

Now, aside from that, QuestWright book one has reached its epilogue after chapter 69 (huehue). Currently, the standard rate is 3$ a month, but as my chapter count should quickly grow in size, that will change.

I've always tried to keep the cost low because I wasn't producing that many chapters or staying ahead of RR too far into the future. But the moment I hit 25 chapters in advance, that's when the price increase will come. So, it'll hit 10$ a month, which I've been reliably informed by virtually every author I know to be the standard. There is an additional reason for this below.

As for the tiers, I'm going to probably change the names to fit generality better, being tier 1, 2, and 3. The ranks above one will mostly be vanity, though I'll keep the spoiler chat channels open for those who went above and beyond. Also, I'll likely keep the merchandise thing I've been doing (hope you enjoy your stickers).

As for those of you currently at the 3$ limit. Which is, you know, just about everyone lol. It'll stay there as long as you're subscribed to the legacy tier. However, the moment you leave it, that's it. And I wish there were a way for me to say a bigger thank you. Video? Would you guys even want to see my ugly mug? I'll do it if you wish.

My goal is to get QuestWright 50 chapters ahead here, which is lofty, but I hope to hit in the early summer. We shall see. While I'm writing QuestWright, I'm also planning my next series, "The Man Who Chose the End" (title may change).

It's a LitRPG Apocalypse with a ton of worldbuilding and my own personal flair, and I've taken a great deal of inspiration for it from one of my favorite anime. In fact, I took inspiration for this story from my FAVORITE anime in the world. I doubt anyone will guess it.

The next series will be my first time writing in first-person POV, which I am currently practicing. This doesn't mean I'm not writing QuestWright, obviously, or planning things out. Things will continue as usual, and I plan on a large number of extra chapters to head your way over the next month. But as I continue this story, plotting and planning another series simultaneously helps me avoid burnout.

And now we get to the real reason I'm increasing the $ amount of Patreon in the future.

I'm tired. Not tired of writing (never), I'm tired from my job. I know this is going to sound silly, but I KEEP GETTING PROMOTED.

I'm an English teacher at the moment, and because I've done so well over the last few years, they keep promoting me to higher positions that give me a far greater burden in terms of stress and time, while giving me no increase in pay. In fact, I'm technically making less right now.

To top it off, the eSports team I coach is doing so well that I'm having to attend tournaments all the time, which is also limiting my writing. Add in that taxes are crazy, my hair is graying at a rate visible to the naked eye, and my kids are getting older, and... yeah. 

It's not the writing doing me in, it's the teaching. Last summer, I wrote 30 chapters in 25 days. The main reason I only do two chapters a week is that's all I have the time and energy for.

Times are tough, and as I told my agent (I got an agent), I really, really want to write full-time. This is the thing I've always wanted to do, since the 5th grade, in fact, and the main reason I got a degree in English.

So, what I'm about to say is going to sound very needy.

Book 2 Kindle (and Unlimited); Book 2 Paperback; Book 2 Audible

The second book in the Symphony series kicked off on Amazon today. It's free on Kindle Unlimited, cheap on Kindle (5.99$ while book 1 is 4.99$), and is also on Audible, narrated by Johnathan McClain. I could put the whole blurb in here, but it may not make any sense without me first breaking down how the story works.

Book 1 in the series is a focus on the MC; Walker Reed. It shows how the Alpha Protocol works, what systems are involved, his assistants, the gods, and the first two battles of the Creator Wars. I threw in somewhere around 85 pop-culture and litrpg references there, but not many people have seen them. I've always felt like you need to work for your references, not have them shoved in your face. 

Book 2, on the other hand, is a closer look at how to treat a civilization you brought up from nothing. It's also a deep dive into building Systems, managing your Assistants, and world-building on a cosmic scale. So, if QuestWright is city-building, Symphony is world-building. Literally. There are fewer references here, about 59, but they're still around. Hidden in plain sight. 

Side note: I always thought my audience would transfer from Symphony to QuestWright, since I have almost as many followers in both, but that hasn't been the case, which is quite curious to me. 

But I digress.

I'm sincerely asking everyone to try my books. Every page turned in Kindle Unlimited helps a great deal, and I will say, the paperback copies are absolutely stunning in person. In fact, maybe we'll do a little contest. The last one didn't go so well, but I'm open to ideas for a new one. Get a few signed copies out there. If you think of something, splash it in the comments, and I'll respond.

Lastly, and this is the real plea, even if it's someone else's book you're reading on Amazon, please, PLEASE, leave a review rather than a rating. It can be incredibly short, but it matters. Something strange is going on at Amazon, and very few of my author buddies are seeing any kind of reviews or ratings right now. It's honestly hurting them long-term, as if a book has fewer than 100 reviews, people tend to skip it.

So, to sum up with a tl;dr:

Patreon charges going up once we hit 25 chapters ahead. (a while out) 

QuestWright book 2 is planned and in draft now.

Next series is on the far horizon

Author guy is exhausted from work, not writing

New book is out, and he'll cry if you don't read it (as will the squirrels)

Maybe a signed book contest

If you're reading/listening on Amazon, please leave written reviews

And just like that, my largest-ever author update is complete. I hope I didn't come off as too needy. I just want to get to a place where I can write full-time and expand how often my chapters hit for you all to enjoy. I know there are other people out there who work and still spit out five chapters a week, but I don't understand how they do it, and I think that would literally kill me with my 12-hour average workday. 

Thank you very, very much for reading QuestWright, and I hope you're all enjoying the holidays.

P.s. the next city is called Liberty (until my betareaders fight me)