公交车上翁熄系列

Chapter 158: New Chapter {Update}

Hi folks, a lot has happened so I just wanted to keep you updated. Also, this post will address many things, and depending on what type of reader you are — it may not be pleasant to you. What I will say is that it’s not cruel, but important to hear so stick with it.

First things first, the series isn’t dead. I wasn’t able to sustain the “work and pray” support model that many deem appropriate in this day and age. Because of this, I had to take a serious look at how I spent my time and energy.

The result is that I’m in a slightly better place, but still it may take a year or two of solid effort in order to say I’m “comfortable” financially.

When I first began, I just wanted a career change. I also I had some misconceptions about writing web novels in general. The biggest was that, if most of the people who enjoy my work supported me (even a little), I would be able to do this freely all of the time. I thought that, if I just did the right thing and put the work out there — people would support without the need to keep selling them on it. Sadly that’s not how reality works.

There are some who accuse me of paywalling content, despite the fact that I hardly even ask people to support on ******* anymore. To that I say, you may have an unrealistic idea of how the average writer’s finances are set up. I’ll give you a very specific example using my own work. This fiction has over 2 million reads across multiple platforms along with over 20,000 followers, many of them coming from this app alone.

If just 10% of the people who regularly read MSS across all platforms (so about 2,000 of you) could afford 2$ a month on my work, it would generate enough for me to eat, pay my bills and begin the process of making a free-to-read MSS manga. 2 dollars is a tiny amount, and it would generate that much. Numerically speaking, that’s about 4,000$ per month which sounds like a lot–until you consider working from home is my only source of income. In short, if my endeavors with writing and development don’t bear fruit, it puts me in the realm of poverty. (A desolate place without delicious vittles to partake of. I hate it here XD )

Actually, if just 10% of the readers supported MSS for a single month / single time donation of 2$, I’d be in a much better place than I am now. I’d be able to buy a new PC to make better content and immediately begin the process of creating without the lingering anxiety of “life”. Unfortunately, for whatever reason – that’s just not the reality.

Instead, this fiction, which is apparently liked by many people , generates about 300$ a month from a small rag-tag band of 60 well loved people. People that, have unbeknownst to them, won copious amounts of my respect and admiration — so much so that my meager words can’t really do it justice.

But truth be told, this situation was largely my fault. I relied a bit too much on the idea that if i just made something entertaining / interesting, people would support it. Perhaps, even though you read, you simply don’t feel it’s worth investing in. That’s also a possibility, whatever the reason —

My ideas on how things might play out were a fairy tail and reality vs expectations rarely ever line up. It’s been a firm and sobering reminder of how far I still have to go. Now onto why I value those 60+ people so much.

I never said anything during the time of crisis, but for a 4-6 month time period, I was living off the money this fiction generated. 300$ a month, for 4-6 month time period. Food, bills, gas money– no luxuries, car maintenance, life expenses– you name it. Just 300$, all while desperately trying to keep up with my creative responsibilities, it was as scary as it sounds. They helped me with that, and I will essentially love them forever for it. To me the worth of that 300$, that genuine amount is, in some ways better than the 1,000, 2,000 or 4,000.

I don’t say any of this to guilt any of you, but I think many people don’t really have the insight to look outside themselves sometimes. And occasionally they need other people to help them see the points they are overlooking.

If money was truly my objective, I’d have taken an approach geared to building patron counts from the start. Much like many of the more financially successful people who started around the same time I did.

I mention this also, because it’s relevant to the pause in public chapters. It also brings up another topic that I’d like to address. A small portion of my readers. People who read freely, yet don’t contribute, and still complain about things.

To you, I want to say, you have absolutely no idea how much I’ve struggled, agonized, hurt, fought with and pushed myself to continue this work. To be productive during times that would normally cause most people to break down or give up. Maybe if you did, you’d be a bit more careful with the words you speak, a bit more thoughtful in how you approach things.

I say all this because I need to give you an idea of what many of your authors struggle with just to be creatives nowadays on this and any other services. And generally for pennies. This is just a whisper of the voice they can’t speak. The price of “freemium content” is steep and rarely ever does it pay off. The vast number of us don’t get deals, or have our work made into manga or anime without losing a great deal in return. That’s why I work so hard to make it happen with my own two hands.

Some of you may say “get contracted”, but after doing some research I will just say it’s not an option for me.

Since reality wasn’t matching up to the challenges I face, I had to change the way I do things. I gritted my teeth, added even more to work load (to the point that many days, I thought I just might break) and did the best I could. That meant making some sacrifices with my time and energy, and naturally this slowed development on MSS. I went from 3-6 chapters a day, to 6 chapters a week if I really try.

I dropped some stories, put some light novels on hiatus(I even had to close my light novel store altogether, due to lack of fees) and adopted projects that allow me to better create even a tiny bit more income.

It’s still not anywhere near enough, but the situation is improving.

In summary, for those of you wondering why / where the fiction went until now ; until my financial situation normalizes, I have to be a more selfish and purposeful with my time and energy. In a perhaps more idyllic world, the project would be self sustaining — but that’s just not reality.

I grow and learn, like you do. I streamlined my work, sometimes to my own chagrin. Done analytics, ran ads with money I truly didn’t have to spend, done foot work, removed some fictions entirely, in favor of moving them to marketplaces where I may at least get a penny or two for the hundreds of pages I’ve written. I’ll continue to do my best, and work towards the freedom I seek to create — and then share it with you. That’s the story of why there are less chapters, but as for when they will return–

For those of you still reading, thank you for being a fan of MSS. Thanks for listening and understanding. I’m happy to inform you that MSS will return to public chapter releases in January of 2022.

Maybe by this time next year, we will all be able to enjoy some manga chapters. I’ll definitely be doing my best to get there.

– Ren