Hey guys, it's me, LDSAuthor2013. I'm certain that you're all eager to hear what the next chapter of Bleach: Rewrite the Past, or Dragon Wars, or one of my other stories, is going to have in store for you. But, sadly, I have nothing I can read to you today. However, I do have something to tell all of you. So please, do me a favor, and read this passage.
It all began just under two years ago, back in December of 2012. I was trying to find something to do to pass the time, seeing as most of the classes I was taking back then were already winding down for the holidays. As with most times when I find myself bored and alone, my mind slowly drifted into the back of my mind that I call 'the plot notebook'. After a few minutes of mindlessly wandering, I came across a simple 'what if-' plot. Deciding I had nothing better to do, I started writing it.
By the time my first chapter was finished, I was fairly proud of my work, and decided to have my younger, yet equally nerdy sisters read it and tell me what they thought. Their comments were mostly positive, though they mentioned that I had made some slight errors throughout the script. However, the one comment that was the most impressive to me was when my youngest sister told me;
"You know, Zack, this is really good…you should think about publishing it on Fanfiction."
I believe my response to that was;
"…what…?"
I had never even heard of this! An internet site where people could post their own renditions of their favorite stories and fandoms?! What was next, a blog site dedicated completely to nerds and fandoms?! A site built just for aspiring artists, comics, and storytellers?! My mind was blown away, because I had been writing what I now knew were 'fanfictions' for most of my life, and now all of a sudden, I had the ability to publish them, on the internet, for all the world to see?!
Needless to say, I just about knocked my sisters off the couch in a body slam, grabbed the family laptop which all four kids had to share, and started setting up my own account. I decided to publish my first story, "Bleach: Reset the Clock", under the alias "ShirosakiEspada0", due to the fact that I was a devoted Bleach Fan.
It wasn't long afterword that I got my first review;
"Wow, this is an amazingly written and well thought-out story idea! I can't wait to see what else you have in store for us!"
My whole world changed with that review, and the many others that soon followed. All my life, I had been craving the satisfaction of well-earned praise, and aside from my marching band performances and my grades, I hadn't achieved much in my life. And now, on the internet, from a person I don't even know, I was getting that praise.
I decided to write more.
And I was glad I did.
"Bleach: Reset the Clock" took off like a bullet, gaining followers, favoriters, reviewers, and even communities faster than I could have ever expected. I was blown away by how many people actually liked my style of writing, and wanted me to continue with it.
What really blew me away was that, after a few chapters were published, I received a Private Message, my first Private Message ever, from a person known as "Noveljoy". They were an agent from a major internet publishing site called Noveljoy, and they asked me to join their cast of authors. I didn't accept right away, but that was mostly because I was blown away by the offer. Still, I decided to check the site out, and see what they had in store for someone like me.
After "Bleach: Reset the Clock" had a fairly large following under its belt, I decided to slack off on the updates for it, and turned my attention to reading other fanfictions, and maybe writing some of my own. I didn't know what I was going to write first, or how I was going to write it. That is, until I met 'The Legends'.
First it was AnimeFan215, a crazy fanfiction writer who loved romance, Pokemon, and epic video games. I fell in love with his fanfictions "School Isn't So Bad" and "Living a Life of Almost Luxury", and actually based two of my fanfictions off of them; "Life Happens Like That" and "Foxy Tutoring", respectfully.
Then, I ran across SpartanLemons and BlitzSarceus, the tag-team duo. I loved BlitzSarceus's story "Sarceus's Pokemon Journey", and was captivated by the dark, twisted tale of SpartanLemons' "Legendary Champions". I actually attempted to write my own version of "Legendary Champions", but it unfortunately failed.
I tried writing these stories, as well as another Pokemon Fanfiction, based in my own original region, for quite a while. I received quite the following, and along the way made many good friends. But the stress of writing for so many stories was quickly getting to me, and in the summer of 2013, I decided to delete all of my stories, take a break, and return to a new, fresh start.
I was glad that I did. As "LDSAuthor2013", I received more followers and favoriters than I ever could as ShirosakiEspada0. I rewrote my first fanfiction as "Bleach: Rewrite the Past", and it became even more successful than its predecessor, and it had half as many chapters! I started writing collaborations with other writers, and quickly gained some of the best internet friends I could ever ask for.
The two best by far would have to be Sexy Blaziken Girl and BoatingTurtle. SBG had written some of my past requests for me, such as "Brendan's Gijinka Adventures in Hoenn", and soon we started a collaboration story called "Breaking Free", which I can honestly say is one of the greatest stories I have ever had the chance to write. And BoatingTurtle, the crazy, young writer, quickly became one of my closest of fans, as I became a close fan of him. We helped each other grow as writers, with our collaboration "Zac's X and Y Adventure" being the pinnacle of our abilities.
It truly was the best of times.
But after some time, something happened.
Some of my friends on fanfiction stopped updating. Some, such as Dirtonimon, were forced to remove their fanfictions from the site, and actually leave. I haven't heard from BlitzSarceus in almost a year, the same with SpartanLemons. AnimeFan215 seemed to have jumped ship as well, his updates becoming scattered and few in number. I was worried, where was everyone going, and why was I suddenly, once again, all alone?
The final blow, though, was when I heard my best friend, BoatingTurtle, was leaving because Critics United was forcing all of his closest of friends and idols to leave the site. I've made this decision, and I will not change from it;
In two years, after I have returned from my mission in Colorado, I will not be returning to Fanfiction. This site has become overrun with thugs, brutes, and trolls. I for one will not stay here any longer, waiting quietly for my eviction notice to come after me as well. If you want to change my mind, there is a poll on my profile asking if you want me to stay, or leave. Otherwise;
I'm leaving.
Thanks for the memories everyone, and if you want to continue to hear from me, you can check me out in two years time on Fictionpress, ArchiveOfOurOwn, or NovelJoy. Until then, this is, sadly;
Goodbye.
Signed—
Zachary Steven Weber
aka LDSAuthor2013
aka ZSWAuthor2014
aka ShirosakiEspada0