Um… hi?

Yeah, it's been a while, hasn't it? Most of you were expecting a new chapter of A Beaten Path, but… I'm sad to say this isn't the case. I just have a few words to say, so if you are willing enough to read through this update, I'll be most glad.

I have already posted on my profile page some time ago that A Beaten Path will no longer be updated with a less-than-satisfactory explanation, and I think you deserve more than just 'write myself into a corner' type of an answer.

The way I approached A Beaten Path is probably very similar to other people when they start writing any type of fanfiction. Just post a chapter with very little polish and structure and see how it will perform, then decide whether to continue or not. Sometimes you get lucky to have an audience, no matter how small, and sometimes you don't. I was lucky enough to have a relative audience of readers that actually liked the fic, and while I'm glad you enjoyed what I wrote, I honestly can't bear reading through even my first chapter.

Since the premise of the fic, being an SI, is very simple in nature, it was very easy to get into, but A Beaten Path has many flaws that are extremely transparent to me that it became more and more discouraging to write more of it. Maybe you didn't notice these flaws because the enjoyment overshadowed said flaws, but from a writer's perspective, these problems slowly add up before the whole story crumbles right in front of you.

Too many plotholes to fill, way too much set up for very late pay-off, adding unnecessary complications that don't make the story more compelling, the main character is boring, edgy, and sometimes very unrealistic in nature, convenient situations that 90% of the time favor the main character. I could go on and on with how I wanted my power fantasy to come true, but if I wanted to grow as a writer, these predictable and, dare I say, childish desires need to take the backseat. That doesn't mean I'm saying 'story must be mature, and dark' and all kinds of other adjectives, but to rely on easy-to-execute forms of storytelling and never try experimenting with other ideas feels like I'm blocking myself from growing as a writer.

Now, does that mean I hate A Beaten Path because of these flaws?

Short answer: No.

Long answer:

A Beaten Path has shown me what works and what doesn't. It was my form of entry into the world of fanfiction that I am honestly not going to leave anytime soon, and I'm grateful for what it provided me. Knowledge, understanding, and most of all, to be proud of what you've accomplished.

I was never expecting A Beaten Path to reach such a big view count and following that it almost overwhelmed me at first, but then I found the passion for a hobby I was honestly not prepared for. The chapters probably suffered for it because I was just hoping for those numbers to get bigger and bigger with time without trying to put out a story that would be enjoyable. Granted, those numbers wouldn't be there if people didn't like the story, but I digress.

With that in mind, A Beaten Path is officially closing its doors indefinitely, and never to be updated again. The promise I gave you back then that I was going to complete A Beaten Path is just a giant slap in the face for both you and me. I was trying to finish something I was wholly unprepared for, and for that, I apologize, even if this apology isn't enough to fix the problem.

Now, where does that leave us?

Well, if we discount the fact that A Beaten Path will never update again, there is a project I was, and still am, working on that is for the Fire Emblem community. Yes, I'm coming back to my roots with something that is much more polished, and something I am very excited to bring to you. I'm not going to spoil anything about what the project is other than it will be an Awakening fanfiction, to bring a much-needed remedy for the disaster that was A Beaten Path.

If you're hoping for Radko to appear there, I'm going to rip that bud right here because he will not be the main character. If you did enjoy Radko as a character and were mostly reading A Beaten Path just because of him, then An Adventurous Path is the fic for you. It is set in a Pokémon world and I know I'm bringing a different fandom here, but Radko's home is in the Pokémon world.

Ironic, isn't it?

Anyway, if you got here, then I'm happy you've read through this update and are willing to put up with me, because I have a hard time doing that myself.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your involvement in making me a better writer and be ready for the 13th of December when the fic, Extra Branch, is going to come out with a whole slew of updates for my other stories.

God's speed.