Hey everyone,
I know everyone is hoping for another chapter of their favorite story, but this is something very serious that I need to talk about, so please, humor me if you will. I've been writing fan fiction for nearly five years now. I love doing it, really I do. It's opened up my eyes to the sort of person I want to be and the sort of things I want to do in my life more than any other experience I've ever had. For those of you who don't know, I recently lost my job at Focus Academy. They cut my hours because of a lower population of students, and soon they were paying me less money than the amount I spent on gas to drive there, so I had to quit.
I've moved back in with my parents, and try as I might, work is not coming to me. I'm struggling to find another job, and I'm burning through my savings just to survive. I've asked for donations a few times. I've put up links to my platreon. I even published a couple of books for sale on Amazon. I have over 1,000,000 readers across all of my stories, which is a truly wonderful feeling, but unfortunately, those feelings aren't enough to sustain me.
Lately, I've been focusing more on my original work, trying to get some extra income, as small as it is, wherever I can. Over the last week, I've received half a dozen messages that rudely demand that I write more chapters of whatever story it is they want. Some of them have even reviewed as 'Guests' because they don't feel it's worth the effort to even make an account.
This hurts me, for many reasons. I understand the impatience that comes from not being able to finish a story you enjoy. I know that some of them haven't been updated in almost a year. One's been abandoned altogether. Even still, I don't think that it justifies the rude treatment I've received.
Because of all of these reasons, I'm considering quitting fan fiction. Obviously, this was never about the money. If I could continue writing for free for the rest of my life, I would, because I love doing it. I've asked for help many times across all of my stories. While I understand that not everyone has a job and that many of my readers are younger, it's clear that as much as I care about you guys, the feeling is not mutual.
I want to keep doing this. Really, I do. But right now, I'm literally writing on a 50$ chromebook because I can't afford an actual computer. I'm about to lose my insurance come August, because by then, my parents won't be able to cover me, so I won't be able to get any medication or treatment from doctors if I get sick. I'm not asking you guys to sustain my livelihood. I'm not asking you to pay my bills in full. I'm not even asking you to regularly give me money.
I am begging you all, please. If you really enjoy my work, if you want me to keep writing fan fiction, if you care about me even in the slightest, go to Amazon and get a copy of my book. It's not expensive. A digital copy is only $2.99. That's barely the cost of a cup of coffee. Get the book and leave a review for me, because when you leave a review, Amazon puts it higher on the recommended list and more people see my book, meaning I'm more likely to get sales.
I know a lot of you won't do this, and for those of you who aren't able to, I understand. I'm sorry for having to put everyone in this position, but unfortunately, this is just how it has to be for me. I'm taking a one month hiatus from all fan fiction. If within that month, I get a dozen reviews on my book, I'll keep writing fan fiction and you'll never hear me ask for another penny. If by the end of it, I haven't gotten that much, then I'll have no choice but to quit fan fiction all together and move on.
Genuinely, I hate doing this. I don't want to quit fan fiction, but at the rate things are going, I won't be able to survive soon. My parents are evicting me in a year. I'm still looking for a job, and as I said, I don't intend on having my readers sustain my lifestyle of choice. As it stands right now though, I don't have a choice anymore.
If you want to help me, if you want me to keep writing fan fiction, my book is called Warren High: An Elephant Never Forgets. I write under the name J. C. Roberts. You can get a digital copy in any country through Amazon, and it's only $2.99 USD. Please, everyone, I'm at the end of my rope, and this is the only option I have left.
Thank you for your understanding,
Kiba Elunal