I'd like your input, please. · 5:25am Jun 3rd, 2014
To make this gif more applicable to the post, assume that it is metaphorical, and that Celestia represents me, and the letters represent all of the ideas I generally have in one hour while considering just one or two major things.
The reason the title is what it is is because I realize not too many of you still take the time to give my bloggings here a look over, so I'm hoping a more interactive title will encourage people to read what I'm about to say, and lead to some feedback on the matter. Not that I mind, I'd just like some input on this one.
Please do read this, as it's a bit important to the future of my writing. I understand that it's pretty lengthy, but what blog have I ever written that wasn't?
It is my intention (and has been for some time) to finalize the establishment of a personal website for hosting my writings. A silly thing to do, to be sure, considering that in terms of writings ready for internet publication, I have very few. As anyone who's even momentarily touched web design can tell you, there is no point in hosting a media website which has no media.
Which is precisely why I have been hard at work planning for (yes, planning, a word you have never heard me use) multiple stories to release with my website. I have many options, all of them original works of fiction with no cross-over type content. Some of that may come into play later when the website is established, but we'll have to see.
This is where the input comes in. I firstly need to try and get a feel for whether or not creating a website would do me any favors: that is, if anyone truly thinks they would follow me off-site to continue reading my works. For those of you who have been die-hard followers of my stories, I have no doubt that you would most likely to a one say yes.
It is worth mentioning that unless I do invest in creating a website for this purpose, nobody will likely see any of my further works unless a major one (such as my rehashing of Visionary) sees actual publication, or I backtrack through this blog to notify fans of the original when it is completed. My major stories will be worked on and continued regardless of whether a site seems like a good idea or not, obviously.
That is to say that any and all other future writings are exclusives, and would not likely be posted anywhere at all without a site of my own.
As you all know, I enjoy writing first and foremost. I will write, even when I have nowhere to shelf what I pen. The voices in my head are fairly loud and sleepless, and simply will not allow me to quit. Yet, as much as I simply love writing, reading, and reliving my own adventures, I enjoy it even more when I am able to share those journeys with other people who wish to read them. I greatly enjoy the idea of being able to share my works with whoever will have them.
Works posted to my website would mostly be in short-format. That is to say, they would be similar in length and structure to my previous works here: not formal full-length novels by any stretch. Of course, just like my works here, all of the content posted there would be absolutely free to viewers. I don't expect to be paid for a hobby I enjoy.
That also means that you would not be able to see my most major ideas posted as writings there. Full-scale novel-type stories that I intend to complete are destined to pass or fail at publication, one way or the other. Most publishers will not touch anything with a free-media alternative, so until I know whether such larger stories might see the seller's rack in a bookstore or not, I can't realistically post them to the website like the other content.
I have no fewer than five potential stories intended as release content for the site, if or when it becomes a reality. They branch a wide range of settings, timelines, and genres. So far you have each and every one of you only seen me try my hand at romance and adventure, and I'm prepared to show you that I am capable of much more than that. Sci-fi, mystery, pure-action, and many more are exciting new prospects for me to try my hand at, and as always feedback would be a blessing on my works in those areas as I strive to improve.
I require no financial investments of any sort: for the time being, I am confident I could host the website without needing to rely on a user-base for funding. I'm also perfectly capable of designing my website personally, so there are no development costs. The only investment I require from anyone is their interest in seeing my stories continue. I would be lying if I said this wasn't going to cost me anything. Time and money are both factors, and as much as I would like to do it regardless, I simply can't unless I know that the service would be appreciated and used.
In addition to hearing whether or not you think a website is worth my time, and yours, I have one other question. Would you rather see me post updates on the website, and use it as a "live" posting ground for subsequent chapters on my shorter works... or would you rather see completed works only there? The answer obviously impacts the release date of the website, assuming it appears to be a good investment.
If you would like the stories to be posted in completed form only, the website's development project will be pushed back. After all, as mentioned, there would be no point in creating the website until I had already written a significant number of completed stories to host there. I know that many people sit on both sides of the issue: some enjoy the tension of waiting for updates, and some do not.
If you would not mind rolling updates to the content, then the website can be released much sooner, and you can read the works as they are developed. Of course, most of you are familiar with the risks you take with an author, myself in particular, when this method gets used. The most obvious is that updates may come slowly or sometimes not at all for content. One option offers security for you as a reader and one does not, which makes it seem like a very simple choice. However, viewing content as it updates offers me as the writer many advantages: flexibility and an increase in reader feedback per-chapter being chief among them.
As a writer, it's obvious which I would choose. However, as a web developer (in this case) I need to consider which would be most useful to my users/readers.
You needn't read any further if you don't want to from this point on, but I'll include some additional details for both options of "presentation". Before you change windows away from this blog though, please do take the time to let me know if you would enjoy the existence of a website for me to host works on, and how you would like to see them hosted.
For the more rigid, completed-stories-only format, there is very little to say. It's stable, works that I have posted are guaranteed to be immune to hiatus and cancellation because it's strictly not possible, obviously. As I mentioned, it's advantages are clear and simple to understand from a reader point of view. It is, of course, very inconvenient to me, as it prevents me from announcing content ahead of time (because it would defeat the purpose if I later did not complete it) and takes away your influence as users. You would only have access in this situation to whatever I happened to write to completion, and you would be unable to voice concerns on a per-chapter basis unless I did extensive post-editing.
For the rolling-updates format, it is significantly more complicated, for various reasons. For me it is much simpler: I am able to post whatever I like, just like old times. For you as a reader it's also convenient, as it allows you to comment on the story as it moves forward and let your opinions be heard. It also makes it easier for me to act on said-feedback, as post-editing a single chapter for something is much simpler than post-editing an entire story. The drawbacks in this situation should be obvious, of course. Update deadlines could be missed, stories discontinued while in progress: I've never made guarantees in my history of writing here or anywhere, and while I'm certain that's off-putting to more than a few people, that's simply how I work. I would not expect things to change, and so this method carries much of the same risks as following me here on FimFiction did.
That about sums it up. I could go on to give updates on all my other projects, but on top of being classified, I am sure I have bored you all enough. For those of you who read this far, or at all, I salute you. Again, let me know what you think.
Checking in monthly, as promised,
Aaron.
I think that, really, it all depends. Maintaining a website is a costly venture, and many resort to ads to see its upkeep. If you post only completed works, then you would see less traffic, thus less income. If you make it for each chapter, then you would have much more traffic as people check back often. Personally, I would make it for uncompleted works. The only reason is because it would be the most logical conclusion if you want the site to stay up without making too much of a draw on your bank account.
Welp... that is my two bits. Good luck with whatever you do, I'll be watching...
pinkie.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/rsz/mlfw4654_large.jpg
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[Joke font-type not found] Pleased to know you're just as much of a creeper as your profile picture suggests. (2 spooky)
Your opinion definitely makes a great deal of sense, no doubt about that. Still, I'm not terribly worried about tackling a funding issue until I know whether or not it's going to happen, or if it will be beyond my means when it does. My research currently shows that I can handle it out of pocket, at least for startup and a year's worth of hosting. I would perform any database editing or website updates manually, so additional services some hosts offer wouldn't need to be included in the cost, and text is a very minimal data type, so storage isn't a pressing concern either, really.
I personally would follow your works of writing off-site, though, this is mostly because I consider you a friend, not to mention an excellent author. I personally would prefer rolling updates as I believe that this gives people something to look forward to and a reason to visit the site frequently.
2170073 Well, the great thing about using a different website to host your work other than FIMfic is that you can reach out beyond the fanbase you have here. Especially if you write other things than horse stories about Book Horse and her Horsey Friends. If you do make a new site to host your work, I'll definitely check it out.
I would advise a little bit of both. Launch the website with a few completed works, and every so often, post a completed work as a surprise of sorts. Perhaps for special events, or other such things. Perhaps for more serious ventures.
Ongoing work is the bread and butter of the internet though, so abandoning that isn't a good idea.
Perhaps spit up your site into three sections. Ongoing Serials, Completed Serials, and Full Works.
Anyway, that's my beef. Good luck!
I will admit, I do like your writing, and I am a bit interested as to what you’ve been up to. I could argue that I stopped reading web comics, but that has much more to do with my preferred browser not supporting RSS feeds than anything else.
Like Jess887p said, do both. Choose a project that's the closest to completion and complete it, post it so readers who are new to your works can have an idea of your writing.
Then rate the remaining stories in order of how much confidence and drive you have to complete them and pick one to post and update over time until completion. Then rinse and repeat with the other stories.
Granted, it is your hobby and as such, it is your choice to make. So aside from my two cents, good luck and good fortune in both your writing and your life.
I'd most definently follow you and your work off site and see any and all of your work you are willing to let us see
I would follow you off-site. I'm generally more concerned with the quality of the writing as opposed to the content. You have proved that you write with quality.
Also, ongoing stories would be preferred.
I would follow your works on this (currently) hypothetical site. I enjoy your writing too much not too.
As to update format I'm leaning towards rolling updates, as even though I enjoy complete works equally I'm far too susceptible to archive binging.
I would love to see your work, and would personally prefer to see the rolling updates style.
I will gladly follow you and your works off-site. And I think the rolling updates would work the best, but, as previously mentioned, release the site with at least one finished work.
Also, you're blogs aren't boring! I look forward to them every month
I have nothing more to say really that I will be happy in any way as long as it's your story :P
Wheres the TLDR version? Cause all I got from skimming was that things are fine, and you don't need help...
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I don't supply TLDR versions, you know better, lol.
I would follow you. I think rolling updates would be best for you, and I personally don't mind waiting between chapters, and sometimes love the tension it creates. It will also increase the amount of site traffic. I check daily on sites I know for a fact only update once a week.
2171289 The fact you remember me, amazes me
I'd follow you to Site B where the Dinos actually get made.
It feels weird to say "Yeah, do it" when I know it will cost you money+effort and cost me nothing. But I do want to keep reading what you're willing to share. By the time I got around to reading your stuff, most of it was done, so I didn't partake in the suspense of waiting for new chapters. But I'm totally willing to go with that route and advertisements if it makes the process on your end easier. Uncertainty is a fucking pittance to pay for good fiction.
... I like following stories as they update.
TL;DR: Only just found you, sad you're going elsewhere. Still interested in following you.
Short story long: I only found the story "Visionary" today, and after a brief purview of it, and a full on archive binge
, it turns out I not only enjoy your writing, but want more. Who knew? I'm quite eager to see what kind of stories you can turn out when you try your hand (and pen) at free-form worlds of your own madn... I mean design. 
Not really, no. Let's be honest here, it's madness, and I'm no stranger to it. The only way I personally manage to stem the tide of words that stream through my mind every waking moment is by feeding them other tales and excellent stories.
So keep sharing your writing please, if only to silence my own gibbering demons of inspiration.
Either way, I wish you only the best of luck in your endeavors.