Versatile: Alternate World

This is an author's note and it is not part of the story of the novel, Versatile: Alternate World. If you are not interested in what I wanted to say, then don't bother unlocking it, it's just a rambling of mine and it is long. Skip to the next chapter if you want to continue.

Alright, with that said...

Hello readers, it's me. I know it's a very long time since I have interacted with my readers. I am not denying that I have been pretty much inactive in it as I am not as free as I used to be. It's pretty much a struggle to even create one chapter nowadays so I guess it's not a pleasant thing either.

Anyways, to all the readers who have been with me from ups and lows, I sincerely thank you all for reading this little piece of crap that I made. And yes, it's indeed quite a crap if I must say so myself.

First and foremost, why I am writing this? And this far already in the story, shouldn't I publish this at the beginning? Nah, this is needed since I am also discussing some spoiler stuff that only those who have reached this far will be able to understand. Also, to address the story's direction because even I, seemed to have been straying too far.

To be honest, this story should have ended for quite a while. I don't intend to make a long story that features online games and VR elements. It's hard to specialize in that since I mostly write more on fantasy or dark stories. I know that this story is still considered a fantasy story but since it involves a game, it's getting pretty limited, to be honest, and the genre has been too oversaturated already that I can see many other novels with VR stuff or online games stuff.

At first, it was fun to create especially with world-building but soon enough, I realized that it wasn't as good as expected. Since I centered the story on an MMORPG VR game, that involves stats, progression, and other MMO stuff you can see. It occurred to me too late when I started to compile data on progression, especially the slow leveling gimmick of the Versatile Class, and honestly, that is one of the worst mistakes I have ever done.

Just a little tidbit about me, I hate Math to the absolute core of my being. Perhaps due to some little trauma left on me due to the teachers that handled that subject that made me detest the subject a lot. Don't worry, I don't hate simple math and simple equations but the moment it involves a bit deeper calculation, it is now something I didn't like to do.

So when it came to the point where I will be showing the stats of the protagonist, I realized that mistake a lot. If I have made a normal fantasy story without the twist of the VR and MMO, I wouldn't even be stuck creating statistics for the character every time he levels up. I know statistics are the most important part to make a story about MMORPG as that also shows how strong or weak the main character is.

That should be the time I decided to abandon showing the statistics of the protagonist as I can't deal with it anymore. Yeah, yeah, I know but I am also busy with my life and I don't have much luxury to waste my time calculating stuff here and there, compiling it, making another calculation and making another statistic about it then putting it on the story that barely contributes to the progress of the story flow.

Maybe that is also the main reason I am slowly converting the first few chapters into new chapters as they are too bad for my reading process and I am even having a little stroke just by reading a few passages. I know the new ones are not that much different and there are some flaws here and there but at least it is not as dogcrap as before.

Stress is also taking a toll on me. Not only because I am bad at writing a story that involves MMORPG, but I also have to make new chapters for the readers. It's a taxing task for someone like me who barely plays any MMORPG. Yeah, I do play them, but with most of my time consumed in making scenarios and making stories, finding the time to play an MMORPG is very hard and time-consuming as well. Not only that but to play more, you need to have a commitment as well to progress.

I still play games right now as well but something that is not as committed as MMO games. I am currently playing the SMT games and Persona games at the moment, plus Muse Dash and Project Zomboid as well which are games I can play in my leisure and put down without the need to come back to play due to some unmissable stuff that will be gone if I didn't play. Might be one of the reasons I stopped playing Genshin lol.

There are also times I get sick or just not motivated to make any chapters so for those readers who purchased some privilege on this novel, I salute you guys for sticking with me even with my irregular updates. Thanks to you guys, I can save up money to buy a new computer to upgrade the broken laptop that  I am still using today and to also aid with my expenses at home, although, this is usually not enough.

To be honest, I am surprised I managed to write this long in a story that I didn't plan to write this long. It's the only story that I am too stressed to make that I have to put a halt to the other two stories I am making just to focus on this. The more I write the story, the more I stray far from the plot I previously set up. Might be the biggest reason I am still writing this is that I also cannot disappoint those who are paying and loyal to the story. You guys have at least given me a bit of motivation to continue making this despite the low quality of the story.

The reason is simple, I just wanted it to have a conclusion that is satisfying and does not feel or look out of place for this story. Nowadays, I am going back on track with the plot line I made once more. Although my motivation is still pretty low, at least it's not gone. I am also a little bit happy that we are also nearing the story's end. I learned my lesson and I will not be making a story that involves statistics instead focus on telling the story. Perhaps I should also stop making stories in First Person POV style of writing. It limits me to the imagination I could write compared to the third-person POV, I don't know what went to my mind and made the storytelling in First Person POV.

Now, for the interactions like comments, and likes. When I started this story, I am interacting with my readers for quite a bit. However, I am quite an introvert and I am the type of guy who likes to keep interaction with others as minimal as possible so if you guys have concerns about my story, I will only read it and I don't think you would receive any recognition or answer from me. Maybe  I would, or maybe I won't. That depends on my mood.

I also see the rating review and honestly, I am not surprised I am getting lots of low ratings. After all, I am writing a story with potential, but for someone like me who has barely had enough time to do extra things aside from writing stories and taking care of my IRL problems and work, That potential is quite wasted and I know about it.

However, I can't stop here. I already sailed the boat, I will continue to sail it and make sure it reaches its conclusion. I don't want to drop everyone about it so while it is stressful for me, I will continue to do so. Besides, I also wanted to return to my other stories as well. I am more confident in writing them compared to this story.

One thing left I will ramble on.

To all my readers, I am super thankful you guys remained or have pushed through it despite the level of quality the story has. You guys are awesome and I am happy that you guys remained. I don't even know if I was still talking to the readers who were my readers since day 1 but honestly, thank you all.  And with the closing of the story's arc, its time to jump to the next arc, in which an arc I will be using to focus on building the path to reach its conclusion.

To the readers who read through this ramble of mine and wasted a fast pass or a few coins to unlock it, I salute you all for reading this far. Whenever and wherever you are in the world, I hope you guys have a good day.