Sadness: One of my favorite stories got pulled

[MetaBob]

AnimeCon Harem by FortySixtyFour (aka 4064)

I've praised this story in these fora before. Apparently more than one person complained that the author hasn't posted his most recent chapters here; he releases them to his Patrons first, then to his other outlets, including this one.

I'm pretty sure I've read that other authors here do the same, and I'd been thinking of it myself: release something in a for-pay venue (like being published!) for a certain amount of time, then roll older stuff to free sites like this one.

This is discouraging.

Fortunately for those who would read his stuff without paying for it, earlier chapters of his story are still available on other free sites, just as I imagine that later chapters will be. He has many fans.

 

[lovecraft68]

Okay, he pulled it, I thought this was going to be case of someone spitefully reporting a story.
I follow the method of going to sale, then when its a few years old, I might pop it here, usually in a contest where it places the prize money, even for third is the equal to another 20ish sales.

I admit the Patreon thing annoys me. The same people who can't be bothered supporting an author by buying an e-book dole out money to read something that will be free very shortly. Also, as a business owner I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with people using my platform to profit through another in that manner, but that's me.

 

[MetaBob]

Okay, he pulled it, I thought this was going to be case of someone spitefully reporting a story.
I follow the method of going to sale, then when its a few years old, I might pop it here, usually in a contest where it places the prize money, even for third is the equal to another 20ish sales.

I admit the Patreon thing annoys me. The same people who can't be bothered supporting an author by buying an e-book dole out money to read something that will be free very shortly. Also, as a business owner I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with people using my platform to profit through another in that manner, but that's me.

The author didn't pull his story. This site's admins did.

 

[lovecraft68]

The author didn't pull his story. This site's admins did.

Oh, back to square one. You said people complained they had to wait? I hope that wasn't the reason the site pulled it. Do you know why?

 

[MetaBob]

Oh, back to square one. You said people complained they had to wait? I hope that wasn't the reason the site pulled it. Do you know why?

I don't have specific details beyond that "eleven chapters in and then hides the rest behind a paywall" was part of one complaint here. I believe he started by posting exclusively to free sites like this one five years ago, but discovered so much demand for his story that a paywall became inevitable, even if he was posting current chapters there in draft form. Nonetheless, he continued posting free chapters here, just delayed 6-12 months until they were finalized.

 

[lovecraft68]

I don't have specific details beyond that "eleven chapters in and then hides the rest behind a paywall" was part of one complaint here. I believe he started by posting exclusively to free sites like this one five years ago, but discovered so much demand for his story that a paywall became inevitable, even if he was posting current chapters there in draft form. Nonetheless, he continued posting free chapters here, just delayed 6-12 months until they were finalized.

I don't see why lit cares how long someone takes to post installments. There are many series here unfinished, and people who can take well over a year. So it makes me think that perhaps they are getting wise to the pay in advance scam, and probably using the 'bait and switch' rule where lit claims you can't start something here, then finish it for pay.

If they do that consistently it could end some of these ridiculous scams of series that go into countless chapters in order to milk a profit. Tefler being the worst offender in that realm. If that's their reason I applaud it.

 

[MetaBob]

I don't see why lit cares how long someone takes to post installments. There are many series here unfinished, and people who can take well over a year. So it makes me think that perhaps they are getting wise to the pay in advance scam, and probably using the 'bait and switch' rule where lit claims you can't start something here, then finish it for pay.

If they do that consistently it could end some of these ridiculous scams of series that go into countless chapters in order to milk a profit. Tefler being the worst offender in that realm. If that's their reason I applaud it.

As someone who has gone more than 20 months since posting anything on this site or any other free site, most notably the final chapter of the story I'd been working on (Senioritis Chapter 16) when I learned that my first novel had been accepted by a publisher, I can certainly identify with your first paragraph, though in this case I don't think your second paragraph applies because I'm sure FortySixtyFour would have gotten 'round to posting the end of his "AnimeCon Harem" story here once it had settled into final form, just as he had posted chapters here in the past. His paywall indicates that his final chapters have been posted there, after all, so it's not like he's trying to "go into countless chapters".

Now his option to post his final chapters here is off the table. It is, of course, Lit's prerogative to do this, and even though this story represents a singularly remarkable example, I can imagine it breaks precedent for this site's practices toward less scrupulous authors even though it will deprive readers of reading his final chapters here, when they're ready. This leads back to the title I attached to this thread: "Sadness".

Note that the reason I haven't posted my final chapter of Senioritis here (or anywhere else) is because it isn't finished. With my second novel now published, I hope to have time to finish Senioritis later this year, but we'll see; I have several other works in progress that are more than half done.