Refer to them notarino's.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  The 28th of December, 2022, 22:04 CEST.

  That is the precise time at which, exactly a year ago, I uploaded the first chapter of the Jester of Apocalypse to Royal Road.

  A lot has changed since then.

  For the longest time, I wanted to make writing a career. Numerous times I was told that there was no way to make a living as a writer or that being an author was something reserved for those with prestigious academic achievements in language and literature and that I simply wouldn't be able to do it.

  This was a thing I heard from many of my teachers. Indeed, from their perspective, as those born and raised in an era where there was no alternative to publishers who owned the infrastructure, this was a reasonable sentiment. And I don't blame them. It was a harsh reality that many delusional kids needed to hear.

  The world has changed since then.

  And those who worked to change it deserve proper thanks.

  This is a thank you to the authors who paved the road for Progression Fantasies and LitRPGs, especially those who directly inspired me.

  It's a thank you to the creators of Royal Road, without whom I wouldn't have had a platform to post and be recognized on.

  It's a thank you to my fellow authors from this community, who have helped me more than I can repay in a lifetime.

  And although this is more of a begrudging acknowledgment than a thanks, I do want to recognize the role that Patreon and Kindle have in making it a viable profession.

  I feel that it's becoming too easy to focus on the looming doom on the horizon: the rise of AI and the uncertainty of the future of the entertainment industry and the role humans play in it. But we shouldn't forget the opportunities the internet has provided creatives with.

  It hasn't been that long since teachers were, in good faith, telling children to set realistic goals for themselves. And now, more than ever, putting your work out there and bringing joy to others is truly accessible.

  But a lot of bad stuff still happens. It is still hard. Many creatives are stolen from, plagiarised from, and put into unfavorable legal scenarios by predatory parties looking to trap and exploit them. Some of you might have heard about the Writer's Guild of America Strike. It happened for a reason.

  The passion that those who write, those who create, have for their craft is something that can, in many cases, be enough. There are many creatives who work despite the money they are being paid, and businesses have been getting more and more brazen in exploiting this love for profit.

  I have enough. More than I've ever dreamed of having. And in no small part, I have it because of the generosity, kindness, and integrity of those who worked to make it possible.

  In the spirit of the holidays, it is time to forward some of that generosity to others.

  If you follow this link, you can donate to Poets and Writers, a charity organization rated 100% on charitynavigator.org.

  You can read more about them here:

  A small note:

  To any of you who dream of being a writer, give it a shot. A single year ago, I posted my fiction online. That was my first-ever serious attempt at trying to get my story out to an audience. I had no hope of making anything out of it. All I wanted was to be able to say I gave it a proper shot.

  I hope you, too, can gather the bravery to try.

  You can do it. If nobody else does, I believe in you.

  Best of luck to everyone, and Happy Holidays to anyone celebrating.

  Be good, work hard, and have fun.

  Cheers everyone. Have an excellent day. :D