Novus
patreon
Important Information - Please Read!
🕑 Added 2018-12-28 01:29:03 +0000 UTC*This is important, so here's the TLDR version if you need it: Do to health issues, my Patreon page is pausing for the month of January. You don't need to do anything, I already paused the account so patrons will NOT be charged for the month of January, while still retaining access to patron-only content*
Okay...so I spent about eight hours last night/this morning in the emergency room. Thankfully, I can say that there isn't anything seriously wrong...sort of. Unfortunately, the conclusion is that I'm having a resurgence of a problem I faced about a decade ago. Namely, that when I get really really stressed out, my body starts producing symptoms for serious health issues (chest pains, numbness in various areas, elevated white blood cells, high blood pressure, and several other things). In the years since it first occurred I've mostly learned to manage to the issue...which made it a nasty surprise that it's apparently popped back up with all new symptoms. Or, at least, we hope that's all it is (since anything else that can both produce the symptoms I have last night AND hiding from a CAT scan would be...bad).
I've known for a while that I needed to cut some of the stress out of my life. It's the reason I decided to shut down Eros Academy at the end of this year. However, at this point I don't think it's going to be enough. Don't Panic Just Yet.
What I'm planning to do is this: I'm taking January off. The way I will do that is by using Patreon's Pause feature. What this means is simple.
Patrons can stay as patrons (at their current teirs) for the month of January WITHOUT being charged.
This will allow patrons to stick around and continue to see Patron-only content for their current teirs, including the new chapters of The Elven Maid which was planned to be a Christmas/New Years present but will likely actually be published in early January at this point. Obviously, it will also allow them to see updates from me. While I won't be working directly on Cosplay Cafe, I'm intending to use some of my downtime to go through some more Udemy art courses and I may post some improved general artwork(as in, not stuff aimed at being used in Cosplay Cafe).
Now, as to what will happen AFTER January...I don't know, but I promise you all will know before January. Currently, I'm envisioning one of four things occurring.
1) The worst result (from your perspective) - I simply shut it all down and cease developing for either game for the foreseeable future.
2) I resume work on the Cosplay Cafe, possibly with altered time tables for releases or fewer extras in order to keep the stress level down.
3) I convert the patreon into something for content that is less stressful for me to make, such as games using existing art, or things like the various novels/stories I use as rewards.
4) I continue development on the games occasionally, but NOT via Patreon. Simply in my own time and with no deadlines or accountability (or payment).
I don't know which of these things is most likely...but I give you my word you all will know before the patron unpauses (if it does) in February.
I know this isn't what any of you wanted to hear. Unfortunately, this (which is more or less a hobby, with pretty much all money earned having gone back into development) has become incredibly stressful for me over the last year, as has my regular job. I can't exactly quit the job that pays my bills...so when I discover I HAVE to remove stress because it's threating my health in a serious way...the hobby losses. I apologize for the disappointment it may cause some of you...but I won't apologize for making the decision :-(. It doesn't do anyone any good if my health falls apart because I tried to take on too much.
I will be putting the pause into effect today, just to make sure it goes through in time for January. However, I'm still aiming to update Eros before the end of the month, and as I understand it the pause does not effect my ability to post, so don't touch that proverbial dial ;-).
Comments
Novus
Thank you :-). One can hope. Among other things, I'm going to take the time off in January to see if I can find employment I hate a little less. So, we'll see.
DarkJade
Ouch, I'm really sorry to hear that Novus! Hope you'll feel better soon and that your stress levels will end up becoming more manageable...
