I'm Up Late
But I've got something on my mind.
I really enjoy watching House of The Dragon.
Like really enjoy it.
There is something special about knowing I’ll be whisked away to Westeros every Sunday night for the next two months that brings me an immense amount of joy. The type of joy that I want reading Ennead to bring all of you one day.
I dream big. And while I never need to have the most popular pilot ever on HBO to feel like Ennead’s been a success (I wouldn’t say no to it though) I’d be lying if I said I don’t want readers to feel what I feel whenever I’m in Westeros. I think that feeling is what fantasy, and fiction more broadly, is all about.
Lately I’ve been working really hard to try and grow my audience with mixed results. I’ve increased my reach on social media by hundreds of percentage points but have failed to gain even 10 subscribers in that same time period. My Instagram posts have been engaged with by thousands since I started a little experiment back in May and yet I’ve only gained about 200 new followers.
Why am I sharing all this?
Good question considering how all over the place it must feel. But it all comes back to that feeling I get when I watch HoTD: I get the same feeling when I write Ennead. So even though I want readers to feel what I feel I am content continuing as I am despite the slow growth model I’m stuck in right now. It would be awesome to go viral tomorrow, gain thousands of followers and subscribers, and have Ennead seen by the masses. But it’s not something I, or you for that matter, can bank on.
But know this: so long as I am enthralled by epic fantasy I will forge ahead. Maybe one day even reaching a tenth of the heights of a series like ASOIAF, but maybe not. Either way I am not going to stop taking flights to Amashik.
Thanks again for the support (and for reading my late night, “going nowhere,” rants),
Thanks for sharing how you feel-
I sure hope for you that your world can become alive in multiple kind of mediums, and would watch it if it became a pilot! I'm no expert in all those algorithm or way to gain followers, so unfortunately I don't really have any tips or trick to grow in that field, but as you said:
''so long as I am enthralled by epic fantasy I will forge ahead.'' I can see your passion since I discovered you and your world, and all your work does make a difference.
I am happy that you enjoyed HOTD, so did I :D
I felt it was still very close to the source material, by the events happening- to some dialogue straight the same words from the story. It felt good to get back to Westeros, familiar places, names, and dragons. I think the actors/actresses are doing a good job and can see the characters how I am seeing them while reading The Rogue Prince or The Princess and the Queen, or The Blacks and the Greens.
I will be continuing this series and can't wait to see all of this unfold!
I totally respect your stance on not reading series that are not and may never be finished. I personally just jumped back into The Dark Tower earlier this year so I get it.
As far as the fizzle of GoT goes, I’ll say this: I felt that too. As someone who absolutely loves every ASOIAF I was deeply disappointed. It serious hurt my feelings, in par with teenage break up disappointing. The promise is there for HoTD for precisely the reasons you mentioned as negatives.
1) It’s coming from pretty much “complete” source material and GRRM isn’t likely to walk away from this one after the disaster that ensued when he trust the OG show runners.
2) It’s as core as core gets to the events In Westerosi history. Dany and her future, as much as her past, are central to ASOIAF and this explores how her family fell from obscene heights. It’s truly a great tale.
I’m not one to try and argue that folks do what isn’t in their own self interest, but I think HoTD will be different. But I did compare my love for the series to teenage romance so... I may not be the best source 😂
I will keep the faith! Thank you for the message. I want this platform to grow the right ways, and you’re right, it’s these in between times that make those big launches that much better. Thanks for helping to lift my spirits a bit. I appreciate you and your support 🙏🏾
JL