Earlier this year I posted my novel, The Semaphore, here on Royal Road. I had a wonderful, committed readership who engaged with me and my work. Briefly, I broke into the top 2000. Then, soon after posting the epilogue, I got it in my head that the novel wasn't ready. I took it down and disappeared. That was about six months ago. In that time I've rewritten parts of it, thrown out others, and added a few sections.

And now I'm back.

Is The Semaphore better than before? Maybe. Was it worth disappearing? I don't think so. I missed the Royal Road community. I missed reading my peers' work and exchanging ideas. I missed the encouragement. I regret being away for so long--time in which I could have gained valuable insights, found new readers, and, most importantly, discovered new fiction to read. But sometimes you need to go away to come home. Plus, the hiatus gave me a chance to get started on the sequel to The Semaphore, which I am excited to share when the time is right.

For those who were reading and had the book yanked out of your hands: I am sorry. It WILL NOT happen again.

Thanks to everyone for still being here.

MLE

Welcome home. 🐿️

Welcome back. It's always a terrible feeling when something you've put so much time and effort into just doesn't feel good enough. Even with positive feedback from readers. I'm glad you made it past that hurdle, often times our greatest adversary is the voice inside our own head that says we're not good enough. 

Welcome back. Authors can be their own worst critics so it's not unusual to think your work isn't good enough. Glad to decided to come back and give it another try. I'm sure the people who were reading your work will be pleased. Good luck.

Welcome back. :) Your story seems kewl - gonna read it.

Welcome! Glad you found your way here again, hope you have a super time!

Welcome back. We're all our own worst critics and sometimes stuff gets in the way of our plans. It happens. I hope you continue to enjoy RR and your fictions find an audience.

Hi, welcome back. And yes the community is awesome and worth belonging to. I'm new. Hi

Welcome back, and good luck with your fictions! And if it makes you feel better, my old fanfiction didn't even get past chapter twelve, so you've already done a lot better than me by making it to the epilogue. Keep trying, and I hope you net in some readers!