This is a serious life article for once.

Recently I discovered a very useful Discord group for professional authors. This is an extremely moderated server where the sole point is to help people learn how to run their book publishing as a business. Many people there are beginners such as myself, while others sell millions of dollars worth of books.

For me, this server was two things: A treasure trove of valuable information and a life-changing event.

First, I learned all the things I could now start doing if I wanted to sell my books at the level that would pay the bills. I learned about author branding, advance copy readers, social proof, social media presence, what not to do, how to look like I'm a professional... So much useful information.

Second, I realized the mere idea of doing any of those things twisted in my gut.

I write books because I love stories. Money was never the reason - only a way to do more writing. If I sold millions of copies, yes, I could quit my daytime job and just write all day. But that would also come with the responsibility of spending most of my free time on marketing and pretending I'm something I'm not. The creators and authors who I admire don't do it for the money. Every video game by Daniel Remar and Nifflas is free, and by not asking money they managed to get wide-spread audiences who played their game for what they were - pieces of art. If La-Mulana hadn't been free in 2008, I would not have started what became a 10 month experience that became the most memorable piece of gaming I've ever had.

Should I do the same? Publish my books for free and keep an option for purchasing them? I'm not sure. For now I'm keeping them on Amazon, as my prices are so low it shouldn't be a barrier for most people. If someone cannot afford to spend 3 dollars on my book, please pirate them.

As I asked for feedback on many things, one of them was my website. I received tons of useful information, but the biggest one triggered this change. Previously, I sold my books through my company, Farstrider, website, but the recommendation was to make the website about me, not my publishing company. That was a completely sensible suggestion, and I decided to do just that. However, that introduced a question: What to do with the website I already had at the domain registered under my name? The place where I host all the fun things I do, the non-professional hacker work, the artistic things, the silly things? Should I remove those and put my for-profit, commercial book website over it?

When I need to think, I go for long walks. No audio, no phone, nothing but my thoughts. Over several days I realized the people I admire have taken a different path and have created a corner of the internet for themselves to show everyone "This is me."

So. This is my corner of the internet. This is me.