So these are some of the thoughts I have had about Patreon Chapters. I should say up front that I don't think they are a bad idea, these are just some of my feelings on them as a writer. This is also prob gonna be meandering as all hell. 1) Word Count and Fucking This is kind of a case by case thing but one thing I have found as a writer is that there is kind of an expectation that you will fit a sex scene into the chapter you write. Indeed pretty much all I usually get for a chapter is what kind of fucking they want in it. That makes perfect sense considering the site but I have found it can put me in an awkward situation. Since I am the kind of writer that needs to do some lead in. I really struggle with writing anything where I just go from 0 to fucking. Sometimes I get chapters that are fine for that, chapters that lead on from the build-up that someone else has already done. However when it is a chapter that doesn't clearly lead to a sex scene you end up eating a ton of words on doing the build up. Tbh the main problem I have is that the Patreon only lists a minimum word count rather than a max. So I feel obligated to write a lot more so I can fit in some kind of sex scene or I have to cut down on the build up. This kinda leads to the second problem I have. 2) Cut Rate Writing So this is something that is only a problem if you do pay writing outside of chyoa. Mainly that the rate for doing the chapters is a lot lower than what pretty much anyone charges privately. Personally, I am small time enough that it doesn't really matter to me but since I pretty much always end up close to 2000 words on these things I end up giving a pretty sharp discount on my normal rate. TBH I think that the chapter of your choice should be the most expensive tier and it should really have a clear word count, not a minimum. I get that it might turn off some people and it is hard to come up with stuff that you can really offer to people for tiers, but I just think that for the work to cost ratio is really out of wack on them. Hell even if they didn't change the cost then at least apply a fixed word count for the chapters and maybe give some advice like "If you want a sex scene then ask for a continuation of a thread that leads straight into sex". This prob sounds angrier than I feel. I am not angry or even annoyed, these are just some of the thoughts I have had percolating in my brain.
I agree with all of the above - when I have been chosen I request that I write a few chapters, this way I can provide the word count and give scope to take either or any chapter in another direction from the inevitable "Get to the sex" part of the request. Gives me a chance to run things by the owner or requestor also and ensure they are happy with the scenario I'm leading down
I've never yet been specifically requested to do a Patreon Chapter, and in all likelihood would have to refuse if I were, due to my personal ethics, but I believe I would, if I were so requested, have the same problems already listed...
