I started this story without a plot or through-lines, without character profiles, and without an ending in mind. The beginning of Delicate as Glass clearly suffers because of it, rushing and bumbling between hurried vignettes. Worse, the main character is paper-thin and annoying, although he’s improving. I intend to fix this for three reasons.

First, my own artistic pride. I want to tell a complete story, not a half-baked tale. I wouldn’t have posted this story in its current state if not for Writathon, which was a fun challenge, and while I don’t regret posting, it’s not up to my standards. I know I can—and will—do better.

Second, for the sake of readers, on two fronts. One, you deserve a main character you actually like, not simply the promise of one who improves over time. I want you to enjoy the adventure and to look forward to time with the characters. Two, in order to show that I hear and respond to reader feedback. Many of you have shared concerns, complaints, or critique, and I want you to know that I take each word to heart.

Third, and certainly the most selfish and pragmatic, I want to save the ratings on this poor story before they crater any further. I’m sitting at 3.8 stars, and, well, it’s a bit of a blow to the ego. No story is immune to criticism, and I certainly agree with most of the critique leveled at the early chapters, but I’m human, too. One-star character reviews hurt. :(

The question then becomes a matter of timing. What would you, dear readers, prefer?

Option one: I continue to post weekly chapters with new content, continuing to tell the story that’s taking shape in my mind. I have plans in progress, and actual notes now, and I think you’ll enjoy the increased emphasis on crafting and character growth. There’s a lot that will happen on both micro and macro levels. When I can find scraps of time, I will work on a revision. I may make piecemeal changes or updates to early chapters as I go, and post bigger reconstructions down the road, likely over summer.

Option two: I skip a few weeks of updates, and instead use that time to revise the beginning, with the specific goals of making the MC more likable, clarifying his motivations, more slowly building up the world (and system), and balancing the relative power and interactions of characters. This will mean that you still have new content, technically, but it will require a reread. Moving forward with the current plot lines will be delayed a month, or more, if I go with this scenario.

Regardless, I am going to take a one-week break to clear my mind. Please vote in the poll. I will check again next weekend to tally the results and provide an update on future plans. Thank you so much for reading, commenting, and rating. I appreciate every interaction—even the painful ones serve to improve the final story!