#PiracyIssues

[dalekowrites]

Hi everyone,

I have something to share about how Patreon subscribers will keep accessing exclusive content in the future. Starting very soon, I'll be introducing a new way to provide early access that ensures a more secure and fair experience for everyone who supports my work. This change will allow me to continue creating without unnecessary stress, while keeping content accessible for all.

Why this change?

Unfortunately, piracy has been a growing issue. My interactive fictions are always free, with early access available as a thank-you for my Patreon supporters. But lately, even this small gesture of support has been undermined by piracy.

Creating interactive fiction takes hours of daily effort, research, and creativity. Sharing my stories publicly is something I love to do, but piracy adds unnecessary stress to an already demanding process. I'm not EA or Valve—I'm not a big corporation that can shrug off the effects of piracy. At this point, I earn less than 20 cents for every hour of work I put into my interactive stories. Imagine earning so little for your hard work, only to see it taken and distributed without your permission—It's disheartening, frustrating, and ultimately unsustainable. It makes me feel devalued as a creator and disrespects the readers who contribute honestly in the first place.

If you've been sharing or downloading pirated copies of my work, I’d ask you to reconsider. I know sometimes it can seem like no harm is being done, but piracy takes away from the time and effort I put into creating these stories. What’s more, my stories always become completely free in less than 30 days. Stealing the early access version only hurts the person creating it—and there's no benefit to you. All you need to do is wait a little while to enjoy the same story, for free, as intended.

To put it bluntly: piracy sends a clear message that my time and effort aren't valued. If you steal from me, you're not a fan of my work; you have no respect for another struggling human being. If this continues, I'll have no choice but to rethink how—or if—I share my work publicly. I'm just a person like you, and I want to keep writing and sharing these stories with you, but only if it's a relationship built on trust and mutual respect.

To my supporters...

To those of you who support me through Patreon, reblog my Tumblr posts, or simply read and recommend my stories—you are the reason I keep going! Your kindness, encouragement, and honest engagement mean the world to me. You have nothing to be concerned about the new security measures I plan to test—these changes won't complicate your access but will help protect the development of the stories you love.

Thank you for understanding and standing by me! ♥

P.S.: If you are a fellow creator of interactive fiction, and you too have a similar problem, feel free to contact me here, on Discord, or even on Patreon if you prefer. I'd love to exchange ideas and put up a united front.