Chapter 456: Author’s Note: Reflections on Completing My GoT Fanfic
This is the chinese author's note about the end of the story. I'll write a note as the translator as well, sharing my thoughts on the conclusion and thanking everyone who stuck with the story until the very end:
Author's Note: Reflections on Completing My GoT Fanfic
I figured everyone writes one of these, so it's sort of a tradition for finishing a book. I thought I'd write one too, to give this story a proper ending.
First of all, thanks to everyone who even subscribed to the side stories.
For me, earning money from writing is nothing to be ashamed of. But honestly, the side stories don't have the same level of narrative depth as the main storyline, so the fact that some of you were still willing to subscribe really moved me.
By the latter half of the book, I felt my writing skills falling short. It was like trying to bench-press 100 when my limit was only 50—it was exhausting. I started noticing this struggle around the time I was writing about Khal Drogo. The buildup and transitions in the plot felt clunky, and my prose was rough in places.
The hardest part was failing to convey that sense of fate. One reader described my protagonist as recklessly toying with destiny, thanks to their overwhelming power. That's spot on!
At one point, I even had this hellish idea for a new fanfic: a spinoff where "Dragon Second Brother" (a reference to Viserys) wakes up after being doused in molten gold. He finds himself abandoned in the wilderness, his face ruined, and his sister already claimed by Khal Drogo. But no matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't figure out how to turn the story around, so I scrapped the idea.
My personal favorite part was when the protagonist brought a dragon to taunt Robert Baratheon. Those chapters really stand out to me. But looking back, there are still plenty of places that didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. Ultimately, it boils down to a lack of skill and a poor grasp of what's most important. It's like being a chef who doesn't know what their customers like to eat.
Whenever readers ask me about my next project, I honestly feel embarrassed. That's why I've been too shy to create a reader group—it feels like something only top-tier authors deserve.
A few days ago, I asked my editor if there were any popular genres I should try. I told them I wanted to write an original story for my next book. They gave me a practical suggestion, so my next project will still be fanfiction—but not Game of Thrones.
I'm thinking of writing a story about a Muggle entering Hogwarts. Of course, this isn't necessarily a good idea. For an average writer like me, if there aren't many similar books in the market, it's probably better not to risk it. There's a high chance it won't even get picked up for publication.
Still, I feel really passionate about this idea right now, so we'll see how it goes. I plan to reread the original books and rewatch the movies a few times before diving in.
I actually started a Harry Potter fanfic before (which I dropped after 100k words), but because I wasn't familiar enough with the original storyline, readers constantly called me out with references to the canon. That gave me a bit of PTSD.
If my next book does well, I'll definitely create a reader group. I think it'd be really fun to discuss plot points with everyone.
This book ended up being 1.12 million words. For my next one, I'm aiming for 2.24 million!
Special Thanks:
永爱赫敏酱 (Forever Love Hermione): You've been my #1 supporter for most of this journey. If you follow my next book, I'll dedicate five bonus chapters to you!你是真的秀 (You're Truly Amazing): You get three bonus chapters.艾薇巴蒂 (Everybody): You get two bonus chapters.For everyone else in the top 10 fan rankings, you'll each get one bonus chapter as well.
I love writing.
The End.