So I saw that many readers had complaint (not exclusively to me) about this new privacy setting. Many had claimed that it's annoying when authors do that for the sakes of gaining subscribers.

While I can't speak on behalf of all the writers who use this privacy setting because there might be various reasons, let me enlighten you on the reasons why I set my fic to subscribers/members only:

I' m not proud of my fic, so I want to limit the number of people who would read it

Through the Window is not the kind of genre I usually write. Heck, I create another accout, this account,  to post this fic because I don't want to link this fic with me. That being said, I really don't care about the number of subscribers in this account, really, because this is not even my primary account.

I was hesitated at first before I set the privacy setting because I'm afraid that some people who decide to subscribe because they're curious and turn out not liking the fic are too afraid to unsubscribe because they don't want to hurt the author's feeling. But then I decide, that's the risk they have to take. Readers should know that not all authors mind unsubscribers. I used to be that shallow nearly a year ago when I just joined this site, I used to dislike unsubscribers so much. But then a friend told me that I was acting pathetic. Readers subscribe when they are interested and unsubscribe when they lose interest, as simple as that. That's my mindset from then on. If people unsubscribe to my fic, I'll take it as they're no longer interested to read it, and that's okay. I'd rather have my subscribers count to truly reflect the number of people who really read my fic.

When I set the fic to subscribers only, my only objective was to limit the number of subscribers. Most people would want to read one or more chapters in order to decide whether a fic is worth subscribing or not. Many people wouldn't even bothered to check a fic which is set to subscribers only. I'm actually trying to limit people's interest to read Through the Window. Some still subscribe, true, and I'm really thankful if they found my crappy-fic as read-worthy and stay subscribe. Those who don't like it can unsubscribe. I wouldn't mind.

I hope setting it to subscribers only would help setting the age of people who read my fic

Before Nichi separate the fics to rated and non--rated section, I realized that mature fics have tremendous amount of views compared to the number of subscribers. That way I realized the readers are mostly lurkers. And I can only think that many of them are too shy to subscribe to a rated fic. I want to prevent them to read Through the Window. Because you know, if you're shy to be caught reading it maybe you shouldn't read it at all. I know that I might offend some people by saying this, and I'm truly apologize. But my readers should know my wish to keep my fic to those people who are already 18 or older. I put the warning on the foreword.

Now if you still subscribe when you're still under 18, that's your choice. If you think you're already mature enought to read rated stuffs, that's your call. I know some of my readers are still underage and I won't tell them what they should or shouldn't do. But If I could limit the number by setting the fic to subscribers only, I would.

Setting it to subscribers only is my alternative other than deleting it.

It might sound unresponsible to you, but Through the Window was never meant to be finished. I just wanted to experiment with the kind of fic I write, hence the name 'thetrollwriter'. I had zero commitment to the fic. I only posted updates, I didn't reply to comments, I didn't talk to anyone.

But then some of you approached me, some of you left thoughtful comments on my update despite me never responding to any of those comments, and I started to feel bad. If I deleted the fic as I wished, wouldn't it be like playing with the readers? Those who might actually like the fic?

So I decided to continue despite my lack of confidence on Through the Window. And I set it to subscribers only because I only continue the fic for you, lovely people, who said that you like the story. This fic right now, is not meant to attract new readers at all, hence the subscribers only tag.

I really hope that I wouldn't offend any people by posting it. And if I did, I truly apologize. I plan to post the link to this blog on the foreword/new chapter when I update and wish that this blog post would help preventing the prejudice people have on those subscribers only fics as well as informing my own reason to set my fic this way.

And lastly, thanks for all of you who like Through the Window. I know this fic is really lacking so I'm grateful that you all still read it despite that. I love you all. ^^