...and a Secondary Issue (Rant Warning)

There has apparently been a misconception concerning my reasons for posting this translation. Therefore, while I'm not expecting many people to read this particular post, I'm going to elaborate and clear up a few problems.

First, this translation is being posted for strictly selfish reasons. I prefer reading novels in English. I prefer translations that are not MTL derived. Reading a novel without having to reinterpret it in my head as I read is more comfortable, go figure. Also, if I do read a novel electronically, I prefer doing so on my phone, which is also more comfortable. So while I could be translating a novel and leaving it on one of my desktop or laptop computers, I would need to do more work if I want to read it on my phone. Posting it online makes it always available when I want to read it on my phone and I have read enough of this particular novel to know that I will read it more than once. Regardless, these posts were for my own benefit. The only reason they are currently public is because I believed that others might want to benefit from a more viable translation.

Second, I post the chapters as I found them on an original Mandarin website. Each chapter is broken in half, period. That's just how they are. I find that these bite-sized amounts of translating are convenient. It allows me to know that I can translate a part in one day and get it posted on that same day (as long as regular life doesn't get in the way). If I caved to other people's opinion about 'waiting' to post whole chapters at once, then I would likely give up posting them online at all. I would lose motivation, even if I am translating it for myself, because I cannot translate a whole chapter in a day and still have a life (some of us have those, you know). Therefore, I'm going to continue to post them how I found them, because that's what works for me. If it's a problem, wait an extra day before reading a chapter or don't read it at all. As I've said, this is for me. If I make any changes to my current method for other people, it is only because those changes make it better in my own opinion and I agree with the originator of the suggestion. That's it.

Third, now that I have a better understanding of the translation process and the amount of effort that is involved in doing so, I also understand better why so many translators quit without completing a novel translation. Before people complain about some aspect of what another person is doing, you should try the process first. Try having another website copy your posts verbatim to their own website. I don't use advertisements on my site, but they do, so they are obviously getting some money out of my effort. I only have a single button for donations toward that effort that will not and have not ever been required before someone can read a translation, but obviously that is too obtrusive for some people as well. Whatever, so be it. If you don't like it, don't read it.

I would like to be more polite about this, but, sadly, I'm reaching a point where politeness is no long something I care about. With this in mind, I have removed comments from my blog posts, because they are not being used to discuss the original novel. While I appreciate the people who are kind enough to express thanks for the translations and you are the reason why this blog is currently public, I am less thankful for the opinionated criticism. Constructive criticism or pointers to make the reading experience better don't bother me at all. As I've stated above, I'm translating these chapters for me, not for you. You want to read it, knock yourself out and do so.  I'm not stopping you.  You don't want to read it, go somewhere else. It makes no difference to me.

In conclusion, I'm going back to square one. This blog is currently public because I choose to leave it as such. If I find that the posts continue to be copied and posted elsewhere in the future or I receive more criticism which is lacking constructive forethought or any forethought at all, I will change the blog to private and be done with the whole process. I will continue to translate the blog for myself, but I will remove any benefit for other people. It's not worth the stress or abuse when what I am doing is strictly voluntary. Take this for what you will. For those who have been enjoying the translated novel, I'm sorry that it only takes a few bad apples to spoil the whole barrel, but that's life. Hopefully the few detractors will get a clue and quit spoiling it for the rest of you.

Thank you to those who have been kindly encouraging. I hope we can continue this novel in the future without interruption.