So long to Otaku Journalist 2.0.

After nearly two years, I thought it was time for an update, both in my blog’s look and direction.

Over the last two weeks I’ve been building this theme off of the base of Purple Pro, a free WordPress theme from ThemeMotive. Going for a modern look, I tweaked the PHP skeleton and did a complete CSS overhaul. I wanted the site to be newsier, easier to read, and scream “2013” instead of “LiveJournal!”

But the visual changes are just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll notice I’ve swapped my menu with four brand new pages—What’s “Otaku?”, About the Site, About the Author, and The Bookstore. By succinctly explaining “otaku,” I’m trying to make the blog more accessible to newcomers. As fandom topics become more newsworthy every day, I think a lot more people than just hardcore fans are curious about fandom reporting.

But the biggest change of all was my biggest decision: I’ve decided to give away my Otaku Journalist Guides for free. After writing the first three and about half of the fourth, I lost my motivation. I realized it was because I was reaching so few people by putting up a paywall. I deeply appreciate everyone who DID buy a guide, but it’s time to open the floodgates and see if there is any more interest. I’m hoping your readership is what I need to motivate me to finish the series!

Thank you for continuing to read Otaku Journalist through its many evolutions. I think you’ll really like what’s coming up.