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Progress Report
🕑 Added 2024-08-26 17:39:06 +0000 UTCHello!
I'm sorry for taking so long to post this Progress Report. I meant to write one on Saturday, but life got in the way.
This past week went well! For the first three or four days I focused on the Bonus Content β which ended up being way longer than I planned β and then, I continued finishing the first draft of Part 2.
If you've been following me for a long, you know how much I love the handwriting stage, but I'll be honest, this part has been challenging! I wrote three different ways that the 'revelation' with Vallen may go, and I'm still unsure which one I like best. π©
The problem with IF and, especially, in the MC uncovering a secret or coming to a big realization, is that you're in a battle between having the reveal early on because I know that the readers have realized it long ago or having the reveal where it's best storytelling wise. And I keep going back and forth on this.
I know how frustrating it is when you put two and two together and your character is still oblivious. It makes you want to yell at the screen, but, being on this side of creating, a premature revelation may ruin the best storytelling moments. I have a perfect moment with Vallen when Romanus does it; when they connect everything, and it clicks, and the scene right after is just chef's kiss.
But this means that for the first part of your 'date', you won't connect who Vallen is. If you have the necessary clues, you'll be on the defense and the text will mention how odd you feel like you're just missing something that's in front of you when it comes to Vallen β you'll note little things in her expressions, and double meanings in her words.
But is that too frustrating to readers? Would you rather know immediately and not have that perfect confrontation?
Ahhhh. I've written three versions, as I said, so I think I'll decide when I'm writing the second draft. Whichever flows best will be it. But yeah, that's why this scene has been taking a little bit longer. The Vallen date is the only scene in this book where I didn't plan anything β It's a blank in my outline book.
The goal for next week is to finish Vallen's date and the subsequent meeting with a... thief who will take you to your new Tarragona home. After that, I'll write the version where you don't meet Vallen and travel with the gang to your new abode.
This past night, I woke up randomly at around 5 am, with a sinking feeling in my gut β looking back, I probably felt some kind of pre-shake β when, suddenly, I heard a thud thud in my bed. Still groggy, I thought it was my cats fighting beneath my bed (lol!) but then, the bed started shaking, and the walls were trembling for a good 10 seconds, and holy shit, it was the most intense earthquake I ever felt in my life. Legitimate thought the building was about to go down.
Thankfully, my building did not go down, and an Android warning informed me that a seism of 5.9 hit the ocean near Lisbon. What a great alarm clock π. I couldn't sleep much after that, so I was tired in the morning and couldn't write anything - but I had a good session this afternoon!
This is all. Say safe out there, it seems the Earth is going mad alongside us humans. Were I religious, I might have believed it a sign of something.πΉ
Comments
Anathema
As always, you're very level headed. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!!
AndrasteN7
I think the best solution is this. Ana, send me a private message in which you send me both versions along with your notes for what you have planned next for the entire game. It is very crucial that you send me all Hadrian related information, details for future plans, jealousy scenes etc. as well. Otherwise, I will not be able to decide. ππ€π«£ Seriously though Ana I think most of us understand, love and respect you, your work as well as your creative process. Do whatever feels most natural and fitting to you. The way you had always envisioned it. I do agree that it feels so annoying to have figured something out before your character has in a game and then the big revelation comes and you are just like "π wow, so unexpected... who would have thought? π" it just feels so anticlimactic and takes away from the supposed "impactful" scene. However, if this is done right, you do not mind at all. On the contrary, you feel happy and satisfied the truth was revealed when it was convenient for the plot and not the minute you figured it out. I will tell you what my mum has told me. I have always had this tendency to always figure out the mystery of any movie we watch with my family. I have done that since I was a child. Read/watch/play enough stories and you can easily notice the plot patterns of each genre. It got to the point where my mum told me that there was no point in me watching a movie if I only see it as a puzzle. Such mediums books, games, movies, anything that tells a story, are more than puzzles they are a journey as well. You are meant to experience the story through the eyes of the characters in it not just as a"viewer" (or in this case player). She told me it's not only about where the movie is going but how it gets us there as well. I took her advice and I find that I do not mind if I already know what is going to happen any more. Creators of stories have a reason for presenting things they way they do in the stories they want to tell. I believe the same is true for you Ana. If you have envisioned it that way, then that is the way it should be. π€π₯° In short; DO WHAT FEELS RIGHT FOR YOU! WE WILL LOVE IT EITHER WAY BECAUSE WE LOVE YOUR WRITING ANYWAY! π₯°π€ P.s. sorry for the long rant but I really hate when writers second guess themselves because of what readers may have told them. Unless it is something very major, most readers will respect the writer's creative process and decisions.
Lauriane
Gonna agree with everyone else here: do what works best for the story! I personally don't mind figuring stuff out before a MC, it's kinda like reading a murder mystery and figuring out who the killer is before the end π a) I'm proud of myself for figuring it out, and b) I'm really excited to see how the author will reveal it! I prefer to read something that makes sense writing/narration wise. I'm glad you're okay after that earthquake π€
Rita Wolf
Eu tinha que acordar Γ s 6 para ir trabalhar portanto desisti de tentar dormir π₯²π₯² fui ver agora, e Γ s 5:13 mandaram logo mensagem para um grupo de WhatsApp and I was like- Eu ocupada a panickar em casa, e estes foram INSTANTANEAMENTE para as redes sociais ππ completamente unserious mesmo π
Anathema
Thank you! That was super helpful π
Anathema
Very generous, very mindful, very cutesy of you π
Anathema
Thank you! That's what I always think about- from the outside, it may be obvious, but in the moment, with all the chaos, you just store the little things until they click
Anathema
Eu adormeci tΓ£o tarde porque fui para o Twitter e estive a rir-me dos memes durante uma hora π€£ NΓ³s somos um povo tΓ£o unserious lol
Anathema
There's more than one clue^^
Anathema
It was scary! But it was over pretty quickly. Hope your brother and his family didn't get too scared β€οΈ
Anathema
The 'clean' remark was made by Romanus POV, though. Hadrian didn't think it, he just grabbed one of your hands xD But Vallen does intend seek your marked hand
Warpotato
Iβm in agreement with what others are saying here, do the reveal in the way that works best for you. If you *had* to get my preference, I think having the Romanus piece it together on their own sounds better. *I* might know whatβs going on, but I kinda see myself as one of the many voices in Romanusβ head. To word it better, I see Romanus as their own character, and Iβm just guiding their actions and reactions, as opposed to Romanus being a stand in for me. TL:DR I think Romanus figuring it out on their own is better, but Iβm obviously not the author. Do what works best for you!
Red Phoenix97
I can see both sides. As a reader, I agree with Niamh. Do what seems suitable in your eyes as the author. We will enjoy either way.
Imani
Glad you're okay I know it has to be serious since I even see the earthquake mentioned on my search feed. Lol at you thinking it was your cats fighting, that brought me back to when I had two cats and lived on the 3rd floor of an apartment complex. I felt bad for whoever lived underneath because you'd think from the noise a stampede of elephants were running through, but it was just two chonky cats chasing each other.
Niamh
Glad to hear you're ok! Earthquakes sound terrifying. Do the Vallen reveal when suits you, the author! Its your story to tell. We're all invested!
Ribbit_rabbit
Honestly, I think that would make her kinda happy π³ Maybe just one though, she wants Romanus alive still...I think π
Wrap Wrapowy
You know what, it's kind of irrelevant but I'm re playing the demo rn and I noticed when Hadrian grabs Romanus' hand, it's pointed out he's grabbing the 'clean one', the one without the 'stain' and I think it's really interesting compared to Vallen, who seemingly always grabs the one with the mark. Maybe I'm just pointing out the obvious, something most other players have already noticed but idk, it's just so π³π³π³ Especially since I'm planning to romance Hadrian as corrupted Romanus π€ Let it burn, baby.
A sandwich
Personally, I would encourage you to wait for that perfect storytelling moment. I think your story excels at making the internal state of the MC feel very compelling and interesting, so I'd really trust that your writing will carry the day while waiting for the revelatory moment to drop. Like, the way you write the MC is so enjoyable that I just enjoy being in their head, even if I'm further along in figuring things out then they are.
Loretti
Oh goddd, that would be SO terrifying!! Earthquakes are one natural disaster that I find completely horrifying - give me tornados or storms or volcanos any day, just not earthquakes π© I'm glad you're okay! My brother's family was equally as shocked as you, but they live a bit north of Lisbon so it wasn't as intense there.
unfortunate small
hmmm is the true reveal still locked by the choice of pursuit/help rafael? If so, if the romanus can still put together whatβs happening I can see your concern. player/romanus have different kind of knowledge it would make more sense (to me) to not focus on the meta even if it frustates the player specially so if you get rid of the little requirements to figure it out. maybe the root of the issue is that there were several clues scattered across the next and now for some 1-2 is enough and might be enough for some romanus. maybe if they have high reasoning less clues are needed? idk tough one to crack
Rita Wolf
For the revelation, 100% think you should go with whatever you think is best storytelling wise. We ARE reading a story after all. And since youβre the one who has the context for the entire storyline, I think youβre the one who can best tell where that kind of thing feels right ππ«ΆπΌ
Rita Wolf
Almost had a heart attack when I felt the quake ππ in like 2 or 3 minutes everyone was on social media asking if other people had felt it, so love that for us. The amount of people who slept through it will never not amaze me, because HOOOOW
Rue
I'm very glad that you're safe. I'm in the eastern U.S. so I don't have earthquake experience, but I've heard that they can be pretty scary. As for Vallen, I think making the reveal realistic to what Romanus has discovered is far better than having the reveal early. We who have followed you have had years to decipher these clues and so much more writing to dissect when it comes to our Red Guard, whereas Romanus has had about 4 days, most of which has been spent away from Vallen and dealing with all sorts of craziness. It makes sense that they haven't had the time to put everything together about her yet. Either way, I'm sure whatever you decide to go with will be magnificent!
Gorogs
I am very glad you're safe. I live in Greece so I get you, earthquakes are terrible, horrible, no good, very bad! As for Vallen, I think you've chosen the perfect middle ground of aknowledging that the character isn't completely oblivious if we have the necessary clues, yet also pacing the story for the best dramatic reveal. I personally love figuring stuff out before the MC does, as long as there's no serious consequences for the MC not knowing. Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be a great read either ways <3
shrek4ever
Good thing you're safe, can't imagine what it must have felt like in the moment. Regarding the reveal I do understand your trouble, but I think if you have a scene in mind that seems perfect and Romanus who is on the fance because they suspect Vallen isn't who she appears to be. It should be great. In the story they have been through a lot in a short period of time, without much time to relax and gather their thoughts. So even tho the reader might know what's up, I think narratively it makes sense that it would take MC more time.
Wrap Wrapowy
Well. If you're having trouble deciding, I would love to offer my assistance with reading all versions & giving my thoughts on which one's best π€πVery generous of me to volunteer my time when I'm already busy but I'd sell both my kidneys for Vallen if that'd make her happy so y'know, if you need help I'm your girl π₯° Sorry about the earthquake though, never experienced one myself but I know I'd be lying there frozen in fear instead of getting tf out. Really glad you're ok though π₯°π₯°π₯°
Luisa
Maybe I'm alone in this, but I actually think it can be quite fun to figure something out before MC does! It's like having a little secret between reader and author, like "oooh, I see what you're doing, that's clever, can't wait to see how MC reacts when they find out" π
mila (yugocar)
ooh iβm very glad that your building, did not in fact, collapse!! glad youβre okay. you should for sure go with what you think is best, but just from a readers perspective - i *love* those storytelling moments where everything clicks! i love for the realisation to truly build up, regardless of what i know as the reader. i personally really enjoy that space between me and the character. it always leaves me thinking, how is my character acting/reacting based on THEIR knowledge, which is much more realistically limited than mine. feels so immersive!! it brings me the same joy as when i know that my romanus is falling in love with someone, while she thinks sheβs above catching feelings. (foolish) anyway those are just my two cents, hope it wasnt too much babbling :β) always do what feels right for you as the author!! and super excited about the vallen date regardless
Slicc
Dope ππΏ
