Upload Info + General Info
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
I've finished the first draft of QuintSum. So, what now?
Well, the short answer is that I'm going to release it all on Ao3, but there's a few things to discuss related to that process, because that won't be done in a day either.
Beautiful drawings of the main cast done by @thereisabearonmyceiling and @dorianwolfforest respectively!
How will you release the fic?
The long and short of it all is that I release one chapter at a time in chronological order. I divide them into batches/groups to make my life easier planning for them, but this doesn't really change anything in practice. For a better view on where I currently am, have a look at the Ao3 summary.
How long is this fic?
Short version: Long. Really fucking long.
Long version: 138 chapters, as far as I have planned. Originally, it was 135, then I underestimated how long chapter 57 would get, and had to split it in two. Then, as I was reworking the final arc, I added two whole new chapters to it that weren't even in the first draft. So, now I can't say. But that should be it, assuming I don't have to split anymore chapters for length reasons. I shouldn't have to, but, you know, clearly I cannot be trusted with anything when it comes to word counts and chapter lengths.
As for the word count? My personal prediction is around 850-950k. Every, and I do mean every, single one of my friends thinks I'm gonna hit 1 million with ease. So, place your own bets I guess? And then we'll see?
Why do you talk as if you've already finished the fic?
Because I have. The fic you're all reading and I'm currently uploading is the second draft that I started working on in August 2024. The first/original draft was started in September of 2023, and finished in July of 2024. The original draft ended up at 280k words, at 135 chapters. I'm sure you can figure out the rest.
When would be a good time to start the fic?
Literally right now/whenever you feel like it. The fic is not getting shorter, so if you wanna read it, might as well do it now.
When does the next chapter come out?
When it's done. (Read: I don't know. I don't have an upload schedule, and I'm not planning on getting one either. Because I don't want one, and also I'm too busy for one. So, whenever it's finished.)
What is important to keep in mind about the fic?
Two major things: I have consistently talked on my main about how the biggest goal of QuintSum has been to "make Elizabeth's death worth it"; and third-party sources, of the my friends kind, would all agree that I have written a by the books tragedy, catharsis and all.
Do with that what you will. But, honestly, just read the tags, read the fic, and go from there. I don't go as mature as some other rewrite fics do (not a dunk, people can do whatever they want, I think every rewrite fic ever is very cool, and that includes the people who write them), but I definitely discuss and portray a lot more mature topics than the game does (including portraying in-game events in a much more in-depth/mature way).
(My personal choice for 'load-bearing tags' would be: Tragedy, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Grief/Mourning, Eventual Happy Ending, and Tonal Whiplash.)
(At the time of writing, until the fic is finished, all of the tags may not apply to the chapters currently released.) <- also the explanation for why there is two archive warnings, one of which is "does not apply", it's because major character death is a Very late-game tag and we simply won't get there in a while (once we do reach that part I'm considering just removing the "does not apply" one)
Anything else?
Tell @tobnuuy that you love him because he's the entire reason that I started, nevertheless finished this fuckass fic of mine. Stay tuned for the release, boys, we fucking made it.
(If you want some sporadic updates because I can't shut up, I'm always yappin over at @shiroselia and otherwise you can find me at Ao3 as per usual)
Cheers!