On arc 3 length and organization
Arc 3 of 2000F is now projected to have 14 chapters. This is probably not a split arc like arc 2 is. Arc 2 was just too long — in total it's 18 chapters (including 2 mid-arc interludes), so I had to split it into 7 chapters before the mid-arc break, and 9 chapters after.
I must admit I began arc 3 not knowing fully what I was in for. I had an outline, but it didn't resonate with me — it didn't feel right — and I ended up not consulting it at all as I started writing. I just knew it was going to be about the culling itself.
There's more structure now. I can say it has seven distinct sections: The Dream, The Departure, The Way There, The Mine, Prepping the Return, The Way Back, and The Repercussions. For spoiler purposes I'm not gonna elaborate more, of course.
Anyway. For my own record, I'd like to note that today I figured out there's a new plot thread I have to introduce this arc that I was barely aware of before. I mean, I've been prepping for it, but it didn't dawn on me that it has to be now. I might have told you that the story has different subplots and "teams": the Mitras subplot (Frieda's team and Battenberg's team), the Trost subplot (Maya and Levi's team), and the Underground subplot (the Descendants). This is the configuration as of the start of arc 3. There are then two additional teams introduced during arc 3 or at the end of it: the Underground Resistance team and the Wall Rose team. These are less fleshed out and peopled than the other teams. You know what that means: more OC building time! 😭