I started this week at full throttle with chapter 2 of Liam's story. Itās almost there, I just need to review the very last scene and then I can say it's ready. The details Iāve added and the changes Iāve made are mostly to flesh out the characters and a bit of the novel's atmosphere.
The beginning of the story has a specific pacing, and I need to lay down a solid foundation before diving into the next section.
On the writing front, truth be told, Iāve been jumping between Charlieās second novel and that other story I told you about last week that totally hooked me. To be honest, Iāve come up with a couple of cool little things for that story, especially for a character Iāve been wanting to fit in somewhere for a very long time.
This finally seems to be the story where they belong.
I canāt say much more about Charlieās second book. I know where I want to go with it, as well as the conflict I want to handle in this part. What Iām still not so sure about, and Iāll figure it out as I go, is a specific aspect of the ending.
But Iām not worried. I always end up figuring it out.
As for the Charlie illustration I have pending, Iām this close to finishing it. Just yesterday I finished the shading, and all I have left are the lights and a few effects to make it look even better.
I also have an illustration planned for the new story featuring my favorite character, as well as a couple of looser sketches with the rest of the characters, something a bit more like a cartoonish comic style than what I usually do.
I think itās going to be really cool.
And thatās been all for this week.
See you next week! (If my trainer doesn't kill me along the way with the new workout routine he sent me :') )
How would you feel if I told you that Iāve just had one of the best weeks, creatively speaking, of my entire life?
First of all, Iāve finished revising and editing Liamās first chapter, and Iām right in the middle of the second one. I love what Iāve done, the details Iāve added, and the subtle nuance Iāve given to one of the characters. This is definitely going to give the story a lot more momentum later on.
Usually, I tend to use the weekends to rest a bit more and write less, but I doubt Iāll be able to contain myself this time for a few reasons.
One of those reasons is that I want to continue Charlie's story as soon as possible, but the biggest reason I can't wait to write is that I've come up with a brand-new story. All week long, I havenāt been able to stop thinking about it, the characters (I already have the main cast and the villains pretty much fully designed), the world (fantasy, of course), and the conflict, which, honestly, is a bit darker than what Iām used to.
But it has something I just canāt resist. I have the beginning, the conflict that drives the protagonist forward, and I have the ending. There are some scenes in between that I already have in mind, but most of the mid-story plot is something Iāll figure out as I write it, just like always.
I don't know how long would it be, or if it'll be one or two books (or three). There is a lot to tell, I have a lot of details of the world in my mind, but we'll see.
Who wants to know what it's about? š
Now, on the drawing side of things, Iām halfway through a new sketch of Charlie and someone who will be one of her newest and most important companions in the second book. Can you guess who it'll be?
In case you guys want to know more about The Legacy of the Sea and what to expect from it, here you have some q&a about the novel
The Legacy of the Sea tell the story of Charlie, a young but notorious pirate captain that has set her sights on solving the mystery that Runa Ivrin, the Queen of the Seven Seas, left behind. But just as she plots her course, an unfortunate run-in with the Navy leaves her cornered. Now, her fate rests in the hands of a cunning port city governor who offers her a deal she can't refuse: retrieve Runa's treasure for him, or face the gallows.
Well, after taking last week as a little vacation, this week Iām back at it with Liam's novel.
I jumped right into editing, and I have to say, Iām absolutely loving the results. I finished the prologue in just two days, so I quickly moved on to the first chapter.
I haven't finished proofreading and editing this chapter yet, but I can already say that I am really, really happy with the changes I've made. The opening is better, more elaborate, and Iāve added a few details to give the characters a couple of extra layers to make them more interesting.
There is a key element, a small object, that has become a fundamental piece for the entire plot. And the best part is that it goes completely unnoticed. I absolutely love that!
On the other hand, Iāve also been taking notes for Charlie's second novel. I haven't continued writing it this week, but Iāve gathered a good amount of information for one of the characters over the last few days. I don't think I've ever had so many saved videos on animal behavior.
As for the plot, there is a clear idea that follows the entire saga. The only things I'm missing are the details and how far I want to go. I know who the character accompanying Charlie will be, I have their name, their past, their role, and a few secondary characters. I just need to fill in the blanks in between.
But hey, that's something that, as always, Iāll figure out as I move forward with the story. My main focus is editing and proofreading Liam's novel (which, by the way, I still don't know whether to keep the title I gave it or think of a new one), but soon Iāll start writing The Heir of the Earth. I'm really looking forward to continuing Charlie's story and seeing the look on your faces when you read what it's actually about.
After all, there are more secrets that Charlie is hiding, and some of them she doesn't even know herself. ;)
I saw from an earlier anon ask that you do this for a living because of Patreon. I know you mentioned that it wasnāt a ton of money or anything, but I find that to be so, so, so cool. I love writing with everything in me. I love interactive fiction and I want to make a game and would like for it to eventually be enough to help pay bills (probably in tandem with self-publishing books in the same genre as the game, but it would be cool for both to be self-sustaining for me separately in time!). Do you have any advice for someone who wants to do the same (I do know that this is something that requires years to build up to what you have done and tonssss of writing), but I really wanted to ask if you had any advice?
Oh boi. This is going to be a lot of rambling, so go under the cut. š
I think you already have your answer without even realizing it. This is something that takes years to build. It won't happen overnight. For me, it definitely didn't. So the first piece of advice I'd give you isā¦ don't give up.
I first started writing IFs in 2020 during the pandemic. I was stuck at work because everything was slow, and I needed something to keep my brain occupied. Back then, I was really into Choices, the mobile game app, and someone there told me about The Wayhaven Chronicles.
I started reading Wayhaven and thought, "Okayā¦ this is such a cool concept. I bet I could do my own." So I looked into Hosted Games, joined the forum, and started coding and writing my very first game, The Burning Sun.
My grammar, my sentence structure, my understanding of the English languageā¦ all of it was bad. š But I kept going because I had a story I wanted to tell, and I just wanted it out there.
Then there was a Halloween writing competition on the forum, and believe it or not, my little story, The Keeper of Midnight, which later became The Midnight Saga, actually won. So I decided to turn it into a full game and release it with Hosted Games.
And let me tell youā¦ everything that could go wrong went wrong. lol.
The grammar was bad, the sentence structure was bad, and there was not a single contraction in that story. The first few reviews genuinely crushed me for weeks. I was in a really bad mental space and seriously considered giving up.
The one thing that stayed consistent was the smut. However egregious it was, people seemed to enjoy it. So after a few months, I decided to keep going instead of quitting.
Someone suggested I open a Patreon, and at first I thought, "There is no way people are going to pay for my bad writing." But eventually I did open one, and let me tell youā¦ it did not go well at first. I made $59 for the entire year of 2021.
Honestly, even that felt like a blessing because who were these people giving me money??? š I'm pretty sure some of them are still around today.
But all of that taught me that other authors huge beginnings wasn't going to be my beginning.
Money-wise, it also depends on your situation and your goals. My partner still works, so I have someone to fall back on if Patreon doesn't work out. Patreon income can be incredibly unpredictable, so don't put all your eggs in one basket, especially if you need a stable income to pay bills.
I also made a ton of mistakes early on. I didn't know what to post, how often to post, or how to market myself. I even got into a bit of controversy on Tumblr in early 2021 and got blacklisted by a bunch of authors, which definitely hurt my visibility. (No, I will not elaborate. š) Just know that Tumblr today and Tumblr back then, especially in the IF community, are VERY different places.
The actual advice:
Growing a Patreon takes a lot of work, and consistency is probably the biggest thing. Keep posting updates. Keep posting snippets. Open a Tumblr blog. Most of my Patreons come from Tumblr.
Write a story YOU want to read. That's what's going to keep you motivated when writing gets exhausting, because IF writing absolutely can be exhausting.
Start small if you need to. Get something out there. I genuinely think having a published game helped me because people read it and wanted more, so they went out of their way to find me afterward.
When it comes to criticism, take what helps and discard what's hateful or useless. Nowadays I've learned to tune out bad reviews unless they actually offer constructive feedback that can help me improve. But I still cry at someone saying that my games are TUBI Originals. š
And don't get discouraged if nobody reads your work at first. Believe me, I've been there. Proof isā¦ you guys only really see me now, but I've been around since 2020. š
So keep doing you. Keep writing. Also, join writing groups. There are some AMAZING authors out there who aren't active on Tumblr or social media but give incredible advice through Discord communities.
And seriously, get beta testers. The amount of times my beta testers have pointed out grammar mistakes or awkward phrasing I completely missed is honestly astounding, and I love them for it because it genuinely helped me improve.
Also explore self-publishing. By that, I mean publishing games yourself instead of only going through Hosted Games so you can keep a bigger portion of the revenue. I'm personally doing both. I don't think I have the audience yet to go fully solo, and Hosted Games already has a built-in audience. Publishing with them helps more people discover my work, and then when I self-publish projects, I already have more eyes on them.
And finallyā¦ explore genres.
I started with fantasy and horror, then eventually switched into more slice-of-life stories, and people seemed to resonate with those more. So don't be afraid to experiment and figure out where your voice shines the brightest.
Anywayā¦ I don't know what else to say. Sorry for the rambling. šš
Ayax and Aren might not be the most serious members of Charlie's crew, but they are certainly the most dynamic. Born into a circus family, they are now capable pirates who make the perfect lookouts.
This week has been more about resting than anything else, but, even though I haven't been particularly focused on writing, Iāve taken the time to go over a few details to keep in mind for when I dive into revising and editing Liamās novel.
My plan was to spend at least two of weeks letting the manuscript breathe, but I donāt think I can hold out that long. Itās very likely Iāll open it this weekend and start editing the whole thing.
I have plenty of scenes in mind to add, as well as two new characters who, while secondary, add another layer to one of the main characters. Not to mention the scenes I left half-finished, especially in the final chapters.
One thing I have been tinkering with is the second novel in Charlieās saga. Iāve got a short fragment of the first chapter where I introduce the second protagonist whoāll be joining her.
Is it too early to ask if youāve already read The Legacy of the Sea? Iām dying for you to meet the second main character and, especially, a specific one whoās going to become very, very important to Charlie... even though I havenāt actually started the story yet!
A hint about that character: they are 55 centimeters tall.
And thatās all for this week. Itās been a quiet few days without much hustle and bustle, and honestly, I canāt go much longer without getting back to the keyboard.
Every good crew needs a good helmsman, even if Tenney is capable of getting into more trouble than his captain.
The Legacy of the Sea tell the story of Charlie, a young but notorious pirate captain who has set her sights on solving the mystery of Runa Ivrin, the Queen of the Seven Seas. But just as she plots her course, an unfortunate run-in with the Navy leaves her cornetes. Now, her face resto in the hands of a cunning port governor who offers her a del she can't refuse: retrieve Runa's treasure for him, or face the gallows.
The heat from the changing season is starting to become more obvious and, honestly, the urge to take a little trip to the beach and ignore the gym for a bit is growing, too.
But not even the rising temperature could stop me from sitting down to write, and thanks to that, Iāve achieved two things this week that are worth celebrating.
The first thing is that Iāve finished the first manuscript of Liam's novel! (Go me!)
Itās a manuscript full of holes, clearly, but itās finished and thatās what matters. There is still a lot to do. Iām going to set that story aside for a week or two before returning to it. I need to fill in scenes, edit weak dialogue, add some characters, maybe even a chapter or two, and ensure that the information and plot explanations are exactly where they should beā¦
Yes, there is still work ahead, but Iāll get to it after a break.
In the meantime, and here comes the second celebration, I have something to keep me busy while Liam "breathes"
Iāve started writing the second novel in Charlieās saga, The Heir of the Earth!
I have a couple of things clear about this novel. For example, a specific character who is going to become indispensable for Charlie for the rest of the saga, and another one who isā¦ a bit more "special"
It will likely be a bit more serious than The Legacy of the Sea, but not by much, I can assure you of that now. Charlie has always been characterized by that light, absurd humor that I love, so Iām not going to let that get lost even if there are some heavier themes in the mix.
Thereās still little to say about it, but Iām really looking forward to seeing where this novel takes me (even though I already know the ending).
On the drawing side, Iāve finished another illustration of Charlie and started another one featuring one of the scenes from the novel that I had the most fun writing.
For next week, Iāve been considering whether to write some summer-themed short stories. One with Charlie and her crew, and another with the characters from Echoes of a Wish. Iām not sure whether to do one with the characters from Liamās novel too, since you donāt know them yet.
A month of progress, without a doubt. With its ups and downs, but with a lot to celebrate.
Thank God I do those weekly summaries on Patreon, because otherwise I assure you I wouldnāt even realize half the things I get done š
But the main and most important thing this month is undoubtedlyā¦
The Legacy of the Sea is finally out
Thatās right, Charlie has finally seen the light of day! Itās a novel I wrote quite a few years ago, but there was always something left to do before publishing it. One more scene, one more explanation, one more round of edits.
I kept putting off my friends who had already read the manuscript. One excuse after another whenever they asked me (and some even demanded to know) when I was going to publish that novel once and for all.
The excuses were silly, but now, after seeing the final result, and especially because of one specific scene I added during that last revision, the truth is Iām glad I waited a bit longer.
The novel is available on Amazon in paperback and ebook formats, as well as through services provided by IngramSpark, like Barnes & Noble.
Legends say the treasure of Runa Ivrin, the Queen of the Seven Seas, is a myth. Charlie knows better
Charlie, a young but notorious pirate captain, has set her sights on solving the mystery that Runa left behind. But just as she plots her course, an unfortunate run-in with the Navy leaves her cornered. Now, her fate rests in the hands of a cunning port city governor who offers her a deal she canāt refuse: retrieve the treasure for him, or face the gallows.
But she wonāt be sailing alone.
Forced to adjust her plans to the governorās whims, Charlie is burdened with Kasian, a disciplined Navy soldier assigned to ensure her loyalty. Together, this reluctant duo must navigate the treacherous waters toward the Wandering Island, a cursed, shifting landmass that has destroyed the finest Navy vessels whole.
To survive, they must overcome not only the islandās deadly enchantments but also their mutual distrust. Yet, the Navy doesnāt know who they are truly dealing with. Charlie fears neither witchcraft nor ancient curses for a simple reason: much like the legendary Runa, she is no ordinary pirate. She has a secret of her own, one that might be the key to reaching the treasure.
But, just in case that isnāt enough to convince you, the entire first chapter of the novel is available to read for free on Patreon.
I couldn't make it any easier for you!
Itās weird to publish a novel. This is my second time doing it (the fourth, if I count the short story anthologies Iāve participated in. The second time doing it on my own), and I feel... normal.
Iām happy, Iām glad to have put out another novel... but I want more.
To write more, publish more, tell more, draw more. More, and more, and more.
Itās a curious feeling, what is this fire burning in the pit of my stomach? Part of me worries that it will end up consuming me entirely. Will I end up burned out? It doesnāt feel that way right now. It feels more like something automatic and natural.
Even so, I try to pace myself at times. I need enough steam for the rest of the stories I have in mind! (and in the drawer)
I will be tremendously grateful if you check out Charlieās novel. I promise you The Legacy of the Sea has a lot to offer you. Whether itās a bit of entertainment, some sporadic laughs, or an exciting adventure.
On another note, letās talk about Liamās novel
I started this month at a really good pace, the same one Iāve had for a few months now, and the manuscript is about to reach its absolute end!
According to my mental calculations (which arenāt accurate at all), I have left to write the chapter Iām working on now and one more to finish it. That is, of course, if I donāt suddenly decide to write an epilogue.
But it doesnāt matter much anyway, because there are a ton of things and details to add in the next edit. There are scenes to modify, characters to refine, and a lot of content Iāve come up with as I went along.
Itās highly likely the novel will end up growing by two or three more chapters. One of the main characters needs to stand out more, in these last few scenes theyāve been fading a bit and I canāt let that happen.
Though Iām also not taking every thought of this kind that crosses my mind lately too seriously. Being so close to the end, Iām much more aware of what needs to go right and what things need to connect, which makes me write much slower and second-guess every sentence.
Is this dialogue okay here?
Am I describing too little?
Am I describing too much?
Have I already given this piece of information in another chapter?
Is this too repetitive?
Is this boring?
Iām proud of myself for moving forward despite all those intrusive thoughts. I have this last chapter full of notes and placeholders. Reviewing and editing it is going to be fun.
But, luckily, Iāve learned to keep pushing forward despite everything. I wouldnāt want a repeat of that time I got stuck for several months on a scene in Echoes of a Wish before being able to write the ending.
Liam is a complex story, with characters full of trauma and complicated emotions. Itās okay to slow down a bit at this stage.
The important thing is that it reaches the end, and Iām so close I can almost touch it if I just stretch out my arm a little!
The interactive story...
Can you believe Iām doubting what to do with it? (for a change)
I keep moving forward at a turtleās pace, a snailās pace, from single word to single word. Which is good.
I donāt remember if Iāve mentioned it on any other occasion these past few months, but Iām participating in the third installment of a short story anthology with a couple of writer colleagues from my circle.
On this occasion, since we had decided that the theme of the anthology would be ālove and gods,ā it occurred to me to write about Lyric, one of the romantic interests the interactive story will have.
Itās a scene I had in mind from the beginning. It is, basically, the scene that started the whole story, although there will be some changes by the time I get to it.
Well, I passed the story to a friend of mine and her reaction was to call me on the phone to scream in my ear: āWhy donāt you make it one of your novels!? I want to read Lyric!ā
It tempted me. I promise you it did.
And it did mainly because the other two romantic interests for the protagonist in the interactive story feel a bit weak to me right now. But thatās because I havenāt completely resolved their role and their own route in the story, not for any other reason.
I canāt deny that a traditional novel would be interesting because it would give me the excuse to play with the characters however I pleased, without worrying about keeping track of every sentence and the charactersā genders and the details attached to that.
But where would the fun be then? My idea with this was to do something different.
Although, of course, between now and when that story is even close to seeing the light of day, a lot of things can happen.
For now, Iāll stick with the initial idea and continue tinkering with the lines of code that still confuse me so much. In the future, weāll see what happens.
About the illustration part...
Iāve put the drawing side of things on the back burner a bit this month. Iāve focused more on preparing things for Charlieās release and the weeks following it.
I have a couple more posts ready, and many illustrations planned out. Some of Charlie, some of Echoes, and some of Liam. A few of them are a bit spicier than usual, and you guys know how much fun I have doing those illustrations.
And thatās all for this month
By May, I hope to have finished Liamās novel. With the little bit I have left, I think Iāll be able to finish it in the first half of the month.
And then, a little break from writing for a week or so before getting back at it with...
Do you know what happened this week? Charlie has finally seen the light of day after so many years of waiting!
The Legacy of the Sea is available on Amazon, in both paperback and ebook formats. Are you going to miss out? Charlie is dying to recruit new members for her crew, and believe me, she is a veeeery persuasive woman. You are not going to want to say no to her. š
But, just in case you still have any doubts and aren't sure if it's your style, let me remind you that you can read the entire first chapter totally for free right here on Patreon.
I couldn't make it any easier for you!
Now, focusing on the rest of this week, I've diligently kept writing Liam's novel despite the little bumps in the road I've been running into. Since I'm already nearing the end of the manuscript, it's becoming a bit of an uphill climb, but it's nothing I can't solve with a couple of side notes and some sentences that are... mediocre, honestly, but they get the job done.
I think there is only the chapter I'm working on right now and one more left. Unless I suddenly decide to add an epilogue, that's all that's left to finish the first manuscript.
I am so incredibly eager to reach the very end, you can't even imagine. We're so close!
On the illustration side of things, this week I've been working on another one for Charlie. As always, I have several drawings in progress and more than enough ideas for the rest of the year.
Some are a bit spicier than others, and you know how much fun I have with those illustrations. I want to sneak one in for Echoes of a Wish in the mix... what I don't know yet is which one.
Oh, and I also have a couple of posts prepared about Charlie's novel that really cracked me up. I'll be sharing them over time.
It's happening. It's here. Charlie has just cast off and set sail around the world!
Legends say the treasure of Runa Ivrin, the Queen of the Seven Seas, is a myth. Charlie knows better
Charlie, a young but notorious pirate captain, has set her sights on solving the mystery that Runa left behind. But just as she plots her course, an unfortunate run-in with the Navy leaves her cornered. Now, her fate rests in the hands of a cunning port city governor who offers her a deal she can't refuse: retrieve the treasure for him, or face the gallows.
But she won't be sailing alone.
Forced to adjust her plans to the governor's whims, Charlie is burdened with Kasian, a disciplined Navy soldier assigned to ensure her loyalty. Together, this reluctant duo must navigate the treacherous waters toward the Wandering Island, a cursed, shifting landmass that has destroyed the finest Navy vessels whole.
To survive, they must overcome not only the island's deadly enchantments but also their mutual distrust. Yet, the Navy doesn't know who they are truly dealing with. Charlie fears neither witchcraft nor ancient curses for a simple reason: much like the legendary Runa, she is no ordinary pirate. She has a secret of her own, one that might be the key to reaching the treasure.
