Welcome to the 21st writing club update. On pondering this number, I’m reminded that we are currently in the 21st century according to the Gregorian calendar, and that this will be the only century I’ll really get to know. But there have been at least 20 other of these things (and I’m told perhaps even more), so that might give one pause / perspective.
My region has been unusually cold for March, which though it’s unexpected, I’ve been trying to enjoy it. Let some of the last cold into my bones so I can bring up the memory when I’m too hot, later this summer.
So this is the monthlyish writing club update where regular participants are encouraged to share progress on their monthly goals and goings-ons. Anyone is welcome to chime in with their own happenings, or comments on each others happenings.
So I said I wanted to hit 1 000 words, and if I look at all my little projects I definitely hit that, buttt… in my heart, I really meant on this short story I’ve been poking it. On that front I wrote (checks) 299 words–started a character sheet for one of my characters.
Anyway, it’s better than nothing, so I’ll stick to this goal: 1 000 words on my short story. I’ll go one further: 1 000 of story, so not just meta or worldbuilding, but actual writing for like people to read.
Do it :o if you need a test reader you know where to find me. ☺️
This month we made progress on editing the solarpunk TTRPG campaign - we’re about a third of the way through so far. I also got some feedback from a GM who was overwhelmed by info in the introduction so I’m taking the opportunity to move some stuff to a linked appendix in the back, and to rework some of the first scenes to add sone more interaction. I’ve been a little unhappy with how ‘cutscene-heavy’ the campaign is in the opening for a while now, especially compared to how open-world the rest of it is but I was mostly focused on getting everything completed. Now that I’ve got the ‘minimum viable product’ I suppose I can make some of those improvements.
Partially to make those content cuts easier, I’ve started in on the choose-your-own-adventure book version of the story. The narrative-heavy opening is a much better fit for that medium and it gave me a chance to try out twine. I still need to outline all the big plot arcs but I enjoyed setting up the section before the first real split.
Lastly I put together a page on phytoremediation, mycoremediation, and bioremediation for the worldbuilding wiki and started a page on rethinking maps. Speaking of the number 21, the maps page will be our 21st entry!
The various bioremediation practices have been an outsized portion of my research for the campaign, mostly given how hard the info can be to find and parse, but I think I’ve put it towards a good resource here.
Twine!! Oh that’s a great use of that tool. Actually, I hadn’t ever thought of using it for anything other than… making Twine games, I guess, but now that I see this it’s obvious it’s good for any story that has multiple flows.
Wikipedia credits Twine and other story games with at least some of the blame for the decline of the gamebook industry. It really is a upgrade in so many ways - the ability to set and check hidden flags so you don’t need as many (or any) “if you have” or “if you’ve been to” -type checks is a big improvement all on its own. In some ways game books were an awkward compromise between book and game due to the limitations of tech in their heyday. Or maybe in an few different awkward spots on a spectrum from book to game…
All that aside, I always imagined this as a proper printed choose your own adventure book (if I finish it I’ll make a bookbinding version anyone can print and bind). Awkward compromise or not I love those books (CYOAs, Fighting Fantasy, Lone Wolf) and I really love the idea of making a solarpunk one.
I’m not sure yet how I’ll do the final section numbering (to replace the twine links) and page layout but I figure I need a functional story before I worry much about that and Twine seems to be a great fit for it. I just wish I could get spell check working on the desktop version.
I have so many incredible memories of CYOA books from my childhood. I would absolutely throw down some cash for an adult solarpunk CYOA
That’s great to hear! If I finish it it’ll be free but it’s really good to know there’s an audience for it!
That graph software that you’re using looks like an outliners dream!! (I’m a pantser, so naturally I’m intimidated and slightly confused. 😆 )
It’s really nice! I’ve never worked on a story like this before but it really helps! It’s the desktop install of Twine and I really like the sort of geographic-by-default layout.
I’m just using it to keep track of the basic layout and interconnections as I plan to eventually convert it over to a print book, but twine games can be really elaborate, with all sorts of hidden flags tracking your decisions, plus artwork and music.
I’ve never been a plotter so taking on a book with multiple branching plots is probably pure hubris but I honestly think this will help. It certainly has so far.
You won’t believe me but this time I’ve been late INTENTIONALLY! I wanted to write/edit a lot during Easter vacations and I managed to do so, so I postponed the update to include this writing burst 😤
- Edited four (out of six) chapters from Kanteletar’s Section B
- Submitted some flash fiction to Scrappy Capy’s Harbour magazine after a loooong time not submitting anything!
Considering I’m very deep into teaching practice (and I will be for the rest of April as well), I’m very proud! :D
Congrats! That really is a huge burst of writing. And submitting to Scrappy Capy—what a dream. This is honestly so motivational ❤️🔥
Do you have any plans for April? Although it would be understandable if you focused on your teaching practice.
I’ve been somewhat busy due to helping a friend move and a lot of my time still taken up with tech nonsense, but I have actually done a fairly significant revision of the second book of my trilogy, overhauling the first 3-4 chapters with a significantly different character motivation and more tension and drama. However, I think I’ll need to do another pass later once I have the time to ensure it’s all consistent.
Hopefully, once this tech stuff finally comes to a close I’ll be writing more again and then I’ll have more to share here!
I mean overhauling chapters certainly isn’t nothing! But I get you, I’m also pulled in five different directions by various creative-but-not-writing projects.
Good luck with your tech stuff and your writing!
