Progress Report (Patreon)

Another Friday, another meeting.

Excuse my lateness. I had a power shortage in my area that lasted for far too long — my phone was at 8%, the sun was starting to dwindle, and I wondered if I had to read by the light of candles when finally, electricity was restored and the world was set right.

I know I'm writing a medieval fantasy, and in the distance fiction provides, I can envision their lives fine without modern comforts, but my God is it near impossible to live myself without them.

That aside, I am here, and let us speak.

This week, I managed two things: write every day and finish Alessa's romance version! I also have a good headstart into her friendship version and, after that, the chapter should move much more quickly! Except at the end, where past decisions, past allies, and past promises split the scene in three — but it's going to be so fun I cannot wait to get there. I may be biased, but I think Chapter One ends in a pretty climatic way.

I also, in my numerous daydreams and wandering thoughts about the Rose, have figured out a pretty important point for Book 4! I know it may sound ridiculous since it seems so far away, but there was a part in the story, in the plot, where I was... lost. I knew how the story would get to that point, but from there to the end, there was a vast dark territory that I still needed to fill.

Of course, this will be subjected to change — or perhaps deepen is the more accurate word — because I tend to add things and change the narrative as I write, but having this vague outline feels... so, so good. Relieving. Because now, it's all here. I have the whole plot in my head. Now, I know for sure that for me to finish the Rose, to bring it into existence, I simply need to write. That's it. It may come out poorly, and people might not like it, but it's here, and I'll finish it.

I've also expanded on the outline for Book 2. I can't help it, I keep imagining more scenes I want to add. A bit of a spoiler: there's a small downtime in chapter 3 where you'll be able to speak with a few of your companions, and for those of you romancing Hadrian, if you so choose, you can offer to shave his stubble (which, by that point, will be almost a beard). For Alessa, she'll start to massage your neck, and I may add the option to help her braid her hair. My outline before was just: conversation.

But I think these scenes will be much more fun to play. 😋

Anyway, that's all the news! The lovely artist doing the portrait I was very excited to show had an unfortunate delay, for life can throw you lemons when you least expect it, but she assured me she didn't forget about me 😊

The goal next week? Finish this whole scene. Keep going forward. There are, after all, bridges waiting to be torched, the crackling wood begging to be burned (the chapter's name is 'Burning Bridges' for those who might find yourselves confused by my, admittedly, odd ramblings).

Have a wonderful weekend! Where I live, we're suffering a heat wave. It's so bad that even at 9 pm I still find myself sweating. I walk not the shimmering streets of Tarragona, but my roads are cobbled too, and sometimes... sometimes it seems as if I'm right there.

All I'm missing is a tingling palm. 🌹