Tag: Choicescript

A Dev’s Progress

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Getting this to work was one of the hardest things I’ve ever attempted : )

Updated first two chapters

I’ve updated the first couple of chapters of The Aegis Saga – Blood using the new ‘turn page’ feature from ‘Brain-bug’ and the new open world style feature from ‘Explore Stonecross’ – (p.95).

Want to hear about it when The Aegis Saga Blood is released? (I will only ever email you when a story is released.) Now all the code is in place, I’ll be continuing through the rest of the chapters on the heels of the editor Juliane Ashwood!

Explore Stonecross as an Open World

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An experiment with using the randomisation I’ve been learning with an ‘open world’ style. It’s bare bones at the moment, but you get the point ; )

I’ve tried to build a mechanic that:

1/ Allows you to move around freely.

2/ Randomly generates the places you travel around.

3/ Then remembers them so you can return there (and some day interact with the things you find there.)

= Explore Stonecross =

Want to hear about it when The Aegis Saga Blood is released? (I will only ever email you when a story is released)

An editor!

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I’m really happy to say that I’m now working with an editor to bring ‘The Aegis Saga – Blood’ through it’s last stages.

Juliane Ashwood has most recently professionally edited two Choicescript games including parts of Samuel Harrison Young’s current edition of ‘Trial of the Demon Hunter‘ and the beginning of Sam Kabell’s ‘Unnatural‘.tumblr_inline_o9uyztqocc1tlmnj9_1280

She won first prize for her entry ‘The Beastie Watch‘ in the 2016 Choicescript Competition – pipping me to the post (I won second place!) Her other works in progress include ‘Fantasy Foods Ltd.‘ and ‘A World Once Lost‘.

Juliane writes and edits business copy for a small business in California and has written copy for various other organisations over the last several years. She’s also beta tested various other Choicescript games (and is termed a ‘Beta Tester Extraordinaire’ on the Choice of Games forum.

I hope that Juliane’s editing will help turn ‘The Aegis Saga – Blood’ into something I can be really proud of. If I’m really lucky that might lead to my spending a bit more time writing. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves! ; ) I’ve still got to release ‘Blood’ first . . .

 

 

Featured

The Aegis Saga -Book One

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Will you lead a remnant people to the stars? Or else choose to murderously ascend the human throne? Or will you become monstrous, warped by magic and barrensblight?

The Aegis Saga is an interactive fantasy story in which you can choose your own rich path through the bloodline politics of The Two Kingdoms, the blighted wastes of the Barren Lands and the golden power-soaked cities of Lydia.

The Consort is gone, the heirs are dead, and you may be the last surviving successor to the Yellow throne. Or not.

Start your journey in Book 1 of The Aegis Saga. Coming soon.

Shattered, in a good way

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Wow, what a marathon day.

Started with a 10 hour round trip, finished with a ten hour proofing session. . .

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Today was cool because I managed to get the entirety of ‘The Aegis Saga – Blood’ out for final beta-testing.

That means submission to Choice of Games for publishing under their Choice of Games label might not be too far off. So when I say I feel shattered in a good way, I mean it feels like I’m a little closer to getting this thing published.

It feels like the journey’s been pretty epic so far, and I’ve got to say – writing is one of the most enjoyable things in my life right now (after my partner and dogs of course, but that goes without saying ; )

Stuff I’ve enjoyed the most:

  • the COG forum community. They’re just great. I’ve never met so many people willing to give so much time and support to people trying to write choicescript.
  • the times in between. For some reason a lot of ideas seem to come to me when I’m out walking or doing something else that clears my mind.
  • growing my confidence (let’s face it, saying that you’re trying to write your first story feels a bit like being a dog that’s owning up to a big mistake on the carpet)
  • the fun of writing the world of Eris (it just feels awesome all the time)

 

Adrienne Valdes’s first illustration for ‘Blood’

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Love the touches in the sky and the reflections in the water. Adrienne is not only a great artist but is also lovely to work with and I’m looking forward to commissioning more work from her in the future!

We should shortly have a cover image for ‘Blood’ too, which I’m very excited about. The thing I’ve enjoyed the most about getting this first illustration is that I write thousands of words about the world of Eris, but this picture gave me one of the strongest impressions I’ve had of standing back and appreciating the place : )

Thanks Adrienne!

Adrienne’s website is: https://vandaldinesere.carbonmade.com/

 

‘Venom beneath the skin’

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It’s now submitted! In a short month the judges will decide on the winners (there are a few categories in there).  The competition title is ‘poisonous intent’.

My story is loosely based on Romeo and Juliet, but set within the fantasy world of Eris. It was written over 31 days and I hope to use it as a basis for a full length story.

It’s a comedic romance with a little action, told about two races and two lovers (potentially! The narrative is choice-driven, so that’s up to you!)

Would you like to hear about about new stories when they are released? (I will only ever email you after one of my releases)

I love interactive fiction and indie games and I hope this short story will help a few people get acquainted with me and possibly even get interested in my full length story ‘The Aegis Saga – Blood’.  Now the competition is drawing to a close, I’ll be getting back to preparing ‘Blood’ for release through Choice of Games’ Hosted Games label.

I hope you enjoy ‘Venom beneath the skin’ when its released, and please keep your fingers crossed for me in the competition.

 

 

 

 

Rumble in the jungle

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Darn – I’d planned to spend today writing the linear option for my interactive novel ‘Blood‘.

Instead I just wrote 6,500 words putting some more ‘magic’ storyline options into one of the apprenticeships  the reader’s character can end up going through.

I feel epic, yet also a bit punch-drunk, maybe because I missed my target for the day so completely!

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The ‘Writer’s Toolbox’ and the ‘Reader’s Resource’

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I’m pulling all the references, artwork and external guidance on the website into two resources that you’ll find on the sidebar.

As I read and benefit from everything that the amazing authors and writers out there in the great wide world are doing, I’d like to keep these gems available here for you and me.

I plan to expand the Writer’s Toolbox and Reader Resource in leaps and bounds as I progress my own writing, publishing and self-promotion. Check them out and tell me what you’d find useful. Otherwise, enjoy!

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Tips for self-promotion

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I expect many of those visiting the site these days are fellow aspiring interactive fiction writers or choicescript authors.

That’s why I’ve created a page for self-promotion related content so other people can benefit from the bits and pieces I pick up along the way. Click here

  • The page will contain a list of links to interactive fiction website forums and normal fiction forums where you might want to think about maintaining a presence.
  • A link to pinterest images which are useful posting ammo to keep people entertained on when you post about your story or work in progress.
  • A source of articles about your website, including optimising traffic, providing a better user experience and making the most of your content.
  • And some more general sources and opportunities for free and cheap promotion.

I’ll be using all this myself for reference but perhaps some of you will find it useful.