I’m still hard at work on editing Part II (I just finished chapter fourteen tonight) but I have decided to add the Challenges Sheets I had for Parts I, II, and III up here so you all could see some of the more difficult things I set for myself in addition to the normal outline.
Whenever I start on a new part of Alayne’s Story, I generally come up with two draft sheets. The first is generally the main outline of the points I want to cover, the events I want to have happen, the order and reason for them, and then any additional characters I’m considering adding or expanding upon. The second sheet is my Challenges Sheet. This is not part of the outline per se but is instead some additional twists I’d like to fit into the story if I can work them out. Sometimes, they make it in and even wind up becoming a core part of the story. Other times, I figure it’s too troublesome, too unlikely, or just too different from the tone I want to set and I decide not to bother with it.
Anyhow, now you can see some of the weirder ideas I’ve had. And, no, I’m not putting up the Part IV Challenge Sheet yet because 1) it’s not ready and 2) it would be spoiler-laden.
Month: October 2010
Revamp Phase Two: Complete!
I’ve not been slacking. 🙂 I’ve just completed the second phase of the revamp of this site. As you can see, I’ve cleaned up the parchment a bit to make posts easier to read. I’ve also completely updated the Cast of Characters section though I still have a few more things to finish in there (namely Jez’ral and Mir’el’s pages + a few other “staple characters” to add to the roster).
And, something you’ve all been wanting to see…I’ve finished the first polish on Part I. It’s up and can be viewed in Issuu or downloaded chapter-by-chapter in .pdf. I’ve cleaned up the formatting a lot in this revision, rewritten a few things, and made the flow better overall. So, take a look and tell me what you think!
Phase three should be over soon but I will be in the midst of moving and may be unable to upload the new files and images until after that’s done and I’ve gotten the Internet up at the new place. Until then, enjoy the revised Part I of Alayne’s Story and be patient while I get to work on Part II.
Latest Chapters Added
I’ve just uploaded the latest chapters (in .pdf format) to the site. I’ve also updated the full story PDF file.
In the next couple of weeks, I’ll be revamping the Cast page, adding the edited drafts, and possibly adding a few other things to the website. So, keep checking back!
Did you notice?
So, I finally implemented (most of) the new design for this place. I’m still working on a few other things and there will be further changes. But, the hardest part is over.
And, yes, I’ve been working on editing Alayne’s Story. I’ll be adding another progress meter soon so you can track my efforts on that.
Anyhow, that’s all for now. Better get back to work. 😉
Another Entry!
So, my new computer got here on Tuesday and I got it all set up. It’s wonderful. It’s quiet.
On top of that, I’ll be moving soon! To a new apartment where I will have (I don’t think I’ve emphasised this enough) my. own. room. Where I can shut the door. Where the TV will not bother me. Where my stbx-husband will not be yapping at me and then get pissed because I’m listening to music and trying to focus on writing or because I’m talking on Vent and raiding. Where his music will not be polluting my audial environment (the stuff he listens to sounds like rabid cats clawing sheets of metal while being tortured). Where I will have a balcony so that my smoke breaks (nasty habit, I know) take only three minutes instead of ten.
In anticipation of these things, I’m setting up all of my files so I can do some serious editing on Alayne’s Story. I’m also working on a revamp of this website and of another that I’m running. I’m also drafting plans for yet another web site and am considering retaining legal services to see if I could make some t-shirts or even print out copies of my stories and sell them for cost and shipping without getting smacked with a lawsuit if I do it for Alayne’s Story (hey, the guys at LFG got away with this).
Why am I considering these things? Well, I’d like to be able to actually contemplate quitting my job and doing something fun (or at least something that involves using more than 1% of my brain). Over the last several years, decisions have been made where I work that have the end result of me sitting on my hands a lot, copypasting things others have written, having no ability to voice feedback, no ability to actually edit things that are either flat out incorrect or could be done so much better, and pretty much being told-by-action that I will do this and like it or I will find another line of work. To be fair, my boss has been arguing for my skills, knowledge, and talent to be used better but the guys calling the shots seem to think (again, actions shouting while words whisper) that I’m either a moron, completely unskilled, not worth working with, or some combination of the above.
I’m also considering going with my original life plan and returning to the US, getting my teaching license, teaching high school students, and then doing whatever-I-want during my spare time. And, if that doesn’t work out…well, there are other places I can go and I am exploring those options.
Now, I’ve been damned loyal to the place I work at and I’ve made a lot of sacrifices of my personal time for them. However, over the last three years or so, it’s become clearer and clearer that said loyalty is not reciprocated and so I’m staying mostly for the benefits and the off-chance that something will change for the better (and because the economy sucks). However, lately I’ve spent more and more time thinking of ways to earn a living doing what I love versus earning a living by disengaging my brain at 8 am and not turning it back on until 6 pm because my employer wants my ability to do mindless copypasting versus my ability to actually give them something cool and worthwhile.
Anyhow, enough moaning. Back to work on Alayne’s Story!
Have Time. Will Write More.
I’ve not forgotten you guys. I’ve just been busy. Well, busy and my computer died. In the middle of Marrowgar heroic.
Yeah, I was not pleased either. My new system should get in this week and I’ll upload the last chapters of Alayne’s Story and update the full story. I have been working on editing Alayne’s Story but have been completely unable to focus on The Unexiled since my husband likes to watch TV in the evenings and doesn’t seem to understand that if I listen to music on my headset with the TV on, it means that it’s twice the noise and none of the quiet I need.
Also, he’s got a bad habit of deciding to start yakking at me the very second I actually press “Play.” And then he gets upset when, after the fourth such interruption, I start to get a trifle annoyed.
We’ll be moving in the next couple of weeks, though, and I’ll have my own room. With a balcony to go out and smoke on. So, I should be able to block aside an hour an evening to work on The Unexiled.
Anyhow, back to work.