Overdue Update! · 12:12am May 6th, 2021
Hey everyone! I just wanted to make a little post in regards to Perpetual Torment, and my plans going forward.
I haven't abandoned it if anyone was worried! I think about it everyday and I'm brainstorming different ideas for scenes and routes I'd like to take. I had said in an Author's Note that I wanted to try making smaller, shorter chapters as a way to get more chapters out, which was ultimately me pressuring myself to write, regardless of quality or consistency,
I haven't posted an official chapter in a couple of months, but I haven't been twiddling my thumbs either. Though don't get me wrong, procrastination is and always will be a huge part of the lack of updates, I'm not going to pretend like I don't procrastinate.
Besides personal life stuff which has made writing difficult for me, the big issue I have faced is I essentially wrote myself into a corner. I had two directions I wanted to take for the end of chapter 11, and the one I chose Celestia getting struck and falling into a coma was the one I chose. I thought the scenario would add a sense of tension allow me to explore a side of Slayer untouched. I still do like that idea, and I really want to write about dealing with someone in a coma, but my execution in this story was, in my eyes, rushed and very lack luster from the rest of the story. Everything I was building up to came to a screeching halt and most things I wanted to explore more in-depth were tossed out the window.
So what happens now?
A little bit of a retcon/rewrite! I'm not going to be re-doing the whole story, I'm essentially going to rewrite and take the ending of chapter 11 in a new direction. I've made friends with the very talented Jenna Starbright, and she's given me truckloads of help in regards to the story! Brainstorming, discussing plot holes and issues within the story, helping me cook out some literary fat, as well as cowriting and helping edit chapters! She's an amazing author, and has made some heartstring-tugging fics about Celestia as well as some other original works! I highly recommend giving her page a look, my personal favorite is Remember Me
I don't have any exact date or timeline in mind for when I release the re-write of chapter 11. I know most all pressure to release chapters is self made, a lot of those who comment on my chapters encouraged me to take my time. In the mean time I will be revising bits and pieces of previous chapters, cutting out repetition, adding more dialogue or adjusting small details as I see neccesary for my vision moving forward. Nothing major that will require a re-read to understand future events, just small stuff that's been bugging me for awhile.
For now I'm going to keep the story up and all chapters published, but just be aware that anything past chapter 11 is going to be mostly canned. I may re-use a scene or a sentence here or there, but that path story wise is being tossed.
TL;DR I'm not abandoning the story, and I'm going to revise the last several chapters! Thank you all so much for your kind words, it's been so jarring to see people enjoying the story like they have.
Sounds good, man. Can't wait for it.
Honestly, this thoughtful and engaging note makes me want to go redo my earlier stuff. Because I liked my ideas but... In truth in some ways the way I wrote the story. Bores me? Like its cool but when I think of writing it and...how I wrote it. Hmm. Either way...
Take your time!
"I haven't abandoned it"
Not a single word in a year and a half. Forgive me if I withhold having hope.
This was an amazing story. All I ask is for you to bring it back from the dead, my dude!