# April 2025 Writer Support Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Writing and Content\ **Created:** [April 1, 2025, 8:00am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494 "2025-04-01T08:00:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![HarrisPS](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/harrisps/32/240120_2.png) [@HarrisPS](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/HarrisPS)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/262 "2025-04-15T19:38:20Z")
It’s still the 15th! I am very sleepy because I just donated blood and I can’t remember whether I shared this before (I think I haven’t!) - but here’s an excerpt from The Earth Has Teeth Chapter 1: `Edging up the tunnel, light and warmth brighten. The path leads to a little alcove hidden from the rest of the chamber, beside Vastan's black-and-gold striped flank.` `As you approach, the smell of sweet blooming flowers and lush foliage emanates out, riotous and teeming from Vastan's blessing. Bountiful plants bloom in the gardens and in the mountainside surroundings of Tulara, but this—this is the center of it all. During every season, her blessing brings forth life.` `Hummingbirds dart from flower to glorious flower while bees lazily buzz; bats rest above, tucked in the upper reaches of the chamber, ready to emerge when night falls. Stalactites glow above, while ancient, gnarled trees push through the walls, heavy with luscious fruits that grow nowhere else. Their knotted roots fuse with the rock to form the cavern floor.` ---
**Author:** ![cosmicwaves](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/cosmicwaves/32/249902_2.png) [@cosmicwaves](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/cosmicwaves)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/263 "2025-04-15T20:19:49Z")
quick question for other writers here — what’s your general goal for final word count? i know some projects get really massive (which is awesome!) but i’ve been realizing mine probably won’t go past 200k, and i’ve been lowkey wondering how that stacks up. is there like… an unofficial average, or does it just vary wildly? curious how you folks approach it! ---
**Author:** ![Cataphrak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/cataphrak/32/2883_2.png) [@Cataphrak](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Cataphrak)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/264 "2025-04-15T20:58:35Z")
200k is fine. _Sabres of Infinity_ was like, 180k. If your vision only requires a certain number of words, than there is no reason to go over that number. ---
**Author:** ![HarrisPS](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/harrisps/32/240120_2.png) [@HarrisPS](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/HarrisPS)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 8:59pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/265 "2025-04-15T20:59:34Z")
I don’t have a goal other than having a low goal that I go past, heh. You’ll probably end up with it being longer than you think! But 200K is a perfectly solid amount. ---
**Author:** ![Cataphrak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/cataphrak/32/2883_2.png) [@Cataphrak](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Cataphrak)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/266 "2025-04-15T21:04:00Z")
I blow my initial word goals with basically every project I write. It’d be funny if I didn’t blow the deadlines too. ---
**Author:** ![cosmicwaves](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/cosmicwaves/32/249902_2.png) [@cosmicwaves](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/cosmicwaves)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/267 "2025-04-15T21:44:02Z")
> [@Cataphrak](#): > > If your vision only requires a certain number of words, than there is no reason to go over that number. > [@HarrisPS](#): > > But 200K is a perfectly solid amount. thank you both so much. really appreciate it \<3 ---
**Author:** ![Cat-Toes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/cat-toes/32/142510_2.png) [@Cat-Toes](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Cat-Toes)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/268 "2025-04-15T21:50:42Z")
> [@cosmicwaves](#): > > what’s your general goal for final word count? I don’t have a goal for final wordcount of the project. Which honestly is probabky really good for me. Each chapter I’ve written so far has been much bigger than planned, so I think I’d explode with negativity if tried forcing myself to maintain a certain wordcount. ---
**Author:** ![cottage14](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/cottage14/32/1108_2.png) [@cottage14](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/cottage14)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 10:43pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/269 "2025-04-15T22:43:05Z")
Nice thing is, I need to learn how to generate and use arrays to make things work well. A personal side-quest before I can finish writing the MC’s side-quest ---
**Author:** ![Anna\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/anna_b/32/137794_2.png) [@Anna\_B](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Anna_B)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/270 "2025-04-16T00:01:29Z")
Personally, I don’t think people should worry too much about word count, at least not until the first draft is done. Some really great games are 200,000 words, others are 700,000. It really depends on what you’re going for ---
**Author:** ![anon13817297](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9bcb4/32.png) [@anon13817297](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/anon13817297)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 12:39am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/271 "2025-04-16T00:39:20Z")
Alright, I’d like to share something I’ve been working on for the past 2 days. It’s a scene where you have to choose your magical specialty. > **Said Scene** > > ```choicescript > The form then goes onto to ask you your area of expertise. In the final 2 years of secondary school, students > must choose a "speciality," an area in which they dedicate more time and effort to than others, in preparation > for their futures as mages. > > No one person can learn everything in a limited time. The Grand Academy of Sciences of E'ger city is a school > focused on the hard sciences, that being sciences such as biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering > and medicine. The main concern of the academy is teaching their students the basics of these fields in order > to better prepare them for careers as mages. Magic permutates into every single one of these fields, > from the use of healing magic for medicine to transmutation for engineering and chemistry to the close > relationship between magic and mathematics. In fact the ancient magician Pithogar believed that numbers are > magic and that the reality of the world and thus magic could be understood through extensive study of numbers. > All of this is to say, magic is the engine which drives the understanding of nearly everything in the world. > > This is not to say that non magical application of the sciences are neglected. Most people in the world cannot > understand magic nor use it. It is simply too expensive and time consuming to teach everyone these skills. > However, those who can dedicate the time and resources are the bedrock of society and any society which > neglects nurturing their magical abilities is quickly consigned to the dustbin of history. > > *page_break Your Speciality > > *comment ADD CHOICE TO INTEGRATE MOTIVATIONS INTO WHY YOU STILL STUDY COMBAT MAGIC? > > 2 years ago you were only 16, not yet sure of what you wanted from your life, when confronted with the dizzying > possibilites of what to specialise in you only really had one choice. Combat Magic. > > You come from a proud line of warrior mages, Arturius Al Markhi, the Titan of E'ger, was responsible for > essentially creating a new branch of combat magic. Slaying the enemies of E'ger by the thousands and carving > a bloody legacy that haunts your family 3 decades after his death. > > Your father, Varnius Al Markhi took up his mantle, refining and perfecting your grandfathers techniques to the > point where it has become essential studying in any self respecting school or college. > > For this reason, you chose to dedicate the next 2 years of your life to the pursuit and understanding of combat > magic. > > At the time, it felt like if you didn't choose combat magic you would be betraying your family. > > Thus, a decision made in youth has defined who you are, and perhaps who you are to become. > > *label choose_magic > > Which area of combat magic do you excel in? > > *fake_choice > #Your families speciality, Augmentation Magic. > Augmentation Magic has been around as long as anyone can remember. It is magic that > physically augments you. At the highest level this means super strength, speed and toughness beyond that of > warriors even. It is also considered an utterly useless branch of combat magic, the mana required for even a > second of augmentation, augmentation that doesn't cause your bones to break and muscles to tear > that is, is leagues above that of casting magic, although it doesn't compare to > creating matter from nothing. For this reason mages of the past millenia have focused on advancing other > fields of magic with augmentation staying a unexplored frontier. > > That is, until your grandfather appeared. > > The Whispering Death Mage Arturius Al Markhi is credited with perfecting the art of Augmentation. Refining and > simplifying the activation process to the point where the mana cost becomes viable, for which he was made a > archmage of E'ger. > > Although he managed to drastically reduce the initial mana cost, augmentation is still a > mana intensive discipline. > > Augmentation is by nature a highly offensive tool. To activate augmentation for the sole process of defending > yourself is akin to mounting a griffin only to have it walk you to your destination. It is simply a waste. > Augmentors must take the fight to their opponent, lest they burn their mana reserves before dealing with the > threat. > > Is this the area you excel at? > *fake_choice > #Yes, I excel at Augmentation Magic. > *set speciality "Augmentation" > *set augmentation +3 > *set offensive +30 > #No, I excel in another area of combat magic. > *goto choose_magic > > #Casting Magic. The most studied and prevalent form of combat magic. > Casting Magic is the oldest branch of combat magic. It encompasses the twin disciplines of ordinary offensive > magic and ordinary defensive magic. It is the foundation from which a vast well of combat magic stems, > including more advanced spells such as flight, conjuration and transmutation. > > Ordinary offensive magic at the secondary school level encompasses forming and channeling mana into > an attack, which is to say, blasting your opponent with pure magic. As well as basic elemental magic. > That being the manipulation of earth, water, air and fire. > > Ordinary defensive magic at your current level has to do with the creation of magical barriers to block > attacks of pure magic and the 4 elements. > > Casting magic has a relatively low mana cost and allows the most flexibility in your combat style, allowing > you to fight both defensive battles of attrition or decisive offensive battles. > > Is this the area you excel at? > *fake_choice > #Yes, I excel at Casting Magic > *set speciality "Casting" > *set casting +3 > #No, I excel in another area of combat magic. > *goto choose_magic > #Actually, I don't excel in magic but rather in my intelligence and knowledge. > The pen is mightier than the sword. Your knowledge of theory, the arcane and its uses is where you excel, > rather than in the use itself. > > This is not to say you don't know any casting or augmentation magic, but > rather that your strength in battle lies in your ability to strategise, outwit, and overcome the > enemy through deception or extensive preparation. > > In fact, many of the scholars credited with advancing humanity's magic the most are experts in its theories > and understanding of it rather than in their ability to use it. > > To battle those who specialise in combat magic as one who relies on their wits rather than their fists > necessitates fighting defensively and cautiously until the moment of decision. > > Is this the area you excel at? > *fake_choice > #Yes, I excel in my intelligence and knowledge. > *set speciality "Booksmarts" > *set booksmarts +3 > *set offensive -30 > #No, I excel in another area > *goto choose_magic > > ``` I hope that was a fun read. It is part of the prologue and part of the process of character creation. I’m a bit worried it was just an infodump though. I do think it’s necessary for the readers understanding of the story to come at least. This is probably my first piece of creative writing since maybe middle school. I am probably making a ton of mistakes that I don’t even realize I am making but hey, you live and you learn. My goal in writing this is to have fun basically, I want to aim for 100k words. I think that’s doable for a first time IF writer. I’ve got about 2.5k so far. What else? Oh yeah, I watched Frieren and it inspired me to finally try my hand at creative writing, it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while now. I highly recommend watching it if you haven’t yet. That’s all, thanks for your time. ---
**Author:** ![Cataphrak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/cataphrak/32/2883_2.png) [@Cataphrak](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Cataphrak)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 1:37am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/272 "2025-04-16T01:37:32Z")
> [@cottage14](#): > > Nice thing is, I need to learn how to generate and use arrays to make things work well. I’ve been doing this for 13 years and I _still_ don’t know how to use arrays properly. ---
**Author:** ![WallyWorld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@WallyWorld](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/WallyWorld)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 3:06am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/273 "2025-04-16T03:06:00Z")
Still the 15h here so I’ve got a snippet from the first official contract you are offered in Chapter 1 - an escort for what is essentially the salesperson for a defense contractor. You’ve just met the _System Liaison for Defense Integration_ and chose one of several options for the tone of your approach. > **Introductions** > > You don’t bother with charm. You’ve seen the look in their eyes—like they’re expecting betrayal from every shadow. No need to pretend you aren’t already under suspicion. > > “${firstName} ${lastName}. Assigned security detail, per Kestrel directive.” > > Veidan looks up at you slowly. Their stylus stops. Their gaze sharpens—not with fear, but recognition. As if you’ve confirmed a suspicion they hadn’t voiced. > > “Efficient,” they murmur. > > It might’ve been approval in another tone. But here, it sounds like a warning to themselves. > > They tuck the datapad away, movements measured now, slower than before. > > “Let’s get moving, then.” > > \*page\_break > > The walk to the car is quiet. Just the soft roar of thrusters somewhere overhead and the oily tang of exhaust that settles behind your teeth. Every urban center has its own perfume. This one coats the air in a familiar shade called Chemical Indifference. > > The vehicle itself is corporate through and through—sleek, black, with just enough curve to be modern without trying too hard. No scratches. No dirt on the paint. The kind of shine you only get from daily washes and someone else’s paycheck. > > You move to help with the gear—a ruggedized case and a slim laptop—but Veidan waves you off. They load everything with methodical precision, not brusque, but firm. Message received. > > The interior smells like synthetic leather—factory fresh, precise. Somehow more nauseating than cigarette smoke. At least smoke has personality. > > They sit across from you, eyes sharp despite the wear. Then they reach for a small button beside their armrest. The vehicle lifts with a low hiss and gravity loosens its grip. > > “How long have you contracted for Executive Director Arden?” Veidan asks, hands clasped in their lap, back never resting against the seat. ---
**Author:** ![LiliArch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/liliarch/32/120749_2.png) [@LiliArch](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/LiliArch)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2025, 10:44am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/274 "2025-04-16T10:44:36Z")
> [@cosmicwaves](#): > > what’s your general goal for final word count? Mine (for the project I’m currently properly-ish writing) is “1.5k per playthrough per chapter, 10 chapters per part, however many parts are needed (currently 5)”, but that’s just because I’m obsessed with symmetrical numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Habbie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/habbie/32/249988_2.png) [@Habbie](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Habbie)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 3:54am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/275 "2025-04-17T03:54:10Z")
Have you guys ever been so far into building the story, but now you want to change it? That’s what’s exactly happening to my work these past few days 🥲 After fleshing out my characters, I’ve realized that my current plot doesn’t really fit the characters I’m going for. I’ve been thinking a lot. The more I plan out the plot, the more I realized it’s not aligning with what I’m envisioning for the characters I’m imagining lol So yeah so I’m going to rethink and rewrite most of the plot lol And also my phone gave up on me, where most of my notes and brainstorming and written bits of drafts stuffs just poofed out existence (its LCD blacked out) so I’m stuck just using my laptop and can’t take down random ideas while doing life stuffs 😭 I’ve also figured out the gameplay mechanics I’m going to put in, and the stats are now complete. So now it’ll be easier to do the actual writing now. I don’t have snippets on my laptop though (my drafts are on my phone’s notes app unfortunately), so here’s an overly complicated profiling and (hopefully interesting) fleshing out of my characters condensed into one sentence lol: > **The overview of my romanceables** > > (Young Adult) > > - Ethan/Eri (gender-selectable) - a cute and adorable blueberry gardener, and a beloved orphan of the town. Naive and innocent to a fault. > - Yvette (female) - a fiery mess of trying-too-hard older sister with a rebellious younger sister. > - Benedict (male) - a bitter and angry at the world kind of guy, and being dragged in and out of jail by his Chief of the town father. > > (Prime Adult) > > - Dianne/Dylan (gender-selectable) - a sweet and independent person with a dream of opening their own flower shop, and working under a terrible boss in a general store. > - Rylee (nonbinary - they) - an outgoing extroverted, city-born person looking after their family barn, trying to adjust with the small town lifestyle. > - Wendy (female) - an exhausted single-mom with a nine-years old son, working as a librarian. > > (Seasoned Adult) > > - Daniel (male) - a grumpy divorced-dad who have to deal with his angry son (Benedict), working as the chief of the town. > - Aldrich (male) - an arrogant and narcistic guy, he’s the only doctor in town and he knows it. > - Marcy/Marcel (gender-selectable) - a laid-back and easygoing person who worked as a sweeper in town who prefers living in the moment than stress. > > I know my romanceable are quite unbalanced, it’s more male-dominated than anything. Most of them came from my unwritten romance story ideas, which are mostly MM Romance hehe So I can’t imagine some of them as female. Dan and Ben especially, because I was already deep in their characters before I dumped them to my drive. > > Also I haven’t written female much, and I’ve definitely never written a nonbinary character as main cast before so it’s a good challenge for me. So I’ve been fleshing them out thoroughly. I hope everyone had a great week 🌸 ---
**Author:** ![anon13817297](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9bcb4/32.png) [@anon13817297](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/anon13817297)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 4:21am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/276 "2025-04-17T04:21:50Z")
I’m sorry to hear about your phone, that sounds really frustrating. On the topic of revising the plot to fit the characters better. What worked for me yesterday in writing was just letting go and getting the idea in my head down on paper without trying to worry about perfecting it or making it make total sense. Maybe that can work for you too? Like getting a subpar first draft done with so you have a general idea of what you want to do and where the story is going to go, then trying to perfect it in revision with the second draft? But take my advice with a grain of salt, I’ve been doing this for less than a week lol. ---
**Author:** ![LiliArch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/liliarch/32/120749_2.png) [@LiliArch](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/LiliArch)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 4:23am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/277 "2025-04-17T04:23:05Z")
In today’s news, the beginning chapters of my space opera are horrible. I’ll _so_ have to rewrite them. Also figure out how to introduce this surprise character _before_ name-dropping them. ---
**Author:** ![AltaiirIF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/altaiirif/32/249529_2.png) [@AltaiirIF](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/AltaiirIF)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 7:25am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/278 "2025-04-17T07:25:47Z")
Short, consistent updates or long but spaced out updates, which is better? ---
**Author:** ![AltaiirIF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/altaiirif/32/249529_2.png) [@AltaiirIF](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/AltaiirIF)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 7:29am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/279 "2025-04-17T07:29:57Z")
It’s frustrating to live in a third world country because for the last 3 days, there have been power outages from 6:00am-4:00pm. I am so close to finishing up the editing for the update but recently, progress has been non-existent due to this. ---
**Author:** ![ChanceOfFire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/chanceoffire/32/270002_2.png) [@ChanceOfFire](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/ChanceOfFire)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 9:00am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/280 "2025-04-17T09:00:04Z")
> [@LiliArch](#): > > In today’s news, the beginning chapters of my space opera are horrible. I’ll _so_ have to rewrite them I have a space opera WIP dating back to 2010. One which is too awful to look at. > [@AltaiirIF](#): > > Short, consistent updates or long but spaced out updates, which is better? Tough. If you have some fanatical supporters who are chomping at the bit for every drop of content you release, short and consistent might be better. You can count on them to bump the thread and give feedback with each update. If not, releasing a large number of frequent but small updates might risk player fatigue, as folks might not be keen to revisit the game just for another 5k words, and may start tuning out your WIP thread if the individual updates are too small to them to bother with. But a WIP thread which is inactive for too long may also struggle to get interest running again when it finally gets its update, even if it’s a substantial one. If you have some very fanatical supporters, small and consistent might work better. Otherwise, pros and cons to each. Anyway, that’s just my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![LiliArch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/liliarch/32/120749_2.png) [@LiliArch](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/LiliArch)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 9:56am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494/281 "2025-04-17T09:56:49Z")
> [@ChanceOfFire](#): > > I have a space opera WIP dating back to 2010. One which is too awful to look at. I’m sorry to hear that. I think _this one_ starts to look decent-ish around chapter 6 (9k word or so), but I _was_ NaNoWriMo-churning it, and didn’t have a good handle of it at the beginning, so that’s to be expected. The plot holds, I’d say. It’s just the prose that’s terrible. [Previous page](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494.md?page=13) [Next page](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/april-2025-writer-support-thread/167494.md?page=15)