November 2025 Writer Support Thread

Why oh why is it so hard to get proper words out when you’re not feeling too hot :pensive_face: I’ve been struggling with this scene for a week now, and it is ridiculous because I love the scene, but I just can’t… I’ve managed only a handful of words, and the prose is atrocious.

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ugh that feeling sucks, i’m sorry!! i believe in you, though :slight_smile: and even if it takes longer than you’d like, the scene will get done in time. but i am sorry it’s not going smoothly, that always sucks

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Exactly. Instead of thinking of these moments as ‘meaningless flavor’ slathered on top of the real plot - think of them as an opportunity to layer the story with different tastes and textures.

To borrow the breakfast example

While I do like it when a game calls back to my character’s favored drink or breakfast option, I like it better when it lets me take a little moment to establish how they’re feeling.

You go for breakfast and are confronted with a veritable smorgasbord! You...

*fake_choice
	#...pick your way through it, unhurried.
	#...get overwhelmed - retreating with a thin plate.
	#...overload yourself with enthusiasm, eager to try everything!

True, none of these options are going to affect the plot - but they do suggest a wide variety of character types. #1 is choosy and unruffled, likes to set their own pace. #2 gets choice paralysis - could be feeling nervous, sleepy, or unprepared. #3 woke up excited and ready to take on the world.

This turns what would have been a minor novelty - my character will now always eat @{breakfast omelette|toast|cereal} - into a chance to set my mental tone for what kind of person they are.

Even if it never comes up again, this kind of choice will color my impression of how the MC feels entering the next scene and leave me feeling closer to them as a person.

That’s always frustrating; I hope you feel better!

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Haven’t tested it out myself though. but apparently someone created a mobile friendly platform to write/code choicescript games. Anyway here is the reddit discussion on it.

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Excellent! These are very close, so I will change the description to literary sports drama. Thanks both!

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I made an extremely short game, possibly inspired by real events this morning:

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Couldn’t romance the leafblower, 0/10, literally unplayable.

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:sob:
#:heart: Rest a fingertip on the leafblower’s trigger. Press down, tenderly, like a promise whispered to a machine that already knows too much.

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I loved it. 20/10, just beautiful!

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Easily the greatest leaf blower sim I’ve ever played and then some! Bravo!

I did my own attempt at Interactive Flash Fiction a few months ago, a’la Pet Rock, but it was nowhere near as good as your go sir. I actually had a lot of fun on this little gem and thoroughly enjoyed menacing my neighbors and the dear little leaves as long as I could.

I’ve actually thought about this sort of thing a lot lately. There’s no doubt that cognitive capacity, and indeed creative cognitive capacity decline with a loss of health, which probably should make me rethink the whole philosophy of pushing on to get a section or scene or whatever written, coded, and done as sometimes taking it slower might result in better work – but then again, I usually just press on anyways.

Hope you feel better!

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Well, at least I managed to figure out a use for this one loose plot thread. And now I’m playing Alpha Protocol instead of doing something useful, but I guess that’s something.

(Although I guess playing Alpha Protocol is kind of useful when you’re plotting a spy game. I can use my controller while keeping my hands warm, unlike with a book.)

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That’s why I have a speech-to-text notes app on my phone, for exactly this sort of scenario.

Granted, my notes from those sick days are almost unreadable stream-of-consciousness brainstorming, so maybe this is not the best endorsement.

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I don’t see how that would help me. I can’t speak either if I can’t come up with words. (Plus speaking hurts way more than typing.)

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That’s a fair point. My technique is more optimized for migraines, when I can’t look at a screen.

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Engagement for my WIP thread has been low so far. I’m thinking of pushing back the submission date and giving it another bump this weekend. :thinking:

Ok, last ditch attempt before I tear up the submission paperwork and ask for a hobby projects category change. Is anyone able to do a read through for my WIP? I did privately reach out to some people, but with no luck so far.

Absolutely no pressure if you’re busy. I’ll try to make sure that the project is still available in some form no matter what.

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I briefly read it and while its not my thing, objectively you should submit it.

Youre gonna keep hearing the same answer too of just others saying to submit it.

To be fair though, when i think of sorceress, I think of morrigan and yennefer. So I already got that identity tied to it.

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I get that. It’s just that I’ve seen some writers who submitted their games after limited engagement. These games went on to do badly in the stores.

Furthermore, other published authors had already pressed me to drop this project or find some other avenue to write, citing its lack of commercial viability. Submitting the game in this current state is likely just going to get me another round of criticism. HG probably will agree to publish it, regardless, but there are other considerations I need to think of, sadly. :frowning_face_with_open_mouth:

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For whatever it’s worth I strongly recommend submitting it and promise I’ll gladly buy a copy once it is out. Ultimately submitting it or not should be your choice, but while I don’t have enough to give you a full review or anything all that helpful it seemed strong enough to make it. If I had more time I’d read further and give you a review, but to be honest being critical has never been my strongest character trait. I will conclude by saying while it might be more of a niche game I feel sure there is an audience.

Hope none of that sounded conceited but I wanted to have my say if you really are thinking of pulling the plug.

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Im petty, I would submit it out of spite if some authors told me it wouldnt be viable.

Even if theyre right, theres always the next one. I mean you already released dragon of steelthourne. You know the motions.

If scarlet sorceress is a game you want to play, then thats it.

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Speaking as someone who kicked off a long-running series based on the narrowest genre niche imaginable?

I say go for it. What do you lose if you push through that last hurdle?

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