Weekly Update (kind of...)
So I'll start by saying two things: I've been busy with two jobs so I can't write much and that'll probably be a thing for the foreseeable future. And two, I've mostly stuck to fixing my terrible grammar and brainstorming while I wait for complete feedback from a few of my beta readers since I want full grasp on the reception before I make any big re-writes. But I also wanted to brainstorm a bit of what changes I'll be making. Feel free to let me know your thoughts if you'd like.
Some said the demo felt more like a proper novel than an actual IF. And after reading through the prologue with that perspective, I see it. This might surprise some of y'all but this is my first IF so I think I'm still getting the hang of the nuances of writing one.
When I first started writing I was so focused on the six different personality traits (3 for social & 3 for outlook, entire paragraphs for each btw) that I forgot that flavor text is more of replay value thing rather than something that provides a sense of interactivity in an IF. So now I intend on expanding ways for the player to express themselves and make small decisions throughout the story. Like, for instance, I plan on adding whether your mc is touch averse (which is a must to establish with someone touchy like Moxie) and choosing what you engage with or not thoughout the chapter. Which will mostly boil down to how much you're willing to tolerate Moxie dragging you around for a role in Speechless. I plan on adding a varible this chapter that let's you decide your first impression of her; positive, neutral, negative. As well as breaking up the monotony of clicking 'next page' over and over with a variety of dialogue options.
Only two changes have been mentioned so far but I feel like it goes a long way in allowing readers to feel less like they're simply forced along for the ride and more that they have a say in what's going on and how. But just know that you will need to entertain Moxie a bit otherwise the game would end without you getting the part lol.
The interactivity is the biggest change that I know I want to tweak quite a bit but there are other things that are more on the maybe list. Such as length. Since it is supposed to be a prologue I'm considering cutting out quite a bit and limiting it to where you'll only get to see Moxie and Shyanne, making Lou and Ashley wait until chapter 1 proper. The idea being that it's kind of a must to meet the directors but the talent can wait for you at rehearsal realistically. It would be a shame to axe you meeting half the RO's but it would help the prologue to feel less bloated.
Another change on my plate is whether or not I should keep this as the prologue and release it after the interactive changes are made or if I should expand the revamped sections into the later scenes and expand them too, making the chapter longer. If I do that I'll probably make this chapter one rather than just the prologue it was intially meant to be. Some of what I'm saying might not make sense unless you've read it or have all the ideas in your head but this post is also just meant for me to have it out there, sorry about that.
I think that's all I have on my plate for now. At least, the biggest things worth sharing for now. Be sure to tell me what you think, either in the comments of this post, my ask inbox, or by just dming me. If you consider yourself well-versed in IF's I'd very much like to hear from you. Whether your a fellow writer or just an avid reader of them. I'm quickly learning this stuff ain't as easy as it seems on the outside.
