Okay, I lied. I didn't submit the game at the end of June. It's because every time I think I'm done, I read it and feel like I need to add more. 😭
Now, I'm adding a proposal scene for 6 ROs, with branches of who get to propose.
Adding a small platonic scene of MC running into Costa at the coffee shop before they bang, just to build more momentum.
I'm also adding platonic scenes for Fiffer and Mattos.
I'm redoing the final sex scene for Green because I didn't like the old one.
I'm adding final sex scenes for Costa and Barlow.
That's pretty much what's left. It's crazy because the ending is done and MC is packed up, ready to leave Lemon lol, but hey, on the plus side, you get more content.
Current word count without the above scenes are... 742K words.
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For me, romance is very important in IF games. I'd say as important as the plot. But the well-written intimate scenes are a separate and very pleasant bonus. Unfortunately, it's not common in IFs to describe such scenes in details.
Luckily, I finally got around to playing C.C`s games @when-life-gives-you-lemons-if. I'm a huge fan of her The Midnight Saga. And now it's time for modern smut slice of life! I started When Life Gives You Lemons and I adore all these men. They are so hot and devoted, very slutty behavior keep it up kings 🖤
I've really been enjoying those little bits of writing knowledge you've been sharing—about stats, interactive fiction, character design, all of it. It's always an interesting read. I guess that's the professor and writer in you, making even the most mundane things feel immersive.
Which brings me to my ask:
What are your thoughts on the inevitable "the ending felt rushed" comment or review?
I'm in the middle of editing Lemon and tying up loose ends. I'm getting close to the finish line, and that "I just want to be done" feeling is starting to creep in. But at the same time, I know that no matter how many scenes or endings I add, something might still feel unfinished to someone. (For context, Lemon is a standalone.)
So the question is: how do you fight that feeling?
---
Oh, man, do I know that feeling. I have a really unhelpful answer, but it’s the answer that makes sense to me, which I figured out the hard way.
When I was writing Tally Ho I couldn’t wait to finish it and share it with everyone. Nobody had seen one word of it aside from my editor, and I couldn’t wait to see what people thought--but more than that, I’d been working on it for so long, and I was bursting to have the final product in front of me, out of my head.
Finally, it happened, and it was done, and it was great to get the feedback and the reviews--but I also felt weird. And that’s when I realized how much I liked the actual process of writing, and not having my big project was making me feel a little empty. It wasn’t until I came up with and started my next project months and months later that I felt good again.
How do I put this? It’s like--if I were to say, “I can’t wait until the summer because I’m so excited to go to that convention, and I wish time would speed up until then.” Obviously time will not speed up. But you don’t want to wish that your time--your life--would speed up. It’ll get there. Meanwhile, here you are in this moment. Really I’m just talking about mindfulness, I guess.
Writing is the same way for me. If I start thinking, “I can’t wait until this is done” that’s wishing away the thing I actually like, which is writing.
As for someone thinking your game isn’t long enough or whatever, here, let me say this to you: “Your game was really good, but it was too short and felt rushed at the end.” Someone is going to say that to you, possibly multiple someones, and there, now you heard it from me, and you’ll recognize it when you hear it in reviews. You will hear this no matter what. I try to hear it as, “I really wish there were much more of your game.” The comment to fear is “It was too long.”
Cautionary tale from When Life gives you Lemons @when-life-gives-you-lemonssss
Barlow I know you're 17/18 at the time but WHY!!!
More MC ramblings under the cut
OK, Elena is the MC I made for the parent path. She's gonna be the MC for the Barlow, Wyatt or other parent routes (ex w/ adoption???). My other MC (J.J) will be taking on the sibling + Fiffer and Monroe routes.
She has things together, but things always seem to go wrong when Barlow is involved.
For instance! When she looks good normally vs. when Barlow comes by randomly at night and she's in her Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack pajamas???
“Fiffer is a gender selectable RO in an upcoming IF game (it's up to Ch. 7 right now) (18+ due to optional steamy content). It's mostly text based, although the author has commissioned character portraits. In the game, the MC is raising either their kid or their younger sibling and Fiffer is also a single parent, working at a barista and going through some financial difficulties. Their dream is to open a tattoo parlor. They're very playful and the player can hook up with them like... immediately.
I'm submitting Fiffer rather than any other of the RO choices because I personally I want the MC's kid/sibling and Fiffer's kid to get along and have a blended family! I'm a sap. Plus they just seem so relatable and datable.”
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✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
This is the update with everything I've worked on this month. There are quite a few unfinished scenes, but I'm happy with the progress I've made. The unfinished scenes are marked, and for some, I've already started the intros to set the tone.
There are so many scenes I still want to add to earlier chapters of Lemon, but I'll tackle that next month.
Please report any bugs, typos, or errors you come across. As of now, the game is around 530,000 words, and I haven't even added all the endings I want yet! 😭
Lastly, keep in mind that the Patreon version does not offer a huge amount of extra content—just a little.
