Good day to you all, my fellow writers and readers! I really hope that life is treating everyone well.
You have have noticed that the latest update of From Shadows to Stars (FStS), here on Scarlettpeony Writes [read] and on Archive of Our Own (AO3) [read] is “something bit different.”
‘From Shadows to Stars’ Fragments
Ivy and Oak is a single, stand-alone scene between Byleth and Claude approximately a month before where their story is at the moment, (the same point as Dimitri’s POV is currently at), when they found the remains of the instigator of the conflict they are fighting, Jakob, the Count of Bergliez i.e. Caspar’s brother.
It’s what I’ve decided to call a ‘fragment’ of FStS.
This one was originally going to be included in The Vessel of Knowledge, but it simply wasn’t fitting. It was far too long and did not relate to the actual focus of this particular update, which will be Byleth’s confrontation with Nader. Moreover, much of what occurs in Ivy and Oak will be summarised (and included) in upcoming Dimitri updates. So, it was cut.
However, I really wanted to share this Claudeleth scene with the world because, while not necessary for the plot, it seemed like something fans might want to read. Hopefully, you all enjoy it and thank you again for bearing with me as I work to get these updates out.
At the moment, my focus is on getting the story to a very particular point by the end of this year, which I alluded to in my New Year’s Day Tweet:
While that still feels a ways off, and I’ve suffered a few set-backs, I’m still optimistic I can get there.
I’m conducting a story-restructure still, based on some feedback/ideas I bounced off a fellow FE3H writer the other month (thanks as always, fearlesswindy 🙌), and editing some of the geography/location/history stuff to be in line with Hopes when I have time, but I’m not killing myself any inconsistencies at the moment, lest I go insane. And I’d rather move forward, rather than worry about people second or triple-guessing me with my writing (again, many thanks to fearlesswindy for knocking me between the eyes re: my overthinking-overthinking everything – do check her page out, btw).
To make up for the February slump, I’ll aim to get two updates out either in April or May when I’ll have a few long weekends to get my head down.
In other news
I’ve started using my Twitter account in earnest this year, so if you ever want to reach me that’s probably the de facto best way to catch me.
By interacting with some of you lot, I’ve been pretty inspired to write stuff in a way that I hadn’t been for a while. This brings me onto the “other projects” part of this blog’s title. I talked about it a little bit on my Twitter, but will lay it out here, too.
‘Only One’ Fic
Okay, so, this little thing is something I want to try and do well. It’s my first one-shot since the only one I’ve done for FE so far, The Sharp Edge of the Moon [SPW, AO3]. I really want to do it well as it was very much inspired by an work created by one of my favourite Claudeleth artists, tishtish (Twitter).
It’s based on a piece she created for a fanzine and really got my plot bunnies jumping. I mean, look!
Wouldn’t you be inspired, too?
In any case, I’ve completed the first rough draft and am trying to bring this to life. Obviously, I’ll post it here and on AO3 when it’s done, but I have posted a few updates about it on my Twitter, just because it’s fun to update people on something that’s different from the usual angst fest FStS is.
The Plot Factory Chronicles
Obviously, this is the biggest thing I’m currently working on aside from my nerdy fanwork. The reason why I’ve felt the need to write this is, well, the owner of Plot Factory is taking the p*ss and I feel they owe not just me but all the people who used that platform a personal apology.
And by ‘they’, I mean J.
The chapter dedicated to him will be my priority to work on this weekend, so I might have that out sometime next week.
Check out the dedicated page to the Chronicles if you haven’t already: Lost the Plot: The Plot Factory Chronicles.
AOB – People might’ve noticed that I wasn’t posting or doing much in February and early March this year. Well, the reason is that I suffered a few bereavements within a matter of days of each other, which left me feeling very low. On top of that, my beloved cat was unwell. Thankfully, she’s a lot better now, but it was pretty scary as she’s getting old now.
Scarlettpeony Writes 