Critically Lit

@TheRealShrum I'm disappointed already! ❤️

@CriticalLit Are you even good enough to have imposter syndrome?

I've struggled with impostor syndrome my whole life. It's a constant battle. Anyone else out there feel this way? If you do... Here’s a word of advice: Do the thing. I’m almost 40 years old and have been writing since I was 6. My first story was about an apple picked from a tree, taken to a supermarket, bought, and turned into an apple pie... told from the apple's perspective, going from excitement to horror as it got baked. Yes, my teacher called my parents. I've always wanted to publish but never did, even though I have millions of words of stories to draw from. And I believe they’re of pretty high quality, if I do say so myself... But I never felt good enough. Never good enough. Now, nearing my 40th year, I’m realizing that it really doesn’t fucking matter. 35+ years I’ve been writing. Finally, with this realization, I’ve not only decided to publish but have finished three whole-ass novels and am working on my fourth, which I expect to finish within the month. If you’re like me and suffer from that crippling sense of unworthiness... nothing will make it feel better except DOING THE THING. Even if my novels don’t take off, I feel better now than I have in almost 30 years. Tell your impostor syndrome that enough is enough. Even if you ARE an impostor... do the thing because you love it, and it's okay to simply love something without making money off of it.

I went from zero novels finished over the course of 34+ years, to now having two. Still polishing the main one(100k) but the first companion novel(45k) is finished and editing begins. And instead of gothic horror/mystery, we've got a chilling, magical war narrative.

FF7 was about a bunch of ecoterrorists fighting capitalism. Later Megaman games (X in particular) explored marginalized rights and tech exploitation. Earthbound was about anti-conformity and what makes us individual. Secret of Mana was essentially an ethereal environmentalist anime about the balance of nature and progress. Metal Gear Solid had themes about the dangers of war, espionage, nuclear arms, etc. Final Fantasy Tactics was literally a war on the rich (who happened to also be demons). The fuck are people talking about games weren't "woke" back in the day? I could go on.

Games aren't becoming "more woke". You're just more sensitive and easily offended by shit you didn't care about at all "back in the day". Metroid came out in 86. If it came out today would the main character being a blonde bad bitch with big shoulders upset you?

A friend asked me what my favorite food was yesterday. I told them that I have a hard time picking because I see the world in shades of grey and possibility, rather than absolutes. But also tacos.

I added a tiny bit cosmic horror to the companion novel for my historical dark fantasy set in a victorian era with steampunk technology and magic. Because why the fuck not?

@TheRealShrum You got it, Shrum. 👍

Along with the main novel I finished (still editing), I've also almost completed the first companion novel to go along with it. 😅 Main one is 100k words. Sample of one of the companions below. The 3 the standalone companions will be around 40k each. Various flavors of dark, historical fantasy from gothic horror, to war narrative, to a coming of age story about a little lesbian Spanish noble whose family are actually the bad guys during one of Spain's civil wars. All of them with magic, mystery, drama, and a bit of romance every now and again. All set between 1840 and 1887 All three tying back to the main novel, but all entire stories in their own right. So, I like writing, okay?

I once had an idea for a Chrono Trigger sequel about the timeline splitting after Lavos' defeat. 20 years later we have two possible protagonists and two storylines. Magus' Daughter and Crono's son, each in a slightly different reality. What they don't realize is that their realities are competing for the right to exist on the timeline and everything they do leads to a climax where in order to save their reality, they have to destroy the other. So, anyway. I love Chrono Trigger and I still hold out hope for another game in the series decades later.

@Th4tGamerChick @TheRealShrum @MaryMajora Whatever, Lora

Ew. Brother EW.

Line editing continues. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Thanks, Goth! That means a lot ♥️ I'm still working on line edits, but let me know if you want to be on the list for a free copy when I finish! It'd be ebook only at the moment, or print on demand, since I'm self-publishing and I don't have enough money for paperbacks/hardcovers... But I can definitely get you a free ebook 😂

@CriticalLit yes it certainly does, congrats on the novel, im hoping to squeeze in reading the prologue soon

All my developmental stuff is done on the novel. I'm working on line edits... And I've got me a cover. What do you guys think? Does this say Historical Dark Fantasy/Gothic Horror set in 1887 London with Magic?

@Vicktaru Sounds cool! I definitely say go for it. Finishing a novel was one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. And it only took me almost 40 years to stop being afraid of it 😂 If you ever want to be writer buddies, you just me know, Vick!

@Vicktaru I was wondering about that too, honestly? I'm glad it wasn't just me 😂 I've got all the source files so I can just play around with it myself until I'm happy with it.

@MillennialMimi I was one of the computer weirdos who had a modem and BBS back then... So I was online even before the internet became a thing 😅

It was horrible buddy, you have no idea.. Every day I wished to be born 20 years later 🤡