J. Y. Song

I think it’s about time I put up a better write of my story, so, with that in mind: Hello everyone, both old and new. Despite my constant yapping on here my primary passion has always been writing, and my passion project is called Hedge Knight. What is Hedge Knight? It’s an epic progression fantasy novel series that follows the tales of Helbram Alligard, our titular character, across Ellios, a land filled with magic and mystery. Its scope is meant to be focused on a series of individual adventures in place of a constant, sweeping narrative with the main cast being the thread that ties it all together. Do not let the epic fantasy label shape your expectations entirely, however, for Hedge Knight takes the “kitchen sink” approach to its world building elements. Expect elements that could just as easily belong in sci-fi, steampunk, or even dieselpunk novels. Just to give an example, the first book of the series deals with an army of bandits led by an alien conqueror. The intent is to deliver all these elements with enough verisimilitude that it all fits together without pulling readers out of the experiences. More importantly, do not expect any of it to be dripping with irony, either. I want Hedge Knight to be a series with a single, earnest goal: to tell a story as best it can without thinking it needs to depreciate itself for fear of being “cringe”. Anything that sounds absurd on paper will be played straight, as I firmly believe that any idea can be good so long as the steps are taken to execute it competently. Does that mean the series is serious business all the time? No, I actually try to inject a good amount of humor throughout, just expect it to be pulled back more readily than a lot of stories you may see today. The art attached, drawn by the amazing @studio_kart, are glimpses into the world I’m trying to create. But, let’s also introduce the main party of Hedge Knight, shall we? (A thread)

This is cool, but I’m also fine with my lady just sitting on the couch close by doing her own thing. I would try to involve her and also be interested in what she’s doing, of course, but sometimes it’s just the closeness that counts the most.

@BenjaminKi12810 Right? After a certain point the character has to acknowledge a line has been irrevocably cross and deal with that scenario.

@Critical_Scribe You hit the nail on the head about people getting jaded with a no kill rule. It's why I love and hate Batman. I understand why he has a no kill rule, but a character like the Joker? Fucker needs to die.

Situational. No Kill can work for shorter stories but when you have a long running series and the same villain is spared after killing countless people multiple times, your readers get jaded by the idea. Kill is the same thing in reverse. In a shorter story it’s good since it cleans up plot threads pretty nicely, but in a long running series the character feels like a murderhobo. No Murder is interesting, but can border on being a too naive at times since a lot of it stems from a character unintentionally killing someone so it “isn’t their fault”. Situational forces a character to have clear lines that shouldn’t be crossed, which makes their reactions varied throughout the story. The hero that spares someone because he has them tied up and at his mercy, for instance, might change his tune right as he hears that his prisoner killed a child in glee previously. Same character could also just try to cull a criminal enterprise by getting most of the people arrested, but if he runs into the leader and they’re straight up the Joker, he might decide that putting them down for good is the better move. It’s a much more interesting dynamic to explore because it makes the character forces the character to think about their actions more in the long run, which leads to more contemplative heroes. It’s also a cool tool to use as a twist to have your typical hero all of the sudden put down a threat in cold blood because he recognizes the threat.

Reading stuff from the “other side” is healthy for critical thinking. I do it all the time, and rather than go “oh it’s written this way so I accept it” I would advise approaching it from a “oh, that’s an interesting argument, how would address that with my own ideas?” This goes beyond politics here, it’s more down to storytelling methodology. If a certain scenario is interesting in concept but I find the resolution to it lacking in some regard, I take note of it and consider using some variation of it later for my own writing so my characters can take a crack at it from their points of view. Confining one’s self to an echo chamber is just stifling your own ability to express yourself. The refinement of ideas only happens when confronted continuously, otherwise they just stagnate and never grow.

@OnioftheValley @BasedLEDA Also fair, his pelvis bones must have been reinforced after breaking so much 💀

@Critical_Scribe @BasedLEDA You say that, bit he did fuck rosanna while he was in the hospital after being shot So Its more of "if there is a will, there is a way"

Now that I think about it, the Commander not fucking any of the ladies in his squad is actually a good thing. He's keeping it professional, a line he’s not crossing, at least not yet. That’s noble, considering how they’re all amazingly pretty and talented. Anyone else would’ve taken advantage of their affection, but he doesn’t let that ruin their relationship, and I find that sweet. On the other hand… He’s fucking literally every Nikke that walks. He’s fucking these big booty robots. How is his waist not crushed yet by their tons of weight?!

@hirotonfa Miffed Melvin

I forgot this reviewer's name... what was it again?

@Truthful1316 Oh? I’m feeling some improvement compared to the older stuff here. Is it the shading? 🤔

I drew my OC Elaine in as a bnuy

Yeah there are those that just improve much faster than others or have a sense for narrative feel compared to a lot of writers for sure, but even then the average person can produce something interesting if they put their mind to it. Most of the time with writing you just gotta have the patience to not rush to payoffs, which many people don’t have 👀

@Critical_Scribe It is a mix of both. Sure. You can improve upon it like a skill but I think it takes a certain amount of talent to hone it.

It’s a skill. Talent is involved in how fast you improve or how well you start out, for sure, but enough studying and listening to feedback can make anyone a writer worth reading. You just need to have a thick skin and willingness to listen.

@Zydiko I’ll be fine lol

@Critical_Scribe You better be careful, they might kill you for saying this 😭

Both should be allowed to have their own Superhero monikers and rogues galleries. The use of a mantle or title to grant fresh characters legitimacy more often than not feels cheap nowadays. I want to see Miles stand on his own without needing to constantly be compared to Peter. Likewise for Shuri.

@xbriskey I generally have a consistent focus but admittedly my brain has been fogged up for a while. Makes it hard to progress in anything.

@Critical_Scribe If you're like me you gotta force a controlled manic episode to happen to get anything done. Projects especially.

Once again, midnight pull ups have banished the headache, we are so back.

@Blackheart_Opus I wouldn’t put it past them tbh >.>

@Critical_Scribe I remember reading a while ago this was gonna be a musical or have musical elements. I sincerely hope that terrible idea was never true.

One of the most toxic things about mainstream media today is the insecurity they have of their own ideas disguised as the belief that they can somehow iterate or “update” the classics. If you’re gonna make all these changes, why use the IP at all? Just make it a new IP. You won’t, because you don’t actually believe your ideas alone hold enough substance to keep people around, so you latch onto something that has already proven itself like a parasite to give your ideas legitimacy. It’s ok to draw inspiration from the greats, but why do we constantly feel the need to supplant them with our own twisted versions of them? I would say it all feels stagnant, but really it just feels like rotting instead.

@lofi_lover0930 @Devilukez10 I won’t lie the article caught me when I was in the middle of a migraine so the filter was off 😂

@Critical_Scribe @Devilukez10 😂🤣

“I’m a loser, so game characters shouldn’t allowed to be charismatic.” Saved you a click.

@xbriskey I do drink a lot of water lol Just some days my brain is like “You thought you were gonna focus today. lol, lmao even”

@Critical_Scribe Drink water more frequently bro. Your brain will shrink from dehydration.

@PhantomNIKKE Almost makes me think he’s overweight on purpose to make himself as least threatening as possible so he catches everyone off guard when he goes to do something. Dude clearly knows how to use a gun, given the absolute stunting he did in Chapter 46

Oswald needed a convincingly realistic lie to save Goddess. And now Burningum embodies that same thing. I would bet he doesnt need the walking stick. He's a big guy and cant run, but he has so many different traits that add to his act, and it works because he looks the part.

@AuthorErwin @Tahllinavian_20 She’s a real keeper if she leans into it

@Tahllinavian_20 @Critical_Scribe I made the wife mad with both Bevis and Butthead and Chip Chipperson impressions and she just mocks it to make it more funny. People just have to be social and know what's harmless fun.

I won’t lie, I am that guy. This will either net me a wife with the patience of a saint or I’m gonna get stabbed. It’s a coin flip.

@XenDrawsThings On one hand, it shows restraint that they aren’t spamming skins for easy money. On the other, these designs are 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻 and I want that Eunhwa one >.>

MATIS AND ABSOLUTE IDOLS?? ShiftUp You can't show us this And NEVER make them SKINs. 😭

@Tahllinavian_20 It never turns out better, like ever.

@Critical_Scribe In their arrogance, they always think they can do better. Stealing from their betters and selling it as their own.

@HariSel57511397 Nah man this is just father and son bonding time. You’re reading too much into it smh

This where I knew something was up💀

@ASolenberg15912 @MichaelKamegne Right? It’s really sad because all characters feel like they’re on leashes now

@Critical_Scribe @MichaelKamegne The greatest enemy isn't Doctor Doom, The Green Goblin or Magneto! Its the editorial staff...and its so crazy that they somehow keep getting worse