FFC #2 - TLFF First Preview

I haven't really said much about By Any Other Path, the supposedly last fan fiction I will be writing. The story did keep changing while I was developing it, but given that you will theoretically be stuck with it forever (), and that I know what I want it to be, I figured it couldn't hurt to show you where I'm at, and see what you think.

The driving idea behind The Last Fan Fiction (henceforth called TLFF), is a return to my roots. And by that, I don't mean I'll be making it up as I go and spelling 'he' as 'eh' all the time.

My first fan fiction was a tale of a group of friends, roaming Valhalla and joining forces with different peoples from different times, to fight diverse enemies who threatened all the land. Valhalla Reborn smacked of classic 'Scape, and that's the feeling I want for TLFF. Not post-apocalyptic, or home world, or some high emotional thing like Red. I want a fun tale.

So what does that...

FFC #1 - My Writing Shcedule

Greetings.

I originally planned on opening this post with a long-winded attempt at epicness, but after going down several rabbit trails and still getting nowhere, I decided a more direct approach would be better.

I've decided to start a series of blogs to keep my readers updated with where I am concerning my fan fiction. That being said, the main reason is that I just want to write about where I'm at, because it helps me look at my progress objectively, and see things I'm missing or need to do.

It makes sense that I should open this first entry by defining my writing schedule, as I see it:

1. Complete Dan's Tale.
2. If I haven't figured out phase 1 of my novels yet, do it now.
3. Develop my final fan fiction series. Complete the first installment.
4. Finish the development of my novel series.
5. Add installments to final fan fiction series as need/interest arise.
6. Complete first novel.
7. Go through

...

You probably have a good idea what this blog post is about from the title. Your mouse might be hovering around the back button as you continue to read, compelled to do so by the mystical force which surrounds my words (). You know what this article is about.

As it so happens you are wrong. Whatever you think this blog post is about to say, you're on the wrong track. Unless, by some miracle, you have read my mind as I write this. And if that is the case, please let me know. I have need of a translator at times.

Assuming you have not read my mind (and have not been driven away by my obvious attempts to keep you reading), I will now explain what this is all about: neg rep, and the problem with how it is laid out.

The Beginning

We have to start at the beginning. When I joined this site, I was young, opinionated, and showed all the signs of becoming a first-rate online nuisance. I nearly did, until I found the Fan Fiction forum. ...

Greetings, gamers, writers, designers, builders, enthusiasts, general fans, and unknown lurkers. Greetings HeroScapers. Do not be alarmed by the title. I simply felt the sudden urge to set a few things in stone. Or in virtual data files. Nah. Stone sounds better.

A few minutes ago, I finished reading Xotli's only blog post. In that post, he detailed why he left the C3V, and I highly encourage you to read it. Not because I want you all to judge the C3V; because it is highly enlightening on how to run anything fan-made, which is the entire base for this whole site.

I'm going to address a few points in that blog post here, so I recommend you read his post first. It's not necessary, but his thoughts seem to be a lot more organized than mine likely will be, so you will probably get a better picture of things by reading his blog first.

In his post, Xotli details how (some) aspects of the C3V work. It made me realize that the general public really doesn't...

Ever since HeroScape was discontinued, I've seen a disturbing trend begin to spring up. The week of the discontinuation, a good number of members sadly quite HSers. Others struggled on for a time, but the continually dropping numbers and lack of activity finally convinced them, too, to leave the halls of Valhalla.

A few dedicated souls remained. The various customs departments kept the spirit of Scape alive. Map and scenario creation abounded. CoN staggered on, despite low numbers of players. HSers still breathed.

Over the years since the discontinuation, I've seen people, over and over, give up and leave. Their reasons are always the same. "No one is on anymore." "I don't play HS anymore." "The site is dead." Every time I see one of these reasons, I know that another spark of the flame that is HeroScape has flickered and died.

And that's what HeroScape is: a flame; a flame made up out of us, those that remain. Yes,...