Hey guys, VanZans here. I'm sitting here working out the details of the next couple of chapters and since soon we'll be getting into the dynamics of characters stats/skills costs/items/& statuses, I'm having to go back to the earlier chapters to re-read and fix some of those things. By doing this, I will show the difference between Expert stages with someone like Shen compared to one of the Experts in the Dungeon. I wanted to show the difference between a Champion and a normal person at the same level, or class weaknesses and strengths. And finally I wanted to show what someone who is a master of magic compared to Vali or a Master in a fighting class like Alysteir. Since we haven't really seen enemy classes that use magic in this region yet other than a few scenes with the elves or the Pixies. And we didn't get to really see what Balor could fully do because if we did I don't believe they should have ever been able to kill Balor.
It's honestly amazing to go back and look at how my writing has changed over the course of this year. While I've corrected some old 'bad habits' or grammatical errors, I've also acquired new 'bad habits' here and there as well that I'm trying to fix too. Obviously the last 5 chapters didn't feel a lot like the first arc, especially after rereading the older ones. Like I said the info dumps were quite a lot and Vali starting to look deep within himself & towards his inner demons was quite a lot.
But I REALLY feel that with this the stage has now been properly set for this next arc. So I won't go as overboard with it as I have these past few chapters anymore. When rereading old chapters I would go oh wow I didn't detail this at all, but it still worked. Or go 'wow i really thought this sounded good?' Some things I wanted to change and add detail towards, while other scenes I thought were great and wished I structured the more recent chapters like the older ones.
It's also been a while since I've had some of those emotionally impactful scenes whether they are heartwarming, explicit, violent or just very thought provoking. But those are the scenes I've had the most fun writing, now that the stage is set hopefully I can tap into some of those moments just like before.
(And don't worry I still have a long list of fun scenes that I've been waiting to write all the way up to 2 'Arcs' from now. Now that the first Arc which wasn't originally planned is done and the stage is set, I'm pretty excited to get to the good stuff & show the differences in levels of power from what you've seen and what's to come lol.)
So why am I messaging you guys?... Well, because now that I'm going back and rereading everything I've made a short list of things that I'm going to change/edit/ or restructure whenever i do rewrite everything. (No worries though! I won't take a break from writing this arc to rewrite the old one for a while but I have made a list of things I want to do better my second time around.)
I've listened to you're comments and concerns over the story. I've heard the hate and the love and am currently writing down in a small notebook each part of the story that needs to be told better.
So if you guys see anything more I haven't spoken of in the list, I'd love to hear some other things you'd like to see as well.
Maybe not even in this arc but in future arcs. Honestly I'd love to hear it all. You have no idea how fun it is for a writer to read fan theories about your work. And this website has been a big help in writing this story so while I'm structuring out the next couple chapters I thought I'd write down my list and see if there was some stuff I left out.
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Story Fixes:
1. Flesh out beginning of story and add chapters before stepping into dungeon arc. / Slow down level progression.
2. Detail Titles, Stats & Skills much better and fix each of them in the earlier chapters to become more balanced.
3. Possibly lower starting effects of some skills and explain what they could eventually do when mastered with possibly in-game logic.
4. Show a longer progression with Ari learning to speak.
5. Correct and detail political venues of the story to feel more fluid and realistic.
6. Show more individuality towards the Pixies. / Slow down level progression….
7. Provide more world building before the 2nd arc so it is not so convoluted.
8. Correct timing & pacing issues to help flow of story. Increase time between some scenes and chapters as well.
9. Restructure some old scenes and add dialogue and detail throughout the earlier chapters.
10. Possibly wait to introduce some minor characters until others are more fleshed out.
11. Add scenes with Vali walking through the inner cities in the dungeon and having some interactions with the dungeon dwellers other than just the leaders.
12. Add scenes with the fight against Balor and detail it out much more.
Again thanks for reading this story, and bearing with me throughout all of this, considering how effing long it all is lol. I know I'm no pro writer and have plenty of other things going on instead of this. But regardless, this is a world I have fun writing about and building up. I think even if most people hated it I would still continue with it just to have the story I love finally laid out. I always loved the idea of what would happen if all these mythological, godly and biblical beings all interacted ever since Supernatural. And Vali is sort of loosely based off Dean in some ways too.
It means a lot to see how much love and support this story gets to the point that it overshadows most of the 'hate' mail and trolls on the internet that can be discouraging at times. So I just wanted to say that to everyone reading, thank you for your support, even if I never hear from some of you readers I still see interesting comments/threads here and there with people talking so well about it even if they never comment here. And honestly guys...It means a lot. Thanks again!
*Oh, and if you've only written a regular review please write an Advanced one if you have the time.
***Also this is a thread for Constructive Criticisms and comments on the story they liked or disliked. Let's not make this a complaint thread about what you wanted instead please. And yes there is a difference.
(Like quirks with some characters or some plot points that don't get fixed immediately as it's suppose to be ventured through and worked out throughout the story. Or things you didn't comprehend from the story like 'How gods interfere with mortals like Loki is doing and thinking it's 'breaking the rules; when instead it just hasn't been explained yet.')
PS...Sorry for the update not being a chapter. I guess the author can troll some too.