Writing

The State of the Writer: 11/15/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 11/1/20         The State of the Writer: 11/29/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 1

Project: Story
Working Title: The High Archon
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Original
Length: Novel
Status: Preparation
Progress: Setting up notes in Scrivener

Holy shit…there’s a new story in the status lol.  I’ve talked about this one before I shelved it for a while, but I’m back at it now that The Broken Rose is finished.  This is the story I wanted to use TBR as a test run for.  I attempted to do it for NaNoWriMo a few years ago, but I wound up scrapping the whole thing and starting over.  The first chapter was boring, and I needed to do something else.

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The Broken Rose: Chapter 2 – Gentleness

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Update: The amazing artist Bethany Annie has completed another piece for this chapter.  I’m honestly thinking of replacing the current artworks with hers so they’re on the initial display, though I do like how they look closing out the chapter; however, I really want to showcase her work forefront since she’s so generous and talented.  For now, you will find her next piece at the end of the chapter.  Please make sure to follow her on Art Station and Deviant Art!

The Broken Rose Page

<–Chapter 1                                                                                                    Chapter 3–>

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII, its characters, and settings are all property of Square Enix so I can take no credit nor claim any ownership of that. I do take some credit for the story’s plot.
Chapter Artwork Disclaimer: The source for the artwork featured below is located here.  The original picture has been slightly altered from the original.  All rights belong to the artist/photographer.

*******MAJOR CONTENT WARNING*******

Consistent and sustained graphic descriptions and mentions of rape/ sexual assault, sexual slavery/bondage, slavery, human trafficking, physical abuse, graphic descriptions of violence, mental abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, body shaming, starvation, torture, forced pregnancy, forced childbirth, miscarriage, forced miscarriage, abortion, and other potential disturbing and triggering topics.

Aeris experiences gentleness, protection, and warmth for the first time in over a century from the man who once took her life.  She barely has words for these concepts and is terrified “her master” will take them away.

00-chapter-2-gentleness

A canopy bed sits in a luxurious bedroom. The canopy is black with some reddish lining. There are two lit lamps on either side of the bed, which appears to be on a slightly raised dais. “Chapter 2 Gentleness” in white is in the upper left corner.

Warm…I’m so very warm.  I’ve never been warm before.  Where am I lying?  I’m on…a bed.  A great, soft, c-comfortable bed.   I’m covered.  What’s this?  She remembered.  A…blanket.  What’s under my head?  A…c-cushion?  N-No, that’s not right.  It’s called…something else…  Her head spun in the dark.  I’m…not being used.  I’m not…being beaten.  I…I don’t understand…

*

Softness.  It could never be softness encasing the terrified Cetra.  That was for people, those who mattered, never a wretched slave.  Yet she was so wonderfully warm enclosed in the opulent mattress.  A great leather coat free of pauldrons enveloped her battered body.  The substance that lined it caressed that bruised skin softer than a song.  Light slid through a crack in the drapes, laying a thin edge on the blanket.

I have to get up.  I can’t stay like this.  He’ll punish me-

Then the door opened.

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The State of the Writer: 11/1/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 10/18/20         The State of the Writer: 11/15/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 1

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Final Word Count: 249,902
Prior Word Count: 250,147
Word Difference: -245
Status: Finished

I wrote this in the authors note, but my god…this was an experience.  I learn something new with every story I write.  Among other things I realized something that’s supposed to just be an idea trial for something else could turn into the longest thing I’ve ever written and stand on its own merits.  I also expanded on my own person Aeriseph head canon universe in ways I never dreamed of, but even more so I realized things about myself I never considered.  Granted as I grow older I conclude more aspects of my identity, but with what I write and what I want to write it comes even clearer.

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The Broken Rose: Chapter 27 – A Worthy Gift for a Rose

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The Broken Rose Page

<–Chapter 26

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII, its characters, and settings are all property of Square Enix so I can take no credit nor claim any ownership of that. I do take some credit for the story’s plot.
Banner Artwork Disclaimer:  The featured artwork for the banner is entitled White rose I and was created by the very talented Deviant Artist RemusSirion who was gracious enough to grant me permission to use it here.  The picture has been slightly altered from the original. All rights belong to the artist, and links are included for both the artist page and the work.
CHAPTER ARTWORK DISCLAIMER: THE FEATURED ARTWORK FOR THIS CHAPTER IS BY an unknown artist.  there is a watermark on the bottom left, but try as i might i was unable to locate any artist by that name through my search methods. THE PICTURE HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY ALTERED IN APPEARANCE AND TO INCLUDE THE CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE.  ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THE ARTIST.

*******MAJOR CONTENT WARNING*******

Consistent and sustained graphic descriptions and mentions of rape/ sexual assault, sexual slavery/bondage, slavery, human trafficking, physical abuse, graphic descriptions of violence, mental abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, body shaming, starvation, torture, forced pregnancy, forced childbirth, miscarriage, forced miscarriage, abortion, and other potential disturbing and triggering topics.

Aeris revives a prior, joyful discussion, but Sephiroth remains haunted by the past.

Artwork of Sephiroth facing left. His silver hair appears to have a reddish ribbon in it. There is a bluish snowflake floating above his lifted and open right hand. The background is black with what appears to be whitish trees. The words Chapter 27 “A Worthy Gift for a Rose” are in the upper left corner.

The morning next was near as dark as the eve for the Whispers slept beneath blizzard.  Frosty fingers painted the panes of every single window, nor could the balcony outside her room be divined from whirling white.  The sands, too, surrendered to this raining pale as white foam churned upon.  Untroubled, the town just pulsed warm beneath the rampant, heavy fall.  It was a time for comfort sipped through tea, hot chocolate, or even spirits.  To drown within words or grow lost in a screen for entertainment or contacting friends.

Sephiroth was currently drawn to the latter for responsibility’s sake.  With such severe weather, he always ensured no emergencies had ensued.  If the storm had fallen too swift, folk could be taken unawares.  There’d been enough times he’d received calls or messages of distress.  In the town proper danger was mild, but the outskirts or sands could hold peril.  This was one of the times he blessed tainted eyes for their perfect and always lit vision.  They were also a beacon for the so lost, paired with black garb on white snows.  Though Sephiroth usually found them first, and it was strange his sight was a relief.  I suppose I’m better than freezing to death…and they’ve only known me as their “mayor.”  History remembers otherwise, but to the Whispers, that’s less than a ghost.  I’m what I am now…what I have been for over a hundred years.  Their mayor…the general as a term of respect, and the in between matters no more…

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The State of the Writer: 10/4/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 9/20/20         The State of the Writer: 10/18/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 0

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 250,284
Prior Word Count: 250,107
Word Difference: +177
Status: Editing
Progress: First edit of Chapter 27

I was able to add in some of the text from my notes the other day, but I still have a little bit more.  It’s…interesting to say the least.  I have this tendency to find myself writing/editing, at least thematically, about currently topical events.  What do I mean?  Well…there’s a conversation I’ve wanted to add for a while where Aeris asks Sephiroth if there’s anyone he didn’t regret killing, and the answer to that is, uh, well the person in real life in question is not…doing…well.  Anyway, I’m hoping to finish and post this within the next two weeks so I can at least participate in some part of Preptober.

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The State of the Writer: 9/20/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 9/6/20         The State of the Writer: 10/4/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 1

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 250,107
Prior Word Count: 250,448
Word Difference: -341
Status: Editing
Progress: First edit of Chapter 27

I’m always glad when I’m not the only one who sees similarities in paradigms as this week’s artwork attests.   I initially started thinking such due to this picture,

because it just brought the “lord of death and flower maiden” paradigm into sharp relief.  I want to do a rehashing of the myth myself at some point with Hades as more of a winter king, but that’s a song for another day.

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The Broken Rose: Chapter 26 – Picked By a Rose

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The Broken Rose Page

<–Chapter 25                                                                                                                                 Chapter 27–>

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII, its characters, and settings are all property of Square Enix so I can take no credit nor claim any ownership of that. I do take some credit for the story’s plot.
Banner Artwork Disclaimer:  The featured artwork for the banner is entitled White rose I and was created by the very talented Deviant Artist RemusSirion who was gracious enough to grant me permission to use it here.  The picture has been slightly altered from the original. All rights belong to the artist, and links are included for both the artist page and the work.
CHAPTER ARTWORK DISCLAIMER: THE FEATURED ARTWORK FOR THIS CHAPTER IS BY NVALKYRJA. THE PICTURE HAS BEEN SLIGHTLY ALTERED IN APPEARANCE AND TO INCLUDE THE CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE.  ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THE ARTIST.

*******MAJOR CONTENT WARNING*******

Consistent and sustained graphic descriptions and mentions of rape/ sexual assault, sexual slavery/bondage, slavery, human trafficking, physical abuse, graphic descriptions of violence, mental abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, body shaming, starvation, torture, forced pregnancy, forced childbirth, miscarriage, forced miscarriage, abortion, and other potential disturbing and triggering topics.

Author’s Note: This chapter is pretty much the pure smut I promised.  It’s actually much lighter than what I had originally.  I will eventually post the more X-rated version (though this one is still certainly MA).  Editing smut is much more difficult than editing regular romance.  There’s a fine line between decent erotica and unintentional hilarity, and I hope I fall on the side of the former.  Don’t laugh at me too hard if I don’t.

Aeris changes her mind to delightful results about something she once feared.

Artwork of Aeris and Sephiroth. Aeris is right side up on the left looking at Sephiroth who is upside down on the right.  Chapter 26 Picked by a Rose is in the upper left corner.

The winter would ravage with thick spilling snow that silver would still always best.  He went out more often than Aeris, of course, to mayoral duties’ demand.  It was less, though, than summer for little required immediate response.  His tasks were more to avail his aid for any pressing concern, and monsters of course, always that rigor that kept his instincts sharp.

When Sephiroth left, whatever the need, his thoughts were of always his Aeris.  The joy that would beam through his heart at return that gave the rents a sweeter purpose.  It spread through his veins and bled through his skin, his flower’s ecstasy.  At sight of me…her once murderer.  I don’t want to leave yet I do.  Knowing her presence ever awaits me makes Heaven’s Gate utter truth.

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The State of the Writer: 9/6/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 8/23/20         The State of the Writer: 9/20/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 0

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 250,448
Prior Word Count: 250,199
Word Difference: +249
Status: Editing
Progress: Finished first edit of Chapter 26

I finished the first edit some time last week and added in all of the additional text I felt was necessary.  I am going to do a move explicit version (maybe I’ll password protect it or something, giving it out to anyone who requests?  Idk I’ll figure it out lol), but it’s not like this version is tame by any means :p  I’m on vacation for the next two weeks, and my goal is to finish editing and posting the rest of the story as I only have one chapter left after this.  I love this piece and I still have a lot of offshoot story ideas to explore with it, but I really want to have the main story up prior to November so I can focus on NaNo, plus I’d like to re-edit and start looking into self-publishing my short story in the interim and prep for NaNo as well.

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The State of the Writer: 8/23/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 8/9/20         The State of the Writer: 9/6/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 1

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 250,199
Prior Word Count: 250,796
Word Difference: -597
Status: Editing
Progress: First edit of Chapter 26

It is so much more difficult to edit smut than it is to do general editing lol.  I think it’s because it’s so easy for something like this to veer into cheesy and hilarious territory.  I mean we’ve all read bad smut/poorly planned erotica and it’s not the vibe I’m going for.  I’ve cut a lot of things out.  Some of it might find its way into the more explicit version; other parts are definitely gone to stay.  I only have less than a page left to edit, but I really need to bring my A game because it’s definitely one of those that could be laughably bad if done wrong.

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The State of the Writer: 8/9/20

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<–The State of the Writer: 7/26/20         The State of the Writer: 8/23/20–>

A post updated every other Sunday discussing my current writing projects and any completed the prior two weeks.

Finished Projects: 2

Project: Story
Title: The Broken Rose
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Type: Fanfiction
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Length: Novel
Current Word Count: 250,796
Prior Word Count: 251,552
Word Difference: -756
Status: Editing
Progress: First edit of Chapter 26

The artist of this week’s pic is a long time favorite of mine.  She, too, writes Aeriseph and is a talented illustrator to boot.  Her story Border of Taboo is actually available in physical format on Amazon (???) which…is now making me very curious how she managed to avoid copyright issues with Squeenix???  I may have to investigate this.

…

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