Glad to see the chapter. Must say, good to see Rana get to show off what she can do. And of course, seeing Tezzeret is always good. Can't wait to see what you do with him. Oh, and indeed, welcome back
Hello again, Dark Fire - Thank you! I'm happy that you weren't put-off with the direction I'm taking Rana. I took a serious look back at the previous chapters, and realized that it was about time for some much-needed character development. I'm going to try to keep it from moving too fast, but I figured that it would make sense for her to self-reflect and make some personal changes...starting with her attitude.
Thanks so much! She's at the end of her rope both physically and emotionally at the moment, and sometimes realizing that you don't care does give you an odd sort of power, you know? I figured that that would be a good starting point, and that it would set up well for her to begin making a lot more alterations to her thoughts and actions.
Am I overthinking this? Maybe. But it sure is a lot more fun to write.
First of this part here I am writing before I get to reading the chapter that you have updated. I know that it has been awhile since your last update. But I just want to tell you that since finding this and in keeping up with it I have been able to get myself to sit down and write more things, more often and with more thought. Thank you. I have yet to finish anything but I just want you to know that you have been a bit of an inspiration to me and my writing goals.
Thank you and as always when life gives you lemons I dont mind waiting because I know that you will end up stronger and better and then be back with more. Keep up the good work.
ok now to read the chapter......
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
Awesome. just awesome. Fantastic to see Rana mostly in her own and taking names. I also love the way this leaves me craving more.
Thank you again.
I can't wait to read what happens next
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My online design Bin Feel free to drop by and leave any comments and feedback on anything.
Proud Father of a beautiful baby Girl as of 12-27-13.
Oh wow, what an amazing compliment - This made my day, Harper! Thank you!
You have no idea how heartwarming it is to hear that my writing is good enough to be a source of inspiration - even "a bit" - especially since I've been feeling down on myself lately for never getting things finished on time or quite to my liking. I genuinely wish you the best of luck with your work. If you'd ever like someone to take a look at it, please feel free to send me a PM! I would be more than happy to give feedback, full-on critique it, or even just read what you have...whatever you'd like.
A quick question to all, because I miss being more active here but haven't had the spare time (or energy) to write anything for the new chapter since last posting:
What are your thoughts on the current status of MTG flavor?
I have to say that, personally, I'm disappointed.
While there are a lot of creative new cards coming out, I feel as if the overall lore content and consistency has taken a backseat to other priorities. I could name several instances of characters' motivations and personalities deviating entirely from their previous appearances without an explanation, for example, and I'm frustrated that we hardly get a scrap of detail about many new or returning characters in favor of others who have already gotten multiple chances in the spotlight (i.e. Domri, Vraska, Gideon, etc. vs. someone like Jace).
To be honest, all of this is making me feel somewhat unmotivated in regards to this fic. I'm still going to work on it, of course, but I can't deny that I just don't feel the same "spark" towards Magic that I used to.
Does anyone have any thoughts on the matter that they would be willing to share?
Sadly, that's pretty accurate to how I feel about it. I mean, what do we know about the Praetors, for instance? Or Bolas's plans? Or hell, what do we know about Tamayo, other then that she's a Moonfolk from Kamigawa?
Instead, because some parts of the team think this way, we get nothing but Jace, Jace, Liliana, Jace, and Jace. It gets old. My breaking point was how they treated the Slivers for M14. No, it doesn't make sense that they'd got to a bipedal state, with a more humanoid look. Slivers were the apex predators based on their physical states. That's why they share abilities. And the Hive came first, not the person summoning them. Ugh.
For the most part, I've just ignored Wizards cannon and such in favour of personal theories and quality writing, much like this fic. When you've nailed more characters more accurately then the company that created them...Well, I'd think they'd need to figure out what's going on.
Sorry for the wall of text there. I tend to rant about this stuff. Although, I did keep it more or less brief this time, at least.
Thank you so much for the compliment. That's a really flattering thing to hear, though at the same time I almost wish it weren't true - because if it is, then that just confirms how much the official lore quality has gone downhill.
I didn't initially get into Magic because of the lore, but it's what got me hooked once I did start playing the card game. I devoured the Artifacts Cycle, the planeswalker novels, the Time Spiral block novels...Even now, I check the fantasy section for any other block novels every time I go into a bookstore. It makes me sad to think that that era is over.
The older books had some issues, but at least they did try. Well, except Mirrodins, but that's beside the point. And there have been good, even great bits and pieces. Like you said, the Planeswalker novels. Now, yes, some are weaker then others, but the effort was there.
The set novels, though...There's were the trouble starts. It was painfully clear with Alara they had either dropped a ball, lost a touch, or just didn't care. Zendikar and Return to Ravnica just proved it even further. Scars of Mirrodin was just a joke. A very, very bad one.
I think the trouble is the insistence of focusing on planeswalkers. It would work infinitely better to focus the stories on the people, hero's, and villain's of the world they set the, well, Set on. Otherwise, we're following someone with no stake in the matter.
For example, Elspeth. She's run from more conflicts then almost any other character has even been in. And we should route for her why? She's just gonna run from Theros when things go wrong. Jace is always perfect, and right, and never makes mistakes, and always knows best, and why the hell did he run from Zendikar, just to make a mess of Ravnica? Whats going on there? How do the average people respond to the Eldrazi, or the Phyrexians, or the return of Avacyn? We don't know, because we need to follow the planeswalkers.
I guess I'm just bitter, because I started with the Lorwyn/Shadowmoor block, and I loved the flavor. I loved the original Ravnica. Kamigawa was interesting, as was Time Spiral.
But I love the Urza Saga. Those books from the Artifact cycle, all the way to Apocalypse. And to see what passes now...It just hurts. I love the game, but for the game, not the flavor as much. I miss the old books. I miss the old characters. And as a personal pet peeve...I'd love a Volrath card that actually follows his in-character abilities...and some old school, true to form Slivers.
It's with a heavy heart that I say that, for the forseeable future, The Planeswalker Chronicles is going to be on an indefinite hiatus. I don't ever like to burn my bridges, which is why I'm phrasing things that way instead of saying "I'm just not going to write it anymore." However, I don't want to get everyone's hopes up about something that's likely not going to happen.
As much as I love the idea of this story, looking back on it nearly four years after it began has given me some perspective that I just can't shake off. I was an inexperienced writer at the time. Not only were my technical skills lacking, but I didn't have the foresight to plan the story out the way I should have.
I find myself struggling both to write a main character out of the Mary Sue corner as well as to rescue a plot that has deviated from where I originally intended it to go, which is why it always takes me so long to put out a chapter whenever I have a day off. Aside from that, my personal life just keeps getting busier and full of more responsibilities with each passing year. I've been finding that I don't have the time or energy to put into something that needs a lot of time and energy in order for me to fix it enough that I feel comfortable publishing it as my current work.
I'm sorry to have to be a disappointment. You guys have been wonderful in supporting me with this the whole way, and I'm very grateful for your kindness. I would've stopped long before if it wasn't for you.
I wish you all the best. Thank you again for everything.
As always, life comes first. You have a lot ahead of you, so of course it makes sense that you'd want to focus on your other priorities. And personally, I hardly think it can be considered a disappointment.
No matter what you choose to do next, I'm quite sure you can count on the support of the people here. All the best to you.
Am I overthinking this? Maybe. But it sure is a lot more fun to write.
First of this part here I am writing before I get to reading the chapter that you have updated. I know that it has been awhile since your last update. But I just want to tell you that since finding this and in keeping up with it I have been able to get myself to sit down and write more things, more often and with more thought. Thank you. I have yet to finish anything but I just want you to know that you have been a bit of an inspiration to me and my writing goals.
Thank you and as always when life gives you lemons I dont mind waiting because I know that you will end up stronger and better and then be back with more. Keep up the good work.
ok now to read the chapter......
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
Awesome. just awesome. Fantastic to see Rana mostly in her own and taking names. I also love the way this leaves me craving more.
Thank you again.
I can't wait to read what happens next
Proud Father of a beautiful baby Girl as of 12-27-13.
You have no idea how heartwarming it is to hear that my writing is good enough to be a source of inspiration - even "a bit" - especially since I've been feeling down on myself lately for never getting things finished on time or quite to my liking. I genuinely wish you the best of luck with your work. If you'd ever like someone to take a look at it, please feel free to send me a PM! I would be more than happy to give feedback, full-on critique it, or even just read what you have...whatever you'd like.
I will take you up on that offer some time down the winding road of life.
Proud Father of a beautiful baby Girl as of 12-27-13.
What are your thoughts on the current status of MTG flavor?
I have to say that, personally, I'm disappointed.
While there are a lot of creative new cards coming out, I feel as if the overall lore content and consistency has taken a backseat to other priorities. I could name several instances of characters' motivations and personalities deviating entirely from their previous appearances without an explanation, for example, and I'm frustrated that we hardly get a scrap of detail about many new or returning characters in favor of others who have already gotten multiple chances in the spotlight (i.e. Domri, Vraska, Gideon, etc. vs. someone like Jace).
To be honest, all of this is making me feel somewhat unmotivated in regards to this fic. I'm still going to work on it, of course, but I can't deny that I just don't feel the same "spark" towards Magic that I used to.
Does anyone have any thoughts on the matter that they would be willing to share?
Instead, because some parts of the team think this way, we get nothing but Jace, Jace, Liliana, Jace, and Jace. It gets old. My breaking point was how they treated the Slivers for M14. No, it doesn't make sense that they'd got to a bipedal state, with a more humanoid look. Slivers were the apex predators based on their physical states. That's why they share abilities. And the Hive came first, not the person summoning them. Ugh.
For the most part, I've just ignored Wizards cannon and such in favour of personal theories and quality writing, much like this fic. When you've nailed more characters more accurately then the company that created them...Well, I'd think they'd need to figure out what's going on.
Sorry for the wall of text there. I tend to rant about this stuff. Although, I did keep it more or less brief this time, at least.
Thank you so much for the compliment. That's a really flattering thing to hear, though at the same time I almost wish it weren't true - because if it is, then that just confirms how much the official lore quality has gone downhill.
I didn't initially get into Magic because of the lore, but it's what got me hooked once I did start playing the card game. I devoured the Artifacts Cycle, the planeswalker novels, the Time Spiral block novels...Even now, I check the fantasy section for any other block novels every time I go into a bookstore. It makes me sad to think that that era is over.
The set novels, though...There's were the trouble starts. It was painfully clear with Alara they had either dropped a ball, lost a touch, or just didn't care. Zendikar and Return to Ravnica just proved it even further. Scars of Mirrodin was just a joke. A very, very bad one.
I think the trouble is the insistence of focusing on planeswalkers. It would work infinitely better to focus the stories on the people, hero's, and villain's of the world they set the, well, Set on. Otherwise, we're following someone with no stake in the matter.
For example, Elspeth. She's run from more conflicts then almost any other character has even been in. And we should route for her why? She's just gonna run from Theros when things go wrong. Jace is always perfect, and right, and never makes mistakes, and always knows best, and why the hell did he run from Zendikar, just to make a mess of Ravnica? Whats going on there? How do the average people respond to the Eldrazi, or the Phyrexians, or the return of Avacyn? We don't know, because we need to follow the planeswalkers.
I guess I'm just bitter, because I started with the Lorwyn/Shadowmoor block, and I loved the flavor. I loved the original Ravnica. Kamigawa was interesting, as was Time Spiral.
But I love the Urza Saga. Those books from the Artifact cycle, all the way to Apocalypse. And to see what passes now...It just hurts. I love the game, but for the game, not the flavor as much. I miss the old books. I miss the old characters. And as a personal pet peeve...I'd love a Volrath card that actually follows his in-character abilities...and some old school, true to form Slivers.
Anyway. Sorry for the second rant here.
It's with a heavy heart that I say that, for the forseeable future, The Planeswalker Chronicles is going to be on an indefinite hiatus. I don't ever like to burn my bridges, which is why I'm phrasing things that way instead of saying "I'm just not going to write it anymore." However, I don't want to get everyone's hopes up about something that's likely not going to happen.
As much as I love the idea of this story, looking back on it nearly four years after it began has given me some perspective that I just can't shake off. I was an inexperienced writer at the time. Not only were my technical skills lacking, but I didn't have the foresight to plan the story out the way I should have.
I find myself struggling both to write a main character out of the Mary Sue corner as well as to rescue a plot that has deviated from where I originally intended it to go, which is why it always takes me so long to put out a chapter whenever I have a day off. Aside from that, my personal life just keeps getting busier and full of more responsibilities with each passing year. I've been finding that I don't have the time or energy to put into something that needs a lot of time and energy in order for me to fix it enough that I feel comfortable publishing it as my current work.
I'm sorry to have to be a disappointment. You guys have been wonderful in supporting me with this the whole way, and I'm very grateful for your kindness. I would've stopped long before if it wasn't for you.
I wish you all the best. Thank you again for everything.
Take care,
-Ana
No matter what you choose to do next, I'm quite sure you can count on the support of the people here. All the best to you.
I understand that life comes first. Thank you for a wonderful ride.
I wish you the best in anything and everything.
Proud Father of a beautiful baby Girl as of 12-27-13.