#tbaUpdate

[the-aesthetician-writes]

September Writing Review

(Also a short update.)

Hey all! I've been gone for a while, I know. I've been trying to keep active in the midst of finding work and life being well... life. So the short and quick version of this is, I'm back-ish!

I have decided to really buckle down and have a try at building up my writing habits. With a couple of months filled with some horrendous experiences I won't detail here, I have realized what I want to do more than anything is writing. I have been attempting the process for the passed couple of weeks and the results have been more than I had expected.

Last month's goal is more or less having a decent amount of work done on all WIPs. And while that can seem overwhelming. I think the way I had set this up this time could hold results. So prior to my recent experiment, I've been writing with the goal of finishing one thing with no deadline (probably not the best method now that I'm thinking about it.) So what I decided to do now is to have a deadline along with tentative goals by the end of the year(NaNoWriMo) and some taking place during the first half of the new year (AroWriMo).

Some of these goals range from solid word counts to more abstract concepts in writing but for transparency (and accountability, really) I'll share them below.

Poco-A-Poco (Webcomic)

Poco-A-Poco is a web comic I set out to make at the beginning of the pandemic. Hoping to create something while in lockdown. It has been abandoned for a couple of years but I have decided to work on it to help build my discipline.

The goal for the last two weeks was to create a total of around 30 "pages" for the web comic. Thinking pages for web comics are often subjective and since I have a passion for graphic design. I felt it would at least work as a warm up when working on it.

The goal after September would be to work on a "page" daily for Poco-A-Poco. Just to build a rhythm and if I manage the time, some day update the comic with what I have worked on.

By the end of 2023, the total should amount to around 122 "pages".

By April 2024, the total should amount to around 243 "pages".

@bybyebitheway

Bi The Way is my ocean punk baby. Also started in 2020 and has had the unfortunate ratio of one chapter released per year it's been alive. With my new motivation with these goals, I decided BTW needed a concrete goal to hit. This was not only to build discipline, but also to build stamina in my writing sprints. I will be trying the Pomodo Method when writing BTW chapters along with the modified Kitchen Timer Method.

The goal of these past few weeks was to write around 4 chapters. I really attempted to give my all these passed few weeks, but haven't managed to work on Bi The Way. However, knowing I had planned beyond these two weeks made me feel better about the initial failure.

This October, I plan on playing catch up on BTW and other WIPs I fell behind on. By the end of this month, I plan on having written 5 chapters along with the four chapters that carry over last month. I feel like the carry over factor will help in building that stamina in terms of writing. After all, the only reason I had set 30 pages in two weeks for Poco-A-Poco was to build in routine. I'll talk more about that later on, but for now my goal with BTW is to have written 4/5 chapters each month. Each chapter having a minimum word count of 1,500 words. BTW will have a hiatus in November for NaNoWriMo.

By the end of the year, I would like to have around 14 chapters.

By the end of April 2024, I would like to have around 30 chapters.

@tobeaspected

To Be Aspectec is another product of the pandemic and also my first dive into AroWriMo. Having failed to achieve what I originally wanted for AroWriMo multiple years in a row, I plan to finish at least one character interaction just in time for next year's AroWriMo.

The goal for the last two weeks was to have two "scenes" written for TBA. With the goal being more subjective and similar to my goal with Poco-A-Poco pages, I opted to have a definition set for what counted as a scene (for my overthinking sanity's sake). A scene would mean any amount of writing needed before the player makes a choice. (Oh I forgot to mention TBA is an interactive fiction piece, didn't I?) Besides the quantity, anything else was up to me.

By the end of the year, I would like to have 6 "scenes" written for TBA.

By the end of February 2024, I would like to finish one "volume" of TBA. A volume would be a total of two characters and all their interactions, including endings.

By the end of April 2024, I would like to have 10 "scenes" written.

@thehuntersacethetic

The Hunter's Ace-Thetic is another interactive fiction project that started during the pandemic. It has been through many different mediums as a way to experiment and learn about different media, but I will focus on ChoiceScript for now.

My goal during the past two weeks was to write out one "episode". Again, with the goal being to build stamina, I added THAT work load into the two weeks as well. More so, the focus these past two weeks was to organize the "episode" structure, with the real priority being on an outline for it.

By the end of the year, I would like to have 4 episodes of THAT.

By the end of April 2024, I would like to have 8 Episodes of THAT.

NaNoWriMo 2023 Project (OMS)

For the month of November, I plan to take on NaNoWriMo and work on one of my abandoned attempts. I hope to write to full 60,000 words by the end of Novemember. If anything, I hope I learn how to be a better writer. The name of the book will be: "Oh My, Starsigns!"

"Oh My Starsigns!" is planned to be a sci-fi/ crime drama(?) taking place in the future where the space police have technology that can take over a suspect's body. Along with the police themselves, suspects also posses different abilities. The story will begin when a prison ship crash lands on a distant planet. Really trying hard to not give anything away just yet.

By the end of 2023, I would like to have Oh My, Starsigns! finished.

By the end of April 2024, I have no further plans for OMS other than maybe self publishing on Amazon or somewhere else if I'm able to find a better alternative.

What I've Written So Far (End of September, 2023):

Poco-A-Poco: 20/30 Pages

Bi The Way: 0/4 Chapters, 0/6k Words

To Be Aspected: 0/2 Scenes

The Hunter's Ace-thetic: 0/1 Episodes

What I Plan to Write (October 2023):

Poco-A-Poco: 40/30 Pages

Bi The Way: 8/4 Chapters, 12k/6k Words

To Be Aspected: 4/2 Scenes

The Hunter's Ace-thetic: 2/1 Episodes

Reflection:

I think these past two months have been a great experiment in knowing what to do different for the next couple of weeks. Hope to update you a month from now with good results.

#the aesthetician writes #updates #bi the way #btwUpdate #thatUpdate #the hunter's acethetic #to be aspected #tbaUpdate #writeblr

[tobeaspected]

Hey All! 🖤💚♣️♠️♦️💚🖤

I was hoping to surprise you all with an update system for To Be Aspec-ted. Using polls, I was hoping to show the progress of each branch as well as offer up the choice of which branch should be focused on first to the followers of TBA. I mean, I'm still going to be working on need things for TBA, but thought this would be a fun experiment. Hope to see you guys voting!

#arowrimo #tba wip #tbanews #tba if #tbaupdate

[thebigapplerp]

Please read

We're sure the lot of you (or what is left) saw this coming but we regret to inform everyone that the main page will no longer be in service. We believe the roleplay has had its run and while we all enjoyed our time here, it is no longer in our hearts to keep it up. We would never ask you guys to leave your accounts or remove yourself since we see a few of you have no intentions of halting your characters' stories. We want to thank everyone who has been with us throughout this wonderful group and hopefully someday we can reopen and give it another shot. Thank you.

#tbaupdate

[thebigapple-helps-blog]

Read. :)

#tbastarter #tbaupdate

[bigapple-confessions]

We will be password protecting the char development blog in one hour

The password is "empire state"

Please save this! If you at anytime forget the password, don't hesitate to ask us :) We're here to help you guys.

#tbaupdate

[tobeaspected]

IT FEBRUARY! ♠️💚♣️♦️♠️

Hey, all! New Year, New Opportunity for TBA.

I know I dropped the ball on this one, but I'd figured I should retry at least this year. I think I've grew in terms of my writing and can now focus enough on finishing To Be Aspec-ted. Also, with the use of the polls, I think I can figure out a way to make updates to TBA a bit more interactive. We'll see how it goes, but I'm very excited to work on this again.

A little update on what I have done in terms of work and writing for TBA tomorrow and the real fun with polls can begin :)

Thank you all for your support and still being around. Means a lot.

-TA

[ demo ] ♠️ [ neocities cite ]

#arowrimo #tba wip #tbanews #tba if #tbaupdate

[tobeaspected]

Choosing to wave down Beau leads to these options, the section for this has been plotted and written. This leads to four different branches, the drink branch is more developed than the rest of the four. The room and sarcasm branches aren't developed at all.

However, the room branch does have some content I wanted to discuss. Since Beau flirts early on in the route, I thought (if its wanted) I can add a short romance scene. I think in favor of keeping it a friendship, this should be a shorter route. Hopefully this lets people want to explore the other routes.

#tba wip #arowrimo #tbanews #tba if #tbaupdate #to be aspected if #to be aspec-ted #interactive fiction #to be aspected #if wip

[the-aesthetician-writes]

[ 22.102023 ] || [ sunday ] || [ clear ]

mini update #1: I am very behind on goals.

mini update #2: I decided to take on an accountability buddy, so far, it's help.

mini update #3: I've already written up 1.5k of words for the next chapter of BTW and god, I feel tired but elated! I do have a bit of reservation with how I ended it, but I like what I've made so far. There is a bit of rambling in the beginning but I just need to start it somehow. There might also be funky pronouns around a certain sample stealer, but hopefully I've managed to catch them before publishing on AO3. n.n

mini update #4: Poco-A-Poco has been getting to me, but I'm attempting to figure out it's voice while still being able to work on it.

mini update #5: I will be trying to crank out 1.5k every day this week to catch up on BTW chapters. Like, I know I'm going to hate it, but a this point it needs to be done. I don't want to sit here and mourn characters and worlds when I know I'm capable of sticking it out and writing it. Especially now that I finished one chapter today.

mini update #6: I want to try and be move active on Tumblr. I'm thinking maybe I can put out a poll to see what you all would like to see from me?

#writeblr #writing #btwupdate #tbaupdate #thatupdate #the aesthetician writes #bi the way #to be aspected #the hunter's acethetic #updates

[tobeaspected]

Being the more established of the "Wave Down" branches, most of these options have been plotted out and either lead to their own ending or spiral back to the other drink choices. This was the point where I was feeling overwhelmed with the possible amount of endings to give TBA. To remedy this, I had some decisions just loop themselves back into the main story. Hopefully, y'all will like it.

The plain water ending has more content than the rest, seeing as it's very straight forward interaction with more details about Beau and his life on La Lalande.

The adult beverage choice is meant to highlight Beau's bartending skills and has a little mini-game where MC helps him create a drink.

The Stern Talking To Ending is more in reaction to the flirting done by Beau, I've given the reader the option to have MC call him out on it and it perhaps makes Beau more or less likely to be your friend.

The Flirt path is not as planned, but I created to highlight Beau's aromanticism and him being polyamorous.

#tba wip #arowrimo #tbanews #tba if #tbaupdate #to be aspected #to be aspec ted #to be aspected if

[tobeaspected]

This is a minor decision, but both are done and written. They mainly lead to different interactions and plot doesn't delve far from each other.

I also tried adding this poll below my previous post but wouldn't work, so we'll how that pans out.

#tba wip #arowrimo #tbanews #tba if #tbaupdate #to be aspected if #to be aspec-ted #interactive fiction #to be aspected #if wip

[the-aesthetician-writes]

Hello from 2022 - An Update

(almost 2023, yikes! my bad!)

So I have quite the expected update to provide. I am very disappointed in myself to share that I have significantly dropped the ball on all my WIPs. It's so crazy how 2020 lasted for like three years and hasn't shown signs of slowing down.

In any case, I have found myself wanting to write again (after almost a two year pause). I've been sick recently so, not exactly the best scenario to wake up when wanting to write again. I have a few updates on WIPs past and future. But before I do that I do have a some new observations about the writing process that I wanted to share.

Recently, I have heard of this new process of writing called the Kitchen Timer Method. It's not the Pomato Method, nor is it anything too revolutionary in terms of writing methods. Put simply, the Kitchen Timer Method consists of an isolated bracket of time devoted solely to writing. This can range from an hour to ten minutes, whatever time it is, you're supposed to be writing. What has gotten me to try to latest trend is that the Kitchen Timer Method is the use of a writing journal that is to be treated separate from the current writing project. The writing journal comes in whenever one feels stumped or distracted by real life to focus on the intended project. This allows you to train yourself to slowly ween yourself off of your writer's block and get you to write something!

Among (us) other things, writer's block has definitely played a role in my recent absence from Tumblr (as well as my writing) and I feel like this recent method is especially more forgiving when compared to others. With the Kitchen Timer Method, its more focused on getting you to write and get some version of routine into your muscle memory. So if target word counts or percentages is something that perhaps keeps you away from your writing, I highly suggest the Kitchen Timer Method. I will attempt to revisit this topic again later, perhaps tomorrow, depending on my progress. The main point I wanted to make with this originally was that I will be using my sideblog @thebybyebiline for journal portions of my writing sprints using the Kitchen Timer Method.

Now, an update on a few current WIPs and IFs:

I have worked slightly on @thehuntersacethetic . I made a barely working demo using GameMaker. Game design was always something I have been wanting to explore, should be no surprise given the amount of IFs I have started. However, development on the GameMaker version of THAT is of course on hiatus because coding is hard as fuck. Any future installments regarding THAT will most likely be in an Interactive Fiction medium(Twine, ChoiceScript, etc). The very early demo link will be below, hope y'all enjoy the color yellow!

The project I am most eager to work on again is @bybyebitheway , I would like to write more than the first chapter to something just once and I feel like with what BTW was supposed to be originally, the Kitchen Timer Method will help this project along just smoothly. Having the chapter art sitting in my desktop for a couple months has also helped.

In regards to my aro baby, @tobeaspected , I will try to work on this at least twice a month, but there might not be consistent updates if I want to finish work on BTW. Another update regarding TBA, I might decide on creating TBA entirely on HTML. Twine is great and all, but severely buggy. Given the amount of time in between pauses for my projects, I would like them found the way I've left them. My experiences on creating IFs with Twine have made me paranoid at its unpredictability, but I won't deny it is a good tool to use. Maybe I will simply add a side website similar to BTW and have the same content on there. (sidenote: the MC will have to be unisex in the HTML versions since my skills are faulty and my patience for Javascript is wafer thin).

Thank you for taking the time to read this, hope y'all had a great weekend!

-TA

#the aesthetician speaks #bi the way #btwupdate #tbaupdate #the hunter's acethetic #to be aspected #thatUpdate #tbaUpdate #updates

[the-aesthetician-writes]

An Update On Life & AroWriMo

[ monday ] | [ starry ] | [03.142022]

Hi All!

So this update is long overdue. I'd like to first apologize for practically vanishing again for the third time this decade. I, like many of us living through the 2020s, have struggled to get their works out and even worked on at all. However, I just wanted to reassure those following my WIPs that I will continue to work on them. Below will be an itemized list of things I have been able to do since the start of January.

@thehuntersacethetic

I have started working on the basics in terms of ChoiceScript. The characters are mostly developed, good with character dynamics. I plan on working on scenes for the first arc of The Hunter's Ace-Thetic. I am debating on whether to include puzzle elements for different paths of the story.

Character Intros should come out in a few weeks.

@bybyebitheway

I have begun doing more character work and began plotting the first two arcs. I have decided with the amount of attention being put into other WIPs to try for a chapter a week. I would like to eventually get to two chapters a week. I just enjoy this world and its characters are too important to me to give up, so expect that in a few days.

@tobeaspected

I managed to plot most of the different branches of To Be Aspec-ted.

I have a definitive number of endings: 8.

I had Covid while working on this for AroWriMo, so while I was hoping to get at least one new ending for this year, I ended up barely writing one.

I do plan on having some kind of weekly progress update for TBA.

Similar to BTW, the goal is to have one ending done (in either the planning or writing process) by the end of each week.

I would also like to retroactively add this weekly update to BTW content as well.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this.

I hope you all like what's to come!

-TA

#the aesthetician writes #updates #bi the way #btwUpdate #thatUpdate #the hunter's acethetic #to be aspected #tbaUpdate

[tobeaspected]

[ 7 OF CLUBS ] ♧ [ THE BARTENDER ] (m)

BEAU, the flirtatious barkeeper; always busy attending to the patrons of the Queen Anne’s Ace. Yet, he always has time to discuss a multitude of topics with friends and strangers alike. If he hasn’t told you about his favorite beverages to make, get ready for an earful. While being a succubus certainly has its advantages, Beau prides himself on having great skill in the concoctions he creates. Come on by and ask Beau the real difference between shaken and stirred.

What can I get 'ya? How about a tall drink of water for the tall drink of water?

Appearance:

His light brown eyes catch the glint of the lantern next to him as you enter the Queen Anne's Ace. A heavy but groomed brow lifts itself in curiosity as you step closer and sit yourself in front of him. Sitting close by, you notice how clear his almond-hued skin is. You ask him about himself and you see his long and narrow nose scrunch up as he laughs. His wide lips stretched themselves into a smile. He scratches his head, fingers running across his black wavy hair before he asks, "Do you have the rest of the day unoccupied?"

Species: Succubus

As a succubus from the Latitudes of Earth, Beau is very much versed in their many abilities at the Queen Anne's Ace. While they have the gifts of allure often associated with succubi, they also attain strength, stamina, and stealth beyond that of humans. While many of them have the option of using their abilities to drain others of their essence, Beau has found he can use his ability to get what he wants from others. But what would cause him to end up at the Queen Anne's Ace, bartending for the lunar folk of La Lalande?

#beau. #tba.characters #tba if #tbanews #to be aspected #tbaupdate #characters. #wip character intro #character intro #if character intro #7 of clubs

[tobeaspected]

[ 8 OF SPADES ] ♤ [ THE POET ] (m)

BEAN, the quiet writer, always sits alone at the dimly lit corner of the Queen Anne’s Ace. Although it may seem he values his privacy more than others, one may come to find this poet to be quite fond of making new friends. Is it to gain more material for his prose? Is it due to his personal vice of procrastination? Is it a self-insert? Who knows? Get to know the wordsmith capable of summoning springs of vine with his words.

Appearance:

A small and thin man sits at the furthest and quietest table in the tavern, lit only by a single candle. You walk towards him hoping to share a table that's less crowded and noisy. His brown eyes hide behind his round glasses, reflecting the flame of the candle as they stare a hole onto the loops of ink he writes onto the page. He makes a displeased sound, biting his full bottom lip as the lone man crosses out the last line of words with his pen. He jolts up suddenly when he finally notices you, pushing back the thin frame of his glasses on top of his high-bridged nose. His hood shows a peek of his short black hair before he readjusts it. "Sorry, I didn't see you there. Would you like to sit down? Perhaps you would like to read some poetry with me?"

Species: Human Hedgewitch

As a human from the Longitudes from Earth, Bean is no stranger to the mystical forces that string together the many realms mankind has settled in, the lunar colony of La Lalande is no exception. While not entirely unique in physical strengths and wits, Bean does have a collective knowledge on hedge witchery and hedge magic. Using his poetry and writing, the young bard channels his words into spindly sprouts and viridian vines of neon. While it is uncertain if all humans are capable/ worthy of the hedges' magic, Bean likens it to learning a new language that hopefully isn't lost to time.

#bean. #tba.characters #characters. #tba if #tbaNews #tbaUpdate #tba wip #to be aspected #wip character intro #character intro #if character intro #8 of Spades

[tobeaspected]

AN UPDATE

[ NOVEMBER 05 ] [ FRIDAY ] [ 2021 ]

So it's been almost a week and I have decided to update you all on the progress of TBA. I am still working on a rework of Beau's path. So far, I think I've made decent progress. I did hope I would have done more in this time frame, but it's definitely better than nothing.

In regards to Beau's path, I've already met one of the writing goals for Beau's interactions. Below is a sneak peek of my writing thus far. I was having a bit of difficulty introducing each quality at an adequate pace. Unsure if others find themselves having that problem as well when it comes to writing.

Almost forgot it was NaNoWriMo! I wish good luck to those participating this year! And Happy Destiel Anniversary to those observing!

#if wip #interactive fiction #interactive novel #tba if #tbaUpdate #writeblr #to be aspected #tbaNews #(might start using that tag for general updates) #to be aspec-ted

[the-aesthetician-writes]

A WRITEBLR INTRODUCTION & MASTERLIST

Hi all! I am the Aesthetician, I am not new to Tumblr, but fairly new to writeblr. I was here before in the beginning of the year trying to do some work on @bybyebitheway but life decided to happen and got sidetracked. Fortunately, I've returned and am taking another shot at not only Bi The Way but also a few WIPs I've started since then. Hopefully you don't mind taking a peek and reading a few of them.

I tend to keep to myself in terms of tumblr interaction, but I'd like to encourage everyone to feel free to reach out. I may be socially awkward, but I always welcome asks and messages!

It's been a messy bit of a week, but I will try to keep a consistent schedule in regards to content and interaction. There'll be a formal post detailing this later next week. I plan on giving character details for both TBA and BTW soon.

But in the meantime, Happy Halloween!

ACTIVE WIPS:

@tobeaspected

To Be ASPECted is a text-based adventure taking place in the distant future where humankind has colonized the moon and brought metropolis to its oceans floors.

We follow our protagonist, YOU - THE READER, as you stay in the lunar city of LA LALANDE. Stay in the QUEEN ANNE’S ACE tavern, own and operated by a squad of lovely Aros and Aces. Come talk to the many of the tavern’s guests and patrons. You’ll never know when you’ll meet a new friend this side of the moon!

Inspired by Tumblr’s annual arowrimo, To Be ASPEC-Ted sought to be a friendship simulator similar to Homestuck’s FriendSim and PesterQuest with an obvious focus on Aro and Ace characters, lunar punk iconography, and more.

genre: lunar punk, ace and aro main characters, friendship simulator, interactive fiction, high science fiction/ science fantasy, mystery

tags: tba, to be aspec-ted, to be aspected, tbaUpdates,

@bybyebitheway

BI THE WAY is a story taking place in the distant future where humankind has colonized the moon and brought metropolis to its ocean floors. We follow our protagonists, the family crew of Bison’s & Daughters, as they discover the abandoned underwater sea colony of CAPRICORNUS-25.10. Will they discover the secret of the colony before it manages to find them first? Read the tale to find out.

genre: ocean punk, bisexual main characters, mystery, dark academia, lovecraftian inspiration, high sic-fi/ science fantasy

tags: btw.wip, bi the way, btwUpdates,

PROJECTS ON HIATUS (for now):

@thehuntersacethetic

A trio of strangers wake up in an abandoned underground bunker without any recollection of how they arrived there. While finding a way to escape, they come to find that maybe the three of them aren't the only ones inhabiting it. Could they be the only three humans to reside there?

Follow Lawrence, Vincent, and Abel in their struggle to break out of the mysterious bunker, survive against a supernatural bunkmate, and defy societal expectations!

genre: modem punk, mystery, supernatural, ace main characters, poc main characters, latinx main characters, suspense,

tags: that.wip, the hunter's acethetic, the hunter's acethetic update, that.update, acetheticUpdate,

@pocowebcomic

A webcomic inspired by Ryan Murphy's Glee and its spin-off reality TV competition show The Glee Project. While reading this webcomic, you'll notice it holds a certain appearance to another certain webcomic, but rest assured, there will be no time travel in this webcomic....for now.

DISCLAIMERS: I do not own Glee, the Glee Project, or Homestuck. I am making this purely for fun.

genre: dramedy, bipoc cast & main characters, high school rivalries,

tags: pocowebcomic, pocoUpdate, poco a poco,

#writeblr #writeblr intro #writing #writeblr introduction #new writeblr #the aesthetician speaks #hoping this pans well #interactive fiction #if wip #wip if #original fiction #writers of tumblr #writers of color #meet the author #the aesthetician writes