The Silent Column (Thread Closed, New Development Blog)

[SelLi]

All of the typed out scenes (rough or finished) and significant notes I have on the silent column so far (aside from the plot outline and characters' characteristics pages) total to around 25000 words.

The rough plot outline of the entire story has been made. Some plot points may be switched around or added or removed, but I have a focused plot progression, now.

I also made part of a characters' characteristics page. This is because a lot of the time when I write, I just naturally tend to write all of my characters pretty similarly. Realistically though, they have different characteristics- likes and dislikes, different levels of resistance to certain subjects being talked about, they speak differently, they don't always agree, they may idly do some sort of action that I could mention (Like put their hands in their pockets, fiddle with their dress, polish their weapon, put their hair behind their ear- and are otherwise more distinct from one another. So a page like this really helps me sort stuff out and write them as more unique and defined.

I also have most of my work printed out by now and put in a physical binder so I can highlight things that need to be taken out, and modify some scenes a little to show the characteristics of characters better.

Some of the scenes I've written will probably end up being modified greatly for various reasons, and I still have a LOT more stuff to write, but I just wanted you guys to see where I'm currently at.

Thanks to all of you guys who're following this thread I look forward to getting the story finished in the relatively nearish future. ^^

[SelLi]

I'm trying out a new art style for the story. It's kind of inspired by how Stien's Gate looks. I haven't played/read/watched it, but I love how they made it all visually look in their vn. I don't want to "rip them off" but I would like to go for something similar. But with a little bit more of an... oil painted kind of look.

Please enjoy this work in progress sketch of Serra.
I'm hoping to do something similar for each of the characters, and they'll probably each make it into the final game as a cg. But I'm mostly just doing this as an exercise. I donno ^^;

[SelLi]

I wanted to wait until I was finished but It's really coming along well so I wanted to show you guys. Also I guess I'm excited and impatient. I wanna show it NOW.

Edit: Uploaded the image lol.

Edit: What do you guys think of this art style so far? She looks a little bit like a doll right now but I think that's mostly in the face. I'll change her to not look soulless. Obviously I'll update again with the finished one but yeah, any thoughts? ^^

[SelLi]

Finally finished Serra in this picture.
I don't know what the background will be yet- that one's just a place holder, but it still looks nice, doesn't it?

[SelLi]

Just scanned in this line art for a particular gun. I thought you might like to see it.

[SelLi]

I was working on that picture of Serra again and I think I finally like it. I know I've said that before, but... I think this is done now. I've been trying to pin down an artistic style that I'd like for my game and... this is one I like. I have a few facial expressions already. I think I'll use them for some of Serra's sprites. I put them into my game and they don't look bad.
What do you think?
You folk know that she was sitting before, and now I'm trying to pass her off like she's standing. Shhhhhhh, no one needs to know.

[SelLi]

Made many sprites of Serra. I have 2 poses and a lot of facial expressions. The first pose, you've seen, is her looking to her left a little bit, and the second pose is her looking at you more dead on. I'm thinking about making a third pose... And I also still need a few more facial expressions for her crying with a >_< face and tears on other expressions, and a happy ^_^ face.

^_^

edit: Hm, maybe both a few more than that. Like a ^_^ face >_< face and
<
~D
<
and
~V
D
~^
face

[SelLi]

Wrote a considerable amount for a path. A lot of it was frame work for the path, and a lot of it was rough dialogue.

[SelLi]

Created a new significant character named Maielle. I've been writing about her and stuff, and feel that I'm making quite a bit of progress these days.

[SelLi]

Created a new significant character named Suzu and have been writing about her and such. She and Maielle both are in the country of Vadleen, along with a certain Mr. Gassa and one who goes by the name of Scaithridi. The country of Vadleen is in quite a different place from most of the other characters.

[SelLi]

I've outlined most of the first path so far and written a few scenes for it, but the ending of it is still unresolved as of now.
Since most of that path is done though, I thought I'd start writing for a second path, so I've been doing that.
It is all coming together nicely.

[SelLi]

I finished a scene just now and wanted to share a small part with you. I hope you enjoy.

She goes quiet.
"...Hey..."
"Hm?"
She goes over to me and puts her hand on mine.
Gently, she whispers a bit...
"Don't be... startled, okay? I'm not going to hurt you... or anyone else."
"I'm not cared of-"
"Don't scream, okay?"
"Why would I-"
"Please..."
...
I look at her and find that she's looking into my eyes with sincerity.
"A-alright..."
Slowly, her form begins to change into a young girl's with peach hair, wings, horns, a tail, and clawed fingers and toes, and her clothes change from her school uniform into strange, colorful apparel. Her morphing hand resting on my own the whole while.
My mouth is agape.
She looks around, in case people are watching... Then shrinks herself into a small... small...
Fairy.
---

[Reikun]

Yay!! Writing snippet!!! I love your fairies and I can't wait to see them when you get to the art stage~
I'm super glad you're still chugging away at this project!! Thanks for sharing with us

[SelLi]

Yay!! Writing snippet!!! I love your fairies and I can't wait to see them when you get to the art stage~
I'm super glad you're still chugging away at this project!! Thanks for sharing with us

Aww, thank you so much. Your encouraging words mean a lot to me, as usual
And you are welcome. I've been working so much on the writing- which is usually invisible- so I thought I'd let you guys see something from it again.
Glad you like my fairies. Don't worry, they'll have art.
Also, though most of what I've shown in my writing snippets include fairies, they actually don't appear too much in the grand scale of things. But they are around.

[SelLi]

Updated the first post significantly, including adding and editing the names and descriptions of characters. I added Maielle, Suzu, Vinu, and Gassa to the list. Don't know who they are? Find out ^^
Though it will be a long time before writing is finished, and I may not always have a cookie for you, you may still find it interesting to look at the big list of characters in the first post and try to piece together just who these people are and what connections they have to each other and what events they tie into.