I can say with confidence that Let Down Your Guard is still being worked on and still making progress.

This issue is that there isn’t much for me to show for it. Well, first things first, it’s constantly on my mind. There’s a land my mind travels to when daydreaming. I have a magnum opus of sorts that was always my default daydreaming home, but LDYG has taken that spot recently. Little concepts jump into my mind almost daily and I’m sure to jot them down. These are ideas regarding things that’ll happen in much later chapter or with what I’m currently writing.

Just like reworking Chapter 1, I had to rework Chapter 2. I had nearly 2k words when I paused and realized something wasn’t right. I can certainly take bits and pieces, but what I wrote is defunct now. I had to restart. I did restart to much success, my goal is Wednesday, if not sooner, for chapter 2 to be published.

The reason it didn’t come out this week is for 2 reasons. The first is that I took time aside to work on character sheets. I’m excited by this. These character sheets are a culmination of my study into writing and hours of analysis of my characters personalities, motivations, and backstories. I especially put focus into their motivations for the sake of the plot. If you recall in a previous journal, I mentioned that the plot should be centered around my characters. It is now. I can write with an enhanced focus and insight into the arcs of both Zale and Cirrus. Chapter 1 was reworked with these character sheets in mind. To get an idea of how extensive they are, minus the question prompts, the total word count in these sheets is 3k each. I imagine the antagonist will be getting one of these sheets when I get closer to introducing him.

The other reason is that I paid a pretty penny to get both Cirrus and Zale drawn. I originally told myself I wouldn’t do this until I completed 5 chapters. I realized putting some money into this and bringing life to my characters would make them more enticing to me and an audience. Both pieces are completed in full and have been beautifully drawn, colored, and shaded.

Switch-up side tangent… I want an audience. I need to complete this story for my sake. I’ve said this ad nauseam. I need to hold myself accountable to following through on something if I am truly committed to my freelance writing, even if it’s a short novel on FurAffinity. However, having an audience brings many benefits. I can receive criticism. I can see what works and what doesn’t. It motivates me to write when people are invested in what I’m doing. Clearly I don’t need these things to write… I mean… Look at how far I’ve come without those things. Despite that, it’s good practice to try appeal to and find an audience.

Right now I’m writing as if I have an audience, but I don’t have one. Adhering to a release schedule, writing these reflective journals, and submitting everything to my gallery are all things that helped me set goals and motivate myself to write. So I don’t need one, but honestly, I’d like one.

So what does this have to do with the art or the release of Chapter 2? I’m strategically planning on releasing the art with the release of Chapter 2. I should have done this yesterday evening when traffic on FA would be busiest, because I was hoping any additional traffic my profile brings in with the art could be redirected toward reading my story. Any intrigue created by physical representations of my character might entice people to read about them. I also have art in the works for a Kenji avatar and reference sheet. I wanted to release all of these things at once to really try and boost myself. Any eyes on my profile are potential readers for my story.

Even if I get one fucking reader. Writers want to tell their stories. If Myself/Me/I was the only person I wanted to tell my stories to, I wouldn’t write them down, I’d let them continue swimming around in my brain juices.

The goal I’m trying to have the discipline to achieve doesn’t need an audience until the novel is finished. Even if I don’t get a reader posting to FA, I’m going to try my damn hardest once it’s completely finished to push it… whether that’s the Furry Writers Guild or otherwise. At least then I’ll have a finished product. For now, I’m just trying to find little ways to continue motivating myself to get there.

In summary… I’m still working on the story. I’ve completed 2 extensive character sheets. I’ve gotten art of both Cirrus and Zale that I want to use for help draw in more readers. I’ve made progress on Chapter 2, and it’s taken so long because I had to rework that chapter and Chapter 1. Expect it soon. My ultimate goal is to complete the story, but a side interest of mine is trying to draw an audience in while it’s still in development. I need an audience at some point, why not start early.

If anyone’s out there, I’m doing good with LDYG. I have big things planned. Stay tuned.