Stefan Gagne's Fiction Factory

25+ years of novels, games, and other creative fiascos.

Archives for December 2012

coa//007 does not make a james bond joke

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New readers — welcome! This blog is where I set up feedback threads for the latest draft story in progress. Right now I’m up to story #6. You should probably start at story #1, though.

Current readers — Welcome to story seven, starring… Dave DANGER Smith! Yep, this time around we’re following Dave on his new job and his new life.

This was originally going to be a one-scene intro, something quick and simple. Somehow it ballooned into 5500 words. Probably for the best, because the actual ongoing plot of this chapter’s a little underdeveloped right now and I’m concerned it’ll result in a short story. But… the last chapter was originally a one sentence plot too (“Things go wrong at Vivi’s club, they investigate why”) and it became the longest story in the series so far. Go figure.

In other news, if it wasn’t obvious already from the last few weeks, I’ve been kinda migrating to Sunday for my postings instead of Monday. So, the new official release date is “Sunday OR Monday.” If I’m running behind it’ll be a Monday, if I have stuff prepared in advance a Sunday. Keep an eye out.

coa//006 is coming down your chimney

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New readers — welcome! This blog is where I set up feedback threads for the latest draft story in progress. Right now I’m up to story #6. You should probably start at story #1, though.

Current readers — I got you something horrible for the holidays! The grand finale of 006, which is terrifyingly strange and unpleasant. I debated doing a Christmas special story instead, but didn’t really have any ideas… and this story changes the status quo quite a bit, so if I did holiday story it’d need to take that into account anyway.

There’ll likely be a delay before 007 starts. I had this week off for a little staycation, but I don’t have the plot outline for the next story hammered out quite yet. Some sketchy notes, but that’s it. So, check back next week but no promises. Two weeks will definitely be enough time, I’d think.

In anachronauts news… the book cover is DONE. I couldn’t get the book ready in time for a holiday release but it’ll be ready in January! Rejoice! Meanwhile, you can still email me for a free copy of the bonus chapter, if you honor-system promise to nab a copy of the book when the time comes.

coa//006 makes the french connection

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New readers — welcome! This blog is where I set up feedback threads for the latest draft story in progress. Right now I’m up to story #6. You should probably start at story #1, though.

Current readers — Time for some wacky police sting antics with the Wei Sisters. Yep, you’re getting it a day early again, ’cause I’m ahead of my own schedule!

This is the setup, of course… the rather horrific punchline comes next week. Or does it? It’s kind of a brutal finale, and not at all appropriate for posting on Dec 24th, just before the day of family togetherness and gift exchanges. Which would you rather see, 006’s finale, or a holiday-themed short story and then 006’s finale the week after? I’m curious.

I’m getting a few new readers thanks to the ads I’ve been taking out! I have access logs (big brother is watching) so I can tell that at least a few people who click through are reading 001, sometimes 002, 003, etc… good. Good. More eyes on the story the better, especially if I’m seriously considering some kinda crowdfunding for the book later.

Anyway, sorry to leave you on a massive cliffhanger. Got any guesses as to what comes next? How about guesses as to what that half-heard conversation was really about?

coa//006 works hard for the money

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So you better treat it right, etc, etc.

New readers — welcome! This blog is where I set up feedback threads for the latest draft story in progress. Right now I’m up to story #6. You should probably start at story #1, though.

Current readers — here we get the aftermath of what went down in last week’s update, and the rather unpleasant fallout. It’s largely transitional into the next act, where things get stranger and stranger. Given how nuts things got before a bit of a wind down first would probably be welcome, I suspect.

Also, scope out the slightly redesigned homepage, which lays out the upcoming stories volume by volume. Right now I have two volumes planned, but who knows? Anachronauts certainly overshot its original plans.

I’ve been working on said plans for upcoming stories, and the final book. Still debating if I wanna turn to Kickstarter given I have little in the way of stretch goals or rewards I can offer. We’ll see. Meanwhile we’ve got this story to chew on, and then a story about everybody’s favorite everyman Dave Smith, and then things get bad real fast. Hooboy, do they.

Poor, poor Vivi. But she’s determined to make it through, so let’s all give her a good cheer, shall we?

city of angles news update and welcome

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My second Project Wonderful ad campaign’s underway — using shiny ad banners and buttons featuring Marcy Wei’s not-so-smiling face. I’ll probably work Vivi and Cass into the next round of ads, for variety.

That means more folks looking at the site, more folks poking the About Us page, and more folks hopefully reading the story. If you’re one of those folks — hi! Welcome. May you find enjoyment within these pages ‘o fiction.

For those of you up to date, 006 is continuing along at a nice pace. The second act begins this Monday, detailing the messy aftermath of what hath transpired and setting the stage for the adventure to come. I’ll likely get it up on Sunday, so keep an eye out.

007 will see a return of everybody’s favorite everyman, Dave Smith. And 008… well, a lot of stuff’s gonna happen then. Lots. And a lot of stuff’s gonna end. And then we’re on to volume two.

That also means within a month or two we’ll be getting the first City of Angles retail book launched. I’m debating whether or not I’ll be doing a Kickstarter for the artwork; there’s not a lot of tangible rewards possible — the cost of shipping an actual copy of book would exceed any reasonable donation amount. I’m not sure I want to devote tons of time to community management. I also have NO idea how to make a promotional video for a book cover when there’s little to display and I’m not keen on getting in front of a camera. But, it also could be good publicity, so… dunno. Ideas? Think it’s worthwhile? How would you want to see it run?

(Before you ask, yes, the anachronauts Stars Fall book will be launched soon too. And if you want a free copy of the bonus story to tide you over meanwhile, I’m still offering it.)

Big things on the horizon. Get ready, yo. And if you’re just getting on board, good timing.

coa//006 wants you to call 911 now

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It’s gonna be a hot time in the old town tonight.

This took a lot of effort. I’ve been having a lousy couple of days — mourning the loss of a video game, of all things.

City of Heroes was my home for eight years. It was the first MMORPG I genuinely liked, since it divorced character appearance from gear, letting you look like anything and do anything. No “you’re a tank, you must wear these horrible yellow shoulder pads.” You could be a cowboy. Or a robot. Or a goth girl. Or a cowboy robot goth girl. You could make any character you want and as you can imagine, I took a particular shine to how it let me express myself creatively.

I met a swath of friends there, friends I still call friends today. This was our clubhouse. This was where we went every week to enjoy playing games together. And thanks to some shortsighted corporate bean counters at NCSoft, an ocean away, it got shut down forever because it wasn’t making fantastic amounts of money, merely amounts of money.

I took that negative energy and channeled it into my writing and you’ll see how when you read. This was always going to be the way the story went — from preplanning notes months ago, before the City of Heroes execution was announced. It’s just irony that there’s so much synchronicity, I suppose.

But, this isn’t really about Heroes, it’s about Angles, City Of. In the end, I found the place I needed to be to write, and here you have this week’s draft update. I’d love to hear your thoughts so far on it. And bonus points if you can identify the cameo character.