2025 Writing Log, Part 35

[rynling]

- I finished writing Chapter 19 of The Demon King, an original fantasy novel. I ended up completely scrapping my first draft and rewriting the chapter from scratch in a blank document. Although I initially wrote the eponymous demon king as being (somewhat) heroic in this chapter, I realized that it would be far more entertaining if he were a pathetic coward.

- I edited Chapters 9 through 15 of The Demon King. This went extraordinarily quickly. I’m not sure why I didn’t have any confidence in this project. It’s surprisingly fun to read.

- My last big goal for 2025 is to edit The Legend of the Princess, a Zelda/Ganondorf fanfic novel that I wrote back in 2018. This story has a lot of potential, but I wasn’t a very experienced writer when I was working on it. It could definitely use an update! This week I tackled the first four chapters.

- I posted a short and silly Bowser/Luigi story called “Bowser and the Legendary Kingdom of Brooklyn” on AO3 (here). It’s very stupid, but I really enjoyed writing it. Nobody asked, but I don’t actually dislike Brooklyn. My favorite store in the U.S. is there (they sell moss lmao).

- My review of Adam Ellis’s new comics collection Let Me in Your Window was posted on Comics Beat (here). Adam Ellis is the guy who made (this brilliant comic) about the Nintendo Switch 2 discourse, and I love him. Even if you’re not a fan of horror, this is a fantastic book.

- I sent queries for my novel An Unfound Door to three agents this week. Two rejected it immediately, which only crushed my spirit a little. I’m just kidding! It crushed my spirit a lot.

- I posted open-access PDFs of two chapters from my book about comics on my website (here). I should have done this when the book came out five years ago, but... Idk man. 2020 was weird, and it’s still strange to think I published a book at all. The timing wasn’t great, to say the least.

- In more positive news: Silksong is finally out and on my Nintendo!!!! It's got some serious balance issues, but I'm having a great time so far. I’ve been taking my time with the game itself, but I went ahead and posted some green and mossy fanart of the opening area on Tumblr (here).

- I finally got my act together and finished a stupid two-panel comic about how self-care is smashing the ultrawealthy with a hammer. I posted it on Tumblr (here). It’s not the best comic that’s ever been created, but I want to make more comics, and I won’t get better if I don’t actually draw them.

Querying and submitting is a bitch. This week I got my official residency card in Anxiety Land, and I hate it. Much love and appreciation to everyone who has ever been nice about my writing.

Comments

[shinon]

Although I initially wrote the eponymous demon king as being (somewhat) heroic in this chapter, I realized that it would be far more entertaining if he were a pathetic coward.
I love a pathetic coward. I wish more writers would make this choice. Hell yeah.

re: Silksong and balance issues - OH MY GOD THOUGH. The Bell Beast is lucky it's a perfect wonderful puppy-cat-thing and my new closest friend, because an early-game boss should not be killing you in three hits.

[rynling]

I love the Bell Beast so much, my precious isopod child



I'm legit relieved to hear that you agree with me about the early-game balance issues in Silksong. Aside from everything doing far too much damage + a difficult healing system, I feel like Hornet's hitbox is a little too large. Especially when an enemy is attacking from above, it's been difficult for me to account for the fact that Hornet's upward sword swing is only slightly taller than the tip of her horns.

The boss I got stuck on is Moorwing, the flying moth that spits spinning sawblades. I'm not the best gamer in the world, but I'm also not the worst, and I bashed my head against this sweet fluffy queen for almost an hour before finally turning to Reddit for help. Please forgive me if I'm telling you something you already know, but apparently everyone has had trouble with Moorwing, and people have come up with all sorts of ways to cheese the fight. I'm sure most of this cheese will be patched... but I hope they patch the damage balance too.

Anyway I love Hornet beyond reason, but also, here's to cowardly protagonists 🥂

[shinon]

Oh my god that art is precious. That soft shading is so nice... I want to pet the Bell Beast more than ever.

God yeah though! MOORWING. I also spent about an hour throwing myself at Moorwing over the weekend, thinking "okay I know how these attacks work now, I just gotta get better at executing my counters! Next time for sure!" I did not get it next time. I have never been right yet. It's so hard to gauge an appropriate attacking distance and the timing feels extremely unforgiving, for all the reasons you mention... And somehow, asking Garmond and Zaza to come help me out just made me die even faster??? But if everyone else is finding Moorwing hard too, that's pretty validating - I hadn't looked anything up yet. Maybe I too should consult the sages of Reddit before I despair, haha.

Regardless, Hornet is the coolest spider-dragon to ever do it.

I think it's good for the ecosystem to have both protagonists who are cool as hell and protagonists who do uncool wimp shit. And the latter is far more in need of advocates. Cheers 🥂

[lassarina]

*sends encouraging vibes*

Yay for progress on Demon King!

[rynling]

Thank you so much! I hope you don't get tired of hearing me say this, but I really appreciate your encouragement. Like seriously. Yesterday afternoon I was exhausted from work, but then I read this message, and I was like, "You know what, I should sit outside and write instead of doomscrolling." And I did, and it was marvelous.

I'm very very very shy about commenting on other people's journals, but man. I'm always impressed by your own progress posts, and I should return the favor.

[lassarina]

I know my answer is always the same but I really am glad I can be of help! I figure in this era of interesting times, what we've got is each other, and those connections are incredibly important, not just because they help cushion us against the Everything, but also because (in my opinion) what's important at the end of the day is not your dragon hoard but the impact you have on others, and I'd rather mine have been a good one, you know?