#progress journal

[ratswithbutterknives]

5956 words

is what I have right now and that number feels awfully small to me. Before the first upload, I'd already merged some passages by shoving everything into if-statements so there are no duplicates in that number, but I'm spending a lot of time figuring out how to add and remove empty lines around the if-statements without messing up the layout for other conditions (because as you can see during the dialogue with the professor, optional lines don't appear at the same place). Do I enjoy the changing placements? Yes. Do I like implementing them? No :')

I also changed my color scheme, praying that it's readable because I spent 2 hours looking for a combination I didn't hate:

^ That's the 3/4 passage of the "numb" option. Still figuring out how to write 4/4 without sounding too much like the alternatives. The flavor text for the "decline" option is also done, so the story can move forward.

Since one of my first summaries was "Kikis delivery service with burnout" I'm going to send MC to the same town no matter the choices and then branch the story with combinations of jobs & living spaces, so I'm currently wracking my brain for jobs that are interesting enough to experience & ....easy enough for me to write about them.

If it doesn't catch fire I'd like to structure the game with some fixed scenes that will happen regardless of former choices, some scenes depending on where you're working/living, some regarding your reputation with other characters, ...

I feel like I'm drawing a lot of inspiration from games like Stardew Valley so I hope the plot won't feel boring if there are no high stakes like other IF do. If debt doesn't motivate you, I'm doing it wrong.

You know I uploaded the prototype during an "eh, whatever" moment despite its current size but I guess I'll now wait until I have at least 10k words on that paper instead of adding peanuts. Unfortunately I'm graced with the speed of a snail.

[sapphodils]

I recently started dipping my toes into Hellenistic polytheism with Lady Hestia. For the longest time I've felt wary about going from one deity focused religion (catholicism) to another, worried that I'd just be shamed and had fear used against me to keep me in line, but that has never been the case in the short time I've been working with my Lady. She's so warm and comforting, and she makes me want to do better for myself and anyone who comes into my home. Her candle flickered excitedly when I cleaned and reorganized my room as my first big devotional act for her. She gives me the motivation to bake and learn new recipes. I made a devotional charm for her for my carabiner so I can always feel motivated to do my best at work so I can go back home and rest. Just yesterday she kept my apples from oxidizing long after I had peeled and sliced them while I was making tea. I've loved working with Lady Hestia so far, I've felt nothing but love and comfort whenever she makes her presence known. I'm excited to continue working with her and letting her guide me on my path

[angelosearch]

My little writing progress journal...

Well, today is my first day of class. And Chaos Theory isn't done. I missed the deadline. I spent so many hours writing in the last few weeks, and I still missed the deadline.

One issue is that the more I write, the more there is to write. There are little bits of the story that didn't interest me before that I want to follow the threads of. And, I think, to tie up the end effectively, I'm going to think more about how I will handle part 5. It was just supposed to be four chapters, including the epilogue, but there might be more to it than that.

I've also been stuck writing two very important and action-packed chapters. One might shake out to be 15k words, and I may post it as a spin-off one-shot instead. The other is basically a super long fight scene that I have a lot of cool ideas for. but guys. Figuring out the order of operations in an extended fight is hard. For the first time since I started CT, I wish I could go back to my undergrad and ask my writing professors how to handle this stuff. I know I can figure it out, but it's going to take some time.

And editing! I've been editing stuff like crazy, even the chapters that I was really happy with. I think I've sat with them too long haha.

Lastly, I really put my media blinders on to do all this writing, and so my well has run a little dry. I need to gather some more input to produce compelling output. I also had to step away from CT and write a one-shot for Squall's birthday.

So I posted Chapter 28. I have Chapter 29 written, but it needs to be edited (again). I will hopefully publish it on Friday, but we'll see. Chapter 30 is written and will probably need less editing than 29, but it ends on (maybe) the biggest cliffhanger of CT, so I will want to wait to post it until Chapter 31 is almost done (so the wait between chapters isn't too long).

Chapters 31/32 are a mess (and one of those might become a spin-off). After that, I have a plan for the rest, a few major scenes prepared, and most or all of the last chapter written, plus the epilogue. But I may end up with closer to 40 chapters total.

So... It is going to be hard, but I am determined to balance writing with school/my internship. I will not give up on this project, but updates will definitely slow. And don't be surprised if I write more one-shots and/or finish A Sorceress Awakens before I complete CT, because they will be probably be easier to write when I only have a little time.

As always, I will keep reporting my progress here. For those of you who are on the Chaos Theory train, thank you for reading and your patience and support! I hope you don't mind bearing with me while I take my time landing this plane.

Feel free to bully me in my ask box if I don't talk about CT for a while!! I am unfortunately prone to getting distracted when projects are close to done, but I am also a people pleaser and very responsive to stuff like that, haha.

[suntreeapps]

Onwards!

[suntreehq]

Getting back on track and quickly seeing the results.

Key

🎯 - stayed within calorie limits.

🐷 - pigged out and binged.

[glittergym]

I want to be able to do pull ups and dips for body weight training but my room is VERY small.

I could attempt a wall mount type situation but I dont know where the studs are and I'm worried about stability.

I could get a dip bar on the floor but floor space is VERY valuable.

[kaceyeats]

12 May, 2025

Today's Nutrition: 🍞 Two wholemeal toast w/ olive spread and strawberry jam 🥪 A grilled chicken, avocado, salad toasted panini 🍝 Half a bowl of fettucine alfredo + 🍕4 pieces of a creme potato pizza + 🍰 a slice of tiramisu + 🥤 2 glasses of Coke Zero 🍔 A hot jumbo Ogalo burger

Today's Movement: 🚶‍♀️ 7840 steps

Today's 'Other': 💊 Took multivitamin 💊 Took 2 metformin

Today's Reflection: I had a really enjoyable day today. I went to the aquarium with one of my closest friends and her five-month-old baby (essentially like my sister and niece). We had lunch at an Italian restaurant afterward. Then I came home and wrote poetry. I also ordered some more protein. I realised when I was doing a lot better in my recovery, I was consuming more protein—so maybe the reduced protein has resulted in more cravings/urges to binge and overeat lately, especially since I typically crave high-protein foods (aka meat).

[ivebeenmade]

Day 2 of Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN 3mg)

I feel a bit better. Pretty sure I'm dealing with either anemia or my thyroid is off, but I think when that is dealt with that this is a good baseline. I would definitely consider going to the 4.5 that my doctor talked about. Energy level is improving, I noticed that I'm not so constantly hungry (not the intended result but a nice bonus; it's a fairly common side effect to my knowledge).

I feel some of the fog clearing also. The brain fog had been my archenemy for a good chunk of my life. I remember it being very intense and awful at times, and other times I could sit and write for hours, talk for hours.

Some of that is good ole neurodivergence.

Trying to self monitor without obsessing. Feeling like I'm doing ok with that part.

(Venus is in retrograde, so 2 scorpios might be pleasantly in tune with eachother right now 🫶)

Edit: energy boost later in the day, about 4:30 / 5:15. I'd been thinking about an energy drink, and realised I didn't really need one (what??!).

Walking very short distances has a 50/50 chance of wearing me completely the fuck out in the last few days. I walked down the front row of a parking lot, back inside, and my vision was going gray. Blood test by Wednesday hopefully.

[epylion]

Progress Journal - 3/21/25

66k / 125k words

God I went to this seminar once for writing several years ago and one of the guest writers said some banger things.

For every day you spend out of your 'world' it takes three to get back into the groove of writing in it.

Farmers never apologize when they have to cancel plans to harvest their crops. Your words are ripe, you must harvest them.

The first one is self-explanatory. The second was said in the context of feeling guilty for being busy when you are "just writing". There is nothing "just" about it. Having that moment where you want to write and CAN write you should TAKE it.

Currently facing problem 1 as I have been out of my world for MONTHS and I am trying to get back in. I finished up a rough outline updated with what needs to be covered until the end. I am estimating it will add an additional 30-40k words. Maybe more since I tend to underestimate word counts. But I'm not too worried about word count, I'm worried about telling a story and covering everything I want to cover. Editted and blended in some excerpts I had written previously for when I came to this point in the story.... debating jumping ahead and doing that again for further on.

Kinda loving that one person on here who advised if you don't want to work on that chapter, write three-four sentences describing what happens in it or a paragraph/whatever and then move on. Go back and fill it in later.

That has been very helpful because I find jumping forward sometimes helps me resolve and connect parts where I wasn't sure how to connect them.

[eggsdoodz]

rest is productive !!!!

[veiledbluechild]

HI! You can call me Blue. I'm a creative writing student who is interested in game writing and similar fields. My goal is to make a pixel art game someday. I honestly am fine with not being super good- just useful. So long as I can make the food I have in mind, as well as cute character sprites and clothes, I can live with myself. So Hello Pixel art community! As well as game dev community? My favorite pixel art games currently are:

Kairosoft: Pool Side Story , Dream House Days, Forest Camp Story (more so for the concept than gameplay), Dream Town, and Beastie Bay. Dungeon Maker

Urbz, Sims Bustin Out, & Sims 2 on gameboy No longer like but still love art style: Dead Ahead: Zombie Warfare

[ratswithbutterknives]

9192 words

It's been like a month and progress isn't really happening.

When I first put some words on a page, I was in the middle of a crisis and though to myself that I could use this to work through it. By now I'm wondering if it's such a smart move to have those topics in front of myself constantly instead of something happier.

Over the last three months I switched universities, jobs, and soon, apartments. I gave up/lost all of the big parts of my identity, and it wouldn't hit as much if this wasn't the second time I changed my path. The burnout I got through my first job keeps coming back and when I finally have some free time, I'm too tense and tired to write, the words just don't come out. Every other night I call friends to glue parts of my sanity back together. I wouldn't wish this shit on my worst enemy.

[sapphodils]

My girlfriend gave me this adorable lucky kitty with a fortune and seeds inside (which I planted with the intention of my wealth growing as the plant does) for my birthday. I decided it was the perfect thing to start my altar with since I'm working on saving up to get an apartment and live with my girlfriend. The cat is hollow so I was able to stuff some sigils inside, one for career and one for drawing in prosperity. Once I reorganize the other trinkets in my room I can add onto it and put the plant next to it for an extra boost, but for now I'm so happy with how it's turning out! If anyone has any advice on what to add/do for it especially for closet witches, I would be so appreciative!!

[suntreeapps]

Day 304.

[suntreehq]

75 days left.

[glittergym]

In the beginning of June, I weighed in around 264. I then proceeded to forget that I even owned a scale.

It is now August and I'm down 20 pounds. I've barely changed anything - I just started insisting on cooking and stopped ordering out.

20 pounds??? anyway my goal weight rn is 220 wish me luck