[Author's Note] Upcoming Patreon Activity Resumption + Thoughts on Chapter 3 Pt. 2

Hello, I hope you're doing well!

This post is just a quick reminder that billing and my usual activity on Patreon will resume on February 1st, along with the additional release of:

• The February schedule [quick spoiler: if you've been waiting for Morgan's and K's content, February is your month].

• A monthly Tumblr Dev Log, summarizing everything I've worked on this past month [I hope you'll be pleased to see that I haven't been sitting idle all month].

Regarding Chapter 3 Pt. 2, below are some updates on where things currently stand, as well as my thoughts on the estimated release timeline, so you might find it interesting to read to the end.

Chapter 3 Pt. 2: Thoughts on the Estimated Release.

As I mentioned earlier, this month I've been working on my draft, and Chapter 3 Pt. 2 is... massive.

I'll be honest: ideally, I'd like to release Chapter 3 Pt. 2 by late spring, provided I stay on track with my current plan for the ROs' content.

Why will it take so long?

Some of the ROs will have different scenes depending on how you choose to spend your evening. Additionally, the sheer number of variations and previous choices tied to the ROs makes this part of the chapter quite substantial.

I'm still considering whether to release it in parts [one RO's scene at a time], but for now, I'm leaning toward releasing it in full, with all the scenes at once.

Could it take even longer?

Short answer: yes, and here's why...

Kisses. Sex scenes. The inevitable mess.

Right now, I'm looking at the part of the draft where the first kisses and even sex scenes happen for several ROs.

Yes, these moments were intended to happen for some of the ROs in Chapter 3 Pt. 2.

Originally, these scenes were written with the consideration that the reader would have already locked in the RO's route, as the choice to do so was supposed to happen at the end of Chapter 2, back when the story was intended as a visual novel.

However, with the shift to the IF format, that's no longer the case.

While these scenes still make perfect sense, I'm concerned about the increased workload that could result from including them without locking the RO's route, as jealousy plays a significant role in the story.

On one hand, I want these scenes to be part of the main storyline: I wrote them as canon, and turning them into side stories would feel like a waste. I realized this after working on the Winter Special Shorts, some of which made me feel that it's a shame they aren't part of the main story.

On the other hand, I recognize how much additional work this would require from me afterward, as it would mean adding more variations for jealousy—something that doesn't even exist in my draft yet.

And the inevitable mess it may cause doesn't sound like something I want in the story—because drama and jealousy aren't the same as messiness.

I enjoy writing the former, but not the latter.

Not to mention, part of me feels that there's still room to build the tension even further by holding off on these moments until after the reader locks in one of the RO's routes, making the moment of closure feel even more fulfilling.

Possible Options.

After giving it a lot of thought, I see three possible ways to proceed:

▹ Stick to the current plan and don't include any intimate moments and scenes before locking in one of the RO's routes at Chapter 5.

This option might frustrate everyone except me, as it aligns with my original plan when I switched the story to the IF format.

Overall, it wouldn't add to my workload, and the intentional delay could heighten anticipation.

▹ Make these scenes harder to access and lock out certain routes if the reader chooses to engage in them.

This option would significantly increase my workload. Even if I make these scenes available under specific conditions [such as requiring consistent interest in a particular RO], there's nothing stopping the reader from switching to another RO afterward.

This would mean writing even more messy and negative content—something very different from the kind of drama and jealousy I enjoy writing. And, as I mentioned, it doesn't sound enjoyable to me.

I could prevent this by coding the scenes in a specific way, forcing the reader to lock in the RO route once they choose to engage in an intimate moment. However, implementing individual and earlier "lock-ins" with some ROs isn't something I want to include.

Overall, this option would be preferable if I can find a way to include these scenes without writing so much messiness, as I know I wouldn't enjoy that.

 ▹ Require readers to lock in their route at the beginning of Chapter 3.

This approach would allow me to include all the content I originally drafted, but it would also create moments where the reader could make some questionable choices, such as flirting with other ROs after already locking in the route. Messy? Definitely messy.

Additionally, I've planned for the route lock to happen in Chapter 5, and moving it earlier would make the post-lock-in scenes I've already written feel less significant.

Overall, this is the least convenient and desirable option, but it was worth considering.

My Current Plan.

Right now, I've decided that the most practical solution is to start with routes that don't yet include any closure or intimate moments.

Once those are fully coded, I'll aim for Option 2 [including all drafted scenes] for the remaining ROs.

However, if I find it too overwhelming to manage all the consequences, I will switch to Option 1 [excluding these scenes].

In conclusion:

If I decide to include all drafted scenes, the release of Chapter 3 Pt. 2 may take longer than the previously mentioned timeline [unless I decide to release one RO's scene at a time], as sex scenes require significant work and coding.

If not, the estimated release date remains unchanged.

Author's Note.

I felt the need to be honest about my uncertainty and to apologize for not providing a definite answer just yet.

The reason I can't give one now is that I first need to code all the scenes in order to fully understand the complete structure and the variables I'll need to manage before moving the story forward.

Once I reach that point, I'll provide an update with my final decision.

I also want to emphasize one very important point: my top priority is ensuring I don't take on more than I can handle, as my ultimate goal is to see this story completed.

That's why my decision will heavily depend on keeping that goal in mind.

Thank you for your support and reading to the end! ♥

I didn't create a poll to see what you think because I don't want to overcomplicate things for myself right now. However, if you'd like to share your thoughts in the comments, I'd be happy to read them!

I wish I could provide more certainty, but one thing I can promise is that Chapter 3 Pt. 2 will be intense regardless of the final decision.