Some helpful answers (and some not-so-helpful ones) to frequently asked questions. Check here before sending me a message just in case; you just might find the information you’re looking for without having to wait for me to get back to you.
When will [X] be released?
Always check individual project pages for details like release dates or progress updates. You might also want to follow me on social media or sign up for my newsletter so you don’t have to keep clicking “refresh” on the project pages to see if anything’s changed.
Why isn’t [X] out now?!
Probably because of plot bunnies and/or gremlins. Tricksy, they are.
How did you begin your career as a writer?
I’ve never considered myself a poet by profession, but my first “published” piece was a poem that appeared in my high school newspaper. My first professional writing gig, however, took the form of online video game journalism. I set out to help make a game, and ended up writing about games instead. It took me a while before I finally sat down and created one of my own.
What sort of things do you write/have you written?
I write all over the place. Fantasy fiction is the home in which my heart lives, but I’ve written some poetry, about a million blog articles (or so), conducted interviews, and penned a few reviews and previews in my time. I write often about reading and writing, books and video games, mental health, and mythology. My fiction tends to revolve around magic, death, and cats.
When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
I make up stories about this all the time, but honestly, I’m not sure. It snuck up on me over the years. I remember the first time I printed out a story I wrote; it was about a cat and a cookie, and I was probably about six or so years old. Maybe it was then. Or maybe it was when I wrote my first fanfic, an epic tale of my friends and I journeying through Middle-Earth. Or perhaps it was when I read Neil Gaiman’s work for the first time in high school and thought, I want to pass this magic on to others. Stories are like that. Sometimes you don’t know you’re in one until it’s already well underway.
I know what an author is, but what’s a narrative designer?
A narrative designer is someone who not only writes the text you read in video games, but also organizes the overall story structure of those games. In other words, I don’t just write the script—I plan out how the story supports and uses the gameplay, and vice-versa. I’ve also dabbled in programming.
What’s interactive fiction?
Interactive fiction (IF) is exactly what it sounds like—fiction that is interactive. I use the terms “interactive fiction game” and “interactive fiction novel” interchangeably because IF titles qualify as both video games and literary works. Imagine, if you will, a digitized version of ye olde Choose Your Own Adventure books.
What’s a visual novel?
Visual novels originated in Japan and are very close cousins of IF games. They are interactive narrative experiences that focus heavily on images, rather than text alone, to tell a story. Like IF games and CYOA books, VNs often contain player choices and branching narratives. Otome, or dating simulator, VNs are pretty popular, but you can use the visual novel format to tell just about any type of story you want—and I guarantee you, whatever it is, there is an audience out there for it.
Will you read/edit/review my work?
Probably not. Not because I don’t enjoy reading new stuff or helping other writers become better writers, but because there are only so many hours in the day, and my straining eyes and migraine-prone head can only spend so many of those hours on a computer before they explode. Most of that computer time is, sadly, already reserved for working on my own stuff. But please do keep writing; the world could always do with more good stories.
Do you allow fanfiction or fanart of your works?
I support and encourage it. I’d also really appreciate it if you shared it with me, too—I might even be able to help you show it off.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I spend quite a lot of time writing. But when I do drag myself away from my computer, it’s to go on adventures, both in the real world and virtually. I like to travel, but sometimes I also like to stay in and play video games or read a good book. I enjoy conversing with cats, going for a walk or a swim, and taking photos. I practice yoga and try to exercise regularly so that I don’t just devolve into a blob with bloodshot eyes and a stiff neck sitting at a desk, staring at a blank screen.
Now and then, I also sleep.
