It's been a while...

A year and a bit, full of chaos.

So it's been over a year since I last made an update post. Not a lot has happened that I wanted to post about (or that I was allowed to maybe?) but a lot has happened, so rather than beating around the bush lets just jump straight into it.

What's been going on.

Last time I posted any sort of update on here I talked a little about using my instagram more, and doing more reading, what I didn't talk about was the fact that a week earlier myself and everyone I worked with had just gotten the unfortunate and distressing news that we were going to be made redundant at some point soon.

It was a really trying time, and it still continues to be. I'm still out of work, and because of that the apartment I was trying to purchase fell through, leaving me continuing to live at home with my parents. Not an ideal situation, but I'm incredibly lucky to have that support system to fall back on.

Since then I've had a lot of ups and downs mentally and emotionally. I have tried to keep up my positivity and I've done my best to keep productive, but it's been a real tough ride, and continues to be really tough. I'm still out of work, but I'm not in any financial trouble yet.

But I'm here now to update you on some of the things I have been doing and how they went. FYI it's not all positive, but I did keep learning along the way.

Writing

I kept up my writing! I've done more of it than ever before in fact, though not many completed books, I have taken several steps to further my writing career.

I finished the editing process for Wildcard Book 1 (Gentleman) and began querying it around to agents. Unfortunately this was ultimately unsuccessful, but it gave me that little bit more confidence that the world wont end if 51 agents reject or ignore you.

I think that the main problem is that the book is a bit too niche and people don't want to put themselves out on a limb for a long shot book with am unknown author.

I'm now editing a side book from that same series I wrote that I think is a lot less niche and a lot more marketable. Hopefully when I finish editing that it'll get a much stronger reception (honestly give me a single piece of feedback and I'll be happy)

Simultaneously, for the first time, I'm also writing short stories and sending them out to short fiction magazines. Again so far no takers, but I have been sending very short flash fiction to magazines that tend towards longer stuff so it's more about knowing your audience. I'm currently editing a much longer 10k word plus story that I hope to shop around once it's complete. hopefully that will be something a little bit more appetizing for people.

Finally before my world came crashing down I wrote a story to be self published called the Last Blade. Once I've finished editing Black Cat and sent it to agents I'll work on LB and get that ready to self publish.

So that's where I'm at with writing. A year of rejection, perhaps, but a year of trying ain't nothing.

Video Game Dev

In the year since I've spent a lot of time trying and failing. I wanted to learn how to code to add another tool to my arsenal. Something I could bring out and make my own stuff, but in the end I think all I learned was how to copy other people's code.

That said I do have a much better understanding of what's possible and I can edit code a bit now, which I would have been too afraid to do before. Still, I had so many setbacks over the year that in the end I think all I can say is that I tried and that's pretty cool.

I worked on a metroidvania, I tried a card game, but invariably I realised that I had to take a step back or the tutorials I was following were unfinished (and never would be finished)

I'm still working on improving in other ways, for instance I'm building my pixel art knowledge in order to be able to step in on that side for small games should that ever arise.

Also I'm still looking for work, and will eventually find something.

Table Top Game Dev

Okay, here's some good news.

December before last, right before learning about Roll7's closure I spent some time and wrote a solo journaling game like Artefact or Village Witch set in a world renowned magic school.

Over the past month I have spent time finishing the rules and prompts, then putting together a cute little pdf for it. I will be releasing it to the public later this week just before the anniversary of the release or Day Bringer.

It's called Magisterium: Academ and you can look forward for a cozy journaling game where you go on a journey of self discovery over the course of a single school year.

the cover for Magisterium: Academ

After which I'm going to be spending a decent amount of my time going forward working on table top games. Putting my design and art gears together to see where I can take them.

So that's how my year has gone. It's been a rough one but I'm excited for what will happen next now that my emotional turmoil is settling and I'm about to release something.

If you want to keep up with me I am much more active on Bluesky than anywhere else, so you can find me here.

Thanks for reading!

James