World Building

Good Evening!

Today I'll put down some world information that I have done. To be honest, I may start writing at this point, and tweak the characters as I go - since at this point I'm getting too deep into the nitty gritty. Regardless, here some facts about the universe that Project Worn Soles takes place in.

1. Location

1. Story is going to be taking place in an alternative version of Europe (or wherever allows for two small countries to wage war over resources while knowing very little of each other.
2. Two countries, Country A and Country B. MC will be from country A and thus fight for country A. Most of the story will however take place between the contested areas between Country A and B.
3. Scenes will vary from foxholes to fields. Mostly will stick to WWI/WWII style conflict areas.

2. Technology

1. Main things to remember about this, it is an alternate world depiction of the interwar years. Thus some technology will be available/accurate of history, others will not.
2. Currently, use of aircraft in this world never got off the drawing board.
3. Tanks are still in their infancy, however armored personnel carriers have advanced. Horses used in a limited combat role.
4. Firearms are at a WWII level, with tactics still mixed between trench warfare and skirmishes. Very similar to the Chinese Civil War method of fighting.
5. Telephone/Radio Still available.

3. Historical Background

1. Country A and Country B are both relatively small countries(Belgium and Netherlands sized)
2. Both countries are surrounded by much larger neighbors, and make up the border of a bigger conflict. Each is trying to absorb each other so that they stand a better chance on the regional arena. Wars are driven by resources and access to a major port/river area for trade.
3. Have been in and out of conflict on cycles of 10-15 years.
4. There exists a buffer zone between the two countries that has constantly been ravaged by war, border transition is not sharp but rather gradual.

4. Cultural Aspects

1. Countries know very little about each other, however share the same language - perhaps different dialect.
2. Perhaps the two countries are a fragment of larger countries around them, thus the reason for them to be different despite the relatively close locations.
3. Both militaries have similar technology levels, however country B is a co-ed military, rather than Country A being a draft male force.

Let me know what you guys think!

Steps Forward!

Hello Again! Life calls so I haven't been able to do as much writing as I would like, however now that I have a pause I can high light the next couple of steps.

- Acts have had their scoped narrowed down and the sequence of events drafted.
- Ending of the story still in the air, however basic idea has been refined.

So what does this mean? Basically I can start on the world and character building! Then from there, we get into the big meat of the story. Here are their frameworks so you can bite into them a little bit.

Basic Character Synopsis

Characters tend to come and go for the Acts, however MC will reference them from time to time. The major players are as follows:

MC - Obviously the main character. He’s a patriotic early twenties male. Believes his country is in the right for fighting for its survival, especially with growing up in a constant state of war. His weakness is his inaction when with other people, especially when war crimes are being committed.  

Mentor - As the name describes, one of the first people MC meets who he can look up. Remembers some of his advice as he goes through his hardships. Similar to a father figure to him, least during his time in conflict. He’s an older gentleman, veteran of the previous conflicts with a different country. Implants the first seeds of doubt in MC about the war, though initially MC brushes it off (Cherkov’s Rifle). Potentially meets MC at the penal battalion?

Good friend - He gets along well with MC, along with some other characters. Originally sympathizes with MC’s view of the war until MC starts questioning his own country’s loyalty. Sees him after the initial separation. Will grow more radicalized after initial capture.

(memory sequence)

First Conflict Family - Family that he steals from that he sees in person when on the run. Makes MC realize that he needs to be okay with his actions from now to continue living and that everything has an impact.

Deserter/Partner - MC’s foil from the other side. Someone fighting on the opposite side who runs away for a different reason. Cowardly character who potentially develops? Would also need to be a foil to MC, perhaps a disenchant anti-war personality.

Establish Facts

Hello again!

Here are some details to the story - general direction is there, what is left is to start the actual writing and we'll be on our way. 

Premise: MC is drafted into a war which seems to re-erupt in cycles. Faced with bitter enemies, his homeland fights numerous battles to shape the borders - hoping to encompass the resources that these countries depend on for survival. Stuck in a monotonous, never ending cycle of conflicts, MC is eventually shifted from the rear to the frontlines.

He spends a couple of a weeks in conflict, bonding with his fellow comrades and learning that war and the military is a fickle thing. After a pivotal and devastating loss, his wakes up on the battlefield, finding that his cherished comrades nowhere to be seen. Desperate to reunite with his comrades and to return home, he travels behind enemy lines to an ever furthering frontline, while in the process learning about himself and those he fought so viciously against. A story about growth, adventure, and one man’s journey through war.

So basically it's a military slice of life, then after the prologue transitions into a straight adventure as he heads back home. Pretty simple with plenty of room to grow in my opinion. As I layout the story, here are some of the plot points that I'm marching to:

1. Prologue - MC sets the scene (showing but not firehosing facts). He gets to know his comrades, and sets some of the tone for the story.
2. Him bonding with his platoon and comrade in arms. Most likely the battle phases, trading stories, killing time.
3. First battle - excitement, however starting to see some of the chaos of war.
4. Series of battles/leadership screw ups - starting to lose some of his buddies. If this were an a 26 episode series, would be episode 3/4
5. Separation from the rest of the army, start of the bulk of the story. (ACT 1)
6. First set of travels, encountering local populace/surviving. Potentially fellow comrades who were also left behind. Ends with him getting captured by enemy forces.
7. Prison/Interrogation (ACT 2)
8. Escape/disenchantment with war, just wants to go home.
9. Meeting someone similar views from other side, fellow traveler. Deserter. Potentially frees him?
10. Reach the city gates, arrested (ACT 3)
11. Court Martial, Penal battalion experiences. Experiences war after learning that both sides are wrong in their own right.
12. Attempt to search for companion as tide of war changes (ACT 4)
13. Escape, on the run again. Ceasefire called - realizes he can never return home.
14. Epilogue - Settles down, reflects on his experiences and how it changed him from a naive youngster to the person he is now.

Let me know what you guys think - and be advised, this will all be tweaked as the bulk of the writing starts soon.

Hello World!

Man, this feels like serious deja vu. Anyway, welcome to my humble site - it will be mostly used to catalog my process as I go about writing a visual novel. I've attempted this process many times, but many factors such as lack of resources, time, and simply motivation have kept me from reaching my goal. Now five years later, and with more time/knowledge I hope to embark on this journey again, this time with the hope that I have a product that I can be proud of.

Some of you may remember me from long ago, and if you find yourselves back here I welcome you back! Enough with the introductions, let me get into the meat of this blog.

My goal is to generate a script for a kinetic visual novel, hence the Project Worn Soles. As the name suggests, MC will be walking a lot. As for genre, I would be characterize this as a Military Adventure/Drama. I'm taking an older idea I've had and refining it - standby for another post with the synopsis and overall structure.

Thanks for reading!

- Author