The Lost Dragon

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soundofmind
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Sun Jun 14, 2026 8:38 am
soundofmind says... · Sun Jun 14, 2026 8:38 am
Today's Progress:

    - Made WFP!
    - Began organizing revision notes per chapter. Namely, hit Ch 1-3.
    - Noted some broad-stroke changes.

For This Week:
    - Finish Helen's visual reference. Also, change her name spelling to one "l." That will be hell (ba dum tsh) to change.
    - Finish revision notes this week. I believe in myself. As long as I don't put anything in my social calendar, I think I can lock in for this. Right now my Tues-Weds are free to work on this. If I can, that means revisions can get started week 2.
    - Slowly incorporate feedback and other notes. Some chapters are subject to change a lot. Note things you want to revise in all sections, then per section, then per chapter.

In the midst of it, make notes on:
    -Adjustments to James's timeline for his backstory based on age change.
    - Military rankings, who answers to whom, palace rankings, just... notes on govt. infrastructure.
Pants are an illusion. And so is death.
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soundofmind
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Tue Jun 16, 2026 6:16 am
soundofmind says... · Tue Jun 16, 2026 6:16 am
In a moment of self-indulgence, I remade a personality quiz I probably created in 2018.... in which you find out: Which Character are you in "The Lost Dragon?"
Pants are an illusion. And so is death.
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soundofmind
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Wed Jun 17, 2026 7:40 am
soundofmind says... · Wed Jun 17, 2026 7:40 am
Progress So Far:
    - Finished Hellen's reference. Decided to keep her name as is. Lol.
    - Took revision notes for 3/5 beta readers' feedback. 2/5 have finished the book. Need to look at feedback for 2 more (one has finished the book, one is about 2/3). The one I'm doing last is the reader who's left the most commentary (it will just take the longest).
    - I don't know if I can actually finish revision notes this week, but I'll do what I can. Got kicked by grief again and need to give myself grace. My brain has started humming like an overworking computer fan again.

A random note: saw an interesting take online about the current state of literature and how it refuses meaning and insists on "moral relativism" because that's what's selling right now and found it apt. A lot of stories selling are stories where characters don't truly learn anything. I hope that... this story provokes thought. I don't want to hand solutions to people, and I'm not sure I can on larger subjects, but I hope my characters grow and learn meaningfully. It might just not be a complete arc since it's book 1 out of ... probably 2. Hopefully not 3.

Anyways, that's a whole Thing Unrelated.
Spoiler
Shamefully, I admit part of the reason I don't want to traditionally publish is that I haven't read what's being published these days. I'm still returning to Frankenstein like it's the only good food... and I'm a painfully slow reader. I will say, when I started reading Frankenstein again, I suddenly felt so insanely validated for not ascribing to the same flat writing style in so many popular books these days where everything feels the same (especially when I write Emiliano from Wolfi's SB -- I was reading Frankenstein and just like... yeah, he talks like this. Very similar voice). I don't know that I've got Mary Shelley's expansive vocabulary, but I AM trying to grow in that.


Also also. I... said I wouldn't do a full rewrite, and I don't think I will entirely, but I do think there might be certain chapters or stretches where I completely rework it so that the overall narration improves, which will feel almost like rewriting. It's like... tone. Nuance. Bah.
Last edited by soundofmind on Wed Jun 17, 2026 9:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Pants are an illusion. And so is death.
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Tikaya
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Wed Jun 17, 2026 7:58 am
Tikaya says... · Wed Jun 17, 2026 7:58 am
Spoiler
soundofmind wrote:In a moment of self-indulgence, I remade a personality quiz I probably created in 2018.... in which you find out: Which Character are you in "The Lost Dragon?"
Hahah why was there no "I respond early, arrive early but don't bring any presents?" XD

Also the American is strong in this one. You wouldn't be able to break down walls in Europe ^^°

Also I got Bo =D
(Tho I cannot cook)

Thanks for the quiz~

PS: If you do not want comments here, I can delete :3
“Are you serious?”
“Completely.”
“You’re telling me that you'll get to sleep on a king-sized bed while we have to share a tiny room with two bunk beds.”
“I want to sleep on top!”
“Tommy, you’re not helping.”
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soundofmind
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Wed Jun 17, 2026 9:17 am
soundofmind says... · Wed Jun 17, 2026 9:17 am
LOL @Tikaya no I love it. Leave the comment!! Hehe. And also... fair, lmao. American construction is so... sad. (Break down a wall just by looking at it. That said, the character who answered in that way has an inordinate amount of strength and could probably knock down a European wall too.)
Pants are an illusion. And so is death.
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soundofmind
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Wed Jun 24, 2026 7:10 am
soundofmind says... · Wed Jun 24, 2026 7:10 am
Image

(Vent.)
Spoiler
I don't want to crash out all the time, nor subject anyone to reading it. Still, I am metaphorically crashing my skull into the wall after another wave of feedback from the reader who's chewing my story out with very little good to say. I keep telling myself this is good, but every time I read a question that feels condescending (or like the reader is annoyed/bored), a part of me dies.

I'm trying to separate myself from my writing while it's dissected so I don't lose a sense of self to it, but I'm fighting the self-pity impulse like I'm running up a downward escalator. I'm aware that none of this is helped by the agonizing past weekend. (And no one in my actual physical proximity/life seemed to notice or mention that until I brought it up myself.)

I don't know what I'll get done this week. I'm too disappointed with myself and everyone around me to think clearly enough to write. I'm not quitting, but I need a mental break. My head and my heart hurt. A lot.

I don't know. Maybe I'll just rewrite it again. It keeps feeling like there's never enough to salvage once all of the feedback rolls in. And I think that's what's so discouraging.
Pants are an illusion. And so is death.
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Wolfi
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Wed Jun 24, 2026 4:45 pm
Wolfi says... · Wed Jun 24, 2026 4:45 pm
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🫂💛

I know you have LMS, but it may be worth taking a week or two off. Either way, I hope you can nourish your mind and spirit in some way <3 <3 <3 I'm so sorry you're struggling and that the beta reader continues to be rather... impudent?? At this point I'm of the opinion that they're doing more harm than good :(
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.

she/her | team monkeys | #unclassified
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Spearmint
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Tue Jun 30, 2026 5:09 am
Spearmint says... · Tue Jun 30, 2026 5:09 am
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sorry you're feeling discouraged right now, soundo :( it definitely sucks to receive criticism, even if logically we know it's supposed to help us. and in this case it seems especially relentless.

just wanted to say that i think you've come up with something grand and incredible here. i can feel all the love and effort you've poured into this, and knowing your rping style, i have no doubt that the characters are complex and the story makes you think, as all good stories do. and having comic sections as well? that's next level! :0 i am in awe of your skill and dedication and i believe in you, sound. <333
mint, she/her


.--. / ... ...- -.-. .-.. / - .--. ..- .- / .--- --- ...- .--- / .--- --- .--. .-- / .--. .--- .-.. / .--- -.-- .-.. .... -
=D
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23 posts1, 2


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