Stories Forum Specific Guidelines:
Using lots of images or hitting us with an absolute novel? Please be courteous and use a
spoiler tag for your post. Thanks!
December 8th - It's time for our Friday Highlights! You can check them out
here!
Divided (Updated 26/11/23)
Return to top
Comments
I do love Violeta getting a shot at fleeting happiness. Oskar is right in that she’ll have to let herself be a little bit vulnerable when it comes to emotions, even though she doesn’t like to feel that way. In his mind it’s a case of ‘let yourself be vulnerable because you can easily kill anyone who tries to take advantage’ XD The misunderstanding between Oskar and Dinah is hilarious, but yeah writing the scene with the intrusive thoughts was pretty rough. Gonna have to work out down the way when and when it won’t overcome him, maybe a coin flip or something so I don’t fall into plot convenience or a bad portrayal.
I think so too! I enjoy this part of Oskar's character.
A cool thing for everyone! Xmas screenshot time! Just some for-fun festive pics of some of the Divided cast. Hoping everyone has a safe, bearable, and hopefully joyful festive period!
I hope everyone has a happy Xmas, but for those of you who can't or don't enjoy the festive period for whatever reason, take care of yourselves best as you can. < 3
I do know how it is.
I wish all readers all the best for 2023! However, remember not to obsess over your New Year goals to the point where it's unhealthy. And don't beat yourself up if you don't have any goals for next year, or you aren't happy about the new year- survival is the main thing. < 3
There's also some new portrait-style pics uploaded to the extras/gallery page.
Thank you to all readers for the views and comments, and I always enjoy hearing how much people are enjoying this story. I hope to complete this sometime next year, though I don't know when- I've already been working on it for six months and we're not even halfway through the second act! I'll admit I'm a little stuck at the moment, but I'll get there. The next chapter will be out sometime in early-ish January, just trying to figure out pacing, timing, and what order the events in my notes will happen in... X_X And trying to keep on top of all the plot threads. Story middles are honestly the worst.
Without spoiling too much, I'll reveal that (at the moment, if I go with my notes, that is, and don't change or get rid of my current plans) there will be a self-discovery that certain people in this historical story might not be ready for, and also a death that may put someone's decision in major jeopardy...
And here I am with the first chapter of the new year! It's on the Chapter Index. I hope you'll all enjoy getting back to Divided as much as I am...even if I'm writing almost by the seat of my pants at the moment : P
Oskar and Eli make a quite uncommon dynamics, but it is also very funny to read. I also have the impression that Eli could have a better time being Oskar's apprentice than back home (even if now the amount of work involved could seem scary to him).
The last part instead... Clem really gained a lot of points there, she really demonstrated to be strong and showed where her morals stand. I'm also quite worried for her now though, I'm not really sure about what to expect from Shepherd Julian now...
https://stromeros.co.uk/our-school/our-patron-saint/
(Can I politely ask you to please put the second bit under a story spoiler tag for me if that's okay? Thank you < 3 )
@HermioneSims Thank you for commenting as always < 3
Oskar and Eli's dynamic is already great and I love it. Eli will probably be freaked out by Oskar at first, but I think he'll eventually get used to it and maybe even enjoy it. Though I don't think he's quite ready for Oskar's long boring conversations about wood. XD Yeah, we got to see Clem finally break out of her shell and go 'yeah we're not screwing around anymore.' It was originally going to be her calling out Shepherd Julian for being anti-witch, but this seemed a more fun idea.
Aw, Eli is quite a bit more shy than I expected. Working with Oskar will probably be a good experience for him if he can stick with it. Or, maybe I just have an unrealistically high opinion of Oskar and his ability to help people.
Clem's section was awesome. I've been waiting for her to really take a firm stand on the issues of this world and hold her ground, and she does not disappoint. When push comes to shove, she protects the people she believes need protecting, even at her own risk, and she doesn't back down. I love what she says to Shepard Julian at the end of the chapter.
I think Clem is really interesting because, of all the characters in the story, she honestly feels like the one who has the most potential to truly act heroically in a traditional "champion of the innocent" selfless kind of way, but her own internal pain may drag her down instead. This makes her a very intriguing character to watch, because you've written her in such a way that I actually have no idea which way it will go, hero's journey or tragic flaw. Out of the whole cast, I feel like she has the most to gain and the most to lose.
I'm definitely rooting for her the most now. But then, I always do love the underdogs.
PS- I love the screenshots during the sword fight. They're so vivid and tense. Well done.
@GlacierSnow Thank you for your comment as always < 333
I think so far her ambitions are the 'highest' out of any of the main characters in terms of expectation. The others just want to live a normal life or just plain survive, whereas she wants to become the leader of the Jacoban cathedral, somehow get the guys to take her seriously and completely turn around a religion that's run by a central authority. A lot to accomplish. Reynold can easily make his own rules if he really wanted to. Clem, not so much. I'm so happy you like the screenshots < 3
Exactly. That's why she's so interesting.
It's more obvious with other characters than it is with Clem; People who read the Vitriol trilogy know what Áine eventually does, Oskar and Violeta's history and actions so far have already shown their darker sides. On top of that, Reynold is constantly at war with himself for his actions in the past and what he may have to do to protect his family as well as his monastery, whereas Clem was practically ready to do whatever she had to, forcing herself into that mindset in the early days.
That's a good point. I keep forgetting that this story is actually a prequel to other stories you've already written, since I haven't read those yet. So other readers might know things about some of the characters (or their eventual descendants) that I am unaware of. Some of my speculation or wondering might seem silly.
This story stands excellently on its own though. I don't feel like anything is confusing or missing from having not read the other stories. I'm really enjoying it.