The Marshmallow Ranch Gazette (Patreon)

Volume 2, Issue 21

Tuesday, November 7th, 2017

Howdy, patrons!

I hope your Halloween was filled with candy and great costumes! Besides dealing with an infestation of black-eyed children our holiday was fairly chill. The neighborhood association organized trick-or-treating so we got all of our little kids in one big chunk! I just threw a bag of candy through the front door and let them have at it, basically. The office of my day job had a costume contest, but I wasn't really able to get anything together in time. Next year, though, I'm *definitely* going as Lando Calrissian or Mace Windu…

With thoughts of witches and ghouls behind us, it's now time to get ready for Thanksgiving -- that is, if you're in the United States! This is one of my favorite holidays, mostly because it's an awesome excuse to hang out with the family you've chosen, eat a ton of food, and ring in the holiday season in style. Unfortunately, I have to work a holiday shift this year, but at least it's on Thanksgiving day itself and not (shudder) Black Friday. Fingers crossed that it'll be quiet and I won't have to deal with too many emergencies.

We're full steam ahead on "Boundaries" right now -- I expect to have part 3 written and ready for you folks by Friday at the latest. I aim, of course, for Thursday but I can't make promises there. Family matters have reared their ugly head once again, and I'm trying to keep things organized enough that I can handle them without being consumed by them, but...you know how it is. I'm settling in to the feel of the characters all right, and slowly but surely I'm more comfortable with the world. I'm already gathering ideas for what should be changed in the editing pass!

One of the most difficult things I've found about writing this particular serial is the combination of world building and character discovery that needs to happen simultaneously. I've never written sci-fi before (if it isn't obvious), and there's so much to consider! What technology should you use for faster than light travel? If a civilization is advanced enough to travel enormous distances, what other technology is a given? How does a deep-space starship handle food? Waste? Money? It's really interesting, but also one of those things you need to keep in mind as soon as you come to a decision on it. I'll need to double back a LOT through parts already written to make sure the setting Bible is updated.

I hope you folks are intrigued by the setting, the characters, and the mystery of this planet beyond the bounds of known space! It's been fun and challenging to write this, and I'm looking forward to rolling out the whole episode for you guys. :D 

I think I'm ready to release character sheets and behind the scenes bits for folks in the higher tiers; later this month, I'll also approach one of our LUCKY CHARMS about a tarot reading OR a character appearance in the story. 

That's it for this week, buckaroos! See you later on!

-Jakebe