Author’s Intro
The Arcane Diary is a project that I have been working on for a really long time.
On one hand, I am somewhat ashamed that it has taken this long to see the light of day.
Conversely, the fact that it means as much to me as it does shows simply in how long it has been nagging at me to get done. I felt like it was a good story then, approximately fifteen (fifteen!) years ago, and it has never left my mind since. I still think it will be worth your time now. So that’s why it is in the final push to get it done.
I have decided on publishing The Arcane Diary to the web for several reasons. First of all the cost is minimal for me, and nearly free for you, the reader. If that helps to facilitate more people having access to the story, then that is the best possible outcome. I decided that worrying about something as irrelevant (to the story) as anticipated revenue was at odds with actually getting the thing done, so here it is. With the medium of a website, the story does not have to even be completed before it is shared, and this is another huge hurdle for a first-time novelist — the looming question of will anyone even read it. It’s just more irrationality, admittedly, but this solves that problem since I can publish pieces of the story as they become polished enough to do so, and this will inspire momentum in finishing it in a timely fashion. Another huge plus is that it can be updated, indeed as a good website, should be updated regularly. This allows for the possibility of an evolving story, not just one that once finished is set in stone.
That is not to say that I plan on muddling through without having a plan for the finish (because I’m glad to say that I do have one!) but it allows for parts to be added onto if need be to provide a dynamic reading experience that I hope you will particpate in with your time, and feedback.
As a writer, I appreciate the need for accountability to my audience, and I truly believe that this format will allow for real-time interaction between us and hope that it gives a platform for as many people who are interested in the work as well as an opportunity to create a constructive dialogue. In addition to the story, I will continue to write meta-articles like this one, as I often find myself inspired to write about writing while writing. I sincerely hope this will also add value to the readers’ experience, as it will certainly give an insight into the thought processes and inspirations behind the story. The internet is a great meeting place for ideas, and I want to embrace the potential exchange of thoughts in both directions, not just mine to yours. So feel free; I can’t wait to hear from you, dear reader!
One of the very real and exciting potentials that I can see is in the layout since the Arcane Diary is really the story of multiple fascinating (or at least I think so) characters with interwoven storylines, the timeline for publication and final arrangement can be more fluid than if it were just a single character. Originally the title was going to be The Arcane Diary of Nick Savoy, written by Xander Mercurio. Way too long, first of all, and it quickly became evident that while Nick is the first character I created, the rest of the cast were to be equally, if not more so, important to the overall picture that formed. So the title got axed, and rightly so, and as I explored each character I realized that The Arcane Diary couldn’t exist without them. As key as a protagonist is in developing a story, the other characters deserved better than to exist as merely supporting roles but had diverse and interesting stories themselves to merit being heroes or villains in their own right. The same can be said about the relationship between the author and readers. This web format will hopefully provide an opportunity to let the characters speak for themselves, and to be able to tell their stories simultaneously in a way that does justice to each. What the final form may take I’m still not certain, but that’s okay. I am confident that it will work out and the journey will be satisfactory for all parties involved.
