A hub for the "Book of Masks" universe. |
The Interactives "The Book of Masks" : A high school student discovers a grimoire that can make magical disguises. "The Wandering Stars" : Sequel to "The Book of Masks." "Student Bodies" : A high school student is turned into a blue goo that can possess people. For non-WdC Members "The Book of Masks: Archives" : Dodges the "Servers Busy" barrier! "The Book of Masks (Abridged)" : Introductory storylines for new readers. Community "BoM/TWS Message Forum" : Community for readers of the interactives. "BoM/TWS/SB Wiki" : Notes and documentation for authors. Spoilers! Current Polls None The Latest 12/24: Interactive: "A Mother's Memories" 12/24: Public: "A Mother's Memories" |
There have been a few hiccups over the past few days with my posting schedule, you might have noticed. Nothing serious. Just hiccups. It's been a couple of things: A few bad nights that destroyed my ability to concentrate, so that I didn't have anything prepared. Yesterday I did have a chapter for you (the one I published today) but I got in deep writing something else, and the time got completely away from me. And this storyline is evolving in ways I couldn't have predicted, and sometimes that means I'm stuck for an idea, because I've wandered into a cul-de-sac. So there's a chance of a few more hiccups. But I've no intention of doing a weeks-long fade. |
Today's chapter— * Interactive: "From Plan B to Plan C" * Entry: "From Plan B to Plan C" —is a cheap bait-and-switch, I know. The choice was to "circle back" to previous choices, but the story shouldn't reward procrastinators, so any reader who won't go for the first four choices offered deserves to be pitched into something quite different. Next up: I closed a poll yesterday, asking if you wanted a story where Will worked as the senior, junior, or equal partner with someone else. The victory narrowly went to "Senior Partner", by 40% - 30% - 30%. So tomorrow I'm going to return to a storyline where Will is in the most senior position possible: "A Junior Partner" That's the "doppelganger" storyline, where Will has replaced half a dozen classmates with duplicates, and aims to replace a lot more after getting himself some junior partners. So, disguised as Chelsea Cooper, he has recruited ex-cheerleader Michelle Estrich as a partner, and they have replaced Christine Miles, an arrogant bitch in the junior class who has it in for Michelle and her friends. Michelle gets to pick two more people to replace, while Will (as Chelsea) is going to pick three. Michelle has just sent Will the names of five people she wants to replace, giving Will the chance to steer her to one of them ... EDIT: I have a few authorial notes about the just concluded storyline, in "Re: Commentary: "Just the Typical Hollywood Story"" |
Today's chapter— * Interactive: "Theater of One" * Public: "Theater of One" —continues the Hollywood arc and it ends in a choice, but I'm not going to post a poll. My original plan had been to end today's chapter with five possible choices, but I didn't have time to set up five choices without just doing an exposition dump. So I'm going to string things out over one or two (or three?) more chapters. So tomorrow (if things work out) should bring a sequel on the "Just envy" choice. I'll suspend this branch once at least five choices have been set up. |
I think today's chapter— * Interactive: "Hook and Haul" * Public: "Hook and Haul" —is going to bring the "Party of Five" branch to a halt, at least temporarily. Tomorrow I hope to have a sequel to "School Survey" Oh, right, there a poll that went with that one. "Snag a student" had a solid lead for most of the time, but GPs and a last minute surge gave the final victory to "One of Gianna's outside friends." Final tally: * Outside friend: 43% * Student: 41% * Teacher: 16% So, now I have to invent some outside friends for Gianna Johns! * * * A few weeks ago I polled readers on what kind of story they wanted to see next, but I forgot to do a follow-up poll. Well, the follow-up is finally up. You can find it here: [Poll completed and deleted.] |
Today's chapter— * Interactive: "Party of Five, Chapter 18" * Public: "Party of Five, Chapter 18" concludes the "Party of Five" story-within-the-story. It was fun to write (well, adapt). I hope it was also fun to read. I should have posted another "Hollywood" chapter before concluding "Party of Five," but some scheduling conflicts and one night of insomnia destroyed three consecutive days of writing time, so I had to fill it with "Party of Five" nonsense, and by the time I'd recovered my footing "Party of Five" was so close to concluding that it just seemed best to finish it off. But tomorrow will bring another "Hollywood" chapter (as voted for, the "Wait" option, which won with a GP-adjusted 44% of the vote) along with another poll. Then my plan is to follow with a few more sequel chapters in the "Party of Five" branch that will extend Will's shenanigans vis-a-vis Sean, before capping the Hollywood branch with one last chapter. And after that? I'm not sure. I'll have to look around. EDIT: There's a commentary thread on the story in the forums now: "Commentary: "Party of Five"" |