Thread:Rikoswind29/@comment-24664052-20150311032045/@comment-24664052-20150601073709

Oh, boy, it’s been 2 or 3 months since I published the prologue, and yet I’m still troubled with the drafts for the second part.

For long as continuous fan fictions graced the internet world, many problems had haunted them. Mary Sues, poor writing, unoriginality, etc., but they are all nothing compared to this one: being left unfinished.

I fear that I maybe suffering from this kind of problem as well, thanks to real-life problems (but I can’t blame it, it’s just natural and could be the main reason why continuous fan fictions take a lot of time to update) and loss of motivation (Damn you, brain) to write.

So far, this is what my thoughts regarding my fan fic:


 * I’m currently divided up between two decisions: while I have started the prologue with 3rd POV, there are some parts in my drafts I feel better writing in first point of view.


 * Speaking of drafts, I’m stuck up on the second draft since I have no idea of events to write that will show a blossoming romance between Ivan and Katya and foreshadow Ivan’s cruel disposition in his reign. (So far, I have written Katya waking Ivan up)


 * I’m also conflicted about how Ivan’s usual world will crumble, but I already have an idea; political infighting and civil war. Speaking of being conflicted, here are my two decisions:

- Ivan and Katya were separated during the chaos, or by the nobles allied with Ivan’s father who want Ivan to marry one of their daughters when he grows up. Despite that, they keep in link with each other through a Chekhov’s Gun (metaphorically) I am yet to think of. Though, I feel that Katya’s claim of growing up with Ivan and that it hurts her to see him transform from a kind boy into a cruel tyrant will be defeated, since she was never there when he suffered.

- Speaking of that last line, I can opt to have Ivan and Katya remain together, but that’ll be harder to write, more so to magnify the tragedy that transformed him.


 * Because I am having difficulties writing Ivan’s childhood, I am thinking of dividing it with two parts: his childhood and his reign. Though both parts might be subjected to change over time which can confuse readers, so I’m having second thoughts.


 * There are no stories if there are no villains, but I feel the only villains, the nobles, prove to be only little more than a nuisance for him, so I am thinking more enemies, even one supernatural folkloric monster who had managed to evade the Demon Lord’s influence. So far I’ve thought seven possible additional enemies, including one Russian folkloric monster who has managed to evade the Maou’s influence.


 * That way how you said that Katya is the only one in Ivan’s whole world to remain true to him, gave me that great idea to integrate in the story: when everyone and everything in your world is turning against you and the only one true to you whom you trust the most of all, is with you till the end, though she can only do little to lighten the burden of almost everyone coming against you. I’m having a problem how I will write this down, but I think I’ll just have to leave this alone for now.


 * Ideas for Ivan’s path to darkness, most of which inspired by real-life Ivan’s childhood:

- The nobles deny Ivan’s right to the throne, like what the nobles did to the real-life Ivan the Terrible when he’s still little. The problem here is why would they deny Ivan’s right to the throne when they can kill him simply anyways?

- Also, like the real-life Ivan, he also watched how violence and depravity happen all around his castle between rival nobles. One of the reasons why Ivan will decide to clip their powers heavily as part of his reign, but seeing how one’s own home is being desecrated is offensive to the owner.

- Also, like real-life Ivan, when his presence is required at a ceremony, Ivan is cleaned and dressed in ceremonial robes and then placed in a throne just for the sake of ceremony, and after that, he is hustled back to his quarters to be forgotten again. The problem I have with this idea is why would the nobles do this to him?

- Aside from being mocked like that, he is neglected and ignored by the nobles, becoming a ragged beggar in his own castle. Only a few servants and guards, out of love for his late mother and wanting to return her benevolence, took care of Ivan the best as they could, but then, Ivan has grown a grudge against the nobles.

- Since he’s not tsar yet, Ivan does not have the power to strike back at the nobles. He would kidnap their animal pets, bring them to a secret place (also where he and Katya used to play) to torture them. (I think Katya can witness and stop him whenever she sees what he does). This is because of his frustrations of being unable to strike back at the nobles.