SPRING (afterword)
Hi all. This is your favorite author speaking.
That concludes the first volume of RxR. If you are reading this, do me the courtesy of leaving this story a review, you stingy ghost reading cunt you!
Wow, what a journey. Hiatus included, it only took nearly a year and 130,000 words. That's more than most standard novels. More the content and less the quality. Yay
I should start by stating that if you are reading this right now, you have managed to endure a disgusting amount of my prose and retain at least some of your sanity. Well done!
But seriously, whether you have been with this story from the start, or if you have joined later and caught up to this point, you are a real one.
That's right, you! You right there, I see you!
I want to thank everyone who has read up to this point. And extend an even bigger THANK YOU to those who took the time to leave comments and react to the content each chapter. Your efforts were not in vain, they went towards a feedback loop of engagement that, as an author, inspired me to keep going, to keep writing.
It is no hyperbole when I say that ya'll fic readers with positive vibes who are about that life, do a LOT to help our community of writers. Many of you I speak of are avid readers of fan fiction of numerous genres. All the same, you take the time to leave your comments and reactions.
It is for that reason that it has been a pleasure to engage in this webnovel community with all of you. I am glad to have witnessed the fan fic scene grow in my short time here. All thanks to the readers.
With so many ups and downs, and all the things that happened this past year, I thought it a good idea to touch base on the story thus far.
Okay, I'll be the first to say it... What an incredibly long, drawn out, arguably pointless prologue! What on earth were you thinking, ssyffix?
What can I say? I have a tendency to start my stories waaaaaaaay before they actually start.
My Jon Snow fic took a whole childhood training arc before episode 1 of the actual show. My one piece fic set for literally multiple story's worth of adventure before the MC even interacts with Luffy and the main timeline. And now, for some reason, I felt the need to show everyone a snippet of Rhaenar's childhood, his springtime of youth.
But I can say that there has always been method to the madness! I have always admired genius stories where authors take the time to foreshadow, build characters, set things up, etc. That's the kind of story that gets my mind buzzing, so that's the kind I wish to (attempt).
A method to the madness. It's my hope that in later events, you know... the story beats that got me all inspired to write this dang thing in the first place? It is my hope that all the seeds I've planted in the prologue will act as an Easter egg, a form of wink to the dedicated reader, come the time things kick off in Rhaenar's later years.
A method? Yes.
Madness? Absolutely.
I have some insights on the writing process that I feel compelled to share.
In the early stages of this fic, each chapter had a purpose. A structure that surrounded a theme. They would introduce a feeling or message, and throughout the chapter, that theme would be conveyed by the end, in a tidy, non preachy, 'show don't tell' sort of way.
In those days I had the most fun. I wrote for the craft, my mind salivating at my perceived genius. Even though I had much to learn, I could not help but feel gratified at the completion of each chapter.
For this reason, my favorite chapter of the volume was Chapter 5. The stuff with Princess Gael and the character stuff with Rhaenyra. Ironic, as that chap caused a great deal if adverse friction in the comments.
No matter. I enjoyed, and would actually read,my own material, so cringe!
As the fic gained traction, and readers gave it attention, the silly reptilian part of my brain loved the dopamine it received from all the fan interaction.
I found myself writing no longer with the direction and fervor of the early chapters. Now I would write for the sake of getting out content. Posting chapters that, while entertaining, were not structured or rooted with theme or purpose.
When a banger chapter got too long in word count, as banger chapters with lit content tend to do.., I found that I would split the chapter in two so that I could post content for you guys.
In this way, the original energy I had when setting out to write this story was compromised. I wasn't writing to masturbate myself intellectually anymore. I wrote to keep the story moving, to post chapters regardless of whether they actually had something to say.
It is my hope in the next volume to rectify that.
But I also don't want to waste time. There needs to be a balance between writing for the craft, getting out content, and doing so in a manner that is to the point, with much improved pacing.
That said, I am unsure how exactly things will continue. I had the entire story all planned since the beginning. But during the process, with characters and situations that arose organically, I found myself in avenues I never intended.
This was a positive thing. I am happy with where everything is. I just need to remain conscious. Keep the writing tidy, have fun while doing it, do all that purposeful jazz, and tell a great fucking story.
Seems easy enough! A mix between the length of Omniscient Reader, added with the poignancy of Solo Leveling.
Thank you once again if you are still reading to this point. With all that out of the way, I figured I'd leave it by answering some common questions that came up along the way.
I leave you for now. Until next time~
-ssyffix
---
[Q]: Is this a harem?
[ssys]: I don't know. Is it?
*
[Q]: Who the love interest? Alicent? Rhaenyra? Laena? JAYNE?!?!
[ssys]: I have made it a point to avoid any questions that go into spoiler territory. Instead I'll ask back: did you know who you'd marry at Rhaenar's age?
(Now that I think of it, he technically has the consciousness of a 39 year old?)
*
[Q]: Why the use of Brien as POV?
[ssys]: Because I did not want to tell those chapters from Rhaenar's perspective. Why didn't I want those chapters told from Rhaenar? 'You be the judge' ;)
*
[Q]: Is Nissan going to be a character reborn into the world also? Stories where multiple characters reincarnate are LAME.
[ssys]: Unsure how to answer. I was happy to see people ask about Nissan; a lot of love and effort went into that first chapter. The apprehension I saw from readers about whether Nissan would join Rhaenar and reincarnate to Westeros intrigued me. I'd never read a story where multiple characters get isekai'd. I know for fact that Nissan's impact on Rhaenar will manifest in some way, at least be it by some flash back
Passing in reverie~
*
[Q]: Does Rhaenar know about book/show events? If so, a lot of his actions are ?????
[ssys]: if you've made it to this point, that means you posses the brain cells that no, Rhaenar does not know about any story events. To write this fic I have watched HOTD more times than I care to mention (still find something new with each watch through!), and have versed myself with the content of Fire & Blood to the extent that I can write Rhaenar with adequate knowledge about his families history and be able to interact with characters from past generations. Septon Barth, for example. But no, all of Rhaenar's relationships pertaining to TV show content are based on his own experiences.
*
[Q]: Bruh why this dude b act dumb and not as if he is reincarn with old life? Jus becoz o dat dun mean he is all sudden a retard during his younger dayz
[ssys]: omg idek bro, why indeed? is it dumb sloppy story or does it have purpose. wowowowowowowowow!
*
[Q]: Is he Team Red, or Team Black?!
[ssys]: Idek if dragons can even see in color.
*
[Q]: Why does he interact in x way with x character from Team Red/Black?!
[ssys]: He is unaware of tv show and book content.
*
[Q]: Where does Rhaenar stand with Daemon? One minute he idolize the next it's like he wants Uncle D to join the Greens!
[ssys]: Compared to Daemon's 6'0" (182 cm), Rhaenar is tall enough that Daemon could perfectly rest his chin on the top of his head. You do the math.
*
[Q]: Wow bro, you're so cool with your cryptic change subject response. What about this then: How the fuck are the events of the Dance supposed to happen, if we consider Rhaenar's presence?
[ssys]: Starting as a huge nerd of the Game of Thrones show during its earlier seasons, I am a fan of George R.R Martin's story. Since that show's end, I have watched it over and over until I needed more. Read the books. Then HOTD came out, and once again I was consuming George's story in TV format. With that said, I am a fan of the show material first and foremost, and thus I want to hit certain story beats from the original, only changed by the addition of the events and characters I've conjured. This is fan fiction, after all. I can speak for most writers when I say we do this shit just so we can interact with the story with our own fantastical means, for personal enjoyment.
Will the Dance happen? How could I know without watching the later seasons? My fic is certainly written in a way that allows room to change depending on what I see. In any case, fear not, dear reader! There will be plenty of scenes that interact with cool moments we see in the show, be it S1 or future seasons. And that will not stop the core story beats that have been planned since the beginning!
[Q]: Do you seriously think Viserys would continue to endanger his wife, even after she complains, and after he has Rhaenar, a legitimate son, who could thus fulfill his need for strong heir succession, not to mention fulfill the prophesy handed down to Viserys re: the 'Prince that was Promised'. ?
[ssys]: You will find out in later volumes. If you want a clue, I suggest you read Fire and Blood (That's right, bitch. I'm plugging George's stuff. Go buy it!)
Some shit about a queer and a fair? Something like that...
The quote escapes me~
*
[Q]: What about your Jon fic?
[ssys]: that story is my baby, my magnum opus. as i said prior, the GoT TV show is where this all starts. years and years of thinking about that world, that story. rest assured, that fic is and will forever be my baby. its place in my heart far exceeds RxR. I'm just enjoying writing Rhaenar because it tickles an urge to write about certain things at this moment in time.
*
[Q]: Why was Rhaenar emo about being a prince in the first ten chapters?
[ssys]: At the time, I needed Rhaenar to have flaws that didn't directly link to the themes of the post-prologue story. I also thought showing him to be more human would garner more respect from the reader. This turned out to have the opposite effect. If I could be bothered going back and rewriting his rejection of being a Prince, I would.
Ironically, him being Emo didn't have a mini character arc. Didn't have a satisfying way he overcame it. You just watch him, and all of a sudden he is over it, without any cool character stuff as to why.
Thanks for not being a bitch and reading past those moments.
*
[Q]: What's with the subtle pop culture references? Anime and movies and all that
[ssys]: Because that's how we squanch, mother cucker!
+