Retrospective After-thoughts — 12 years later
:
~ Part 1/100(?) of my rereading journey through my 5 years long story.
So it's been 12 years soon since I started writing what would eventually be a 5 years long journey of almost constant writing on the Base, with several hard-fought contests alongside it. 12 years since I released this very 1st chapter. A lot of my time was spent writing this 'never-ending' story, and finally being able to reread it all now 7 years after I finished it, and probably closer to 10 years since I last read some of these earlier chapters, feels like an out-of-body experience... A time-machine, if you'd like (that's without mentioning all the comments people left at the time too, which are like time-capsules in themselves). It's weird but at the same time intriguing, like proof-reading something a younger version of myself has written, rediscovering lost parts of myself and my essence that I feel I have long forgotten or buried over time due to IRL interferences and experiences. Going back in time and reading what a more innocent and inexperienced version of me would write when interacting with people. Looking back, the times were different back then, we were younger back then and internet had yet to really blossom beyond forums like these. It was a different experience then, hurrying home from school, excited to see what people had been up to, what news there was to read up on and engage in and to reading a new manga chapter or watching a new Naruto episode. A community feeling that has not been matched since. We were part of something bigger than ourselves, yet, we all had our own way to interact with it all and decide how we wanted our paths ahead through this journey of NB to go. My journey eventually landed me here, back where it all truly started... A journey I yet do not know where exactly lead to or if it has truly ended... Or, even begun yet for that matter.... Maybe I'll discover lost ambitions or enlightenment on what the future holds or maybe it will just be a fun journey. For the time being, I do not know, but perhaps I will at the end of this...
@Kuroi Honoo
@Akash
@Gutsy
@Minato Sensei
Reading the first chapter feels weird. I do recall most of it, thoughts I had at the time writing certain lines even, what I thought worked and what I was sceptical in doing, but it's been so long it feels like reading someone else's story. I knew it all so well by heart back then and now I finally get to have an 'outside' view on it, not biased or blinded by already knowing everything that will happen. Initial thoughts for a first chapter is okay. Some dry delivery here and there but that's to be expected the circumstances in consideration. Most of the comments are fascinating too, though I suspect a lot of them were written in the first place because I VMed them asking for them to read, lol. I do recall my last story and how it was written quite well. The time I spent polishing stuff and making sure it was as near perfect as I thought it could be, so with that in mind I do know, or rather, I do feel that it will improve over time, like it should. All the people that are no longer here, people whom I interacted with daily at the time and knew for years, no idea if they live or what they do now. It's strange, but all I can do is appreciate all the support and comments they gave and for pushing me on in completing what I started, and for that, I am
truly grateful.
Thank you, everyone.
For a first chapter, I'll rate it 7/10 retrospectively.